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Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is the affordable version in the series but it has most of the features along with AI upgrades.
Samsung’s new Watch 8 series goes squircle, gets AI and more.
Samsung goes up against Apple with its smartphones but you cannot ignore the focus on wearables with its Galaxy Watch series. The company has worked with Google to bring WearOS to the devices, and the new Galaxy Watch 8 series comes with the latest One UI 8 Wear version based on Wear OS 6 platform.
The premium wearable range has offered design, health features and other functional features for years, but now you also get the AI upgrade, courtesy Gemini on the wrist. But does the Galaxy Watch 8 priced starting from Rs 32,999 bring the meaningful additions that its price tag and segment deserves? We used the model for a few weeks to find these answers.
Squircle Is Everywhere
Samsung has gone all in with the squircle design with the Galaxy Watch 8 series. The brand introduced its new language with the Galaxy Watch Ultra earlier and now it seems to like it so much that all the models get it. It gives you the impression of a bigger screen than usual and there are edges without the rotating bezels which is reserved for the 8 Classic variant.
The bundled strap has a soft-touch finish which ensures you don’t feel itchy wearing it for long hours, even in the sweaty Delhi weather.
The new strap fitting makes it comfortable to wear the watch, even though the mechanism has changed which means it is not compatible with the older Galaxy Watch models. You have two buttons on the right side, where one of them acts as a power button, while the other activates the different fitness modes.
The Watch 8 has gotten marginally heavier but you don’t really get that impression. It gets the same MIL-STD military-grade protection along with IP68 rating that should not be tested too much.
Brighter Display
The Galaxy Watch 8 features a circular display over a square frame. The screen size has actually gone down from 1.5-inch on the Watch 7 to 1.47-inch Super AMOLED panel but with higher 3,000 nits peak brightness on offer.
It gets the same Sapphire crystal protection like its predecessor but the extra nits on board means the screen is easier to read in harsh light. You swipe from all sides to access the app tray, notification centre, the settings, and health features at glance with your daily readings. The display is crisp and sharp, something that you expect from the AMOLEDs.
Some Old And New Features With AI
You are getting the One UI 8 Watch version based on the latest Wear OS 6 from Samsung that brings the smartphone UI changes to the wearable. The new version has tried its best to make the experience slick and easy to navigate across different features available on the Watch 8. You still need two apps on a non-Samsung phone to control the watch and the health features, respectively.
The app itself is quite informative, and lets you access all the data in one place. You even get the new health features packed into the Labs by Samsung, but they work effectively.
The new model opts for the same Exynos 1000 chip with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage on offer so that you can easily install the apps from the Play Store and save it on the device. The performance of the Watch 8 will not give you any complaints and the mix of the OS and the hardware lets you make the best of the wearable on the wrist.
You also get Gemini with the Watch 8 that needs to be activated using the phone and you can trigger the AI assistant with a long-press of the power button. While Gemini can do a lot of things, it feels like early days for the AI model on the wearable and we are eager to see how Google and Samsung work to make it better.
You even see the Maps navigation on the wrist which can be handy in some cases, but not advisable while you are behind the wheel. Apps like Truecaller also work, allowing you to get the caller ID on the wrist when you download the app to the device.
Your Ideal Health Coach
The big upgrade with the Galaxy Watch 8 compared to Watch 7 is the support for new AI health features like Health Coach. You also have the antioxidant index that promises to modify your lifestyle and give you better results.
But the health coach is the real game changer with the potential to evolve with AI in its arms. Samsung says you get personalised training regimes, and it just feels like AI pushing you to the limit. You get data for your activities, and gradually this improves with your stamina and endurance getting better.
The regular SpO2 monitor, heart rate sensor and measuring skin temperature works to good effect. The sleep data is well articulated, giving you the room to change the schedule to get healthier sleep. The auto-detect feature works across different modes, but it only kicks in after 10 minutes of walking/running or any other activity. Some of these health features are hard to vouch for, but they are a good indication of where you need to change things and eventually consult the doctor for further advice.
It Runs But Just About
Watch 8 carries a 435mAh battery which is barely an upgrade from the Watch 7 and the improvements tell you the story.
Can the new Watch 8 last you a whole day on a single charge, depending on your usage, especially if you have always-on-display turned on. In general we got over 18 hours of battery life, after which you have to pluck the Watch to the wireless unit. Does the new model charge faster, sadly, you still have to wait for well over an hour to have it fully charged up.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 goes squircle, gets the new One UI 8 Watch with Gemini support, the design has been tweaked a bit, the display has gotten brighter and the battery life is slightly longer than before. With these changes, the Watch 8 does cost more, but is a reliable health tracker on your wrist.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
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Delhi, India, India
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