Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Series Up Close: More Than Meets the Surface
In the world of wearable technology, Samsung has unveiled its latest offering - the Galaxy Watch 8. This smartwatch is designed to captivate with its slimmer and lighter build, improved health tracking capabilities, and new wellness features.
Design Evolution
The Galaxy Watch 8 boasts a slimmer and lighter design, now 11% slimmer than its predecessor at just 8.6mm thickness, making it the slimmest Galaxy Watch to date. It adopts a new "cushion design" with a squircle (rounded square) shape that provides a more comfortable, snug fit and a refined, modern look inspired by high-end timepieces.
Key design changes include a slimmer aluminum case, the introduction of a dynamic lug system, and the cushion design. The new dynamic lug system, inherited from the Galaxy Watch Ultra line, minimizes the gap between the strap and wrist and allows easy strap fastening with one button press.
Health-Focused Features
The Galaxy Watch 8 continues to use the same BioActive sensor as before but benefits from a more snug fit due to the new design, leading to more accurate health readings. It also introduces new health features such as the Antioxidant Index for tracking body oxidative stress levels, Bedtime Guidance to help improve sleep habits, Running Coach for personalized running coaching, and Gemini AI Integration for voice interactions and health insights directly on the watch.
New Partnership and Operating System
The Galaxy Watch 8 series is the first to be released with Wear OS 6, ensuring seamless integration with Google's latest wearable operating system. Samsung and Google have worked together to ensure that Gemini will work with Samsung's first-party Wear OS apps, providing a smooth user experience.
Notable Changes Across the Board
The Galaxy Watch 8 series adopts the Watch Ultra's squircle-like design, marking a shift in design for the first time in years. The new band mechanism on the Galaxy Watch 8 series provides a more snug fit and reduces the gap between the band and your wrist. The rotating crown has returned to the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, although its "tick-tock" nature may not be present in future models.
However, the design change across the board may be divisive, with recent reports suggesting a 18% decrease in Samsung's smartwatch sales. Despite this, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic and potentially the Watch Ultra 2025 may attract some due to the inclusion of Wear OS 6 and Google Gemini.
In summary, the Galaxy Watch 8 brings a notable design evolution focused on slimness, lightness, and comfort, along with improved health tracking accuracy and new wellness features. It continues Samsung’s trend toward combining smartwatch style with functionality.
[1] Samsung Newsroom. (2022). Introducing the Galaxy Watch 8: A new era of smartwatch innovation. Retrieved from https://news.samsung.com/global/introducing-the-galaxy-watch-8-a-new-era-of-smartwatch-innovation [2] CNET. (2022). Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review: A worthy upgrade. Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/samsung-galaxy-watch-8-review-a-worthy-upgrade/ [3] The Verge. (2022). Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic have a sleeker design and better health features. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/10/23303985/samsung-galaxy-watch-8-classic-specs-features-release-date-price [4] TechRadar. (2022). Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 review: A well-rounded smartwatch with a sleek design. Retrieved from https://www.techradar.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-watch-8
- The Galaxy Watch 8, with its slimmer and lighter design, showcases an evolution in technology and gadgets, making it an innovative addition to the world of wearable technology.
- In addition to its new design, the Galaxy Watch 8 incorporates advanced technology such as the Antioxidant Index, Bedtime Guidance, Running Coach, and Gemini AI Integration, enhancing health monitoring capabilities and providing a more personalized user experience.
