After a year-long hiatus, Samsung is back with a new iteration of its ‘Classic’ Galaxy smartwatch. The new model in the Watch8 series takes several design cues from the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which was introduced last year. It is still very much a smartwatch for users who want all the health and fitness tracking features without giving up the aesthetics of a traditional watch. Fetching Rs 44,999, it is considerably dearer than its predecessor, which was priced at Rs 36,999 at launch. We strapped the new model on our wrists for a week to find out if it is worth its price tag. Here is our comprehensive review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic.
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In This Article
Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic Review: Design and Display
Before we dive into what’s new on the design front, let’s take a look at what you get inside the Watch8 Classic’s retail box:
- Watch dial
- Watch strap
- Wireless charger
- Quick start guide
The form factor of the Galaxy Watch8 Classic is inspired by last year’s Galaxy Watch Ultra (our review here). Its round display is encased in a square shell with rounded corners. The rotating bezel, a trademark of Samsung’s ‘Classic’ watches, is present on this model too. Its ridged texture offers a nice grip. The entire frame is made out of stainless steel. Weighing 63.5g, the watch makes its presence felt on the wrist, but not in a way that causes fatigue. There is only 1 size on offer – 46mm. Needless to say, it is more suited for larger wrists.
The right edge of the stainless steel frame features a new ‘Quick Button’ sandwiched between the home and back buttons. It triggers ‘My Exercises’ by default, but can be customised to launch a bunch of different apps. The microphone is positioned just below the Quick Button. The left edge of the frame houses the speaker grille. The BioActive sensor array is placed on the dorsal side of the watch.
The 1.34-inch circular AMOLED display has a 438p resolution. It can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. In outdoor conditions, the display is easily able to overcome the surrounding brightness with absolute ease. The fluid touch response on offer here is unmatchable by its peers. The rotating bezel makes the browsing experience more accessible and seamless.
The new Dynamic Lug System on the Watch8 series tweaks the strap angle for better heart rate tracking and a more comfortable fit. The bad news is that older straps are no longer compatible with the new design. The pin and buckle mechanism for fastening the strap is simple, comfortable, and timeless. We’ve tried other fastening methods (clasps, under-buckle, etc.) on smartwatches, but the old-school way still reigns supreme.
The silicone watch strap has a faux leather finish on the outside. This gives it a charming look without sacrificing any of the comfort. It also makes it suitable for rigorous and sweaty workout sessions. No matter how humid and sweaty things get, this strap does not cause any itchiness.
The Watch8 Classic is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. It can survive up to 5ATM of water pressure and still work when you’re 50m under water. The watch is also compliant with MIL-STD-810H durability standards. You don’t have to worry about light knocks and minor drops. However, Samsung does not guarantee its survival in extreme conditions.
Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic Review: Performance
At the heart of the Galaxy Watch8 Classic lies Samsung’s in-house Exynos W1000 processor. There’s 2GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage on board. The watch comes in Bluetooth and LTE (4G) variants:
- Bluetooth: Rs 44,999
- LTE (4G): Rs 48,999
OS duties on this watch are handled by One UI 8 Watch OS, which is based on Android Wear OS 6. The software experience on offer here is top-notch. What we particularly like about the OS is how easy it makes it to browse the watch. With a double-pinch gesture, you can access your unread notifications, accept an incoming call, control the media playback, and dismiss or snooze an alert. A simple shake gesture hangs up incoming calls and dismisses any pesky alerts. If you want to summon the Gemini assistant, all you need to do is long-press the home button.
Speaking of Gemini, its integration on this smartwatch is tasteful and seamless. Instead of digging through different apps or reaching for the phone for a simple Google search, we found ourselves going straight for the digital assistant on this watch. The Watch8 Classic is a smartwatch in the truest sense of the word. You can access a plethora of third-party apps on this device – be it WhatsApp for everyday conversions or Hole19 for a quick round of golf.
The Galaxy Wearable app serves as a mobile companion to this watch. It gives you a great level of control over how the watch looks and what it can do. Using health settings, you can decide which health metrics you want to monitor at all times. The sound, display, notification, battery, and input settings can be controlled from this app too. If you’re using an LTE model, you will need this app to set up a mobile plan for the watch. If you need a new Watch Face, the Wearable app has one of the most expansive and diverse libraries we’ve seen. Furthermore, it lets you edit the app drawer, tile, and quick panel layout.
Over the years, Samsung’s smartwatches have set the benchmark when it comes to health and fitness tracking. The Watch8 Classic upholds this tradition. Its BioActive sensor array comprises an accelerometer, a barometer, a bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor, an electrical heart sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a hall sensor, an infrared temperature sensor, a light sensor, and an optical heart rate sensor.
During the week-long review period, we used the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic to track our daily steps, morning runs, and workout routines. The smartwatch automatically detected these activities and recorded accurate data. The margin of error was negligible. With dual-frequency GPS, you can go on an outdoor run and map your path on this watch without needing your phone. The navigation system is accurate even in dense urban environments with high rises around you.
You can take a look at your health and fitness data in the Samsung Health app. This app assigns you an Energy Score based on your sleep cycle and daily heart rate. For a good score, you need consistent physical movement throughout the day paired with a healthy sleep session. Talking about the sleep cycle, the Watch8 Classic can now track your vascular load while you sleep. On top of that, its light sensor can measure your body’s antioxidant index when you press your thumb against it. The Blood Pressure and ECG tools are available exclusively on Samsung smartphones.
The Watch8 Classic is packed with a 445mAh battery pack. Samsung claims a battery life of 30 hours with Always On Display turned on, and 40 hours when it is disabled. We found these numbers to be consistent with our daily usage. The smartwatch supports 10W charging and can reach a 100% battery level using the wireless charger provided in the box.
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Verdict
The Watch8 Classic strikes the perfect balance between traditional aesthetics and smart features. It is a gritty performer, capable of tracking a wide range of exercise, workout routines, and health metrics. You don’t have to worry about missing any essential health or fitness tracking features on this watch. Its form factor may be a bit bulky for rugged outdoor use or intense gym sessions, but it makes up for that with its remarkable style. It goes well with formal attire, without sticking out like a sore thumb. The rotating bezel is a nice throwback that we’d love to see on other smartwatches as well.
Pros
- Elegant design
- Comfortable
- Bright display
- Excellent health and fitness tracker
Cons
- Pricey
