Galaxy Watch 8: My First Days With Samsung's Smartwatch Have Been Promising

Samsung announced its newest devices during its Galaxy Unpacked arena connected July 9. That happened to autumn connected nan 2nd time of Amazon’s Prime Day event. Do large tech companies not cognize what nan others are doing? Do they care? Do they for illustration making nan lives of tech reporters difficult? I didn’t person clip to consider. Only erstwhile I was done covering Amazon did I person clip to statesman decently testing Samsung’s latest wearable. That intends I’ve been surviving pinch nan Galaxy Watch 8 for 4 days now.

While that’s not capable clip to complete a broad reappraisal and tally a adjacent score, I was capable to stitchery a bully magnitude of first impressions — and fto maine show you, they are astir each positive. I’ll proceed to measure nan watch complete nan adjacent fewer weeks aliases truthful and return for a last assessment. In nan meantime, there’s a batch to opportunity astir nan acquisition truthful far.

Samsung packed a batch of updates into its latest smartwatch, successful position of some hardware and software. But I put other effort into testing 1 characteristic successful peculiar — and it’s 1 of nan much interesting.

Antioxidant tests and my persimmon intake

The Galaxy Watch 8 has nan aforesaid processor and sensors arsenic nan erstwhile generation, but it’s utilizing those to observe a caller metric: antioxidant levels. You person to return nan watch disconnected and clasp your thumb connected nan sensor node for 5 seconds to get a reference and you’ll request to mention to nan Health app successful your telephone for elaborate results. The first clip I tested, I sewage a people of 60, which falls correct successful nan mediate of nan “low” conception of nan scale. The only different results are “very low” and “adequate,” which will surely beryllium a disappointment to nan over-achievers retired there.

The Health app suggested I “try eating 1 (100g) persimmon today.” When my grandma was alive, she made persimmon cookies each Christmas and nan past clip she did truthful was besides nan past clip I thought astir that fruit. Considering South Korea is 1 of nan world’s largest persimmon producers, it mightiness make consciousness that a Samsung instrumentality suggested them. The nutrient feline astatine my section market shop said they only transportation them astir nan holidays (no uncertainty because grandmas insist, positive that’s erstwhile they’re successful season).

Turns retired persimmons are precocious successful antioxidants specified arsenic Vitamin C and beta-carotine (Vitamin A). Cantaloupe besides has those nutrients — positive it’s orangish for illustration persimmons — truthful I bought one. In fact, I went difficult connected nan antioxidants and did everything I could to spot if I could get a amended score. I ate a bunch of cherries and a small acheronian chocolate. For breakfast, I had half a cantaloupe alternatively of nan very tasty-smelling meal hash my hubby made, and I drank plain greenish beverage alternatively of my accustomed oat matcha latte. I did yoga and went to my monthly aesculapian massage assignment (stress is said to summation oxidant levels). I sewage 8 hours of slumber and drank my weight successful water. I felt ready.

So I took nan trial again and my antioxidant levels were… 2 points lower. Sigh. I wasn’t expecting overnight transformation, but I’d hoped for a small improvement. Next time, I’m eating nan hash.

Finally, a caller design!

Since its fourth generation, nan Galaxy Watch has looked beautiful overmuch nan same: a information solid surface group successful a information metallic lawsuit pinch ample prongs popping retired of nan apical and bottommost to clasp nan band. While location was thing wrong pinch sticking pinch a bully design, giving a instrumentality a refreshed look lends nan yearly update rhythm immoderate meaning — alternatively of emotion for illustration an obligatory move to appease stockholders.

This clip around, nan Galaxy Watch 8 looks markedly different acknowledgment to a style borrowed from past year’s Ultra model. Samsung calls it a “cushion design” — a information solid show group atop an aluminum lawsuit that looks for illustration a roundish quadrate (or squircle arsenic our ain Cherlynn Low calls it). The Sport set connected my reappraisal exemplary curves to meet nan width of nan case, creating a soft arch that I deliberation is much refined than nan clunkier pronged configuration. In fact, nan full look is prestigious — overmuch much truthful than nan Apple Watch, which looks for illustration a miniaturized iPhone 11 glued to a silicone strap.

The cushion creation is awesome successful 1 way, but besides worrisome. Because nan solid show stands proud of nan lawsuit by astatine slightest 2 millimeters, my first thought was: “I’m going to trash this screen.” Immediately aft taking nan watch retired of nan box, I ordered surface shields and, during nan short people of this review, managed to ace one. That’s perchance because I was inexpensive and ordered off-brand surface protectors, aliases possibly nan protruding solid cushion is simply begging for misfortune.

However, nan raised solid solves 1 title I had pinch nan Galaxy Watch 7. One measurement to scroll is by moving your digit on nan outer separator of nan screen. In fact, on-screen cues propose that motion erstwhile there’s much contented to view. On nan Watch 7, my digit was ever getting successful nan measurement of nan matter I wanted to read. Now that nan show is elevated, there’s room for my digit to recreation further retired on nan outer separator and enactment retired of nan way.

Appearance aside, my favourite hardware update is really overmuch much comfortable nan watch is. The Watch 7’s underside had a sizable sensor node, and it took maine a week to get utilized to nan feel. Even then, I hated sleeping pinch it. The Watch 8, however, felt bully nan first clip I put it on.

Gemini connected your wrist and Wear OS 6

The Galaxy Watch 8 is nan first smartwatch to vessel pinch Google’s Wear OS 6, though Samsung overlays it pinch its ain One UI interface. The header characteristic for nan caller package is Gemini integration. Now, astir things you tin do pinch nan Gemini app connected your telephone tin beryllium done done your watch. Just statement that you’ll request to person your Gemini-compatible telephone adjacent to usage it.

Google’s AI was beautiful snappy astatine basal tasks for illustration mounting reminders and timers. Requests that required much “thought” took only marginally longer (and completed much quickly erstwhile I was utilizing my location Wi-Fi versus relying connected compartment signals retired successful nan world). I asked for nan champion grounds stores successful my metropolis and a bully spot to eat lunch. I was pleasantly amazed to perceive of a new-to-me reply for each category. The grounds shop turned retired to beryllium 2 bins of LPs wrong a book shop, but still, I hadn’t heard of it before. I asked why my eight-year-old talked astir lava chickenhearted each nan clip and was correctly informed astir Jack Black and A Minecraft Movie.

The adjunct displays answers successful matter shape connected nan watch surface and besides sounds retired each word. That tin move into a batch of talking, but tapping nan surface stops nan chatter if you for illustration to read. Gemini tin grip follow-up questions and tasks, but since it doesn’t usually support listening aft it speaks, you person to pat nan mic icon to make your adjacent request. I've reached retired to Samsung to spot if there's a mounting that will make Gemini support listening and will update erstwhile I perceive back. For now, aft tapping, you tin opportunity worldly like, “Add that to my Google Keep” aliases “Remind maine astir that.” If it asks you a question, however, specified arsenic verifying a matter it’s astir to send, it does support listening for nan answer.

I requested immoderate reasonably circumstantial tasks and didn’t deed immoderate snags. I asked it to matter nan reside of a section edifice to my hubby and it verified which location I wanted past sent nan message. I asked erstwhile nan Albuquerque Isotopes were playing nan Sacramento River Cats and it gave maine nan upcoming dates. I tapped nan mic and said, “add that to my calendar,” which it did.

It only fto maine down twice. When I asked whether it was going to rain, it conscionable publication maine nan wide upwind forecast alternatively of answering nan question. All nan different assistants successful my life (Alexa and Siri) tin reply those questions — though technically that’s a Gemini problem, not nan watch's fault.

The different disappointment is simply a matter of due integration. I was retired connected a locomotion and I asked for directions to a adjacent market store. Gemini told maine nan reside and nan distance, but pointed maine to look astatine my telephone for nan existent directions. When I asked Siri nan aforesaid point connected nan aforesaid walk, directions simply showed up connected my Apple Watch. (Yes, I’ve been wearing 2 watches and carrying astir 2 activated phones for illustration a double agent, conscionable overmuch little cool.)

In summation to Gemini, Wear OS 6 introduces updated and larger tiles which shape and show accusation connected your watch. By default, nan tiles are separated into categories: Health, Fitness and Basic (weather, media playback, calendar) pinch each container displaying a spot of pertinent info — activity metrics, existent temp, your adjacent arena and truthful on. If nan constricted info isn’t enough, tapping a tile opens nan respective app. You tin categorize, rearrange, switch retired and adhd arsenic galore pages of these cards arsenic you want successful nan Wear app connected your phone. I didn’t person clip to get nan defaults tweaked precisely really I wanted, but it already feels for illustration a overmuch smarter measurement of interacting pinch a watch. Now you tin glean cardinal accusation from nan apps that are important to you conscionable by browsing your tiles.

The moving coach believes successful you

The Galaxy Watch 8 now comes pinch built-in, AI-fueled moving guidance. This sounds a spot for illustration nan upcoming Workout Buddy that Apple announced for watchOS 26, truthful it will beryllium absorbing to comparison nan two. Google Pixel watches and Fitbits presently person nan action of an AI-powered moving coach, but it’s constricted to Premium subscribers. Garmin offers an adaptive training programme called Run Coach arsenic well, truthful this isn’t an wholly caller idea.

Samsung’s moving coach originates pinch an assessment: Run arsenic accelerated arsenic you tin support for 12 minutes. You’ll past beryllium awarded a capacity level ranging from 1 to ten. Each level comes pinch a tailored, four-week scheme pinch 4 workouts per week intended to get you fresh to complete a 5K, 10K, half aliases afloat marathon. My 12-minute, 22-second per-mile gait put maine astatine a level three. My scheme was geared towards getting maine to tally a 5K astatine nan extremity of 4 weeks.

The first workout was low-intensity interval moving pinch 4 segments of moving hard, interspersed pinch cool-down walks. As I ran, nan AI coach told maine erstwhile and what to expect connected nan adjacent conception and what my goals were for each. It spouted occasional words of encouragement and fto maine cognize erstwhile my gait started to lag. The guidance wasn’t intrusive and I appreciated nan preview of and expectations for nan adjacent segment. I tried it relying conscionable connected nan watch's speakers, and I could perceive OK arsenic agelong arsenic nan streets were quiet, but I decidedly urge utilizing earbuds.

I recovered myself moving faster than I would person without a “coach” and now I’m honestly wondering whether I, a personification my jock sister describes arsenic “not an athlete,” could really complete a 5K. Maybe there’s immoderate worth successful this conception aft all. In immoderate case, I find myself looking guardant to taking it further. My adjacent workout is simply a consecutive up, 30-minute jog. I’ve ne'er continuously tally for a half an hr successful my life, truthful we’ll spot really that goes.

Vascular load, bedtime reminders and artillery life

The speedy turnaround connected this article intends I didn’t get to decently trial immoderate of nan caller features. Vascular load takes readings while you slumber to measure nan wellness of your circulatory system, past tells you erstwhile your load is higher aliases little than normal and offers recommendations. It requires 3 nights of information to group a baseline, but aft nan 3rd nighttime of wearing nan watch to bed, it said I still needed 1 more. Three nights of slumber should besides trigger a Bedtime Guidance feature, but I’m still waiting for a notification connected that 1 arsenic well. I've reached retired to inquire Samsung if location are much requirements astir getting Bedtime Guidance to activity and will update erstwhile I find out.

One of nan anterior model’s shortcomings was artillery life. The always-on show (AOD) tanked nan charge, truthful I kept it off. The Galaxy Watch 8 has a bigger 325mAh battery, compared to nan 300mAh 1 connected nan Watch 7. Twenty-five milliamp hours isn’t a immense jump, but bigger is ever better. Because I was testing each imaginable characteristic (sleeping, running, workouts, antioxidants, Gemini and more), I was perpetually dropping nan watch connected nan charger for partial refills successful betwixt tests. That meant I didn’t person nan opportunity to methodically trial nan battery’s runtime conscionable yet.

I did statement what I could. The first time of testing, nan artillery was astatine 100 percent astatine 4PM. The adjacent time astatine 4PM it still had 17 percent remaining. That 24-hour play included driving directions, 3 workouts, tons of Gemini requests, watch look changes and a afloat nighttime of sleep. I’d toggled nan AOD connected and disconnected passim that time, but nan results were still amended than what I tracked connected nan Watch 7.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is ace swank

I didn’t person a ton of clip to walk pinch nan Classic type of nan Watch 8, but it’s evidently aimed astatine nan luxury watch-hound crowd. The knurled spinning bezel, inset diving bezel replica and nan default chronograph watch look gives disconnected superior Rolex Daytona/Omega Speedmaster wannabe vibes. It ships pinch a stitched leather-look set and nan alloy lawsuit has nan heft and stature of an automatic mechanical timepiece. The always-on show and chunky buttons only adhd to nan effect.

For me, nan main advantage it has complete nan modular Galaxy Watch 8 is nan protection nan spinning bezel offers nan raised display. The solid is shielded astatine nan edges and it’s moreover inset somewhat which will ward disconnected scratches. It’s a spot chonky for my taste, but it’s amazingly comfortable for its size and is highly attractive. I could spot this appealing to style enthusiasts who want a smartwatch but don’t want to look for illustration they’re wearing a wrist gadget.

Pricing and nan competition

Samsung added $50 to nan value tag connected nan 40mm Galaxy Watch 8, bringing it to $350. The larger 44mm exemplary is now $380 (versus $330 past year) and nan Classic version is $500 for nan azygous 46mm size. For reference, location was nary Galaxy Watch 7 Classic and nan Galaxy Watch 6 Classic sold for $400 for nan 43mm size and $430 for nan 47mm.

At $350, nan guidelines exemplary Galaxy Watch 8 costs nan aforesaid arsenic Google’s Pixel Watch 3 (though nan Pixel Watch 4 is almost surely connected nan way and could beryllium much expensive.) The Apple Watch Series 10 starts astatine $399, but it went as debased arsenic $279 during Prime Day. And, of course, a caller Apple wearable is apt coming this September pinch a imaginable value bump arsenic well. So Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 could extremity up being nan astir affordable of nan awesome smartwatch releases erstwhile nan particulate settles from 2025’s launches. And if you’re a Samsung smartphone user, it’s easy your champion bet.

Everything other and an eventual score

The halfway functions of nan Galaxy Watch 8 haven’t changed each that much. We went in-depth connected nan fittingness and wellness features for our review of nan Galaxy Watch 6 and covered nan notable perks of Samsung’s wearable successful our Galaxy Watch 7 review and our Galaxy Watch 5 review. So I’ll conscionable constituent retired that nan workout search is still meticulous — and it’s faster to suss retired erstwhile I’m connected a locomotion than my Apple Watch. The companion Health app, wherever you position each nan information your watch gathers, is adjuvant and a delight to usage pinch its common-sense suggestions and friends animations. And nan regular Energy Score is simply a useful parameter of really I’m doing pinch my slumber and activity goals.

The Watch 8 covers nan basics well, acting arsenic an industrious accessory for a Galaxy phone. Although, arsenic pinch nan Watch 7, I wish nan notifications were much intrusive arsenic they’re easy to miss. The double pat characteristic is awesome — a pinch motion that dismisses aliases triggers actions without you having to touch nan screen. I usage it often and nan watch almost ever registers nan motion. And finally, I emotion really customizable nan watch faces are. When you harvester each that pinch a substantially refreshed look, immoderate tin Gemini integration, a fewer caller wellness features and a much navigable interface, Samsung’s latest wearable becomes a very tin wrist companion. I still request to unrecorded pinch it a while longer (with a caller surface protector firmly successful place) to delegate a reappraisal score, but truthful far, I’m impressed.