Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Review: Stuck in the Middle

Worth When Reviewed

From $499

Greatest Costs Right now: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Basic

$499.99

The Galaxy Watch 8 Basic sees Samsung reprise a smartwatch design it selected to place to at least one facet when it launched the Galaxy Watch Extremely and Galaxy Watch 7 in 2024.

Whether or not it was the response from Basic followers or it was at all times the plan to carry it again in 2025, the Samsung smartwatch with the favored bodily rotating bezel returns and it’s not simply all in regards to the bezel.

Together with that signature trait, Samsung additionally takes some design inspiration from its 2024 wearables whereas embracing Google’s newest Put on OS software program and its personal One UI additions to make this a formidable bundle.  

Design & Construct

• New ‘cushion’ design
• Bodily rotating bezel
• New strap lug connectors

Earlier than getting onto the bezel, there’s a bit extra to deal with with the look of the Galaxy Watch 8 Basic.

The large speaking level right here is Samsung’s resolution to include the cushion design launched on the Galaxy Watch Extremely that sits behind that attention-grabbing twisty bezel.

Mike Sawh

I favored the transfer to this ‘squircle’ search for the Extremely and having not too long ago examined the common Watch 8, I believe it really works nicely there too.

As for the Basic, which is available in simply black or white variations, the general aesthetic feels a bit extra jarring. It appears to be like like a mixture of two concepts – one which’s there to appease and the opposite so as to add some uniformity, and the result’s one thing that’s fairly awkward.

The bezel has been the characteristic that’s largely carried the Basic look up to now and whereas it’s satisfying as ever, twisting between two fingers to regulate quantity or scroll by way of screens, I’m unsure the mix of the 2 appears to be like actually works – chances are you’ll disagree, after all.

Mike Sawh

It’s a watch that you simply undoubtedly know is there always, that’s for positive.

At 63.5g, it’s a contact heavier than the Watch 6 Basic, with that stainless-steel carrying a little bit of heft. When you want one thing that sits lighter in your wrist, the Galaxy Watch 8 is likely to be the one for you as an alternative.

Mike Sawh

Samsung retains the 2 giant pusher buttons working down the appropriate facet of the case and takes one other design characteristic from the Galaxy Watch Extremely within the type of its Fast Button.

The tackle Apple’s Motion button provides you one-button entry to options just like the onboard stopwatch, digital camera controller, torch or you possibly can merely disable it. When you disable it, then it’s principally a button that may’t be used for anything.

Flip the watch over and also you’ll discover Samsung’s BioActive sensor array and the buttons used to launch every finish of the watch strap. The strap makes use of a brand new lug system designed to enhance consolation and make it straightforward to swap out the watch strap.

I’d truly say the strap can truly be fairly tough to launch, set inside this new case design. I can’t say I actually observed that it added something on the consolation entrance both.

Display & Audio 

• 1.3-inch Tremendous AMOLED show
• As much as 3,000 nits brightness 
• Wi-Fi and 4G fashions

The Watch 8 Basic packs a 1.3-inch, 438 x 438 decision show, in order that’s truly a downgrade in dimension and determination in comparison with the Watch 6 Basic’s high-resolution, 1.5-inch show.

It does appear that introducing that cushion design, regardless of being a 46mm physique, has impacted the quantity of display screen you now get to faucet and prod at. This isn’t ultimate id you’re in search of a mixture of rotating bezel and massive display screen.

Mike Sawh

It’s an excellent show nonetheless. Samsung hardly ever places a foul one in its smartwatches. It’s good and brilliant with a most brightness of 3000 nits. There’s the choice to make use of an adaptive brightness mode and which ensures the display screen is at its brightest when it’s most wanted.

You even have the choice to set to always-on show mode, whilst you moreover get the choice to get up the show utilizing the rotating bezel, ensuring it’s nicely built-in into your every day interactions.

Mike Sawh

There’s a 4G model of the Watch 8 Basic, which would require extra of your cash. In return, you’ll be capable of make calls, stream music and obtain apps with no need your cellphone close by.

The onboard microphone and speaker array don’t equal what I’d name a stellar efficiency. It’s not the clearest, nor the loudest to make use of for calls or to hearken to audio.

Software program & Options 

• Runs on Put on OS 6.0 
• Google Gemini AI onboard
• 64GB storage

The Watch 8 Basic options Samsung Exynos W1000 3nm processor from the Galaxy Watch 7 to handle efficiency.

You’re additionally getting 64GB of storage which is double the Galaxy Watch 8 and 4 instances that of its predecessor.

Of the storage, 49GB of it’s obtainable to absorb with apps, watch faces and music. The software program fortunately runs slick and doesn’t go away you ready achingly lengthy besides up apps.

Mike Sawh

Essentially the most noticeable adjustments lie with the software program the place you’re getting a mixture of Put on OS 6 and Samsung’s personal One UI 8 Watch laid on high.

This brings consumer interface tweaks like the power to view related Tiles (widgets) on a single display screen as a stream. So, all of the health-focused options could be considered in a single place. Once you’ve received an app working and it’s not on the forefront of your consideration, Samsung has introduced over the Now bar from its telephones to your watch face display screen to offer you faster entry.

These adjustments have made an enormous distinction and are what Put on OS has wanted.

Mike Sawh

Swipe by way of the principle app display screen and also you’ll see some acquainted suspects by way of staple smartwatch options. From a Samsung standpoint, there’s Bixby, devoted apps for the music participant and media controls and a SmartThings app.

On the Google facet, you’ve received entry to the Google Play Retailer, a well-optimised Google Maps app and also you now get Google Gemini which little doubt you’ll use 100 instances greater than Bixby.

Gemini is the massive story. Out goes Google Assistant and as an alternative an AI-powered good assistant that immediately feels extra helpful. Not like earlier assistant help, whether or not Google or Samsung’s, the power for Gemini to deal with extra superior queries immediately makes it a extra helpful assistant.

I requested about the whole lot from issues I ought to put on for the day based mostly on the climate, to what I could make for dinner with some leftover pastry and spinach. The responses have been truly helpful. The issue is that Gemini isn’t going to be distinctive to Samsung’s smartwatches and shortly you’ll discover it cheaper watches just like the Google Pixel Watch 4.

What hasn’t modified is that you actually need three totally different apps in your cellphone to place all the Watch 8 Basic’s options to good use. That’s Samsung Put on, Samsung Well being and the Samsung Well being Monitor app for these with Samsung smartphones.

Health & Well being Monitoring 

• Antioxidant index characteristic
• Personalised working coach
• New bedtime steering

Whether or not you wish to observe exercises, maintain a better eye in your well being or just wish to be instructed in case you’ve had an excellent evening’s sleep, the Watch 8 Basic ought to have a characteristic right here for you.

Mike Sawh

As a health tracker, it’ll rely your steps, and most of the onboard watch faces can show your progress. The automated exercise monitoring can choose up if you’re out for a stroll amongst different actions, and show animations to remind you to remain energetic.

Evaluating every day step counts with different trackers and the 8 Basic generated step totals in the identical ballpark. They by no means felt overly excessive or low as compared. I might say, so far as motivating me to maneuver extra, Samsung doesn’t actually do something massively totally different from different smartwatches.

For sleep monitoring, it’s a fairly complete expertise and in addition a richer one in case you personal a Samsung smartphone. For any Android consumer, you’ll be capable of see sleep stats like sleep scores, sleep levels, together with the REM sleep stage and in addition monitor blood oxygen, pores and skin temperature and coronary heart price.

I’ve been sporting it alongside the Oura Ring 4 and each supplied related sleep instances and sleep scores. Digging into the sleep levels information and the Samsung tended to report barely shorter instances spent in that vital REM stage that’s tied to reminiscence and studying. Info like common coronary heart price was often 1-2bpm out from the Oura as nicely.

Past that, now you can get steering on when to fall asleep, as soon as the watch has captured a couple of nights of sleep, it’ll counsel a bedtime window. These home windows by no means felt wildly beneficiant with these home windows and for some unhealthy sleepers could possibly be helpful.

Mike Sawh

You’re additionally getting Samsung’s not too long ago launched sleep apnea detection characteristic, which like Samsung’s nice ECG and blood stress options, can solely be accessed and used on a Samsung Galaxy cellphone by way of the Samsung Well being Monitor app.

You may select to allow or disable the sleep apnea characteristic and it’ll use the rear watch sensor to trace blood oxygen ranges after monitoring over two nights of sleep. Simply be aware that turning it on does have an effect on battery life.

That’s not the top of the well being options. A brand new vascular load metric will let you know extra in regards to the stress put in your vascular system – that’s the system answerable for the transportation of blood all through the physique.

If the load is excessive, that could possibly be an indication of potential well being points. Fortunately, mine remained regular with the baseline it’s essential to set by taking your watch to mattress for 3 nights.

Mike Sawh

One other new characteristic is the Antioxidant Index, which desires to be sure you’re getting sufficient of these antioxidants that may be related to the slowing down of ageing and usually dwelling a more healthy life.

Capturing a studying is finished if you take the watch off and place your thumb on the Bioactive sensor on the again of the look ahead to a measurement that simply takes a couple of seconds. You’ll then be scored between 0-100.

When you’re hitting a excessive rating, that’s good. If it’s beneath 75, you’re not hitting the WHO’s every day advisable quantity of fruit and greens. My rating was usually within the 50 vary, which meant my stage was low and The Verge identified it may be ‘fooled’ with a Cheeze-It, so take it with a pinch of salt. Having to take the watch off to do the measurements shortly turned tedious.

Mike Sawh

On the sports activities monitoring entrance, Samsung serves up loads of sports activities modes and does provide the fascinating dual-band GPS. That’s designed to offer out of doors monitoring an accuracy increase. You’re now getting a brand new personalised working coach that can grow to be extra personalised when you’ve accomplished a take a look at to run so far as you possibly can in 12 minutes.

After that, you’ll be instructed an achievable working plan based mostly on that take a look at. I’m a fairly skilled runner and the plans advisable to me didn’t actually align with my present working capacity in any respect, which is worrying.

The GPS efficiency isn’t what I’d think about significantly excellent both. Notably when in comparison with different sports activities watches from Garmin and even an Apple Watch. It’s the same story for coronary heart price monitoring the place most coronary heart price readings, even for much less intense exercises, trended increased than a dependable chest strap coronary heart price monitor.

That private working coach is tagged as a beta characteristic, whereas the Antioxidant Index, vascular load and not too long ago launched AGEs index are options which are thought of experimental. Meaning they’re not formally launched options suggests you shouldn’t solely belief the whole lot they’re telling you proper now.

Battery Life & Charging

• As much as 40 hours battery life
• As much as 30 hours in always-on show mode 
• Energy saving mode obtainable 

The Watch 8 Basic strikes to a barely bigger 445mAh capability battery in comparison with the 425mAh one used on the 6 Basic.

That small improve in battery dimension provides you a way of what you possibly can count on from the battery life. It’s not massively totally different and rivals just like the OnePlus Watch 3 nonetheless outpace it.

Mike Sawh

Actually, Samsung quotes the identical as much as 40 hours utilizing the raise-to-wake mode, or 30 hours with the display screen on always. When you plan to maintain that display screen brilliant and use options just like the sleep apnea one in a single day, these are the sorts of issues that put better pressure on battery life.

After I used it with the raise-to-wake mode, the battery was slightly below two days. With the display screen on always, it was nearer to 1-1.5 days. Samsung does embrace some extra modes to push issues additional, and present you options to disable to push issues additional.

In Put on OS phrases, it’s not the most effective you’re going to get and is zero enchancment on the final Basic, which is a disgrace contemplating the two-year hole between them.

Once you’re utilizing the GPS, the battery drop after half-hour of working was 8%. That roughly works out to about 5-6 hours of GPS battery life. You could find cheaper smartwatches that supply much more by way of GPS battery.

Worth & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Basic was introduced in July 2025 and is that can be purchased now with pricing beginning at £449/$499 for the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi model. That jumps to £499/$549 if you wish to add in LTE connectivity.

You should buy it from Samsung, Amazon and different retailers.

issues from a Samsung smartwatch perspective, the 8 Basic is roughly £150/$150 cheaper than the Galaxy Watch Extremely and £150/$150 dearer than the Galaxy Watch 8. The Galaxy Watch 6 Basic launched at £369/$3999, in order that’s fairly a value hike.

In comparison with different Put on OS smartwatches, the Google Pixel Watch 3 prices from £349/$349. The OnePlus Watch 3 is even cheaper at £319/$349. Principally, they’re are cheaper and higher Put on OS choices on the market.

Try our record of the most effective smartwatches for our present high 10 selections.

Mike Sawh

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Basic?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Basic is a fairly good smartwatch that improved on the Galaxy Watch 6 Basic in numerous methods.

The change in design, nonetheless, isn’t going to be to everybody’s liking and I’m unsure it really works in addition to it does on the Extremely or common Watch 8. 

Within the context of different Put on OS and Android smartwatches, this isn’t a standout one by way of battery life, or features like sports activities monitoring and half-baked options with points you wouldn’t count on to come across from a Samsung watch on the value.

It’s an excellent showcase for Gemini and the newest Put on, although different smartwatches just like the Pixel Watch 4 will be capable of provide that quickly as nicely.

I’d say choosing the cheaper Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 can be the good selection. These in search of extra battery life can take a look at the likes of the OnePlus Watch 3 and the TicWatch Professional sequence.

General, it’s a uncommon misstep from Samsung within the wearable recreation.

Specs

• Put on OS 6 with One UI 8 Watch
• 1.3-inch AMOLED display screen
• 46mm case
• Stainless-steel case
• ECG, blood stress and sleep apnea monitoring 
• 64GB storage
• 2GB reminiscence
• Bluetooth and LTE fashions
• Twin-frequency GPS
• 5ATM waterproof ranking 
• As much as 40 hours battery life
• Launch colors: Black and white