Samsung Galaxy Watch8 review: why this is the watch to get

The annual round of tech upgrades can seem slightly overwhelming at times, with newer models being marketed to catch your eye and convince you that this is the missing piece to your everyday life. But the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 (especially for Samsung users) might actually be the beacon of light for those looking for a way to stay connected yet want to reduce how long they doom-scroll on their phone for, or perhaps want to take the leap into tracking their fitness but have not discovered a seamless way to do so.

Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is a significant evolution in Samsung’s watch lineup, with a design inspired directly from their ‘Ultra’ range, enhanced AI capabilities to assist you further, and health tracking which boasts to be up there with the very best.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to why you should seriously consider this for your next watch.

Samsung have made the most dramatic change to its watch design since its inception, with the Galaxy Watch8’s ‘cushion design’: a square-circle hybrid shape that draws direct inspiration from their Galaxy Watch Ultra, representing a significant departure from their standard circle designs of the past. 

Key Design Features

• An 11% thinner profile at just 8.6mm, making it their slimmest Galaxy Watch ever³
• More accurate health readings, better wrist contact and improved stability via the Dynamic Lug System³
• Available in 40mm and 44mm sizes with Graphite and Silver colour options
• Armour Aluminium construction with 5ATM + IP68 water resistance and MIL-STD-810H durability rating

New Display Technology

The Watch8 has undergone a significant display upgrade with the Super AMOLED screens as well as an increase to 3000 nits peak brightness. This provides superior outdoor visibility even when in direct sunlight and is a 50% increase to its previous model’s (Watch7) brightness level. The 40mm has 1.34 inch display (438x438 pixels) and the 44mm features a 1.47mm inch display (480x480 pixels).

The Galaxy Watch8 introduces several groundbreaking enhancements, with some not yet seen in a smartwatch until now:

New Health Metrics

• An Enhanced ECG system, identifying and alerting you to any irregular heart rhythms²
• Vascular Load Tracking which monitors the blood vessel stress during sleep, helping assess with cardiovascular health and wellbeing²

Fitness Tracking

The Galaxy Watch8 provides over 90+ workout modes with enhanced features, including:

• Real-time coaching with pace guidance and feedback during workouts
• AI Running Coach that creates personalised training plans for you based on your fitness assessments^1,2
• Advanced metrics including sweat loss measurement, VO2 Max and detailed heart-rate zones²

Comprehensive Health Suite

• Advanced sleep tracking with AI-powered bedtime guidance and personal sleep coaching tips ²
• BioActive Sensor for blood pressure, heart-rate, ECG ratings and body composition analysis²
• Sleep apnoea detection with (US) FDA approved moderate-to-severe detection capabilities²
• Energy Score with Galaxy AI analysis of sleep, physical activity, and heart-rate data^1,2

The improvements to battery and performance at first glance could be easily dismissed, with the Watch8 40mm model’s battery now 325mAh (up from the Watch7’s 300mAh) and the 44mm model’s battery now 435mAh (up from the Watch7’s 425mAh). 

It’s inevitable that comparisons would be drawn between this year’s model and the previous year’s, weighing up the potential benefits as well as seeing what improvements have been made. 

Overall, Samsung seem dedicated to improving their products tailored to your specific needs, boasting an improved (if not significant) upgrade to almost every facet of it’s watch’s design and interface.

For those already impressed with the Watch8 capabilities and wanting a more refined, premium version, then the Galaxy Watch8 Classic would be the model of choice, bringing back the beloved rotating bezel in a 46mm stainless steel casing.

Some key differences are:

• Stainless steel construction with sapphire crystal display
• Physical rotating bezel for tactile navigation and premium aesthetics
• 64GB storage, doubling its standard Watch8 counterpart’s storage
• 445mAh battery for extended usage
• ‘Quick Button’ feature which can be programmed for shortcuts and workout controls

There are several options you can consider when purchasing a Watch8, so here’s a breakdown of what Optus offer:

Watch8 40mm

If you’re after the Watch8 on plan from Optus, you can choose to pay it off in interest-free instalments over a period of 12, 24 or 36 months alongside a $10/mth Watch Plan. The Watch8 40mm over 36 months is $20.80 per month plus your $10/mth Watch Plan fee. Minimum cost $758.80.

Watch8 44mm

On plan, the 44mm is $22.18 per month over 36 months plus your $10/mth Watch Plan fee, Minimum cost $808.48.

Watch8 Classic

The Watch8 Classic on plan is $27.74 per month over 36 months plus your $10/mth Watch Plan fee,. Minimum cost $1,008.64.

If this review has ticked all the boxes for you regarding tracking your health, then it’s clear to you that Samsung are truly pushing the boundaries to have the most comprehensive wearable on the market.

If you’re still sitting on the edge (no pun intended) and wondering whether to dip into the wearable game, the Watch8 is the perfect model to start with. Samsung have made significant strides forward with this design, focusing on being one of the frontrunners to track your health and fitness progress with its, sleep apnoea detection, giving you real-time coaching from its AI integration workout programs and making sure all of this keeps up with your lifestyle with its improved battery life.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch8 seamlessly integrates itself into your already busy life by simply creating time away from your phone without feeling disconnected and making it easier to continue to reach your personal goals.

Device disclaimers:

1. Fees may apply to certain AI features at the end of 2025.
2. Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or disease. Measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.
3. When compared to Galaxy Watch7.

Disclaimer: The commentary and review, views and opinions expressed on Well Connected are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of Optus. Any prices of advertised products and services are correct as at the date of publication.

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