Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Review: Solid but Unexciting

Value When Reviewed

From $349.99

Finest Costs Right now: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

$349.99

It might need a brand new (albeit divisive) look, but it surely’s largely enterprise as normal with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

We’re in a really unusual place with the Samsung Galaxy Watch vary. In a way, Samsung’s smartwatches have by no means been higher, and with 4 strong choices presently out there, starting from the budget-friendly Samsung Galaxy Watch FE to the high-end Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely, it’s a good time to be a fan of all issues Samsung.

The issue is that when considered up shut, little or no has modified over the previous few years.

I completely adored the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 when that gadget got here to market with its Put on OS overhaul and a brilliant future forward of it, however after having the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 on my wrist for about two weeks, I can’t say that every one an excessive amount of has modified within the time since.

It implies that except you’re a religious Samsung consumer, you may wish to see what else is on the market from the likes of Google Pixel, OnePlus, Huawei and others. That is arguably the final time that the corporate can relaxation on its laurels earlier than it turns into a a lot greater subject.

Design & Construct

• New, chunkier chassis echoes the Galaxy Watch Extremely
• Slimmer construct permits for a extra comfy match
• Dynamic Lug system is usually a bit finicky

The one space the place the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has actually taken a step in a brand new path is with its design. Properly, I say new in that it’s a unique method for the mainline watch, but it surely’s actually an adaptation of the square-circle (aka ‘squircle’) design language of the Galaxy Watch Extremely.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

Now, as a substitute of getting the chassis type an ideal circle across the display screen, there’s a bumper (Samsung calls it a ‘cushion’) protruding from the watch that’s extra distinguished on the corners, making the watch look extra like a rounded-off sq..

Chatting with fellow tech journalists, it’s clear that the design is kind of divisive, however a lot to my very own shock, I really fairly just like the look of it.

I like two-tone colourway and the silver chassis solely serves to intensify the black of the bezel and the show, particularly if in case you have a watch face with a black background. The Watch 8 additionally matches my wrist much more comfortably than any of Samsung’s wearables earlier than it, and that’s thanks to 2 key adjustments.

Whereas it is perhaps laborious to inform simply from the photographs alone, the Galaxy Watch 8 is definitely 11% slimmer than the Galaxy Watch 7, and whereas that may not sound like a lot, it helps forestall the watch from catching in your clothes, which is greater than I can say for a few of the heftier watches I’ve tried over time. There’s additionally a brand new system for attaching watch straps, which Samsung calls the Dynamic Lug.

On the one hand, I really assume that the Dynamic Lug is harder to connect and take away than earlier than (it’s not imagined to be, after all), but it surely closes the distinguished hole that used to exist between your wrist and the place the strap would join on earlier Galaxy Watches.

It’s simply a much more comfy design total, which is nice when you plan on carrying the gadget in a single day.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

Regardless that it’s slimmer, the watch is not any much less prepared for the weather with an official IP68 ranking alongside the power to be submerged in a physique of water as much as 5ATM (50 metres).

Within the time I’ve been utilizing the watch, past a slight little bit of mud accumulating across the raised segments of the bezel, the gadget hasn’t picked up a single scratch, which is all the time good to see.

The one factor I’ll say that’s a little bit of a disappointment is that with the added actual property of the brand new chassis, I had hoped that it’d convey in regards to the area for a a lot bigger battery however that hasn’t materialised right here, which makes the shift really feel extra performative than substantial.

Display & Audio

• The brightest show of any commonplace Galaxy Watch
• Very straightforward to learn textual content, even on the smaller 40mm mannequin
• Audio playback sounds good, however not as loud because the competitors

Identical to with earlier generations of Galaxy Watch, there are two sizes out there, 40- and 44mm, with the primary attract of the latter being the marginally bigger 1.47-inch show.

Whereas I do usually go for bigger dimension choices, I’ve been utilizing the 40mm mannequin over the course of this assessment and I need to say that I by no means felt shortchanged with the smaller 1.34-inch show.

Textual content may be very straightforward to learn, so I by no means needed to squint to see incoming notifications, and I all the time felt glad diving into exercise information on the watch itself as a substitute of utilizing the bigger show of my telephone. A part of what makes the expertise this time round is an enormous bump to the general brightness of the display screen.

You may assume you get an even bigger display screen with the Galaxy Watch 8 Traditional, but it surely’s additionally 1.34-inch and as a substitute makes use of the bigger physique for a rotating bezel.

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In comparison with the Galaxy Watch 7, the Watch 8 is now 50% brighter with a peak brightness of 3000 nits. That’s the identical brightness degree because the pricier Galaxy Watch Extremely, and it simply makes for a much better visible expertise when out and about. Not solely do Samsung’s watch faces look higher than ever, I by no means had any points with getting a fast look on the time when strolling outdoors, particularly with the always-on mode toggled.

On the audio facet of issues, when you don’t have a pair of earbuds or headphones at hand, then you need to use the built-in audio system to play music and podcasts immediately on the watch itself. Whereas it doesn’t get fairly as loud because the Garmin Venu X1 I reviewed earlier than this, I used to be fairly impressed with the sound high quality on supply.

I’ve been utilizing the Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3+4 soundtrack to gas lots of my most up-to-date exercises and when taking that for a spin, the Watch 8’s audio system did an important job of highlighting the vocals and the percussion of every observe, no matter style, so kudos to Samsung’s engineering on this entrance.

In fact, that high quality additionally extends to taking calls on the watch, in case your smartphone is out of attain.

Software program & Options

• Put on OS has by no means felt or seemed higher
• Having Gemini in your wrist is a game-changer
• The set-up course of wants refining

One of many large software program adjustments for this yr is that the Galaxy Watch 8 has formally carried out away with the Google Assistant, as Google Gemini takes its place. Admittedly, this shift may also be made out there on older Galaxy Watches and lots of rivals, however this represents the primary of the bunch that can have Google’s newest on AI proper out of the field.

Having suffered for years by means of the lacklustre presence of Siri on the Apple Watch, which was by no means used for rather more than setting timers or asking for updates on the climate, having Gemini available in your wrist looks like Samsung has simply leapfrogged Apple by a number of generations.

I’ve been ready to make use of Gemini for all types, starting from getting style recommendation primarily based on the climate to getting strategies for recipes after explaining which elements I’ve left in my fridge. I used to be in a position to get solutions to all of it at nice velocity, too.

In each AI requests and on a regular basis use, I’ve felt the Exynos W1000 chipset going above and past to maintain up. It’s simply wonderful efficiency throughout the board, and a key purpose why the Galaxy Watch 8, at its core, is a superb smartwatch. That is regardless of being the identical chip because the Galaxy Watch 7.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

All of this simply enhances the sensation that Put on OS has by no means been higher. With Put on OS 6 (and Samsung’s One UI 8 Watch overlay) it now not looks like a compromised expertise once I take off my Apple Watch and transfer over to Samsung’s newest wearable for a assessment – I can simply take pleasure in what Google has been in a position to put collectively right here, and in some instances, there are a number of options that I want Apple would poach.

Whereas it definitely isn’t new, I nonetheless love the Tiles function on Put on OS that provides you fast entry to key apps simply by swiping left from the watch face. Chatting with my very own private use instances, it permits me to dive extra rapidly into exercise monitoring, altering a track on Spotify and even getting a fast have a look at my calendar occasions for the week.

It’s only a nice function to have, and scrolling by means of the tiles with the digital rotating bezel is a breeze.

I do know that there are many diehard followers on the market preferring the older bodily rotating bezel, and consequently will in all probability hunt down the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Traditional as a substitute, however I had no points with this digital various. It’s responsive with good haptic suggestions, and it feels much more elegant to make use of than simply swiping up and down endlessly to get by means of menus.

The one facet of Samsung’s software program that doesn’t really feel fairly so refined is on the smartphone facet of issues. Don’t get me unsuitable, the Samsung Well being app has an exquisite aesthetic and is satisfying to make use of, however the preliminary set-up for the Galaxy Watch 8 requires downloading three apps in complete, which is usually a actual problem while you change telephones as usually as I do or for individuals who aren’t tech-savvy.

It could be nice to see all of it streamlined into only one app – I’ve by no means felt the necessity to dive into the Galaxy Wearable app after the preliminary set-up.

Health & Well being Monitoring

• New Antioxidant Index
• Dependable coronary heart fee information
• Some options solely work with a Samsung telephone

If there’s one space the place I can’t fault Samsung’s work, it’s in health monitoring. The Galaxy Watches have all the time been nice companions for a visit to the fitness center or the native park run, and the Galaxy Watch 8 is not any exception.

You’ll be able to observe the whole lot from climbing within the nice open air to snowboarding on the vary. It’s nice to see, however if you’re simply beginning out in your health journey, then you definately’ll very a lot admire the Working Coach that’s on board.

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That is nice when you’re discovering your footing and also you want a little bit of steering that will help you set life like targets and keep away from injuring your self by overdoing issues.

It’s an exquisite function to have, notably as I believe that inexperienced persons are likely to get forgotten about most of the time with regards to health trackers, and it pairs properly with the Galaxy Watch 8’s insistence on acquiring correct relaxation and restoration.

When you’ve had a very busy day otherwise you haven’t managed to get night time’s sleep then the watch (and the app) will let that it’s time to prioritise relaxation, a lot in the identical vein because the Whoop Strap 5.0. You may also discover out the perfect timeframe for attending to mattress in a brand new function often known as ‘Bedtime steering’. Accessible at any time all through the day, this new function provides you ample time to arrange your day round hitting that bedtime goal, which I admire greater than an alert within the night that tells me it’s time to wind issues down.

On condition that relaxation is important for any kind of train however particularly muscle development, it’s good to see Samsung take the time right here to provide it simply as a lot credence as all the typical exercise information you’d anticipate to see.

There’s additionally a brand new ‘Vascular load’ tracker that’s meant to control the system that delivers blood all through your physique – a excessive vascular load implies that you have to reduce out unhealthy meals and do extra to alleviate stress. Once more, it’s useful to have and it simply enhances the concept of the Galaxy Watch 8 being an important tracker on your total invoice of well being.

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Talking of that information, coronary heart fee monitoring on the Galaxy Watch 8 is incredible. When taken for a spin alongside the Polar H10 chest-worn coronary heart fee monitor, the 2 units matched up virtually like for like of their outcomes. Oddly, we didn’t discover the monitoring on the Watch 8 Traditional to be so correct.

Throughout two stints on the treadmill, the Galaxy Watch registered a peak that was solely 1BPM above that of the Polar H10, which is honest inside a margin of error, however the two had been in sync by way of the typical coronary heart fee, so that you’ll get a practical image of how your coronary heart is responding to every exercise.

Samsung has added an Antioxidant Index, which basically lets when you’re getting sufficient fruit and veg in your weight loss plan. Whereas I do like to train, my weight loss plan is a bit missing on this space and the Watch 8, to its credit score, did name me out on it, though it’s laborious to say how exact the readings are with the monitoring itself nonetheless being in beta testing on the time of writing, so take it with a pinch of salt (The Verge tricked it with a Cheeze-It).

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

What’s a disgrace is that, when you don’t have a Samsung telephone at hand, you’ll be getting a restricted expertise on the Galaxy Watch 8. This isn’t something new because it’s been a difficulty with earlier Samsung watches, but it surely’s price noting that you just received’t be capable of entry ECG monitoring for selecting up coronary heart arrhythmia, nor are you able to dive into the blood strain monitoring both.

All this implies is that, if I had been somebody trying to purchase a smartwatch and I didn’t use a Galaxy telephone, I’d in all probability be tempted to go for one thing just like the Garmin Venu X1 or the OnePlus Watch 3 as a substitute.

Fortunately, GPS monitoring continues to be strong on the Galaxy Watch, making use of a dual-band connection that’s not solely fast to determine itself, however may present correct outcomes after the very fact.

Battery Life & Charging

• Nonetheless actually simply one-day battery life
• The slight battery cell improve doesn’t make a lot of a distinction
• Charging is speedy sufficient

As I discussed earlier, I used to be actually hoping that the primary purpose for the design change on the Galaxy Watch 8 was that it will enable for a bigger battery to refill the added area taken up the brand new chassis, and whereas that’s technically true, the improve is much much less pronounced than what I had hoped it will it.

The 40- and 44mm fashions now pack a 325- and 435mAh cell respectively, up from 300- and 425mAh on the Galaxy Watch 7. As you may see, that’s not an enormous improve and sadly, it does imply that the Galaxy Watch 8 stays firmly inside that normal one-day of use entice that has plagued earlier Galaxy watches.

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Admittedly, when you flip off the always-on show then you will get a few day and a half of use, however the expertise simply isn’t as enjoyable (or as helpful) with out it. Once I had the function toggled, I bought by means of about 22-hours of use, which included notifications, a GPS tracked stroll, and sleep monitoring, earlier than the watch reached 36%.

On condition that it’s now potential to rise up to 5 days of use from the OnePlus Watch 3, Samsung is clearly lagging behind on this space. I discover the expertise of carrying a smartwatch much more participating if I don’t even have to incorporate it as a tool that requires a each day cost, particularly as I like having the ability to depend on such a look ahead to funds and messaging, if my telephone ever reaches 0%.

Fortunately, the charging course of isn’t too laborious. When the battery reached 6%, a 30-minute top-up was in a position to convey the Galaxy Watch 8 again to 65% which, beneath very conservative use, might nonetheless be sufficient to get you house earlier than the top of the day.

When you do totally drain the battery to 0% then you may be ready round a bit longer as I solely bought again 40% after half-hour, and it took a complete of 1 hour and 19 minutes to achieve 100%.

Value & Availability

At its least expensive, the 40mm Bluetooth solely mannequin of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is available in at £319/$349.99, which makes it extra reasonably priced than the Pixel Watch 3 though it does signify a slight value improve over the £289/$299.99 tag of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7.

There are 4 fashions in complete, with Bluetooth and LTE choices for each 40- and 44mm sizes, the costliest of which caps out at £399/$429.99.

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The most important drawback dealing with the Galaxy Watch 8 is that the superb OnePlus Watch 3 now has a smaller 43mm option that’s out there for much much less at £269/$299.99, and if you wish to keep inside Samsung’s ecosystem then it isn’t too troublesome to seek out the Galaxy Watch 7 for even cheaper than that.

The one main the reason why you’ll wish to go for the Galaxy Watch 8 is to get the complete 4 years of software program assist, to have the brighter show and full breadth of Samsung’s present crop of health monitoring options.

Verify our record of one of the best smartwatches to see our present prime 10 suggestions.

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?

If there’s one factor that I can not stress sufficient in regards to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, it’s that it’s certainly an important smartwatch. Between Samsung’s properly constructed tackle Put on OS, the sleek efficiency and brilliance of the always refined health monitoring options on supply, I’ve very a lot loved my time with this gadget.

The issue is that the Galaxy Watch 7 was an important smartwatch, as was the Galaxy Watch 6, and the Galaxy Watch 5 (I might preserve going).

The iterative updates of Samsung’s wearable line-up had been already beginning to really feel pretty stale this time final yr, however a design refresh isn’t sufficient to dispel them this time round. Add within the value rise and issues get a bit of trickier.

Samsung completely has the software program facet of issues on lock right here, however that’s why, notably within the face of sturdy competitors from OnePlus, that the corporate wanted to provide the battery bump that we’ve all been ready for.

When you use top-of-the-line Samsung Galaxy telephones and also you’re flush with money, then it makes good sense to select up the Galaxy Watch 8, because it’s laborious to think about that you just’ll be dissatisfied by the expertise it offers. You might even be taking a look at a bundle deal that will get you the watch discounted or free.

For the oldsters who’re tied to a funds nevertheless (or use top-of-the-line telephones that aren’t Samsung-made), you’re higher off selecting up the Galaxy Watch 7 at a decreased fee till the Watch 8 will get a pleasant value reduce, and even choosing the OnePlus Watch 3 to learn from the for much longer five-day battery life.

Samsung is aware of find out how to make a reliable wearable; I simply want that it paid a bit extra consideration to what was vital right here.

Specs

• 40/44mm dimension choices
• 1.34/1.47-inch AMOLED show
• 3000 nits peaks brightness
• 32GB storage
• ECG monitor
• Blood strain monitor
• Twin-band GPS
• 325/435mAh battery
• IP68
• 5ATM water resistance