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<\/p>\nPrice<\/p>\n
The Galaxy Watch 8 comes in 40mm or 44mm versions and starts at $349.99 for the smaller, Bluetooth-only version. The larger size costs an extra $30, and both sizes offer LTE connectivity for a $50 premium. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic only comes in one 46mm size and costs $499.99 for the Bluetooth-only variant or $549.99 for a version equipped with LTE. <\/p>\n
\n The Galaxy Watch 8 comes in two different sizes (Credit: Eric Zeman)\n<\/p>\n
Both the Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic have two color options: graphite or silver for the Watch 8 and black or white for the Classic. <\/p>\n
Winner: Galaxy Watch 8<\/p>\n
Design<\/p>\n
Aside from the price, the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic share a lot of similarities in specs and features. The main differentiator between the two is design. <\/p>\n
The Watch 8 Classic encircles its screen with a notched bezel you can rotate to cycle through the interface, a beloved feature among Galaxy Watch fans that we last saw on the Watch 6 Classic<\/a>. The Classic also features an inset bezel with number markings corresponding to the minutes in an hour, a design detail missing from the Watch 8, and it has an extra physical button that you can customize. Overall, the Classic looks more eye-catching than the base Watch 8. <\/p>\n \n Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (Credit: Eric Zeman)\n<\/p>\n On the other hand, the Watch 8 has a much more streamlined design than the Classic, with a fixed bezel and a thinner case. The design is simple but pleasing, and the Watch 8\u2019s thin body allows it to easily vanish under a sleeve.<\/p>\n Both the Watch 8 and the Classic feature a slightly squarish frame surrounding the circular watch face (a “cushion shape,” according to Samsung) and a dynamic lug system for watch bands, similar to the Galaxy Watch Ultra<\/a>. <\/p>\n Additionally, both are equally durable, with 5ATM of water resistance, an IP68<\/a> rating for water and dust protection, and a military grade MIL-STD-810H certification, meaning they can withstand extreme temperature changes, blowing sand, and other environmental stressors such as vibration and shock. <\/p>\n \n The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is thinner than the Galaxy Watch 7 (Credit: Eric Zeman)\n<\/p>\n Even on the design front, where they are the most different, the Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic have a lot in common. That said, the Classic’s chunky, functional bezel stands out and will strike a chord with longtime Galaxy Watch fans and anyone who likes the old-school look. <\/p>\n Winner: Galaxy Watch 8 Classic<\/p>\n Screen<\/p>\n The Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic screens can reach 3,000 nits of brightness, a 50% increase from the 2,000-nit cap of the Galaxy Watch 7. That means both new watches should be easier to see in bright sunlight than the previous generation. <\/p>\n Otherwise, the Watch 8 Classic screen matches the size and resolution of the smaller 40mm Watch 8 instead of the 44mm version, despite being 46mm itself. The 44mm Watch 8 has a 1.5-inch, 480-by-480-pixel Super AMOLED screen. Both the Watch 8 Classic and the 40mm Watch 8 have a 1.3-inch, 438-by-438-pixel screen. If you want the biggest screen of the bunch, the surprising choice is the 44mm Watch 8. <\/p>\n Winner: Galaxy Watch 8<\/p>\n Battery Life<\/p>\n The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic crushes its more affordable sibling on battery life in our real-world tests. <\/p>\n The 40mm Watch 8 has a 325mAh battery, while the 44mm version has a 435mAh capacity. The Watch 8 Classic tops the trio with a 445mAh cell. Samsung says both Watch 8 series models offer roughly the same battery life, quoting 30 hours with the always-on display enabled and 40 hours without.<\/p>\n \n Get Our Best Stories!\n <\/p>\n All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts<\/p>\n Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.<\/p>\n \n By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!<\/p>\n However, given that the Watch 8 Classic has the biggest battery while matching the smaller Watch 8 in screen size, it ended up significantly outperforming the base model in practice. The Classic lasted 49 hours with the always-on display enabled, edging out the premium Galaxy Watch Ultra’s 46 hours in our testing and nearly doubling the Watch 8’s 26-hour result. Even with the always-on display disabled, the Classic still performed better, lasting 60 hours compared with 39 hours for the base model. <\/p>\n All models have more capacity than their respective predecessors<\/a>.<\/p>\n Winner: Galaxy Watch 8 Classic<\/p>\n Power<\/p>\n All members of the Galaxy Watch 8 family have a five-core Exynos W1000 processor with 2GB of memory. The base Watch 8 has 32GB of storage, with 64GB on the Watch 8 Classic. They both come with Samsung\u2019s One UI 8 interface on top of Google\u2019s Wear OS 6 software installed at launch, and both platforms are one version ahead of what\u2019s currently available on the Galaxy Watch 7. <\/p>\n Winner: Galaxy Watch 8 Classic<\/p>\n Fitness and Health<\/p>\n The Galaxy Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic match exactly in terms of health and fitness features, and in this category, they offer the biggest upgrades over the Galaxy Watch 7.<\/p>\n Recommended by Our Editors<\/p>\n The Watch 8 series can measure your antioxidant levels with a short test requiring you to place your finger on a sensor on the back of the watch. This feature is unique among smartwatches. Antioxidant tests typically require going to the doctor and having your blood drawn, so this is a much simpler and less invasive way to get that information. After measuring your antioxidant levels, the watch provides tips to improve your score. <\/p>\n \n Place your finger on the back of the Watch 8 for the antioxidant test (Credit: Eric Zeman)\n<\/p>\n The Watch 8 Series also measures your vascular load while you sleep to gauge your overall stress levels. It also has a built-in Sleep Coach to monitor your habits and help you find the best time to go to bed. <\/p>\n A Running Coach offers feedback as you go, similar to Apple\u2019s Workout Buddy<\/a>, which will launch as part of watchOS 26<\/a>. The Watch 8 series also provides a 12-minute running test to gauge your current aptitude for the activity from 1 (beginner) to 10 (pro). It uses your running test results to build a specific workout plan, whether you’re just aiming for improved fitness or working toward a particular goal like running a marathon on a specific date. <\/p>\n These new features build on the Galaxy Watch line’s extensive list of activity, exercise, sleep, and stress tracking features. That includes FDA-approved sleep apnea monitoring, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) index tracking for a detailed picture of your metabolic health, and AI-powered holistic health insights, features that debuted last year on the Galaxy Watch 7. <\/p>\n Samsung smartwatches can also monitor blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and sleep cycles and snoring. Similar to a smart scale, they can measure body fat and body composition. The Galaxy Watch 8 series carries these established features forward while offering even more wellness insights.<\/p>\n Winner: Tie<\/p>\n Lifestyle<\/p>\n![\"Galaxy](\"https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/comparisons\/002CgfYBDp860oTAXg5sLUz-2.jpg\")
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