This year, the title of the most beautiful and elegant smartwatch goes to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.
A more refined version of the Galaxy Watch 8, it retains all the improvements of its predecessor. Here’s how my experience with it went over more than a month.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: Our Tops & Flops
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, especially in the Classic version, comes with a range of interesting improvements. The brightness and activation sensors are precise, and the display is gorgeous and incredibly bright: at 3000 nits, it’s perfectly visible even under direct sunlight, as I tested during these summer months across Denmark, Sweden, Italy, and France. The case is made of steel, the back is resin, and the design is now shock-resistant.
The Classic version retains the physical bezel, allowing quick scrolling to notifications on one side and widgets on the other. In addition to the bezel, there’s a customizable button I set as a flashlight, very useful at night. Other buttons can also be configured for long or double presses (I assigned the lower one to Samsung Wallet, but it can be customized further). Moreover, it carries the Samsung One UI experience, already loved on the Galaxy Fold 6 (our review here) and S25 Edge (our review here), with polished graphics and plenty of customization options. However, it has a major drawback: the battery doesn’t last two full days. Fortunately, charging times are very fast.
What we like:
- Premium and well-crafted design
- Excellent graphical interface
- Fluid performance with an exceptional display
What we don’t like:
- Battery life is very short
- Not always intuitive to use
- Accessory straps are a bit pricey
Prices in Scandinavia:
- Denmark: 3,999 DKK
- Sweden: 5,890 SEK
- Norway: 6,290 NOK
Truly Premium
Right out of the box, the premium experience of this device is clear, with a neat, elegant, and well-organized packaging. I received it in white, and I probably would have bought it in this color. Many say it’s more feminine, but I think it’s far more refined than black.
From the first touch, the solidity of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is evident. The 46mm stainless steel case is elegant and durable, while the back is resin, which reduces weight and improves wrist comfort. The overall design is understated and refined, suitable for both sporty and formal looks. This isn’t a “techy” watch—it stands out for discretion and build quality.
The AMOLED display is simply excellent, reaching 3,000 nits of brightness, making it readable even under the strongest summer sun. Outdoors, in full daylight, it performs flawlessly. The physical bezel further enhances the experience, allowing intuitive navigation through notifications, widgets, and apps without always relying on touch. The interface is smooth, well-designed, and highly customizable, starting with watch faces: there are thousands, many free, with instant switching.
Lots of AI – and Gemini Integration
The processor is the same as the previous generation, with 64 GB of memory, more than enough for music, apps, and data. Advanced features include fall detection and emergency medical information, useful for solo athletes. Samsung Wallet integrates perfectly for quick payments.
The real novelty of this generation is the integration of Gemini, Google’s AI, turning the watch into a personal assistant always at hand. It can answer questions, create calendar events, interact with notifications, or provide smart responses to messages—all directly from your wrist without needing your smartphone. It’s a discreet but powerful presence, extremely convenient in situations like the beach or gym.
The smartwatch also allows calls via the built-in microphone and speaker. Audio quality is good, and normal-distance conversations are easy. Notifications are well-handled: you can read them, see images, and reply with emojis, quick messages, or AI-suggested phrases. Everything works smoothly, giving the feeling of a true smartphone extension on your wrist.
Excellent for sports (but be careful with water)
Where the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic truly shines is in health and fitness tracking. Samsung has refined the sensors, which are more precise than the previous generation. The range of features is impressive: from ECG to body composition measurement (fat and lean mass), and blood pressure tracking, which, while not perfect, is useful for monitoring trends (note: ECG and blood pressure require synchronization with a Samsung smartphone).
The antioxidant measurement function is also intriguing, providing insights into dietary habits: in my case, it highlighted a likely low intake of fruits and vegetables. Technically, this measurement is performed by removing the watch and placing a finger on the rear sensor. It only takes a few seconds to get an indication—not an exact measurement, but a clear idea of the trend.
Sleep tracking is among the most comprehensive on the market. Every morning, Samsung Health provides a detailed report: hours slept, sleep stages, overall quality, heart and respiratory rate, skin temperature, snoring, and even heart rate variability. A true nightly lab on your wrist, capable of detecting even minor changes—like an elevated heartbeat after a heavy dinner or intercontinental flight.
Automatic activity detection is also included, although GPS doesn’t activate automatically, likely to save battery. Manual tracking is possible for more precise sessions. GPS accuracy is good, comparable to the previous version. It’s not Garmin-level, but sufficient for non-serious athletes. The Watch 8 retains swimming features, but I wouldn’t recommend using it in water given the materials.
The real limitation
Although improved from the previous generation (1 day and ¾ versus 1.5 days), the battery remains the Achilles’ heel: it needs charging almost every night. Charging is via an included USB-C wireless charger, and while not super fast, it takes about an hour to go from 35% to 80-90%, and under 1h45 for a full charge.
This means that charging during a morning shower and breakfast often isn’t enough for the whole day, and charging overnight prevents sleep tracking—which, for me, isn’t a problem, as I don’t use this feature.
