The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has arrived, blending sophisticated design with personalized health and fitness features, aiming to provide users with a comprehensive wellness experience right on their wrist.
Design and Features
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic sports a "cushion" design, a departure from the traditional circular watch face, that combines the lines between a square and a circle. It features the return of the popular rotating bezel and a new Quick Button for easy access to frequently used apps and functions. The Quick Button, inspired by heritage timepiece design, allows users to quickly launch apps, time workouts, and streamline routines. The watch case is constructed from stainless steel and comes in one size, 46mm, and is available in Black and White. The display is a crystal-clear Super AMOLED with up to 3,000 nits brightness, ensuring visibility even in direct sunlight. It also features a new Dynamic Lug System for a more comfortable and secure fit, which adjusts to hug the wrist snugly for accurate health readings. The watch has increased internal storage of 64GB, double the standard Galaxy Watch 8.
Enhanced Health and Fitness Tracking
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic provides a suite of health-tracking features. New to the Galaxy Watch 8 series is the Antioxidant Index, which measures carotenoid levels in the skin in approximately five seconds, offering insights into healthy aging. The watch also introduces Vascular Load monitoring, which tracks stress levels on the vascular system during sleep, and Bedtime Guidance, which measures circadian rhythm to suggest the optimal bedtime. For fitness enthusiasts, the Running Coach feature assesses running ability with a 12-minute test and creates a personalized training plan with real-time guidance. The improved GPS sensors enhance the accuracy of path and location tracking during workouts. The watch also includes standard health features such as ECG, SpO2 monitoring, and sleep tracking. Sleep Apnea detection has been added to the extensive suite of sleep-tracking features.
Performance and Battery Life
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is equipped with the Exynos W1000 processor and 2GB of RAM. The enhanced 3nm processor allows users to multitask across apps with smooth responsiveness. The watch has a 445mAh battery, which Samsung estimates will last up to 30 hours with the always-on display enabled.
Software and User Interface
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is among the first devices to run Wear OS 6 with Samsung's One UI 8 Watch interface. The updated UI features a new "Now Bar" for quick access to active apps and streamlined notifications. It also features Gemini AI, which brings more complex commands and contextual understanding to your wrist.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is available for pre-order now and will be generally available starting July 25. The Bluetooth-only model starts at $499, while the LTE model is priced at $549.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic aims to be a stylish and functional smartwatch, offering a blend of classic design and advanced health and fitness tracking capabilities.
