Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Review: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has officially landed, bringing with it a fresh design, upgraded health tools, and deeper AI integration. Tech reviewer and longtime Galaxy Watch user has spent 72 hours with the latest model, and here’s everything you need to know about Samsung’s newest smartwatch.
A Bold New Look
One of the most noticeable changes in the Galaxy Watch 8 is its dramatic redesign. Moving away from the traditional circular frame, Samsung has adopted the “squirkle” shape—a square-circle hybrid—across all variants, a design first introduced with the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
In person, the design feels more premium and modern, especially compared to older Galaxy Watch models, which user notes often felt “plasticky and flimsy” since the Watch 4. The watch now has a flatter profile, sits more flush on the wrist, and includes a protective cushioned case to enhance durability.
It comes in two sizes: 44mm and 40mm, and for those who love the classic Samsung experience, there’s also a Galaxy Watch 8 Classic with the fan-favorite rotating bezel. The base Galaxy Watch 8 sticks with the touch-sensitive bezel.
New Band System
Galaxy Watch 8 Review: Samsung introduced a new dynamic lug system for bands—offering a more secure fit but breaking compatibility with older 20mm bands and even last year’s Ultra bands. While the new bands are comfortable, some users may be disappointed about the extra cost to replace or upgrade accessories.
Bright and Beautiful Display
Galaxy Watch 8 Review: The screen now hits 3,000 nits of peak brightness, matching the Galaxy Watch Ultra. That means it’s super visible outdoors, even under direct sunlight. The watch also now includes a USB-C charging puck, but reverse wireless charging from Samsung phones is no longer supported.
AI Comes to Your Wrist with Gemini
A major upgrade is the addition of Google Gemini, offering a more intuitive and conversational assistant. It supports contextual queries, like: “Set a timer for however long it takes to boil pasta according to the recipe in my email.”
Gemini also supports multi-step commands, like starting a workout and launching a playlist simultaneously—though the reports it’s hit-or-miss in execution. It’s important to note that Gemini requires an internet connection, either via your phone or LTE watch model.
Health and Fitness: Smarter, Not Just More
The Galaxy Watch 8 expands its health suite with some brand-new tools:
- Antioxidant Index: Measures oxidative stress via a sensor reading on your thumb. User’s low results prompted immediate dietary changes, though she cautions against reading too much into it since it’s not a medical-grade test.
- Running Coach: A new 12-minute run feature gives a performance score and generates a personalized training plan—from 5K to marathon.
- Vascular Load: Analyzes stress on your vascular system during sleep, warning you if levels are high.
- Sleep Apnea Detection and Body Composition Analysis return from previous models.
- New Sleep Coaching with bedtime guidance appears after three nights of tracking, offering tips on ideal sleep schedules.
One UI Watch 8: Cleaner and More Capable
The Galaxy Watch 8 debuts One UI Watch 8, Samsung’s latest wearable software:
- The “Now Bar” from One UI 7 now appears on the watch, tracking ongoing activities like workouts and timers.
- New gesture controls, including double pinch for scrolling or music controls (Samsung Music only, for now).
- Seven new watch faces debut, including Dynamic Digits and Daily Dashboard, which are expected to roll out to older models soon.
The software feels smoother and more responsive, making everyday tasks like responding to messages or controlling music more seamless.
Battery Life: Promising but Needs More Testing
The reports getting around 32 to 36 hours of usage on the 44mm model with features like always-on display, adaptive brightness, and sleep tracking enabled. However, she emphasizes that battery life often improves over the first few weeks as the system learns user habits.
Galaxy Watch 8 Review Final Thoughts: Worth the Hype?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is a meaningful upgrade, especially for those looking to jump from the Watch 4 or older. With a stylish new design, powerful health tools, and Google Gemini integration, it pushes Samsung’s smartwatch line into a new era of intelligent wearables.
However, drawbacks like band incompatibility, lack of reverse wireless charging, and still-maturing AI features may give some users pause.
Still, for those wanting a sleek, capable, and health-conscious smartwatch that feels great on the wrist and performs reliably, the Galaxy Watch 8 is a solid contender in 2025’s smartwatch race.
Stay tuned UState Pulse for a full long-term review, as user continues testing battery, fitness features, and daily performance.