Latest news with #GalaxyWatch8Classic
Geeky Gadgets
18 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs. Ultra: The Ultimate Showdown
When choosing between the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, your decision will depend on your lifestyle, preferences, and priorities. Both models offer advanced hardware and software, but their differences in design, durability, and battery life cater to distinct user needs. Below is a detailed comparison to help you determine which smartwatch aligns best with your requirements. Watch this video on YouTube. Design and Build: Rugged Durability vs. Sophisticated Elegance The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 is crafted for users who demand toughness and functionality in extreme conditions. Its larger, rugged frame is built to endure challenging environments, featuring a digital-only bezel and four titanium finishes: silver, gray, white, and blue. This design prioritizes durability and versatility, making it an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is tailored for those who appreciate a sleek and refined aesthetic. Its signature rotating bezel enhances usability while adding a touch of sophistication. Available in black and white finishes, it pairs seamlessly with customizable bands, making it a versatile accessory for both casual and professional settings. Display Technology: Brightness and Visual Performance Both models feature sapphire crystal displays for enhanced scratch resistance, but their display technologies are optimized for different use cases: Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025: Features a 1.5-inch emerald panel with an impressive 3000 nits of brightness , making sure excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. This makes it a top choice for outdoor activities where screen clarity is essential. Features a 1.5-inch emerald panel with an impressive , making sure excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. This makes it a top choice for outdoor activities where screen clarity is essential. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Features a slightly smaller 1.34-inch Super AMOLED display. While its brightness is lower than the Ultra, it delivers vivid colors and sharp visuals, making it ideal for indoor use and everyday tasks. Durability: Tailored for Different Challenges Durability is a defining feature of these smartwatches, with each model designed to meet specific user needs: Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025: Built to withstand extreme conditions, it offers IP68 certification , 10 ATM water resistance , and military-grade durability. Whether you're hiking, swimming, or facing harsh weather, this watch is designed to endure. Built to withstand extreme conditions, it offers , , and military-grade durability. Whether you're hiking, swimming, or facing harsh weather, this watch is designed to endure. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: While it also meets IP68 and military-grade durability standards, its 5 ATM water resistance makes it better suited for everyday activities rather than intense outdoor adventures. Battery Life: Meeting Your Power Demands Battery performance is another area where these models diverge, catering to different usage patterns: Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025: Equipped with a 590 mAh battery , it delivers up to four days of use in power-saving mode or two days with regular usage. This extended battery life is ideal for users who spend long periods away from charging stations. Equipped with a , it delivers up to four days of use in power-saving mode or two days with regular usage. This extended battery life is ideal for users who spend long periods away from charging stations. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Powered by a 445 mAh battery, it typically requires daily charging. While sufficient for most users, it may not meet the needs of those seeking extended use without frequent recharging. Shared Features: Advanced Technology for All Users Despite their differences, both the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic share several innovative features that enhance their functionality: Powered by the Exynos W1000 processor and running Wear OS 6 for smooth and efficient performance. and running Wear OS 6 for smooth and efficient performance. 64GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, allowing seamless multitasking and app usage. Comprehensive health tracking, including heart rate monitoring , blood oxygen tracking, and sleep apnea detection. , blood oxygen tracking, and sleep apnea detection. Connectivity options such as LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC for calls, notifications, and contactless payments. Target Audience: Which Watch Suits Your Lifestyle? The choice between these two models largely depends on your lifestyle and priorities: Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025: Designed for outdoor enthusiasts and users who prioritize durability and extended battery life. Its rugged design and advanced features make it a reliable companion for adventurous lifestyles. Designed for outdoor enthusiasts and users who prioritize durability and extended battery life. Its rugged design and advanced features make it a reliable companion for adventurous lifestyles. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Ideal for those who value sleek aesthetics and everyday functionality. Its compact size, rotating bezel, and customizable bands make it a versatile choice for both professional and casual settings. Pricing and Trade-In Opportunities The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 is priced higher, reflecting its robust build and enhanced features. Samsung offers trade-in deals to make upgrading more accessible, though these deals exclude the 2024 Ultra model. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is more affordable, providing excellent value for users seeking a stylish and functional smartwatch without the need for extreme durability. Making the Right Choice Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes down to your specific needs and preferences: If you require a rugged, durable smartwatch with extended battery life for outdoor adventures, the Ultra 2025 is the ideal choice. is the ideal choice. If you prefer a sleek, compact design with everyday usability, the Watch 8 Classic is an excellent option. Both models deliver advanced technology and versatile features, making sure you stay connected, informed, and prepared for whatever your day—or adventure—brings. Whether you prioritize durability or elegance, Samsung's latest smartwatches offer something for everyone. Uncover more insights about Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 in previous articles we have written. Source & Image Credit: Demon's Tech Filed Under: Android News, Gadgets News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Phone Arena
21 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
The Galaxy Watch 8: perfect companion to your Galaxy phone, perfect guide for your lifestyle
This story is sponsored by Samsung. PhoneArena's opinions in this article have not been affected in any way! Disclaimer The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 launched with a surprising amount of upgrades and new features. Through smart design updates and integration of helpful AI features, Samsung made the new digital timepieces sleeker, prettier, and more useful than ever before. Galaxy Watch 8 Galaxy Watch 8 Classic The Galaxy Watch 8 has been designed to be the perfect mix between a timepiece and a fitness tracker. It's slim and light, for a barely-there feel when working out. However, it still has a rather large screen and tons of features for a full smartwatch functionality that complements and expands on what your Galaxy phone can already if you want a classy timepiece to accessorize your outfit with — the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic delivers just that, with a stainless steel case and actual rotating bezel. With a choice of multiple bands, the Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic can be just the right touch for your casual or formal outfit. When synced with your phone, the Galaxy Watch 8 makes it easier to stay in the loop and even communicate. It will mirror notifications from your phone, it will allow you to reply, you can make phone calls through it — Bluetooth models need to be in range with your phone, but the LTE models are autonomous! Even further, it can work in sync with specific apps on your phone. You can use the Galaxy Watch 8 as a remote camera shutter — preview the viewfinder right on your wrist and tap to take a perfect group photo, with the phone propped up somewhere away from you. Trade-in $149 99 $349 99 $200 off (57%) The smaller 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 is a hot pick, especially with Samsung's ongoing pre-order promo. Right now, you can secure a model for up to $200 off with eligible trade-ins. Pre-order at Samsung Trade-in $179 99 $379 99 $200 off (53%) The Galaxy Watch 8 is the perfect mix between functional smartwatch and advanced fitness tracker. Right now, you can pre-order the 44mm variant for up to $200 off with eligible device trade-ins at the official store. Pre-order at Samsung Trade-in $249 99 $499 99 $250 off (50%) The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is available for pre-order for up to $250 off with eligible device trade-ins. With its 46mm case with a tactile rotating bezel, and multiple AI, health, and wellness features, it's a solid pick for Samsung fans. Pre-order at Samsung And, of course, it heavily expands on the features of the free Samsung Health app: Even if you are not at all interested in picking up a sport, but would still like to keep up with some healthy life habits — the Galaxy Watch 8 can help. Combining readings from its proprietary BioActive sensor and AI analysis, the Galaxy Watch 8 can give you an Energy Score. It's based off of sleep quality, breathing rate, O2 levels, heart rate and a lot more. With that information, the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Samsung Health app can suggest and gently nudge you towards better decisions — from going to bed earlier, to getting up and moving from time to time, to dietary choices. If you do wish to pick up an activity, but have no idea where to start — the Galaxy Watch 8 is the perfect companion. The Running Coach feature will walk you through a 12-minute fitness test. After that, based on your performance and readings, the Watch 8 will assign you a fitness level and generate a custom 4-6 week training plan, so now you actually have some guidance! Fitness enthusiasts that are further along in their fitness journey can use the Galaxy Watch 8 to maximise and improve their performance, too. Aerobic Threshold (AT) / Anaerobic Threshold (AnT) Heart Rate Zone metrics help you get the most out of every workout and get over those plateaus faster. Cyclists can calculate Functional Threshold Power (FTP) metrics in just 10 minutes (cycling power meter required). The Galaxy Watch 8 launches with Wear OS 6, dressed in the custom Samsung interface called One UI 8 interface itself is focused on quick access and even multitasking with its Multi-Info tiles that offer at-a-glance information and instant access to favorite apps. And a Now Bar for live notifications, just like we have on the new Galaxy can talk to Gemini on your watch and ask it to start one of your custom workout routines, text a friend, or ask it about your results. You can even string together multiple commands, such as 'start workout, play my workout playlist'.Or just use Gemini to quickly look up information on anything and everything you are currently curious about. Ask it anything and you get that conversational Google LLM reply — much better than the old Assistant. And for all of that, you don't even need your phone, as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection or the LTE model of the Galaxy Watch 8 with a data plan. As always, Samsung is celebrating the new launch with enhanced trade-in offers, store credit, and lots more. If you are already eyeing a Galaxy phone , there's very little reason to not pair it with an excellent Galaxy Watch 8 ! $200 off (57%) The smaller 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 is a hot pick, especially with Samsung's ongoing pre-order promo. Right now, you can secure a model for up to $200 off with eligible trade-ins. Pre-order at Samsung $200 off (53%) The Galaxy Watch 8 is the perfect mix between functional smartwatch and advanced fitness tracker. Right now, you can pre-order the 44mm variant for up to $200 off with eligible device trade-ins at the official store. Pre-order at Samsung $250 off (50%) The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is available for pre-order for up to $250 off with eligible device trade-ins. With its 46mm case with a tactile rotating bezel, and multiple AI, health, and wellness features, it's a solid pick for Samsung fans. Pre-order at Samsung
Phone Arena
21 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
The Galaxy Watch 8: perfect companion to your Galaxy phone, perfect guide for a new lifestyle
This story is sponsored by Samsung. PhoneArena's opinions in this article have not been affected in any way! Disclaimer The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 launched with a surprising amount of upgrades and new features. Through smart design updates and integration of helpful AI features, Samsung made the new digital timepieces sleeker, prettier, and more useful than ever before. Galaxy Watch 8 Galaxy Watch 8 Classic The Galaxy Watch 8 has been designed to be the perfect mix between a timepiece and a fitness tracker. It's slim and light, for a barely-there feel when working out. However, it still has a rather large screen and tons of features for a full smartwatch functionality that complements and expands on what your Galaxy phone can already if you want a classy timepiece to accessorize your outfit with — the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic delivers just that, with a stainless steel case and actual rotating bezel. With a choice of multiple bands, the Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic can be just the right touch for your casual or formal outfit. When synced with your phone, the Galaxy Watch 8 makes it easier to stay in the loop and even communicate. It will mirror notifications from your phone, it will allow you to reply, you can make phone calls through it — Bluetooth models need to be in range with your phone, but the LTE models are autonomous! Even further, it can work in sync with specific apps on your phone. You can use the Galaxy Watch 8 as a remote camera shutter — preview the viewfinder right on your wrist and tap to take a perfect group photo, with the phone propped up somewhere away from you. Trade-in $149 99 $349 99 $200 off (57%) The smaller 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 is a hot pick, especially with Samsung's ongoing pre-order promo. Right now, you can secure a model for up to $200 off with eligible trade-ins. Pre-order at Samsung Trade-in $179 99 $379 99 $200 off (53%) The Galaxy Watch 8 is the perfect mix between functional smartwatch and advanced fitness tracker. Right now, you can pre-order the 44mm variant for up to $200 off with eligible device trade-ins at the official store. Pre-order at Samsung Trade-in $249 99 $499 99 $250 off (50%) The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is available for pre-order for up to $250 off with eligible device trade-ins. With its 46mm case with a tactile rotating bezel, and multiple AI, health, and wellness features, it's a solid pick for Samsung fans. Pre-order at Samsung And, of course, it heavily expands on the features of the free Samsung Health app: Even if you are not at all interested in picking up a sport, but would still like to keep up with some healthy life habits — the Galaxy Watch 8 can help. Combining readings from its proprietary BioActive sensor and AI analysis, the Galaxy Watch 8 can give you an Energy Score. It's based off of sleep quality, breathing rate, O2 levels, heart rate and a lot more. With that information, the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Samsung Health app can suggest and gently nudge you towards better decisions — from going to bed earlier, to getting up and moving from time to time, to dietary choices. If you do wish to pick up an activity, but have no idea where to start — the Galaxy Watch 8 is the perfect companion. The Running Coach feature will walk you through a 12-minute fitness test. After that, based on your performance and readings, the Watch 8 will assign you a fitness level and generate a custom 4-6 week training plan, so now you actually have some guidance! Fitness enthusiasts that are further along in their fitness journey can use the Galaxy Watch 8 to maximise and improve their performance, too. Aerobic Threshold (AT) / Anaerobic Threshold (AnT) Heart Rate Zone metrics help you get the most out of every workout and get over those plateaus faster. Cyclists can calculate Functional Threshold Power (FTP) metrics in just 10 minutes (cycling power meter required). The Galaxy Watch 8 launches with Wear OS 6, dressed in the custom Samsung interface called One UI 8 interface itself is focused on quick access and even multitasking with its Multi-Info tiles that offer at-a-glance information and instant access to favorite apps. And a Now Bar for live notifications, just like we have on the new Galaxy can talk to Gemini on your watch and ask it to start one of your custom workout routines, text a friend, or ask it about your results. You can even string together multiple commands, such as 'start workout, play my workout playlist'.Or just use Gemini to quickly look up information on anything and everything you are currently curious about. Ask it anything and you get that conversational Google LLM reply — much better than the old Assistant. And for all of that, you don't even need your phone, as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection or the LTE model of the Galaxy Watch 8 with a data plan. As always, Samsung is celebrating the new launch with enhanced trade-in offers, store credit, and lots more. If you are already eyeing a Galaxy phone , there's very little reason to not pair it with an excellent Galaxy Watch 8 ! $200 off (57%) The smaller 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 is a hot pick, especially with Samsung's ongoing pre-order promo. Right now, you can secure a model for up to $200 off with eligible trade-ins. Pre-order at Samsung $200 off (53%) The Galaxy Watch 8 is the perfect mix between functional smartwatch and advanced fitness tracker. Right now, you can pre-order the 44mm variant for up to $200 off with eligible device trade-ins at the official store. Pre-order at Samsung $250 off (50%) The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is available for pre-order for up to $250 off with eligible device trade-ins. With its 46mm case with a tactile rotating bezel, and multiple AI, health, and wellness features, it's a solid pick for Samsung fans. Pre-order at Samsung
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Review: Bezel Dazzle
Samsung releases new smartwatches every summer, but its most beloved ones with a "Classic" design and a rotating bezel only come out once every two years. Well, 2025, is the year when we get the new one — the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. It brings the familiar elevated style and the addictive click of the physical rotating bezel. Previous Classic editions of the Galaxy Watch came in two sizes, but this year, we only have one, a 46mm version, a bit on the larger side and probably a bit too big for smaller wrists (sorry, ladies). As far as functionality goes, it's the same as the regular Watch 8 model, meaning you get Wear OS 6 with the wonderful addition of the Gemini smart assistant. There are also some new health features like Bedtime Guidance, Running Coach and for the first time on any smartwatch - an antioxidant index. After using it for a few days, we can say that Galaxy Watch 8 Classic feels more refined than ever. Let us explain. $250 off (38%) Samsung announced its latest Galaxy Watch Ultra model, offering improved durability, a better-looking display, and more features. Right now, you can buy the smartwatch for up to $250 off at the Samsung Store. You must provide an eligible trade-in to take advantage. Buy at Samsung $250 off (45%) The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is also available at the Samsung Store at a pretty steep discount, provided you trade in an eligible device in good condition. Right now, you can save up to $250 with trade-ins. Buy at Samsung $200 off (47%) The Galaxy Watch 8 is here, packing more features and a modern-looking design. The smartwatch is already available at the Samsung Store, and right now, you can save up to $200 with eligible trade-ins. Buy at Samsung Exynos W1000 processor (same as Galaxy Watch 7) 64GB storage Gemini on board Same BioActive sensor as Watch 7 New health metrics like bedtime guidance and antioxidant index New fitness metrics like running coach Same battery life and charging speeds Comes in only one size (46mm) Pricier, now from $500 Table of Contents: Design and Sizes Bands Software Battery and Charging Models and Prices Summary Design & Sizes Last time we got a Galaxy Watch with a rotating bezel it was the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and that looked stunning. This new Watch 8 Classic keeps the appeal, but changes the design style. Instead of a round watch, we now get a squircle base with a round watchface above it. The rotating bezel is also a bit thinner, with bigger indentations. We were a bit worried about that new "squircle" shape, but it has grown on us, and honestly, it feels more comfortable wearing the new design and it seems to wobble a bit less on the wrist. Great for runners and cyclists. We already mentioned that it comes in just one, big-gish size: 46mm. The 6 Classic came in a 43mm and 47mm flavors, so the smaller model is missing. This is a good place to also mention the non-Classic Watch 8 model. With no need for a rotating bezel on that model, it's significantly thinner and lighter, so for those who are not absolutely certain they need the bezel, it's worth taking a look at the vanilla version. The benefits of a light-weight watch are under-rated! Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. The Watch 8 Classic also get a neat upgrade in peak brightness — it can now hit 3,000 nits outdoors in the sun, up from 2,000 nits on previous models. This is on par with the best watches out there and makes seeing the screen on a sunny day much easier. We also get an IP68 rating and 5ATM rating. What does this mean? You can swim with the watch, but diving is not advised. For that, you'd need to go to the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which is even tougher (but heavier too). The Galaxy Watch 7 inherits the band-latch mechanism from the previous model. You have a button that you press to release the strap and then reattach it again. It's simple enough, but if you've trimmed your nails a bit more you might have trouble pressing that button. Good news is that you can still use standard 20mm straps with spring bars. The Watch 7 comes with a selection of new, colorful Ripple bands. We like the attention to detail and loved the provided sporty strap. The green color was nice and not boring with the stitching on the side, plus it seems extra durable. Software & Features Galaxy Watches have been running Wear OS for a while now, but, of course, Samsung couldn't resist adding its own seasoning. Enter One UI Watch, the company's glossy skin on top. Think of it as Wear OS dressed for a night out — slicker and here looks nice, animations are smooth, and the software mostly stays out of your using the Pixel Watch and a few others, we have to mention just how wonderful it is that the Samsung Health app is completely free to use. No asterisks, no monthly subscriptions. Compare that to Google's Fitbit app, which has taken to paywalling useful the real star this year? Gemini. Yes, that Gemini. On your wrist. It's as cool as it sounds, but keep in mind that it will work when your watch is connected to Wi-Fi or LTE. Otherwise, you'll need to drag your phone along for the what can you actually do with Gemini from your wrist? You can ask it questions, anything from "How far to Mars?" to 'What's the best pizza in Philadelphia?' and it will answer right on that lovely round screen you have. One thing to know: it will not whip up custom training plans for you just yet. It's smart, but it has not yet transformed into a personal coach. The Watch 8 Classic has not gotten a new sensor this year (not a surprise), but thanks to the new cushion-y design that hugs your wrist snugly, the data it collects is a little more trustworthy. Better fit, better readings. Who knew?In our tests (consisting of sweaty runs and the occasional brisk walk), heart rate accuracy was solid. Meaning, it was mostly in line with readings we get from an Apple Watch or Garmin's there's the automatic workout detection, which might just be the best we've ever seen on a smartwatch. You start walking and boom — the Watch 8 knows. Hop on a bike, look at your wrist and the workout is already going. It's almost eerie, in a good GPS is still here, as it should be. If you live in a city full of tall signal-scrambling buildings, this is the feature you need. Route accuracy was spot-on in our testing. And let's take a moment to applaud Samsung's workout summaries. All your stats are cleanly laid out, explained like someone actually wanted you to understand them. Nice! The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has taken up a new hobby: looking into your vascular health while you snooze. It's a feature called vascular load tracking, the idea being to assess the pressure on your arteries over time. With three nights of data it can start sliding your results along a scale based on you, not just some generic average. I consistently landed in the calming green zone, which was reassuring, but a little opaque. It would have been helpful to see a comparison to others experiencing the same kind of mid-life crisis in their early 40s, but real star, though, is Galaxy AI and its new tricks. This year, it brings the coaching tips for sleep. In case you need a replacement for your grandparent reminding you should not scroll until be fair, Samsung's been on its sleep game for a while. Previous models could already track your REM, SpO2, temperature, even snoring (with your phone on the night stand). And from the Watch 7 onward, there's sleep apnea detection too. Sleep reports are in-depth without being overwhelming: sleep stages, apnea red flags and now (most usefulle!) a suggested bedtime window based on your recent patterns. As someone having troubles falling asleep lately, I appreciated this. Samsung, being the innovator it likes to be, has decided that this year it will become your nutritionist by providing you... an antioxidant index. However, it needs your participation. For this test, you need to remove the watch, press your thumb to the sensor, and hold for a few seconds. It's a bit of a comes the result. It slots you into one of three vague categories. But here's the twist: out of five testers, everyone landed in "low." Either we're all woefully lacking in spinach, or the scale's a bit... off. Worse still, try it twice in a row and you might get two different post-scan advice is where I started losing faith in this feature. Basically, you need to check your phone for dietary suggestions, which, amounted to: "eat more veggies." Don't we all know that already? With such vague advice, I doubt many people would bother measuring their antioxidant levels also admits this antioxidant reading hasn't been clinically validated, so think of it less as a diagnosis and more like a nudge from a this rings a bell, it's because Samsung used the same playbook for last year's AGEs index, another flashy acronym aimed to help you understand your biological aging based on lifestyle choices. What it actually measures? Still a bit of a mystery (and do let me know if you know someone who actually measures this regularly). The Watch 8 Classic still keeps the old faithfuls around: ECG, blood pressure monitoring, and the rest. Blood pressure is still a no-show on the competition like Apple Watches, but honestly, if you're serious about tracking it, an actual cuff is still your best bet. The battery in the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a bit bigger than before. It's a 445 mAh battery, up from a 425 mAh one on the Watch 6 Classic 47mm. Should we really care about a 5% increase in battery size? It's nice to have, but it does not change the equation in any meaningful way. Compared to the Watch 6 Classic, though, here you get a new and more efficient Samsung W1000 chip, so that should help a bit with efficiency. The battery numbers by Samsung, however, remain unchanged. Both the new and older classic models get the same 30 hours battery life estimate with the always-on option enabled and 40 hours if you turn it off. In other words, you have to charge the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic every single day (okay, day and a half). There are no changes to charging speeds either, which is disappointing considering that the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch both charge faster. And don't even mention the OnePlus Watch 3 series which is lightning fast to charge. In this chapter we have to once again say that the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic only comes in one large 46mm size. There is no small version of this watch (like there used to be for the Watch 6 Classic). Sadly, Samsung has also bumped the price by $100, which is quite a bit for a smartwatch: Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm): $500 Wi-Fi only; $550 for Wi-Fi + Cellular So what exactly did Samsung change with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic? Apart from a few niche health features, this is mostly about refreshing the design and style, and we think this new design is mostly a success. What we don't quite get is what has justified the steep $100 price increase, bringing the starting price of the Watch 8 Classic to $500. The other annoying detail is the never-changing battery situation on Galaxy smartwatched (really, on most major smartwatches). Having to charge this watch daily is a chore. We could occasionally squeeze a day and a half of use, but two days would be a stretch. We do like the additional third button, we like the style and fit, and we like how smooth and refined Wear OS now feels. And the Watch 8 Classic remains the only watch with such elegance and the convenience of a rotating bezel. You should absolutely get if that's what you're after, we are just not so sure owners of previous Classic watches have much reason to upgrade.
GSM Arena
5 days ago
- GSM Arena
Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic review
Every other year, Samsung is introducing its new top-of-the-line Classic series smartwatches, alongside a modestly upgraded standard Galaxy Watch. But this year, the smartwatch portfolio has been reshuffled in the context of the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Now, the Classic appears to be a complement to the Ultra, serving as a stepping stone between the vanilla and the Ultra, if you wish. Still, Samsung is promising significant improvements over the Galaxy Watch6 Classic. The Classic now adopts the cushion design that the company introduced last year, along with the Dynamic Lug locking system for the straps. It's marketed as both a design and a functional upgrade, since it helps improve the accuracy of the BioActive sensor. To be fair, with the addition of the Quick Button to the rotating bezel, the Classic feels like it's closer to the Ultra. It's still a premium smartwatch. Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic specs at a glance: Body: 46.4x46.0x10.6mm, 64g; Glass front (Sapphire crystal), stainless steel frame; Rotating bezel, MIL-STD-810H compliant*, IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 50m/5ATM), ECG certified, Blood pressure monitor, *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions. 46.4x46.0x10.6mm, 64g; Glass front (Sapphire crystal), stainless steel frame; Rotating bezel, MIL-STD-810H compliant*, IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 50m/5ATM), ECG certified, Blood pressure monitor, *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions. Display: 1.34" Super AMOLED, 3000 nits (peak), 438x438px resolution, 9:9 aspect ratio, 327ppi. 1.34" Super AMOLED, 3000 nits (peak), 438x438px resolution, 9:9 aspect ratio, 327ppi. Chipset: Exynos W1000 (3 nm): Penta-core; Mali-G68. Exynos W1000 (3 nm): Penta-core; Mali-G68. Memory: 64GB 2GB RAM. 64GB 2GB RAM. OS/Software: Android Wear OS 6, One UI 8 Watch. Android Wear OS 6, One UI 8 Watch. Rear camera: No. No. Front camera: No. No. Video capture: Rear camera : No. : No. Battery: 445mAh; 10W wireless. 445mAh; 10W wireless. Connectivity: LTE; eSIM; Wi-Fi 4; BT 5.3; NFC. LTE; eSIM; Wi-Fi 4; BT 5.3; NFC. Misc: Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, altimeter, compass, SpO2, temperature (skin), BioActive, antioxidant index. The Galaxy Watch8 Classic also employs a brighter screen, reaching 3,000 nits, and a more modern, energy-efficient chipset - the Exynos W1000 based on 3nm node. Moreover, the chip can handle some AI tasks, albeit simple, making the Watch8 Classic the first Android smartwatch to offer native support for Gemini AI. Memory gets a huge upgrade, which is a nice bonus since AI requires more storage too, so this year's Classic is fitted with 64GB internal storage. Sports and health aren't neglected in this year's iteration of the Galaxy Watch8 series. Samsung has developed a new personalized running coach, and the BioActive sensor can now measure an antioxidant index and vascular load. Samsung Galaxy Watch8 specs at a glance: Body: 46.0x43.7x8.6mm, 30g; Glass front (Sapphire crystal), aluminum frame; MIL-STD-810H compliant*, IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 50m/5ATM), ECG certified, Blood pressure monitor, Armor aluminum 2 frame, *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions. 46.0x43.7x8.6mm, 30g; Glass front (Sapphire crystal), aluminum frame; MIL-STD-810H compliant*, IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 50m/5ATM), ECG certified, Blood pressure monitor, Armor aluminum 2 frame, *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions. Display: 1.47" Super AMOLED, 3000 nits (peak), 480x480px resolution, 9:9 aspect ratio, 327ppi. 1.47" Super AMOLED, 3000 nits (peak), 480x480px resolution, 9:9 aspect ratio, 327ppi. Chipset: Exynos W1000 (3 nm): Penta-core; Mali-G68. Exynos W1000 (3 nm): Penta-core; Mali-G68. Memory: 32GB 2GB RAM. 32GB 2GB RAM. OS/Software: Android Wear OS 6, One UI 8 Watch. Android Wear OS 6, One UI 8 Watch. Rear camera: No. No. Front camera: No. No. Video capture: Rear camera : No. : No. Battery: 435mAh; 10W wireless. 435mAh; 10W wireless. Connectivity: LTE; eSIM; Wi-Fi 4; BT 5.3; NFC. LTE; eSIM; Wi-Fi 4; BT 5.3; NFC. Misc: Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, altimeter, compass, SpO2, temperature (skin), BioActive, antioxidant index. Some of the hardware upgrades that we mentioned, however, aren't exactly new to the vanilla Galaxy Watch8. Still, the newer Galaxy Watch offers a brighter display, adopts the new cushion design, it's a lot thinner now and also gets the new health and sports features. With the smartwatch market continuing to expand, Samsung is now facing tougher competition, so let's take a deeper dive and see what's with the new Galaxy Watch8 series. Unboxing the Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic The two devices come in standard retail packages containing the default straps and chargers. Galaxy Watch8 Classic and Galaxy Watch8 retail boxes Keep in mind that even though the watches support Qi wireless charging, they require proprietary Samsung chargers to work. Page 2
