Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Series: Everything You Need to Know

Samsung officially launched the Galaxy Watch 8 series at its Unpacked event on July 9, 2025. Packed with Wear OS 6-based One UI 8 Watch and new health-tracking innovations, these watches bring meaningful upgrades in both hardware and software. The iconic physical rotating bezel also returns this year with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

Whether you’re a longtime Samsung smartwatch user or considering your first wearable, here’s a complete breakdown of everything we know so far about the Galaxy Watch 8 series. From features and specs to design changes, software, pricing, and more, we will discuss it all in this article (last updated on July 18, 2025).

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.

Table of contents

• Models
• Design and Hardware
• Display
• Processor and Specs
• Software and Features
• Battery and Charging
• Price, Colors, and Release Date
• FAQs

Galaxy Watch 8: Models

Every year, Samsung launches two smartwatch models in multiple sizes. In 2024, it launched the Galaxy Watch 7 in 40mm and 44mm sizes and the Watch Ultra with a 47mm dial. The year before, we got the Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm and 44mm) and Watch 6 Classic (43mm and 47mm). Before that, there were the Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm and 44mm) and Watch 5 Pro (45mm).

It’s no different this year — we got the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic. The former comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes, while the latter is available in a 46mm dial. Well, Samsung also launched a new Galaxy Watch Ultra this year, but it’s a minor refresh of the 2024 model rather than a sequel. The company never pitched it as a completely new watch, but as an upgraded version of its first-gen Watch Ultra. Below are the model numbers for the three new watches.

• Galaxy Watch 8
  • 40mm: SM-L320 (Bluetooth) and SM-L325 (LTE)
  • 44mm: SM-L330 (Bluetooth) and SM-L335 (LTE)
• Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
  • 46mm: SM-L500 (Bluetooth) and SM-L505 (LTE)
• Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025)
  • 47mm: SM-L705 (LTE)

As mentioned, the Watch Ultra (2025) is a minor refresh with additional storage space. Samsung now offers 64GB of onboard storage instead of 32GB, and that’s about it. The 2025 version also gets a new Titanium Blue color option, but that doesn’t add any new functionality. Likewise, One UI 8 out of the box doesn’t matter much, as the 2024 version will also receive this update will all new features. Now, let’s dive deeper into the two brand-new Galaxy Watch 8 models.

Galaxy Watch 8: Design and Hardware

There may not be an entirely new Ultra watch in Samsung’s 2025 lineup, but all models sport an Ultra-ish look. Samsung ditched the traditional round design this year, with both Galaxy Watch 8 models switching to a squircle-shaped body — a blend of square and circle introduced with the Watch Ultra last year. While the screen remains circular, the casing is squircle, giving the devices a bolder, more rugged appearance. This may be the design identity for Samsung’s smartwatches going forward.

A squircle casing and circular screen, coupled with the iconic rotating bezel and accented action button, give the watch a sporty yet premium look. The base Galaxy Watch 8 lacks a physical bezel and action button, but shares the overall design with its Classic sibling. Samsung has slimmed down the new watches compared to their predecessors. You can see the full dimensions below:

• Galaxy Watch 8
  • 40mm: 42.7 x 40.4 x 8.6 mm, 30 grams
  • 44mm: 46 x 43.7 x 8.6 mm, 34 grams
• Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
  • 46mm: 46.4 x 46 x 10.6 mm, 63.5 grams

Expect a strong build quality

Last year, Samsung offered a titanium build on the Watch Ultra, but the Watch 7 featured an aluminum body. The Watch 8 keeps the same aluminum build, but the Classic model gets a stainless steel casing. Both models have sapphire crystal glass on the front and boast MIL-STD-810H-grade durability with IP68 dust and water resistance. These watches are built to survive in some of the harshest conditions, including underwater for several minutes. They can also block the finest of dust particles and high-pressure water jets and withstand drops from waist height without major damage to the body.

Galaxy Watch 8: Display

The 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 sports a 1.34-inch Super AMOLED display with a 438 x 438 pixels resolution (327 ppi density). Its 44mm sibling gets a 1.47-inch panel with a 480 x 480 pixels solution and 327 ppi pixel density. The Classic model also features an identical Super AMOLED screen measuring 1.34 inches. Its screen resolution comes in at 438 x 438 pixels, while the pixel density is 327 ppi. All three watches offer 3,000 nits of peak brightness.

Galaxy Watch 8: Processor and Specs

Samsung equips the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic with the same processor as its 2024 smartwatch lineup. It’s the 3nm Exynos W1000 introduced last year. This penta-core chipset has one Cortex-A78 CPU core running at 1.6GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.5GHz. It supports LPDDR5 RAM and eMMC 5.1 storage. A Mali-G68 MP2 handles graphics.

Speaking of storage, Samsung 64GB of onboard storage on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, paired with 2GB of RAM. The vanilla Watch 8 also gets 2GB of RAM but tops out at 32GB of storage. The watches boast Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth v5.3, dual-band GPS, NFC, a loudspeaker, and a bunch of sensors for health monitoring and other functions.

Galaxy Watch 8: Software and Features

Smartwatches have rapidly evolved from simple notification hubs into powerful health companions. Modern models are packed with advanced sensors that track heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep patterns, stress levels, and even ECG and skin temperature in real time. These devices now provide insights that help users monitor their fitness, detect irregularities early, and make informed lifestyle changes.

 

Unsurprisingly, health monitoring remains Samsung’s core focus with One UI 8 Watch, which is available out of the box on the Galaxy Watch 8 series. The company introduced various new health features, including Antioxidant Index, which allows users to track their beta carotene levels. Running Coach is another health-oriented tool in One UI 8 Watch.

Samsung confirmed an expanded focus on health and productivity during an earnings call earlier this year, so it was always expected. That said, One UI 8 also brings tons of other enhancements. You get additional customization tools, updated visuals with fresh icons and system elements, and more.

AI on your wrist

One UI 8 Watch brings deeper AI integration, offering advanced AI capabilities directly on your wrist. Google’s Gemini is at the heart of these AI innovations. It replaces Google Assistant as the default AI assistant on the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic, and gradually on older models with the One UI 8 Watch update. You may be able to manage calendar events, summarize emails, and answer general queries from your watch.

Now Bar and Now Brief are here on watches

Samsung’s One UI 7 update for phones and tablets introduced Now Bar, a pill-shaped element on the lock screen surfacing ongoing activities across different apps. It gives you quick access to things like media controls, active timer or stopwatch, scores from live sports, and more. When unlocked, the information shifts to an expandable pill in the status bar. Likewise, Now Brief gives you quick access to your health information and summarizes your daily activities, upcoming events, and more. Samsung introduced Now Bar and Now Brief to Galaxy Watches with One UI 8 Watch.

Galaxy Watch 8: Battery and Charging

The 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 has a typical battery capacity of 325mAh, while its 44mm sibling gets a 435mAh unit. To recall, the Watch 7’s two size variants have typical battery capacities of 300mAh and 425mAh, respectively. Samsung has slightly increased the battery sizes this year. As for the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, it packs a 445mAh battery. It also gets a small battery boost over the 47mm Watch 6 Classic (425mAh).

The entire lineup supports 10W charging, with One UI 8 Watch adding a battery protection feature. It automatically stops charging the watch once the battery level reaches a preset threshold. This reduces battery wear, especially when you leave the watch on the charger for extended periods. One UI 8 Watch also introduces a new charging animation to the Galaxy Watch lineup.

Galaxy Watch 8: Price, Colors, and Release Date

Samsung offers the Galaxy Watch 8 in Graphite and Silver colors, with multiple band options. The Classic is available in two classic shades: Black and White. For the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025), your color options include Titanium Blue, Titanium White, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Gray. As far as the prices of the new watches are concerned, they start at $349. Below is the full pricing structure:

• Galaxy Watch 8
  • 40mm: $349 (Bluetooth) and $399 (LTE)
  • 44mm: $379 (Bluetooth) and $429 (LTE)
• Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
  • 46mm: $499 (Bluetooth) and $549 (LTE)
• Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025)
  • 47mm: $649 (LTE)

FAQ

How much does the Galaxy Watch 8 cost?
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 prices start at $349 and go up to $549, depending on the model, size, and connectivity. Check the official Samsung website for regional prices.

Which Galaxy Watch 8 is the best to buy?
Samsung offers the Galaxy Watch 8 in 40mm and 44mm sizes and the Watch 8 Classic in 46mm. You should pick the right size for your wrist, as all models feature the same processor and software experience.

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.