Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 release date, price and features
The Galaxy Watch 8 series is now official. The lineup consists of the regular Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, with a refresh for the Galaxy Watch Ultra including one additional titanium color and more storage.
The new wearables of the Korean company were announced alongside Samsung's foldables - the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 during the Summer Unpacked event on July 9, 2025.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 release date
The Galaxy Watch 8 was officially unveiled on July 9, with market release on July 25, 2025.
| Device family | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 | July 26, 2023 | August 11, 2023 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | July 10, 2024 | July 24, 2024 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 | July 9, 2025 | July 25, 2025 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 price
Samsung has hiked the price of the Galaxy Watch 8 a notch and the 40 mm base Bluetooth model now starts at $349, a $50 increase compared to the previous generation. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in just one size (46 mm) and starts at $499. The LTE version costs $549.
| Samsung Galaxy Watch model | 40mm | 44mm |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 | $299 | $329 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | $299 | $329 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 | $349 (BT version)/$399 (LTE) | $379 (BT version)/$429 (LTE) |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 deals:
- Samsung Online Store: Every year, when a new Galaxy Watch is released, Samsung launches huge deals, discounts, trade-in promotions, and other attractive offers on its official online store. There's no reason to believe the company will change that approach with the Galaxy Watch 8. So, if you want to trade in your old Galaxy Watch, or if you prefer to pay in monthly installments rather than in full, Samsung has got you covered.
- AT&T: As you can already see below, all the major carriers support Samsung's smartwatches, and you can get deals from any of them. The previous generation was once available for free if you purchased a Samsung phone, but more recent promotions offered the smaller version of the watch for $10/month.
- Verizon: The other major carrier in the U.S. also stocks Galaxy Watch devices, and the terms are very similar to what AT&T typically offers (the last known installment price for the previous generation was $9.72/month for 36 months). So, if you're a Verizon customer, chances are you'll get the same great Galaxy Watch 8 deals.
- T-Mobile: The third major U.S. carrier also offers the latest Samsung smartwatches, often at the same rates and with similar promotions as the other two carriers mentioned above.
- Best Buy: If Best Buy is your retailer of choice, we’re confident the Galaxy Watch 8 will be available there, with all the carrier options and the unlocked, carrier-free version up for grabs.
- Amazon: Finally, Amazon will sell the Galaxy Watch 8, but the deals there depend on many factors. Be sure to keep an eye on the online retailer or follow one of our buying guides to find the best Galaxy Watch 8 deals once they go live.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 design
The Galaxy Watch 8 takes design cues from last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra. Both the regular Galaxy Watch 8 and the Classic feature the same circle-in-a-square shape, pioneered by the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Samsung calls this design "cushion."
The regular Galaxy Watch 8 employs this cushion design in a very subtle way, and it's also very thin—11% thinner than the previous model. The lugs have also been redesigned to follow the curvature of the wrist, providing better comfort and also more accurate readings from the sensors.
There are two sizes available for the Galaxy Watch 8, just like with the previous generation. The smaller one measures 40 mm, while the bigger one is 44 mm. The colors available are Graphite and Silver.
Galaxy Watch 8 dimensions and weight:
The Galaxy Watch Classic marks the return of the physical rotating bezel—the ridged ring proudly envelopes the screen. The design looks quite similar to that of the Galaxy Watch Ultra but is just a tad more understated.
There's just one size for the Classic—46 mm—and it is available in Black and White.
The regular Galaxy Watch 8 employs this cushion design in a very subtle way, and it's also very thin—11% thinner than the previous model. The lugs have also been redesigned to follow the curvature of the wrist, providing better comfort and also more accurate readings from the sensors.
There are two sizes available for the Galaxy Watch 8, just like with the previous generation. The smaller one measures 40 mm, while the bigger one is 44 mm. The colors available are Graphite and Silver.
Galaxy Watch 8 dimensions and weight:
- 44mm: 43.7mm x 46mm x 8.6t (34.0g)
- 40mm: 40.4mm x 42.7mm x 8.6t (30.0g)
The Galaxy Watch Classic marks the return of the physical rotating bezel—the ridged ring proudly envelopes the screen. The design looks quite similar to that of the Galaxy Watch Ultra but is just a tad more understated.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 display
| Device | Screen size 40mm | Screen size 44mm | Brightness 40mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch 7 | 1.31" | 1.47" | 2,000 nits |
| Galaxy Watch 8 | 1.34" | 1.47" | 3,000 nits |
Samsung has increased the size of the display for the smaller 40 mm version of the Galaxy Watch 8 to 1.34", but we doubt the 0.3-inch increase will be easily discernable. The resolution for the smaller model is 438x438 pixels. The 44 mm version sports a 1.47-inch display and has a 480x480 pixel resolution.
| Device | Screen size 46 mm | Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch 8 Classic | 1.34" | 3,000 nits |
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in just one size and features a 1.34-inch display—the same size and resolution as the regular 40 mm Galaxy Watch 8. Samsung has made the displays of all new models brighter—they can now go up to 3,000 nits under bright sunlight.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 battery
Battery capacity is paramount when it comes to smartwatches. One of the most frequent complaints about these gadgets is that their battery life simply isn’t good enough. While some models and brands prioritize battery life, Samsung (and Apple, for that matter) still offer about one day of usage between charges on their standard smartwatch models.
Samsung has increased the battery capacity of the Galaxy Watch 8 series with 8% and this should help with battery life. Below you will find a detailed table with all the capacities for all the Galaxy Watch 8 models.
| Device | Galaxy Watch 8 40 mm | Galaxy Watch 8 44 mm | Galaxy Watch 8 Classic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 325 mAh | 435 mAh | 445 mAh |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 features and software
The Galaxy Watch parted ways with Tizen back in 2020, and since then, a partnership between Wear OS and Galaxy UI has been in place. Unlike many arranged marriages, this one turned out to be for the best. There’s a lot to like about Wear OS, and with the previous generation, we got to experience Galaxy AI on the Galaxy Watch!
With the Galaxy Watch 8 series, Samsung brought Gemini integration on board, and you can now issue voice commands through Google's AI agent and control different apps.
Samsung’s array of sensors, grouped under the BioActive name, offer valuable insights into your health, including body composition metrics like fat, muscle, and bone percentages. The last generation also utilized AI to provide sleep score insights, assist with workouts, detect abnormal heart rates, and more.
The new metric on the Galaxy Watch 8 is called Antioxidant Index and measures the skin level of carotenoids—a group of antioxidant species that are tied to longevity and healthy diet. There's another new feature tied to sleep monitoring, and it's called Bedtime Guidance. It suggests the perfect time to go to bed based on your circadian rhythm.
Samsung’s array of sensors, grouped under the BioActive name, offer valuable insights into your health, including body composition metrics like fat, muscle, and bone percentages. The last generation also utilized AI to provide sleep score insights, assist with workouts, detect abnormal heart rates, and more.
The new metric on the Galaxy Watch 8 is called Antioxidant Index and measures the skin level of carotenoids—a group of antioxidant species that are tied to longevity and healthy diet. There's another new feature tied to sleep monitoring, and it's called Bedtime Guidance. It suggests the perfect time to go to bed based on your circadian rhythm.
Here's a breakdown of some of the Galaxy Watch 8 features:
- Bedtime Guidance: suggests ideal time to go to bed based on the circadian rhythm.
- Sleep Score Factors: total sleep time, sleep cycle, awake time, plus physical and mental recovery.
- Sleep Consistency with a Sleep Animal Symbol representing the sleep type.
- Sleep Mode without notifications and improved Sleep Coaching.
- Body Composition: skeletal muscle, basal metabolic rate, body water and body fat percentage.
- Antioxidant Index: measures the skin level of carotenoids, antioxidant chemicals that are maker for good health.
- Vascular Load: measures the amount of load or stress on your vascular system during sleep.
- Running Coach: AI-based assessment of your skill level and a personalized running plan.
- New personalized heart rate zone with 5 optimal running intensity levels for set goals.
- Track Run records and custom workout setup.
- Improved menstrual cycle tracking with skin temperature takings at night.
- Fall detection
- Irregular heart rhythm notification
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 hardware and specs
The Galaxy Watch 8 comes equipped with the same Exynos W1000 chipset as the previous model. It's a silicon built on a 3 nm node, boosting efficiency. The RAM and storage situation is also the same as last year—the two variants of the Galaxy Watch 8 come with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has the same internals but features more storage; it comes in a single variant with 64GB of onboard memory.
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has the same internals but features more storage; it comes in a single variant with 64GB of onboard memory.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 specs:
- CPU: Exynos W1000 (3 nm)
- RAM: 2GB
- Battery: 325mAh (40mm), 435mAh (44mm)
- Charging: Wireless
- Storage: 32GB
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, LTE
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Reviews and Comparisons
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs Galaxy Watch 8: it's coming back, but why?
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025): what we know and expect
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Main differences to expect
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Main differences to expect
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Galaxy Watch 8: Main differences to expect
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025): what we know and expect
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Main differences to expect
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Galaxy Watch 7: Main differences to expect
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Galaxy Watch 8: Main differences to expect
Should I buy Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?
- You should wait for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 if you want to stay at the forefront of smartwatch technology and don’t mind the price hike. The Galaxy Watch 8 introduces exciting new features, and health-conscious individuals will appreciate the new antioxidant index, as well as the Bedtime Guidance feature. With new design and brighter screens, the Galaxy Watch 8 series devices are the best Samsung can offer on the wearable scene.
- You should not wait for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 if you already own a Galaxy Watch 7 or a Galaxy Watch Ultra. The new feature might not justify the upgrade. Another reason might be the ecosystem. If you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, switching to a Galaxy Watch might require additional investment, as some advanced features of the Galaxy Watch require a Galaxy phone.
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