The Classic is back! Samsung has brought back its fan-favorite design with the Galaxy Watch8 Classic, announced during its latest Unpacked event. Blending the timeless aesthetics of a traditional timepiece with powerful AI-driven health and productivity tools, it stands as one of the most refined smartwatches in 2025. Here’s our in-depth take on its design, features, and performance.
Unboxing
Design
The rotating bezel — a beloved hallmark of the Classic series — makes its return, delivering precise tactile control and a nostalgic feel that stands out in a world of gesture-only wearables. Samsung has refined the body, making it 11% thinner, 12% more comfortable, and 8% more stable on the wrist compared to its predecessor.
Available exclusively in a 46mm size, it shares the same 1.34-inch AMOLED display as the 40mm Watch8. The unibody design feels seamless, while the easily swappable straps let you switch between leather, silicone, and other materials to match your style. Comfort has also improved significantly, making it gentler on the skin for all-day wear.
Health Tracking
The Galaxy Watch8 Classic places a stronger emphasis on sleep and wellness. Its advanced sleep tracking delivers medical-grade precision, capturing light, deep, and REM cycles. After just three nights of data collection, it begins offering personalized insights tailored to individual habits.
New to this generation is Sleep Apnea Detection, which uses two nights of data within 10 days to identify possible signs of obstructive sleep apnea via Samsung Health Monitor. Sleep Coaching also returns, assigning one of eight “Sleep Animal” profiles and offering a weekly plan to improve sleep hygiene and duration. Vascular Load Tracking analyzes heart rate variability during sleep to monitor cardiovascular stress patterns.
Another notable addition is the Antioxidant Index, debuting exclusively on the Galaxy Watch8 series. By placing a thumb on the sensor for five seconds, the watch estimates skin carotenoid levels, which can be an indicator of antioxidant presence and skin health. Though still experimental, it hints at exciting possibilities for future wellness tracking.
Fitness Coaching
Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting, the Galaxy Watch8 Classic’s pro-grade running coach kicks off with a 12-minute running test to set your fitness baseline. From there, it can create customized training plans for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon goals.
During workouts, you’ll get real-time pace coaching, VO₂ max readings, and detailed aerobic/anaerobic training metrics — all displayed on the AMOLED screen. The rotating bezel makes it effortless to navigate stats without interrupting your session.
One UI Watch 8 with Google Gemini
Samsung’s partnership with Google brings the Gemini AI assistant to the Galaxy Watch8 Classic. Activated with a long press of the Home button or a wake phrase, Gemini responds to questions, manages schedules, suggests relevant actions, and controls apps with contextual awareness.
The updated One UI Watch 8 interface also introduces the AI Assistant Now Bar, which provides suggestions based on time and activity, along with Depthless Notifications for less intrusive alerts. Multi-Info Tiles give an at-a-glance overview of fitness data, weather, sleep insights, and calendar events, while App Suggestions learn user habits to recommend useful tools.
Battery Life
Powered by the 3nm Exynos W1000 chip, paired with 2GB RAM and 64GB storage, the 445mAh battery lasts around 2 days per charge — or up to 3 days with lighter use. While not groundbreaking, the battery life is understandable given the watch’s feature-rich capabilities.
Unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch8 Classic does not support reverse wireless charging from a phone. You can only charge the watch using the provided magnetic charger that connects to a USB-C port. This is because Samsung has repositioned the wireless charging coil due to the inclusion of new, more advanced heart rate sensors on the back of the watch.
Final Words
Priced at RM1,799 (Bluetooth) and RM2,099 (Bluetooth + LTE), the Galaxy Watch8 Classic excels where it matters most — combining premium build quality, advanced health features, and intuitive AI tools. Sleep tracking, fitness coaching, and experimental wellness additions like the Antioxidant Index make it one of the most complete smartwatches available today.
Battery life remains the only notable drawback, but with this much functionality packed in, the trade-off feels reasonable. For those who value both style and substance, the Galaxy Watch8 Classic is a standout choice for 2025.
If you’re looking for a more discreet wearable that offers continuous health tracking, the Galaxy Ring boasts superior comfort and up to seven days of battery life. Available in Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Gold, the Galaxy Ring comes in sizes 5-15.
Buy Here
Yay
- Elegant design
- Advanced health tracking features
- Powerful AI coaching and Google Gemini assistant
Nay
- 2-day battery life
- Locked into the Galaxy ecosystem to access all features
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