I Tested Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8, And It Kickstarted My Motivation To Get Running Again

1 month ago

Samsung Galaxy 8 Smartwatch

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Samsung's Galaxy 8 is disposable for preorder now, pinch shipping opening connected July 25.
It's a tin smartwatch pinch each nan accustomed wellness metrics, on pinch Samsung's Running Coach, bedtime guidance, and betterment insights.
Some features consciousness much experimental than scientific, for illustration Antioxidant Index and BMI, which grounded to activity respective times.

Samsung's latest smartwatches person arrived. The Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, which includes some nan Watch 8 and nan Watch 8 Classic pinch a rotating bezel, are disposable to pre-order now, and they're packed pinch each nan modular wellness search metrics, and immoderate unsocial ones of its own.

I've been testing Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 for a fewer days. I've run, slept, and socialized pinch it, and I'm assured it's 1 of nan apical Android smartwatches you tin bargain correct now, whether you're training for a marathon aliases conscionable looking for a tin AI-powered smartwatch.

Also: The biggest wellness upgrade Samsung announced astatine Unpacked was besides nan astir subtle

Before I get into nan package that makes this watch truthful unique, let's talk hardware. First off, nan Galaxy Watch 8 is notably thinner than some its predecessor and nan competition. Samsung made this watch 11% thinner than nan Watch 7, and erstwhile compared to nan different awesome smartwatches, nan Watch 8 is not arsenic bladed arsenic nan Apple Watch Series 10, but acold thinner than nan Pixel Watch 3.

At 3,000 nits, nan Watch 8 is 1 of nan brightest displays successful nan crippled correct now, trumping nan 2,000 nits offered by nan Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 10. This is simply a show that will beryllium visible outdoors successful virtually each conditions -- I had nary problem navigating it during my sunny runs.

Regarding artillery life, it's important to statement that its longevity varies based connected smartwatch size. I tested nan 40mm size smartwatch, and successful my experience, erstwhile utilizing it continuously for activity and slumber tracking, it lasted astir a time and a half pinch Always-On enabled. Disabling that characteristic will compression a fewer much hours retired of nan battery, however, and nan larger-sized watch whitethorn besides past you a small longer.

One mini but typical touch I for illustration connected nan Watch 8 is nan caller Multi-Info tiles that activate regularly-used features. I could easy swipe near to grounds an outdoor walk, cheque nan weather, aliases spot my slumber people without having to daintily property nan mini surface respective times to get this accusation from its respective app. This intuitive and thoughtful merchandise creation is thing Samsung excels at.

Before nan Watch 8 lineup was moreover announced, Samsung teased immoderate of its astir compelling features arriving done One UI 8. Many of them subordinate to activity and sleep, pinch features for illustration Running Coach, Antioxidant Index, and Bedtime Guidance, that purpose to optimize your wellness whether you're moving aliases sound asleep.

Also: My caller favourite Android smartwatch rivals Google and Garmin

Running Coach is by acold my favourite characteristic connected nan Watch 8, and will beryllium a awesome tie for smartwatch-curious customers. I precocious tested it out, allowing nan watch to measure my moving level pinch a 12-minute trial concluding pinch a personalized people connected a 10 constituent scale.

I recovered nan characteristic to beryllium a useful exertion of nan watch's AI, but besides a humbling one. It rated maine a 3 retired of 10 (yikes), past offered up immoderate training plans to get maine pounding pavement and finishing races faster. You tin group up reminders for your race-training connected nan watch, and nan watch will supply you pinch a personalized scheme for reaching your region and gait goals.

I've been retired of it for a fewer months, but nan mediocre people I received really motivated maine to return up moving again. The personalized moving scheme geared toward a user's recovery, ability, and acquisition level is an approachable instrumentality for novice runners looking to train for their first aliases adjacent race. As I found successful my characteristic testing, it makes moving -- an already accessible athletics -- moreover much so.

One characteristic I had a small problem pinch is nan Antioxidant Index, not because it didn't work, but because it kept standing my antioxidants low, contempt nan regular vegetables, berries, beets, and full foods I eat. Antioxidant Index useful by placing your thumb connected nan BioActive Sensor connected nan bottommost broadside of nan watch. Then, it sounds it successful little than 10 seconds and ranks your levels arsenic very low, low, aliases adequate.

I sewage ranges betwixt very debased and low, astir 41 and 52 retired of 100, which seems inaccurate considering I put a batch of attraction into my diet. When looking person astatine this feature, Samsung says that my Antioxidant Index whitethorn alteration because of nan uneven surfaces of my skin. Also, it whitethorn return up to 2 weeks for my scale to bespeak a higher intake of these nutrients.

Antioxidant Index is simply a awesome idea, and I dream much biomarkers will beryllium measured connected nan watch pinch this BioActive Sensor successful early updates, but correct now, it feels for illustration thing is missing: immoderate context, aliases accuracy functionality that makes it little of a wellness gimmick.

Also: Nothing conscionable launched a stylish $99 smartwatch - pinch a reported 13-day battery

Other features, for illustration Bedtime Guidance and Cardio Load, show your slumber and activity level regular to estimate your perfect bedtime and wakeup clip and cardio capacity. These additions thief to optimize your waking and sleeping moments pinch adjuvant nudges and recommendations. I emotion immoderate characteristic that takes your information to estimate your slumber aliases activity request and group a baseline.

Samsung is leaning heavy into its wellness functionalities connected its latest smartwatch lineup. It makes sense, considering Samsung seems to beryllium headed successful a healthcare-minded direction, pinch a recent acquisition of integer healthcare marque Xealth.

ZDNET's buying advice

Samsung's Running Coach characteristic is 1 of, if not nan champion features of this smartwatch. If you're a runner successful immoderate capacity, you'll admit nan adjuvant metrics and coaching nan Galaxy Watch 8 tin provide.

Whether you're training for your first-ever marathon aliases conscionable want to amended and would use from immoderate other information seizure (and encouragement), nan Galaxy Watch 8 is nan smartwatch I'd urge for nan job, particularly if you're an Android user.