Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 release date expectations, price estimates, and upgrades
What we know so far:
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series is still months away from its official announcement, but the internet is already buzzing with rumors and leaks about the upcoming smartwatch flagship series. The most intriguing rumor so far suggests that Samsung could make a radical design change, shifting the Galaxy Watch 8 from its traditional circular design to a more square-ish look.
Another significant piece of news from the rumor mill is the potential return of the Classic model. Samsung has experimented with the naming schemes of its smartwatches over the years, adding and removing various models. We've seen a couple of "Classic" models, followed by some "Pro" devices, and just last year, the introduction of the first "Ultra" model. According to the latest rumors, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic could make a comeback.
Finally, at this early stage, there’s speculation about a key feature potentially debuting in the Galaxy Watch 8 series: blood glucose monitoring. This functionality could be enabled by a specialized sensor capable of detecting changes in blood color corresponding to glucose levels.
The previous generation of Samsung smartwatches featured only two versions: the standard "vanilla" model and the new "Ultra" variant, suggesting that the "Pro" moniker may be gone for good.
Finally, at this early stage, there’s speculation about a key feature potentially debuting in the Galaxy Watch 8 series: blood glucose monitoring. This functionality could be enabled by a specialized sensor capable of detecting changes in blood color corresponding to glucose levels.
Jump to:
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 release date
- July, 2025 (rumored)
- Market release expected toward the end of July/early August
| 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, 2025* | July, 2025* |
* - probable dates
Samsung has been fairly consistent with its launch schedule for the Galaxy Watch series. These devices are typically announced during the Summer Unpacked event, alongside the Galaxy Z foldable smartphones.
Although there are no rumors or leaks yet regarding the release date, we can infer from previous launches that the Galaxy Watch 8 will likely be announced sometime in July 2025.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 price and deals
| Samsung Galaxy Watch model | 40mm | 44mm |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 | $299 | $329 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | $299 | $329 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 | $299* | $329* |
*- anticipated prices
The good news is that Samsung has been relatively consistent with the pricing of the standard Galaxy Watch models (excluding the Pro, Classic, and Ultra variants). Based on this trend, we anticipate the Galaxy Watch 8 to follow suit. We expect a starting price of $299 for the smaller 40mm version and a slight increase to $329 for the 44mm model. Additionally, if you’re looking for LTE connectivity, you should prepare to spend an extra $50 on top of those prices.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 deals to expect:
- 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. We expect similar deals to appear once the Galaxy Watch 8 is officially released.
- 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 when the watch is officially announced.
- 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
When it comes to smartwatches, design is of utmost importance to most people. After all, a smartwatch serves as both a fashion accessory and a device packed with useful features. Unfortunately, at this early stage, we don’t have much to share regarding the potential Galaxy Watch 8 design.
This may be a bit of a stretch, but there was a rumor about the previous Galaxy Watch generation suggesting that the Ultra wouldn’t be the only square-ish smartwatch in the lineup. That rumor didn’t materialize, as the standard Galaxy Watch 7 retained its traditional circular design.
This may be a bit of a stretch, but there was a rumor about the previous Galaxy Watch generation suggesting that the Ultra wouldn’t be the only square-ish smartwatch in the lineup. That rumor didn’t materialize, as the standard Galaxy Watch 7 retained its traditional circular design.
However, it’s possible the rumor was referring to the next generation, with the Ultra marking a shift toward a more square design language.
Whether Samsung decides to test the waters and explore a square design for the Galaxy Watch 8 remains unknown. Still, it’s not entirely out of the question.
Whether Samsung decides to test the waters and explore a square design for the Galaxy Watch 8 remains unknown. Still, it’s not entirely out of the question.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 display
| Device | Screen size 40mm | Screen size 44mm | Brightness 40mm | Brightness 44mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch 7 | 1.31" | 1.47" | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
| Galaxy Watch 8 | 1.31"* | 1.47"* | 2,000 nits* | 2,000 nits* |
* - anticipated sizes
Unfortunately, this is another category without any rumors or leaks to discuss. At the moment, there’s no information regarding the display of the Galaxy Watch 8, which is closely tied to the watch’s design. If Samsung opts for a square design, the screen size will definitely change. However, if we had to bet, we’d say that the Korean company will most likely play it safe and stick with a similar design, display size, and brightness as the previous generation.
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 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!
We suspect the Galaxy Watch 8 will continue this successful arrangement, offering even more interesting and useful AI features. When it comes to health and fitness tracking, Galaxy Watch devices already provide a wealth of deep and comprehensive statistics.
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.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 hardware and specs
It’s too early to provide a definitive list of specs for the Galaxy Watch 8. The bullet points below are more representative of an educated guess, based on the previous generation of Galaxy Watch devices, Samsung’s typical hardware evolution cycle, and our experience in the industry.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8's expected specs:
- CPU: Exynos W1000 (3 nm)
- RAM: 2GB
- Battery: 300mAh (40mm), 425mAh (44mm)
- Charging: Wireless
- Storage: 32GB
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, LTE
Should I wait for 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 waiting a couple of months to get there. The Galaxy Watch 8 promises to introduce exciting new features, and health-conscious individuals will appreciate the potential for continuous blood glucose monitoring—especially those with conditions that require such tracking.
- You should not wait for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 if you need a smartwatch right now. The Galaxy Watch 8 is at least six months away, so you won’t be able to purchase one for quite a while. Other reasons to hesitate before opting for Samsung’s next wearable could be related to 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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