Samsung has officially announced its 2025 line-up of flagship smartwatches, unveiling the Galaxy Watch 8 series at Unpacked July. The family of wearables consists of two devices: the regular Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, seeing the return of the beloved rotating bezel Classic model after skipping the 7 generation. Both have adopted the ‘squircle’ design of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and come with features like a slimmer profile, bigger battery and they are also the first smartwatches to ship with Wear OS 6 software.
The regular Galaxy Watch 8 has a much more subtle and clean design. Samsung dubs it ‘Minimalistic Essentials’, which actually fits quite well. It’s 11% slimmer than its predecessor at 8.6mm, improving comfort by 12% and stability by 8%. Available in two sizes (40- and 44mm) and two colours: Graphite and Silver.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic looks much more like the Ultra with a chunky 46mm case and the same rotating bezel and the Quick Button. It comes in just black or white colourways and doesn’t adopt the Dynamic Lug system for quickly swapping straps like the regular Watch 8 does. Both watches have 5ATM, IP68 and MIL-STD-810H durability ratings.
The Galaxy Watch 8 series not only introduces a refreshed design but also plenty of new features. Specs haven’t moved on all that much from the previous generation, but upgrades have been made in key areas like the screen. They are also the first smartwatches to hit the market with Wear OS 6, essentially the latest version of Android for wearables.
Both Galaxy Watch 8 models are powered by the Exynos W1000. If you opt for the regular model, you get 32GB of storage, while the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic doubles that to 64GB. Either way, you get 2GB of RAM but battery size varies between size and model. The smaller 8 has a 325mAh battery, while the larger bumps this to 435mAh and the Classic goes to 445mAh.
As for the software, the Galaxy Watch 8 models are the first to come with Wear OS 6. Samsung adds One UI 8 Watch over the top, providing features like glanceable tiles, a Now Bar, app suggestions, and quick access to an AI Assistant via one of the physical buttons. The assistant is Google Gemini and can do various things for you, like find the nearest gym, start a specific workout, or create a playlist.
Samsung announced various software features ahead of Unpacked and these include a new Antioxidant Index to “motivate you to make healthier choices”. The watch can measure the level of carotenoids stored in your skin, so you know when to eat fruit and vegetables. Other features include a Running Coach with various analysis and motivational elements, Vascular Load to track the stress levels of your heart, and Bedtime Guidance.
In summary, the Galaxy Watch 8 series offers a mix of new features, improved design, and enhanced software experience. With two models to choose from and a range of pricing options, Samsung has aimed to cater to a wide audience of smartwatch users.
