Samsung is back with its latest offering in the smartwatch realm, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. This new addition boasts a mix of familiar features and some updated elements, making it a solid but not groundbreaking choice in the smartwatch market.
At a Glance
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 presents a comfortable design, a bright display, excellent fitness and health tracking capabilities, and smooth performance with a user-friendly interface. However, it falls short in terms of battery life improvement, requiring the use of multiple apps and a price increase.
Design & Build
The design of the Galaxy Watch 8 takes a new direction with a chunkier chassis echoing the Galaxy Watch Ultra, offering a slimmer build for improved comfort. The Dynamic Lug system, while slightly finicky, enhances the overall user experience.
Screen & Audio
Featuring the brightest display of any standard Galaxy Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 offers easy readability and enjoyable audio playback. The audio quality is commendable, though not as loud as some competitors, providing a pleasant overall experience.
Software & Features
The Galaxy Watch 8 impresses with Wear OS and Google Gemini integration, delivering enhanced AI capabilities. The device’s performance is robust, offering a seamless user experience. However, the set-up process requiring multiple apps could be streamlined for better efficiency.
Fitness & Health Tracking
Samsung continues its legacy of exceptional fitness tracking with the Galaxy Watch 8, offering new features like the Antioxidant Index and reliable heart rate monitoring. Some features are limited to Samsung phone users, impacting the overall user experience.
Battery Life & Charging
Despite a slight increase in battery capacity, the Galaxy Watch 8 still struggles with one-day battery life, lagging behind competitors offering longer usage times. Charging is relatively fast, but the limited battery life remains a drawback.
Price & Availability
With a starting price of $349.99, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 competes in the mid-range smartwatch segment. However, the price bump and incremental updates may deter budget-conscious consumers, especially when compared to other offerings in the market.
Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?
While the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 offers a range of impressive features and solid performance, its incremental updates and battery life limitations may not justify the price increase for some users. Samsung loyalists and those seeking top-notch fitness tracking may find value in this smartwatch, but budget-conscious consumers might explore more cost-effective alternatives.
Specs
– Size options: 40/44mm
– Display: 1.34/1.47-inch AMOLED with 3000 nits peak brightness
– Storage: 32GB
– Monitors: ECG, blood pressure
– Connectivity: Dual-band GPS
– Battery: 325/435mAh
– Water resistance: IP68, 5ATM
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 offers a mix of familiar strengths and incremental enhancements, making it a reliable choice in the smartwatch market, albeit lacking major innovations to stand out significantly.