The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic stands out in the crowded wearable market by combining timeless design with modern smart features. Positioned as the premium choice in Samsung’s 2025 smartwatch lineup, this model brings back the rotating bezel, adds enhanced software intelligence, and delivers a robust health and fitness suite that rivals many competitors.
Design, Display, and Build Quality
Samsung has crafted the Watch 8 Classic with a 46mm stainless steel body that feels substantial and durable on the wrist. Its 1.34-inch Super AMOLED display with sapphire crystal protection produces vibrant colors and excellent brightness levels, ensuring clear visibility in both indoor and outdoor conditions.
The signature rotating bezel returns with tactile precision, providing intuitive navigation through menus and apps, a feature that many users still prefer over purely touchscreen controls. However, due to its larger size and weight (around 63.5g), it may feel bulky on smaller wrists.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Watch 8 Classic runs on Samsung’s Exynos W1000 chipset paired with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage, offering smooth performance for everyday tasks, apps, and notifications. It operates on Wear OS 6 with One UI 8 Watch, which brings deeper integration with Android, improved app compatibility, and support for the latest features through extended software updates up to 2029.
This watch also introduces AI capabilities like the running coach and voice assistance powered by Google Gemini, making it more than just a passive tracker. The Quick Button adds customizable shortcuts that enhance convenience and usability.
Health, Fitness, and Tracking Features
Health monitoring remains a strong suit of the Galaxy Watch8 Classic. The built-in Samsung BioActive Sensor delivers comprehensive metrics including heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), stress, body composition, and sleep tracking. Samsung also integrates advanced metrics like vascular load and antioxidant score for deeper insights.
The device’s fitness tracking is robust and suitable for a wide range of workouts, from daily step tracking to structured training plans. GPS support, NFC for payments, and Bluetooth connectivity further round out its feature set.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery performance on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a mixed experience. Samsung rates the 445mAh battery for up to 40 hours of use with Always-On Display disabled and around 30 hours with it enabled, roughly translating to one to two days of typical usage.
Real-world tests often show that heavy use, continuous health tracking, and AOD can reduce this runtime, meaning daily charging may be required for many users. The magnetic wireless charger included can bring the device to full charge in around 90 minutes.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Premium durable design with sapphire crystal display
- Classic rotating bezel for intuitive navigation
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking suite
- Strong performance and large, bright display
- Long software support cycle
Cons:
- Battery life is modest compared with some competitors
- Large physical footprint may not suit all users
- Higher price point than the base Watch8 model
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic impresses as a high-end smartwatch that caters to users who want a blend of classic watch aesthetics and advanced wearable tech. While battery life could be better, its design, feature depth, and performance make it a compelling choice for Android users seeking a long-term smartwatch companion.
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