Galaxy Watch 8 & 8 Classic review: the smart coach for your wrist?
Verdict in brief
The Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic are technically brilliant, especially for sports and with Google Gemini on your wrist. The battery life of 1.5 days at most is disappointing, though. For Android users, they still remain among the most powerful smartwatches.
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Pros
- Smart control with Google Gemini and gestures
- Personalized AI running coach for athletes
- Excellent haptic bezel (Classic model)
- Smooth performance thanks to the Exynos W1000 chip
- High-quality design with sapphire glass
Cons
- Disappointing battery life (about 1.5 days)
- No more Wireless PowerShare via smartphone
- Larger models unsuitable for slim wrists
- Strap system is not backward compatible
Review: Galaxy Watch 8 & 8 Classic: the smart coach for your wrist?
In her latest hands-on, Jen from jenlovestech takes a close look at Samsung’s current smartwatch generation. Between innovative AI control and familiar battery challenges, she answers the question: is the upgrade to the Watch 8 or the Watch 8 Classic worth it?
Design: classic meets “squirkel”
With the new series, Samsung is going for variety. While the Galaxy Watch 8 stands out with its extremely flat case, Jen celebrates the Watch 8 Classic for its haptically excellent rotating bezel. An important lesson from the test: size matters! For slim wrists (like Jen’s, with a 15 cm circumference), the 40 mm version is ideal, while the larger models and the Classic version can often stick out a bit.
Smart everyday life with Google Gemini
A real game changer in the test is the deep integration of Google Gemini. As the first smartwatch series with this AI assistant, it lets you handle tasks like route planning or complex questions right on your wrist. Jen is particularly impressed by the new gesture control: you can simply answer messages with a finger-tap gesture and your voice, without needing a free hand.
Fitness revolution: your personal running coach
For sports enthusiasts, jenlovestech offers a deep look at the new AI running coach. After a short entry test, the watch analyzes your fitness level and creates individual training plans. The highlight: during your run, you get direct feedback on your pace through the Galaxy Buds. Health tracking has also been expanded: from ECG to the new antioxidant index, everything is on board.
Light and shadow: performance vs. battery
- Pro: Thanks to the new Exynos W1000 processor, the watch responds lightning fast and smoothly. The sapphire glass build feels extremely high-quality.
- Con: The biggest weak point remains battery life. With a maximum of 1.5 days, the watch has to go on the charger almost daily. Jen also sharply criticizes that charging via the back of a Samsung smartphone no longer works.
Verdict
The Galaxy Watch 8 series is technically brilliant, especially if you focus on sports and AI assistants. But anyone who hoped for a battery revolution will be disappointed. Still, for Android users, it remains one of the most powerful smartwatches on the market.
Questions and answers
- How long does the Galaxy Watch 8 battery last?
- About 1.5 days at most, so the watch has to be charged almost daily. Charging via the back of a Samsung smartphone no longer works.
- Which Galaxy Watch 8 size fits slim wrists?
- For slim wrists like Jen's, with a 15 cm circumference, the 40 mm version is ideal. The larger models and the Classic version can stick out a bit.
- What does Google Gemini do on the Galaxy Watch 8?
- You can handle route planning or complex questions right on your wrist. With the new gesture control, you answer messages with a finger-tap gesture and your voice, without needing a free hand.
- What is the difference between the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic and the Watch 8?
- The Classic has a rotating bezel, which Jen praises for its feel. The regular Watch 8 instead has an especially flat case.
