Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Traditional is on preorder, beginning at $449, with the LTE mannequin priced at $499.
- The bodily rotating bezel is easy, One UI incorporates new well being metrics, and the cushion design is elegant.
- The show shrunk to 1.34 inches, it is moderately costly, and the bands are robust to safe in place.
Each different 12 months Samsung rolls out a brand new Galaxy Watch with a bodily rotating bezel. This 12 months, we have got the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, with a pretty analog aesthetic, cushion design, and the identical Fast Button we first noticed on the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Along with some new {hardware} adjustments, the Watch 8 Traditional is loaded with AI — the primary new Google Put on OS watch to launch with Google Gemini, alongside Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
Additionally: I tested the best Android smartwatches of 2025 – these are my favorites
The watch offers you with well being insights that contribute to your Power Rating, in addition to new AI coaches that will help you obtain your working and sleep objectives. Antioxidant ranges, vascular load, ECG, sleep apnea detection, physique composition, and extra all assist make the Galaxy Watch 8 Traditional your private well being and wellness advisor.
One function of the Google Pixel Watch 3 that I used to be very enthusiastic about is the superior help for working. After practically every week of working with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, it’s now my favourite watch to run with, and in contrast to Google, Samsung doesn’t cost a payment for the superior Operating Coach performance.
To begin your journey with the Operating Coach, it’s essential carry out a working check that consists of a brief heat up, 12 minutes of extra intense working, and a brief settle down. Samsung Well being will information you thru the working check so join your Bluetooth headphones and hit the street.
On the conclusion of the working check, Samsung Well being will present you your present working degree: mine was 5 out of 10. After accepting the outcomes, it is going to current you with a weekly working plan. As you full every exercise, a compliance rating shall be awarded and you will have to cross to maneuver on within the coaching program.
Exercises embody jogging, intervals, tempo runs, fartleks, and extra. Comply with-up checks are assigned as you full a sure variety of exercises in your degree and you then transfer on up. I am unsure what occurs for those who full all exercises at degree 10, however I am going to attempt to work my method there and determine that out.
Along with Operating Coach, Samsung Well being works with the Galaxy Watch 8 Traditional to function a sleep coach that guides you thru a training program to enhance your sleep outcomes. I am at the moment a penguin sleeper and have a 3 week program underway. Sleep monitoring appears correct when in comparison with different wearables, and the Watch 8 Traditional even helps sleep apnea indication monitoring.
The Watch 8 Traditional helps the antioxidant index by measurements taken along with your thumb on the again of the watch. I have been within the low area for the previous week, with some common steerage to eat extra greens. Samsung representatives confirmed how extra particular steerage shall be offered, resembling “eat 10 blueberries”, because the Watch 8 Traditional learns extra about your every day routine.
Additionally: I used every Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Series model – and my favorite isn’t the Ultra
I like the look of the Watch 8 Traditional {hardware} with a easy rotating bezel on the cushion design body, however the show is a bit smaller than the Galaxy Watch 7 and I am unable to quit the massive show and lengthy battery lifetime of the Watch Extremely. The UI is flawless and easy, nevertheless, particularly as you spin the bezel.
Samsung designed a brand new dynamic lug system for the watch bands, and albeit I hate it. I perceive it was applied to enhance the reliability and accuracy of well being metrics, however thus far I discover it troublesome to take away and insert the bands into the luges even with the detailed written directions included within the bundle.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
I bounce round between plenty of completely different smartwatches as a part of my real-world testing right here at ZDNET, however given the implausible new Operating Coach function on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, it is going to be my every day driver for a while.
If you’re a runner or an individual who could be very fascinated by all of particulars round your well being and wellness then it’s robust to beat the newest Samsung Galaxy Watch with all of those metrics without spending a dime.
