Samsung is back with a refreshed smartwatch lineup, blending sleek design with useful upgrades.
The Galaxy Watch8 series introduces a thinner standard model and revives a fan favorite – the rotating bezel – with the Galaxy Watch8 Classic.
Sporting Samsung’s new ‘cushion design,’ both watches feature a rounded square shape (or ‘squircle’) that’s not just stylish, but also improves comfort and sensor accuracy during movement. A new Dynamic Lug system tightens the watch-to-wrist fit, though the tradeoff is compatibility – you’ll need custom straps now.
The Galaxy Watch8 is now Samsung’s slimmest smartwatch ever at just 8.6mm, slicing off 11% in thickness compared to last year’s model. Available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, it still sports round displays (1.34” and 1.47” respectively) that shine brighter – up to 3,000 nits – for outdoor visibility. It runs One UI 8 Watch, built on Wear OS 6, and adds new tricks like grouped ‘depthless’ notifications, widget shortcuts, and pinned apps for faster access.
Under the hood, it’s powered by the same Exynos W1000 chip, but gets a RAM bump to 2GB and 32GB of storage. Battery capacity sees a boost too: 325mAh on the 40mm and 435mAh on the 44mm model, plus fast wireless charging support.
The Galaxy Watch8 Classic makes a triumphant return with its signature rotating bezel – a much-loved navigation tool for many users. It also adds a customizable Quick Button for fast app access. This time, the Classic is only offered in a single 46mm size, with a thickness of 10.6mm and a 425mAh battery. Oddly, it shares the same 1.34” screen size as the smaller Watch8, which feels like a step back compared to last year’s larger display on the 47mm model.
However, the storage is a standout – 64GB, four times that of the Watch6 Classic and equal to the Watch Ultra (2025). That’s perfect for storing offline music or maps. Both new watches feature Samsung’s improved Bioactive sensor for better heart rate, SpO2, and health data during movement, aided by software additions like Bedtime Guidance, Vascular Load tracking, and a smarter Running Coach.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch Ultra remains unchanged hardware-wise, but now comes in Titanium Blue and doubles its storage to 64GB.
The Galaxy Watch8 comes in Graphite and Silver, while the Watch8 Classic is offered in Black and White. Pre-orders are open now, with global availability starting July 25. Prices vary by model and region, with the Watch8 starting at €379 and the Classic at €529.
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