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If you’re a fan of Samsung Galaxy watches but haven’t yet sprung for the Watch 8 Classic model, now’s the perfect time to do so. Right now you can trade in a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro or Galaxy Watch 6 Classic at Best Buy and get up to $250 off a Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic — plus a free band.
Also: The best smartwatches in 2025 from Apple, Samsung, Google, and more
ZDNET has expert reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 before, and this trade-in option to get the classic model (plus a free band) for up to 50% off definitely made us double-take.
Also: Why I recommend this Samsung Galaxy Watch over competing Androids
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 features several upgrades from the previous models, including Gemini AI, a 3000-nit display for brightness, and an 11% thinner design. ZDNET editor Nina Raemont went hands-on with the Watch 8 Classic, and noted software features such as AI-powered Running Coach, which “fine-tunes suggested intensity, providing motivation, guidance, and personalized training programs that incorporate a user’s fitness data to help them reach their exercise goals.”
Also: Our expert compared the best smartwatches from Samsung and Apple
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
Other software includes Bedtime Guidance, which can let you know when it’s time to go to sleep based on your past three nights of sleep, circadian rhythm, and more. The Galaxy Watch 8 also has a Vascular Load feature, which tells you how stressed your heart is while you sleep, and an Antioxidant Index, which can determine your body’s antioxidant levels and needs within five seconds of pressing your thumb on the BioActive sensor.
Raemont has noted that the Antioxidant Index feels a bit gimmicky, but nonetheless praises the watch’s core health features.
Also: How Samsung’s newest Galaxy Watch 8 got me running again
To get the maximum $250 off a new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, you’ll have to trade in a Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro or Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic in good condition (meaning it functions properly and doesn’t have a cracked screen, though light scuffs, scratches, and minor wear and tear are fine). You can trade in models from Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, Google, and Oura, but those garner less money off a new Watch 8.
Screenshot by Monica Bell/ZDNET
To take advantage of this deal, select the Galaxy Watch 8 model you’d like to buy from the Best Buy website, then click the “check your trade-in value.” You’ll then be prompted to input your device’s information, such as brand, model family, and condition, then simply add your Galaxy Watch 8 to your cart and select a free band from Samsung’s 10 options. You’ll need to perform a factory reset and disable the Find My feature to trade in your prior device. But all, it’s a pretty low-lift way to get up to 50% off the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.
Also: I tested every Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Series model
Your credit is payed as a Best Buy gift card, and you can read the full terms online.
Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.
How I rated this deal
Up to 50% off the most recent Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic model is a great trade-in offer, especially when you factor in the new software features and hardware improvements. As the Galaxy Watch 9 isn’t slated to be released until next year, now is the perfect time to grab the Watch 8 Classic for under $300 and recycle an older wearable.
This trade-in offer will expire on Nov. 3 2025.
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