Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs Watch 6 Classic: Should You Upgrade?

Samsung’s Classic-branded smartwatches have earned a loyal following over the years, largely thanks to their iconic rotating bezel. That signature feature makes its return in 2025 with the launch of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. While it may seem like a direct successor to the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic from 2023, the new model is anything but incremental. It marks a bold generational leap, blending familiar elements with a striking new design and major hardware upgrades.

Sign up for our Mystery Box program and pre-order the Galaxy Watch 8 today to get a $50 credit and a FREE Mystery Box! Every Mystery Box includes a premium phone case, screen protector, cleaning kit, and desktop phone stand — all absolutely free.

Galaxy Watch 8 Classic brings back the rotating bezel, but with a modern twist

Yes, the rotating bezel is back, but everything around it has changed. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic introduces Samsung’s Cushion Design language, which originally debuted with the Watch Ultra in 2024. Instead of the fully round chassis seen on the Watch 6 Classic, the latest Classic adopts a squircle body — a square-ish shape with a circular display and bezel on top. All 2025 models sport the same squircle design, suggesting that it will be the design identity of Galaxy Watches going forward.

Design preferences are subjective, but the Watch 8 Classic’s new shape brings real-world advantages. It integrates a Quick Button, carried over from the Watch Ultra, which can instantly trigger workouts, mark laps, or start/stop activity sessions. It also uses a new Dynamic Lug system for easier strap swapping and a more secure fit, improving sensor accuracy during fitness tracking.

Smaller but brighter display

Interestingly, Samsung has launched the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic in just one size this year — 46mm. It dropped the smaller option — the Watch 6 Classic launched in 43mm and 47mm sizes. This shift likely reflects buyer behavior, as the larger variant was the more popular choice last time around. It’s a practical move, as Classic models tend to have a bolder, more rugged design, often favored by men, who typically have larger wrists.

Below are the full dimensions:

• Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm): 42.5 x 42.5 x 10.9 mm, 52 grams
• Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (47mm): 46.5 x 46.5 x 10.9 mm, 59 grams
• Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (46mm): 46.4 x 46 x 10.6 mm, 63.5 grams

As you can see, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is nearly the same size as the 47mm Watch 6 Classic. It’s marginally slimmer but heavier too, likely because of a bigger battery. However, the introduction of cushion design means the screen size shrinks to 1.34 inches from 1.5 inches. The screen resolution also drops from 480×480 pixels to 432×432 pixels (453 ppi density to 327 ppi density).

However, the Watch 8 Classic leaps ahead in brightness, up to 3,000 nits, compared to 2,000 nits on the older model. That makes a noticeable difference in sunny outdoor environments. The 43mm Watch 6 Classic has a 1.3-inch display with a 432×432 pixels resolution (453 ppi density) and 2,000 nits brightness.

Major performance boost, thanks to key hardware upgrades

Under the hood, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a powerhouse, thanks to the 3nm Exynos W100 chipset with a penta-core CPU clocked at 1.6GHz. In comparison, the Watch 6 Classic’s 5nm Exynos W930 processor has a dual-core CPU running at 1.4GHz. The RAM amount remains unchanged at 2GB, but you now get four times the storage (64GB instead of 16GB).

The battery capacity also gets a boost to 445mAh vs the Watch 6 Classic’s 425mAh unit (300mAh in the 43mm variant). Samsung offers the same 10W wireless charging, but with some optimization for faster power delivery. You do not get any notable upgrades in connectivity, as the new model boasts the same Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth v5.3 standards. However, the Watch 8 Classic boasts dual-band GPS. Both models have MIL-STD-810H durability and IP68 dust and water resistance.

New health experiences with an upgraded sensor

The updated BioActive Sensor in the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic ensures faster and more accurate health readings. Samsung has introduced new health features with the Wear OS 6-based One UI 8 Watch, offering deeper insights into your everyday wellness. Although the Watch 6 Classic will receive the same software update, it will miss out on key features such as Vascular Load, Running Coach, and Antioxidant Index.

All in all, the new Classic is an easy recommendation for Watch 6 Classic users, more so with Samsung’s trade-in program that cuts $250 off its asking price of $499. Pre-orders are now open on the official Samsung website. Hit the link below to place your order now.

Sign up for our Mystery Box program and pre-order the Galaxy Watch 8 today to get a $50 credit and a FREE Mystery Box! Every Mystery Box includes a premium phone case, screen protector, cleaning kit, and desktop phone stand — all absolutely free.