I tried the Galaxy Watch 8's breakout health feature — and it's pretty weird

I’ve tested out nearly every Galaxy Watch since the original debuted, and for years, it’s felt like Samsung was stuck in a loop: round watch, same battery, a splashy new health-tracking feature or two, rinse and repeat. For the most part, each new Galaxy Watch looked and felt a lot like the last.

That’s not quite the case for the Galaxy Watch 8.

The Galaxy Watch 8 marks a real pivot, not necessarily in hardware (although there are actually changes) but in smarts. This is the first smartwatch with Google Gemini built-in, and it runs right on the device. No phone required, as long as you’ve got Wi-Fi or LTE. Whether it’s practical day-to-day remains to be seen, but in theory, it could be the best smartwatch for extending AI assistant to your wrist.

I think Samsung fans will be glad the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is also part of the family, seeing the return of a physical rotating bezel and other premium touches meant to stand out from the sea of sporty smartwatches. Otherwise, the Galaxy Watch Ultra remains the “rugged” option.

Shoppers will have a healthy selection of Samsung watches to consider going forward. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, especially considering the $50 premium that puts these Android watches in Apple Watch territory in terms of pricing. Our full Galaxy Watch 8 review will determine how it ultimately stacks up, so for now, check out my hands-on impressions below.

Galaxy Watch 8 price and release date

Galaxy Watch 8 pre-orders are available now, with the official release date slated for July 20, 2025. As for pricing, Samsung is asking more for the Galaxy Watch 8 than it did for the Galaxy Watch 7 in the U.S., and the price difference is noticeable.

• Galaxy Watch 8 (Bluetooth, 40mm): $349 / £319
• Galaxy Watch 8 (LTE, 40mm): $399 / £369
• Galaxy Watch 8 (Bluetooth, 44mm): $379 / £349
• Galaxy Watch 8 (LTE, 44mm): $429 / £399
• Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (Bluetooth, 46mm): $499 / £449
• Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (LTE, 46mm): $549 / £499
• Galaxy Watch Ultra (Titanium Blue, 64GB): $649 / £599

That puts the Watch 8 in line with the Pixel Watch 3, and slightly less than the base Apple Watch Series 10 ($399).

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is the only device that retains its price, having launched last year alongside the Galaxy Watch 7. New for this year is a “Titanium Blue” edition with double the storage of the standard model (64 GB instead of 32 GB) for $649. It supports LTE by default.

Galaxy Watch 8 specs

Galaxy Watch 8 design

Samsung’s going for a different look this year, moving on from the classic round watch to a design inspired by the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Both the Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic adopt this cushion-style design that better integrates the health sensor, allowing this to be the thinnest Galaxy Watch ever at just 8.6mm. That’s about 11% slimmer than the Galaxy Watch 7.

That said, the regular Watch 8 in particular looks like it has a bit of wasted space around the screen. The Classic wears the new chassis better, helped by the return of the physical rotating bezel. This fan-favorite feature lets you navigate the watch without touching the display, which I greatly appreciate when it comes to leaving the screen fingerprint-free.

Color options are a bit conservative: silver or graphite for the regular model, black or white for the Classic. Personalization comes in with watch bands that support the new “Dynamic Lug System,” which promises better comfort and more accurate heart rate tracking as a result of the fit. This also means that you’re going to need new watch bands for your new watch, kind of a bummer for anyone with an existing collection.

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

The Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic are virtually identical wearables on the inside: same processor, same health sensors, same Gemini integration, same software experience.

The key difference is in the design. The standard Galaxy Watch 8 has a more minimalist look with an aluminum case and no physical bezel. The Watch 8 Classic, on the other hand, brings back Samsung’s signature rotating bezel and opts for a stainless steel build, which gives it a chunkier, albeit more elevated feel. It’s also slightly heavier and only comes in one size (46mm), making it better suited for those who prefer a larger, more traditional watch design.

If you want that tactile bezel interaction and something that looks more like a traditional timepiece, the Classic’s your pick. Otherwise, the regular Watch 8 gives you the same brains in a slimmer body and a lower entry price.

Galaxy Watch 8 health and fitness tracking

Health tracking has always been Samsung’s comfort zone, built around the Samsung Health app available on watch and Samsung smartphones. This year’s Watch 8 adds a few headline features that span activity, sleep, and nutrition:

• Cardiovascular Load: The cardiovascular load feature tracks heart strain during sleep over three nights to establish a baseline, and tells you if you’re pushing your activity too hard to allow for proper recovery.
• Running Coach: After a 12-minute test run, the watch’s Running Coach (found in the activity app) scores your ability and builds a plan. The Pixel Watch has a similar running coach feature adopted from Fitbit.
• Bedtime Reminders: Based on circadian rhythm and something Samsung calls “Sleep Pressure,” your health app will suggest ideal wind-down times. We’ll need to test how useful this is compared to the Apple Watch’s wind-down focus mode and the Oura Ring’s suggested bedtime notifications.
• Antioxidant Index: Easily the biggest wild card. By pressing your thumb to the watch’s optical sensor for a few seconds, Samsung can estimate antioxidant levels in your body (essentially an indicator of cellular stress). I tried out the test and scored a “very low” level, but the folks running the demo assured me not to be concerned. As a result of my score, the app suggested I eat a carrot. I know that sounds like a joke, but I can assure you it is not.

In addition to these new features, the Galaxy Watch retains all the fitness features tacked on over the years: advanced sleep tracking with chronotype assignments, FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection, a daily energy score, BIA body composition analysis, temperature-based cycle tracking, Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) Index of metabolic health, and more.

There’s still a race between Apple and Samsung to see which flagship smartwatch will receive FDA-approved blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring. Now that Samsung has shown its cards, Apple has a chance to get the edge with the Apple Watch 11 expected in September.

Galaxy Watch 8 Wear OS and Gemini on the wrist

The Galaxy Watch is powered by Wear OS layered by Samsung’s One UI 8, blending Google and Samsung features throughout the user experience. This is a similar strategy seen on Samsung smartphones like the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7.

So, as Gemini has become integral in the Galaxy smartphone experience, it’s now the Galaxy Watch’s turn to embrace Google’s AI assistant. This is officially the first smartwatch with Gemini built in. As long as you’re connected via Wi-Fi or LTE, you can talk to Gemini without needing your phone nearby. You can ask pretty much all the things you would on your phone, such as nearby recommendations, calendar reminders, routines and more.

This arrives as Apple’s Siri and Apple Intelligence features are still limited on the wrist. The Apple Watch is getting an AI workout buddy in watchOS 26, but your phone needs to be connected for functionality.

The key to Gemini on Galaxy Watch is latency and reliability. If it works consistently, this could be the Android watch to get. In my demo, the responses lagged a bit, but that could probably be chalked up to limited Wi-Fi bandwidth in the area.

With One UI 8, the Galaxy Watch 8 is also getting better multitasking (a six-app launcher), smarter notifications, and the Now Bar that shows contextual info like travel plans similar to Apple’s Live Activities.

Galaxy Watch 8 battery life

The Galaxy Watch 8 packs anywhere from a 325mAh battery to a 445mAh battery depending on the version, with the Classic having the largest capacity. That said, the capacities don’t matter much as Samsung estimates users will get 30 hours with the always-on display or 40 without.

In my experience testing the Galaxy Watch in real-world situations, the battery life lasts closer to a full day. That’s about the same as you get with the Pixel Watch 3 or Apple Watch Series 10.

If battery life is a priority for you, you might want to consider the Galaxy Watch Ultra instead. When I used it, it lasted a solid two full days on average including activity- and sleep-tracking.

Galaxy Watch 8 outlook

The Galaxy Watch 8 doesn’t reinvent the smartwatch, but it does nudge it in a smarter direction. The slimmer body and thoughtful health upgrades are all nice to see, but Gemini is the star of the show if you ask me.

If it works well and if you’re comfortable embracing a combination of Google and Samsung apps, it could make Samsung’s new watch one of the most useful devices in the Android ecosystem right now.

That said, the higher price, modest battery life, and still-unproven health features need further analysis. Expect a full review soon to unpack all those variables. For now, I’m comfortable saying the Galaxy Watch 8 is an ambitious smartwatch worth keeping your eyes on.