Samsung wants its new watch to be more than an accessory to tell the time or count steps. With the launch of the Galaxy Watch8 and its Classic version, the South Korean brand is betting on a more comfortable design, new health features, and the integration of artificial intelligence with Gemini, Google's assistant. All of this in a device that also improves in power, sensors, and autonomy, seeking to become the most complete smartwatch on the market. Here we tell you everything you need to know.

Renewed design and surprising comfort

The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and its sophisticated brother, the Galaxy Watch8 Classic, bring a radical change in design, adopting the "squircle" aesthetic (a circle inside a rounded square) that debuted with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The reason? This design looks great and allows the watch to be 11% thinner, thanks to internal reengineering that improves the layout of components by up to 30%. The result: an ultra-slim profile of just 8.6 mm for the standard model, much more comfortable and elegant on the wrist.

In terms of materials, both models feature sapphire crystal and the cushion design that redefines the aesthetics of the line. The Watch8 comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes, in Graphite or Silver colors, while the Classic reaches 46mm with a classic rotating bezel, available in Black and White. It also features a “Quick Button” that combines the best of traditional style with a modern experience.

For those who go out in the sun, the Super AMOLED display offers up to 3,000 nits of brightness, 50% more than the previous generation, ensuring visibility even in bright sunlight. A “Dynamic Lug” type strap system is also incorporated, which makes the watch adapt to the movement of your wrist, improving both comfort and sensor accuracy.

Health functions and a personal coach on your wrist

Samsung continues to focus on comprehensive health and does so with powerful tools. Among the most striking is the new Bio Active Sensor, which improves the detection of biometric parameters and recently added the Antioxidant Index, which measures your carotenoid levels in just 5 seconds.

The Galaxy Watch8 also stands out for its sleep tracking system, with Bedtime Guidance, vascular load monitoring while you sleep, and even sleep apnea detection. This turns the watch into a sleep coach that helps you improve the quality of your rest.

On the physical side, it includes the Running Coach, which analyzes your fitness level (from 1 to 10) and creates personalized training plans. In addition, its “Together” feature allows you to challenge friends, giving your goals a social and fun touch. It also includes High Stress alerts, mood and breathing monitoring (Mindfulness Tracker), and an Energy Score that integrates your physical and mental energy.

As if that weren't enough, the dual-frequency GPS increases precision in outdoor activities and the battery, together with the 3 nm processor, provides adequate autonomy for those who lead an active lifestyle.

Wear OS 6, Gemini and the day-to-day experience

Samsung, in partnership with Google, integrates Wear OS 6 and the Gemini artificial intelligence assistant into these watches, setting a precedent as the first wearables with Gemini integrated from the factory. This means you can use voice commands like “Start a 30-minute run” or “Find a nearby coffee shop and tell Juan” without having to take out your phone.

The One UI 8 Watch interface also improves the experience: new “Multi-Info Tiles”, “Now Bar” sidebar and instantly accessible notifications. Everything flows naturally on the smaller screen, and integration with apps like Samsung Health, Calendar, and Reminders is simpler and more straightforward.

This level of interaction is especially useful during exercise, when you don’t want to interrupt your rhythm, and Gemini handles launching apps and performing complex actions thanks to its multimodal capabilities.

Price and availability

The Galaxy Watch8 is available for pre-order today, with general on-sale starting July 25, 2025. The standard 40mm Bluetooth model is priced at $349 USD, and the 44mm model is priced at $400 USD. The Galaxy Watch8 Classic (46mm with bezel, Bluetooth) is priced at $499 USD. There are also LTE versions and variants with more storage, which increase the price a bit more.

Yes, prices are up a bit—it’s about $50 more than the previous generation. But considering all the design, sensor, and Gemini upgrades, it seems justified. The more adventurous version, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, remains at its usual $649 price, now with more storage.