Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic Review | Worth It?

Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic Review

Packed with Features, But Not All Make Sense

Rating: 6/10

Strengths

• Stylish and comfortable to wear
•  Bright and clear display
•  Lots of new health features

Weaknesses

•  The odd shape may not suit everyone
•  Some health tools feel unnecessary
•  Old watch straps don’t fit the new models

I’ve tested smartwatches for years now, and one thing always stands out—people have strong opinions about the shape of the watch face. My editor, BytnBuzz, loves the round face of the Pixel Watch. I, on the other hand, prefer square faces like the Apple Watch because they show more text.

Now, it seems like Samsung heard this debate and decided to mix things up. The result? A design that’s not quite round, not quite square. It’s something in between—a “squircle.” Samsung calls it the “cushion” design.

This cushion look actually reminds me of last year’s Galaxy Watch Ultra, which looked a lot like the Apple Watch Ultra. It feels like Samsung is still figuring out how to stand out in the crowded world of smartwatches. Right now, its strategy seems to be offering lots of health features—some helpful, some a bit strange. We’ll dig into those shortly.

Making Some Trade-Offs: What’s New in the Galaxy Watch8 Series?

Samsung has released three models in the Galaxy Watch8 lineup. There’s the standard 40mm Watch8 (which I tested), a larger 44mm version, and the sportier 46mm Watch8 Classic that comes with a rotating mechanical bezel—BytnBuzz tested that one. There’s also a refreshed Watch Ultra, which is the same as last year’s model but now comes in blue and has more internal storage.

Samsung says these new watches are thinner and lighter than before. They weren’t lying. The Watch8 is just 8.6mm thick, while something like the Pixel Watch 3 stands taller at 12.3mm. That difference really shows when you’re wearing it all day.

This is also the first smartwatch series to come with Google’s Wear OS 6. The interface is smooth and colorful, with a fun new look. I really like how the new tiles group useful widgets together. It makes checking things faster and easier. The screen is a 1.5-inch AMOLED, bright and sharp—even outdoors under direct sunlight. It’s covered by sapphire crystal glass, which helps keep scratches away. The case is made of aluminum, giving it a light and premium feel.

To be honest, I really like how this watch looks. It feels sleek compared to the chunkier Watch Ultra, which I find a bit too much. But here comes the big issue: battery life. Samsung says it can last up to 40 hours, but my experience was very different. I had about 20% battery left, wore it for an hour, and by the time I got to my destination, it was completely dead. A smartwatch that can’t make it through the day is a big letdown.

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