Samsung’s next-gen smartwatches are shaping up to be more than just iterative upgrades. Expected to debut alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 in July, the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic could undergo a noticeable design shift. Newly spotted evidence suggests they’ll adopt a squircle-shaped body — a blend of square and circle — similar to the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Samsung may have discovered a design identity for the Galaxy Watch lineup
Last year, Samsung launched its first-ever Ultra smartwatch featuring a robust squircle design. It looks like this would be the design identity for all Galaxy Watches going forward. Animation files discovered by Android Authority with the One UI 8 Watch firmware hint that Samsung is moving away from its traditional circular design for once and for all.
The publication found that both the Galaxy Watch 8 (codenamed “fresh8”) and Watch 8 Classic (“wise8”) feature a squircle frame with a rounded display, matching the design language of the Watch Ultra. A squircle casing gives the devices a bolder, more rugged appearance while still keeping a circular screen. Unfortunately, the graphics do not make it clear if the Classic model features the iconic physical rotating bezel.
However, it looks like the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic will blur the line further between it and the Ultra lineup, going beyond an identical physical appearance. Leaked firmware suggests it may feature a Quick Button, enhanced vibration feedback, and a refined side button layout. These hardware changes make it more sporty and stylish.
No Ultra model this year?
As the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic look more like the Watch Ultra, Samsung seems to have dropped the successor to the latter. Android Authority found no reference to a new Watch Ultra in the One UI 8 Watch firmware build they discovered all this information and graphics. They spotted two size variants of the vanilla Watch 8 and a single Watch 8 Classic.
If you recall, Samsung launched the Watch 7 in two sizes last year, while the Watch Ultra comes in a single size. Joining the dots, it looks like the Classic will replace the Ultra this year. Perhaps Samsung will alternatively launch Classic and Ultra watches, with the former featuring a physical bezel and the latter a big battery. It’s just our assumption, though.
Beyond the hardware, the Galaxy Watch 8 series will ship with Wear OS 6-based One UI 8 Watch. The new update is expected to bring battery protection features, a revamped Shortcuts app, redesigned tiles, Now Bar support, Antioxidant Index health metric, new charging animations, and more. It should all be official in about two months, with more leaks in the coming weeks.
