Experience the Power: Reviewing Galaxy Watch 8 & Classic Edition

Wondering what sets Samsung apart in the competitive smartwatch market? Look no further than the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, fresh off the stage from Samsung\’s Galaxy Unpacked event. These smartwatches, with their innovative design and enhanced health features, illustrate why Samsung continues to be a leader in wearable technology.

New Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic

Samsung elevates the game with the cutting-edge health features of the new Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic. These include noninvasive skin analysis and AI-driven coaching for sleep and running. Additionally, these are the first smartwatches to come with Google\’s Gemini AI straight out of the box, ready to handle complex tasks. 

Pricing and Availability

The Galaxy Watch 8 starts at $350 for the 40mm model and $380 for the 44mm one. The LTE versions cost $400 for the 40mm model and $430 for the 44mm watch. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, featuring a rotating bezel and physical crown, comes in a single 46mm size and costs $500, or $550 for the LTE model. Preorders are available starting July 9, and early reservations can earn you $50 in Samsung credit.

Health and Fitness Features

Samsung continues to enhance the Galaxy Watch\’s role as a health and wellness tool,, with new metrics like an Antioxidant Index and Vascular Load. It also offers improved sleep tracking with a new Bedtime Guidance tool and introduces a Running Coach feature for personalized fitness plans. It’s worth noting that these metrics aren’t clinically validated and are meant to provide a general guide rather than replace medical-grade tests.

Design

The Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic sport a new \”cushion\” design, a blend of a round screen set inside a \”squircle\” frame. While the shape is a departure from traditional circular watch faces, the new design offers a slimmer, lighter form factor for a more comfortable fit and accurate heart rate data capture.

Gemini on the Watch

The introduction of Google\’s Gemini AI to the new Galaxy Watches is a major software update. This enables more complex commands and a deeper understanding of context right on your wrist. However, Gemini requires an internet connection to function, so you’ll need to have your phone paired nearby or opt for an LTE watch model.

Battery and Storage

While the battery life of the Galaxy Watch 8 may not match that of the Ultra, Samsung claims that the Watch 8 has an 8% larger battery than its predecessor. Combined with the efficiency of the new Wear OS 6 update, this hopefully means improved battery performance. In terms of storage, all models now come standard with 64GB, double the previous capacity.