Cover image via Syazwan Bahri/SAYS
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Samsung's latest launch sharpens its position in the wearables arena
The Galaxy Watch8 Classic marks a return after a two-year hiatus since the Galaxy Watch6 Classic, arriving with the full suite of AI-powered features Samsung has rolled out to its wearables since 2023. The watch maintains the deluxe build and signature rotating bezel of the Classic line but adopts a refreshed design philosophy.
Like the base Galaxy Watch8, the Watch8 Classic now features a squarish frame encasing its traditional circular watch face, along with a new dynamic lug system for the bands.
This design, first seen on last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra, allows the watch to move more naturally and comfortably with your wrist throughout the day.
We strapped it on and tried it out for a week. Here's what we thought.
The Watch8 Classic distinguishes itself from the aluminium-bodied base model with a more premium stainless steel frame.
It also includes a handy third, customisable 'Quick' button alongside the usual Home and Back buttons, a feature absent from the smaller models.
While the base Watch8 comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes, the Classic model is only available in a single, larger 46mm size. Despite the extra bulk, the actual display area is 34mm, the same as the smaller base Watch8.
However, Samsung has upped the display game: all models now hit a peak brightness of 3,000 nits (up from 2,000 nits in the previous generation) and are protected by Sapphire Crystal Glass. We accidentally clipped the watch on metal railings a few times, and it came away without a single scratch.
Samsung has packed the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic with a lot of new health features, many of them powered by AI
We've been testing them with the Galaxy Z Fold7, and here's a look at what they can do.
The headlining new feature is an antioxidant test, which is pretty unique for a wearable. Instead of a trip to the clinic for a blood test, you can gauge your dietary health straight from your wrist.
It's an easy process, though you'll need to take the watch off. Start the test from either the watch or the Samsung Health app, then place your thumb on the rear sensor for a few seconds until the app gives you the green light.
The watch is actually measuring carotenoid levels in your skin, a great indicator of whether you're eating enough fruits and veggies.
When we tried it, the watch consistently flagged my antioxidant levels as "low" and prompted me to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet, sometimes even giving specific suggestions like "one chunk of radish (70g)" or "two chunks of pumpkin (130g)".
The readings were consistent day-to-day and noticeably different when tried by a friend, proving it's not just a random estimate.
Another newcomer is vascular load during sleep, giving you a sense of your arterial health. It takes three nights to establish your unique baseline and then compares your nightly results to your personal baseline, rather than giving you a static or average number.
We were genuinely impressed by the battery life of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
It lasted approximately two days before hitting 5%, an impressive feat for a watch driving such a bright display and a host of sensors.
What makes this so impressive is that its battery capacity of 445mAh is relatively small compared to the others in the lineup — the 40mm has 325mAh and the 44mm has 435mAh.
Charging the Watch8 Classic with the included charging puck took only 30 minutes to hit 50%, and less than two hours for a full charge.
The Watch8 Classic serves not only as a timepiece, but also as a versatile gadget
Out of the box, it came with a classy Hybrid Strap, which was a combination of silicone and leather. However, the watch can be customised with a plethora of straps available on the Samsung store.
The strap locks in through a Dynamic Lug mechanism found on the Ultra watch. Snapping the bands onto the Watch8 Classic takes a little more finesse than you might be used to, but it's not a deal-breaker. Samsung even includes a helpful visual guide to show you the trick: you have to turn the metal pieces that attach to the watch 90 degrees to get the leverage you need to push them into place. It took us some fiddling, but we eventually managed to snap it into place.
Detaching them, however, can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you have short nails. You have to press a small button on the back of the watch face. So, if you plan on changing your bands frequently, you might want to keep a paper clip on hand.
The watchface looks more mature this time around, with proper watchfaces inspired by luxury watch brands. If you're into more practical watchfaces, Samsung offers those through the Wear app.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic is now available for purchase
The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic is now available in two colours, Black and White. The Bluetooth model has a starting price of RM1,799, while the LTE version is priced higher, starting at RM2,099.
The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a healthcare professional regarding the reader's own medical care.
