Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is Samsung’s premium smartwatch, featuring a stainless steel build, rotating bezel, advanced health sensors, and AI-powered coaching
Jumoka Cobbs 
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Review Score
Mixed reviews - 11 reviewers had varied opinions
11
Reviews
90.0
Highest
60.0
Lowest
Screen
46mm
Processor
Exynos W1000
Storage
64GB
Battery
445mAh
Display
AMOLED
Bluetooth
Yes
Water Resistant
5 ATM + IP68
Heart Rate
Yes
Review Sources:
| Publication | Score (100) | Review Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android Central | Jul 23, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic will polarize, even frustrate, long-time fans. The "Classic" premise is to pay slightly more for a rotating bezel and a traditional, stylish design. Injecting an Ultra-style square case and charging $150 more is a h" | |||
| PCMag | Jul 24, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic offers premium design, AI-powered health coaching, and robust features at a competitive price, making it our Editors' Choice among Android-compatible smartwatches." | |||
| TechRadar | Aug 8, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"A premium smartwatch with advanced features but notable bulk and fiddly design elements." | |||
| Android Authority | Aug 15, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is one of the most expensive Wear OS watches available in 2025, but it's also one of the best. It looks incredible, the rotating bezel is magical, and One UI 8 Watch is a killer piece of software. As long as the price doesn" | |||
| Tech Advisor | Aug 8, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic offers plenty of software upgrades on the Watch 6 Classic, which makes it a solid Wear OS performer. Fans will welcome the return of the bezel but a pile of different issues make it sit awkwardly within Samsung’s ra" | |||
| T3 | Nov 5, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 Classic blends style and smarts, with a premium look, intriguing health tracking, and AI run coaching for beginners. It’s bulkier, pricier, and short on battery life compared to some rivals, but for professionals wanting a st" | |||
| Androidpolice | — | Read Review → | |
"The Watch 8 Classic is Samsung's latest high-end wearable. It comes with all the premium smartwatch trappings like a bright, sapphire crystal-coated display, long battery life, and strong performance, plus the rotating bezel longtime fans love. But i" | |||
| Creativebloq | Aug 19, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the first smartwatch I've ever used that I feel like I could wear beyond the time taken to review it. Much more than a gimmick, a digital crutch or a solution in search of a problem, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is" | |||
| Tom's Guide | Jul 30, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Galaxy Watch 8 series represents three notable changes over the Series 7, including an updated design ethos, added Google Gemini AI assistant, and return of the Classic model. It offers impressive sleep tracking, accurate fitness tracking, and pe" | |||
| Digital Trends | Jul 19, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a strong smartwatch with notable health features and a polished design, though its dynamic lug system and smaller display are drawbacks. It offers excellent health tracking and battery life but is pricier than competitor" | |||
| Wired | Jul 25, 2025 | Read Review → | |
"The watch is aesthetically pleasing but has limited battery life and questionable health features." | |||
| * Price represents starting price. Price can increase based on product options and selection. | |||
🤓 Nerd Verdict
Updated: December 17, 2025
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a solid choice for Android users looking for advanced health features, but the polarizing design and steep price tag make it less compelling for some.
✅ Strengths
- Cross-reviewer consensus on excellent health tracking tools, such as vascular load checks and antioxidant levels (Digital Trends, Tom's Guide, The Verge).
- Return of the rotating bezel provides a unique control experience favored by many reviewers (Tom's Guide, Digital Trends).
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Polarizing design with squared-circle form factor disliked by some users (The Verge, Wired, Digital Trends).
- New dynamic lug system for straps is cumbersome and incompatible with older bands, requiring users to start over (Digital Trends, Tom's Guide).
- Price of $499.99 seems steep for the features offered compared to other smartwatches (Wired, Tom's Guide).
💡 Bottom Line
While the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic offers impressive health tracking tools and a return of the rotating bezel, its high price and polarizing design make it better suited for those prioritizing advanced health features. For others, there may be more compelling options in the market.
