ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic starts at $499.99, with the LTE model priced at $549.99.
- The physical rotating bezel is smooth, One UI contains new health metrics, and the cushion design is elegant.
- The display shrunk to 1.34 inches, it’s rather expensive, and the bands are tough to secure in place.
Every other year Samsung rolls out a new Galaxy Watch with a physical rotating bezel. This year, we’ve got the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, with an attractive analog aesthetic, cushion design, and the same Quick Button we first saw on the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
In addition to some new hardware changes, the Watch 8 Classic is loaded with AI — the first new Google Wear OS watch to launch with Google Gemini, alongside Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
Also: I tested the best Android smartwatches of 2025 – these are my favorites
The watch provides you with health insights that contribute to your Energy Score, as well as new AI coaches to help you achieve your running and sleep goals. Antioxidant levels, vascular load, ECG, sleep apnea detection, body composition, and more all help make the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic your personal health and wellness advisor.
One feature of the Google Pixel Watch 3 that I was very excited about is the advanced support for running. After nearly a week of running with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, it is now my favorite watch to run with, and unlike Google, Samsung does not charge a fee for the advanced Running Coach functionality.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
To start your journey with the Running Coach, you need to perform a running test that consists of a short warm up, 12 minutes of more intense running, and a short cool down. Samsung Health will guide you through the running test so connect your Bluetooth headphones and hit the road.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
At the conclusion of the running test, Samsung Health will show you your current running level: mine was 5 out of 10. After accepting the results, it will present you with a weekly running plan. As you complete each workout, a compliance score will be awarded and you will need to pass to move on in the training program.
Workouts include jogging, intervals, pace runs, fartleks, and more. Follow-up tests are assigned as you complete a certain number of workouts in your level and then you move on up. I’m not sure what happens if you complete all workouts at level 10, but I’ll try to work my way there and figure that out.
In addition to Running Coach, Samsung Health works with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic to serve as a sleep coach that guides you through a coaching program to improve your sleep results. I’m currently a penguin sleeper and have a three week program underway. Sleep tracking seems accurate when compared to other wearables, and the Watch 8 Classic even supports sleep apnea indication monitoring.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The Watch 8 Classic supports the antioxidant index through measurements taken with your thumb on the back of the watch. I’ve been in the low region for the past week, with some general guidance to eat more vegetables. Samsung representatives showed how more specific guidance will be provided, such as “eat 10 blueberries”, as the Watch 8 Classic learns more about your daily routine.
Also: I used every Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Series model – and my favorite isn’t the Ultra
I love the look of the Watch 8 Classic hardware with a smooth rotating bezel on the cushion design frame, but the display is a bit smaller than the Galaxy Watch 7 and I can’t give up the big display and long battery life of the Watch Ultra. The UI is flawless and smooth, however, especially as you spin the bezel.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
Samsung designed a new dynamic lug system for the watch bands, and frankly I hate it. I understand it was implemented to improve the reliability and accuracy of health metrics, but so far I find it difficult to remove and insert the bands into the luges even with the detailed written instructions included in the package.
ZDNET’s buying advice
I bounce around between a lot of different smartwatches as part of my real-world testing here at ZDNET, but given the fantastic new Running Coach feature on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, it will be my daily driver for some time.
If you are a runner or a person who is very interested in all of details around your health and wellness then it is tough to beat the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch with all of these metrics for free.
