My first days with Samsung’s smartwatch have been promising

Samsung introduced its latest units throughout its Galaxy Unpacked occasion on July 9. That occurred to fall on the second day of Amazon’s Prime Day occasion. Do large tech firms not know what the others are doing? Do they care? Do they like making the lives of tech reporters tough? I didn’t have time to contemplate. Solely after I was performed protecting Amazon did I’ve time to start correctly testing Samsung’s newest wearable. Which means I’ve been dwelling with the Galaxy Watch 8 for 4 days now.

Whereas that’s not sufficient time to finish a complete evaluate and tally a good rating, I used to be in a position to collect a great quantity of first impressions — and let me inform you, they’re practically all constructive. I’ll proceed to judge the watch over the following few weeks or so and return for a last evaluation. Within the meantime, there’s lots to say in regards to the expertise up to now.

Samsung packed a number of updates into its newest smartwatch, when it comes to each {hardware} and software program. However I put additional effort into testing one function particularly — and it’s one of many extra attention-grabbing.

Antioxidant exams and my persimmon consumption

The Galaxy Watch 8 has the identical processor and sensors because the earlier era, but it surely’s utilizing these to detect a brand new metric: antioxidant ranges. It’s a must to take the watch off and maintain your thumb on the sensor node for 5 seconds to get a studying and also you’ll must check with the Well being app in your telephone for detailed outcomes. The primary time I examined, I received a rating of 60, which falls proper in the course of the “low” section of the size. The one different outcomes are “very low” and “enough,” which can absolutely be a disappointment to the over-achievers on the market.

The Well being app instructed I “attempt consuming one (100g) persimmon right now.” When my grandmother was alive, she made persimmon cookies each Christmas and the final time she did so was additionally the final time I thought of that fruit. Contemplating South Korea is without doubt one of the world’s largest persimmon producers, it’d make sense {that a} Samsung gadget instructed them. The produce man at my native grocery retailer mentioned they solely carry them across the holidays (little question as a result of grandmas insist, plus that’s once they’re in season).

Seems persimmons are excessive in antioxidants similar to Vitamin C and beta-carotine (Vitamin A). Cantaloupe additionally has these vitamins — plus it’s orange like persimmons — so I purchased one. In reality, I went arduous on the antioxidants and did the whole lot I might to see if I might get a greater rating. I ate a bunch of cherries and just a little darkish chocolate. For breakfast, I had half a cantaloupe as an alternative of the very tasty-smelling breakfast hash my husband made, and I drank plain inexperienced tea as an alternative of my traditional oat matcha latte. I did yoga and went to my month-to-month medical therapeutic massage appointment (stress is alleged to extend oxidant ranges). I received eight hours of sleep and drank my weight in water. I felt prepared.

So I took the check once more and my antioxidant ranges had been… two factors decrease. Sigh. I wasn’t anticipating in a single day transformation, however I’d hoped for just a little enchancment. Subsequent time, I’m consuming the hash.

Lastly, a brand new design!

Since its fourth era, the Galaxy Watch has appeared just about the identical: a spherical glass display set in a spherical steel case with giant prongs coming out of the highest and backside to carry the band. Whereas there was nothing incorrect with sticking with a great design, giving a tool a refreshed look lends the yearly replace cycle some that means — as an alternative of feeling like an compulsory transfer to appease stockholders.

This time round, the Galaxy Watch 8 seems to be markedly totally different because of a form borrowed from final yr’s Extremely mannequin. Samsung calls it a “cushion design” — a round glass show set atop an aluminum case that appears like a roundish sq. (or squircle as our personal Cherlynn Low calls it). The Sport band on my evaluate mannequin curves to fulfill the width of the case, making a easy arch that I believe is extra refined than the clunkier pronged configuration. In reality, the whole look is elegant — rather more so than the Apple Watch, which seems to be like a miniaturized iPhone 11 glued to a silicone strap.

The cushion design is nice in a technique, but in addition worrisome. As a result of the glass show stands pleased with the case by at the very least two millimeters, my first thought was: “I’m going to trash this display.” Instantly after taking the be careful of the field, I ordered display shields and, throughout the quick course of this evaluate, managed to crack one. That’s probably as a result of I used to be low cost and ordered off-brand display protectors, or maybe the protruding glass cushion is solely begging for misfortune.

Nonetheless, the raised glass solves one grievance I had with the Galaxy Watch 7. One method to scroll is by operating your finger alongside the outer fringe of the display. In reality, on-screen cues counsel that gesture when there’s extra content material to view. On the Watch 7, my finger was at all times getting in the best way of the textual content I needed to learn. Now that the show is elevated, there’s room for my finger to journey additional out alongside the periphery and keep out of the best way.

Look apart, my favourite {hardware} replace is how rather more snug the watch is. The Watch 7’s underside had a large sensor node, and it took me every week to get used to the texture. Even then, I hated sleeping with it. The Watch 8, nonetheless, felt good the primary time I put it on.

Gemini in your wrist and Put on OS 6

The Galaxy Watch 8 is the primary smartwatch to ship with Google’s Put on OS 6, although Samsung overlays it with its personal One UI interface. The headline function for the brand new software program is Gemini integration. Now, most issues you are able to do with the Gemini app in your telephone will be performed by way of your watch. Simply notice that you just’ll must have your Gemini-compatible telephone close by to make use of it.

Google’s AI was fairly snappy at fundamental duties like setting reminders and timers. Requests that required extra “thought” took solely marginally longer (and accomplished extra rapidly after I was utilizing my house Wi-Fi versus counting on cell indicators out on the earth). I requested for the very best document shops in my metropolis and a great place to eat lunch. I used to be pleasantly shocked to listen to of a new-to-me reply for every class. The document retailer turned out to be two bins of LPs inside a e-book store, however nonetheless, I hadn’t heard of it earlier than. I requested why my eight-year-old talked about lava hen on a regular basis and was appropriately knowledgeable about Jack Black and A Minecraft Film.

The assistant shows solutions in textual content type on the watch display and in addition reads out each phrase. That may flip into a number of speaking, however tapping the display stops the chatter should you favor to learn. Gemini can deal with follow-up questions and duties, however because it doesn’t normally hold listening after it speaks, you must faucet the mic icon to make your subsequent request.

I reached out to Samsung to ask if I might change a setting to make Gemini hold listening, however there is not one at the moment. For now, you will must faucet or say “OK Google” once more for followups like, “Add that to my Google Preserve” or “Remind me about that.” If Gemini asks you a query, nonetheless, similar to verifying a textual content it’s about to ship, it does hold listening for the reply. You can even mix instructions on the outset, similar to asking to search for an handle and textual content it to somebody.

I requested some pretty particular duties and didn’t hit any snags. I requested it to textual content the handle of an area restaurant to my husband and it verified which location I needed then despatched the message. I requested when the Albuquerque Isotopes had been taking part in the Sacramento River Cats and it gave me the upcoming dates. I tapped the mic and mentioned, “add that to my calendar,” which it did.

It solely let me down twice. After I requested whether or not it was going to rain, it simply learn me the overall climate forecast as an alternative of answering the query. All the opposite assistants in my life (Alexa and Siri) can reply these questions — although technically that’s a Gemini downside, not the watch’s fault.

The opposite disappointment is a matter of correct integration. I used to be out on a stroll and I requested for instructions to a close-by grocery retailer. Gemini advised me the handle and the gap, however pointed me to take a look at my telephone for the precise instructions. After I requested Siri the identical factor on the identical stroll, instructions merely confirmed up on my Apple Watch. (Sure, I’ve been sporting two watches and carrying round two activated telephones like a double agent, simply a lot much less cool.)

Along with Gemini, Put on OS 6 introduces up to date and bigger tiles which manage and show data in your watch. By default, the tiles are separated into classes: Well being, Health and Primary (climate, media playback, calendar) with every field displaying a little bit of pertinent information — exercise metrics, present temp, your subsequent occasion and so forth. If the restricted information isn’t sufficient, tapping a tile opens the respective app. You’ll be able to categorize, rearrange, swap out and add as many pages of those playing cards as you need within the Put on app in your telephone. I didn’t have time to get the defaults tweaked precisely how I needed, but it surely already appears like a a lot smarter means of interacting with a watch. Now you may glean key data from the apps which might be essential to you simply by looking your tiles.

The operating coach believes in you

The Galaxy Watch 8 now comes with built-in, AI-fueled operating steering. This sounds a bit just like the upcoming Exercise Buddy that Apple introduced for watchOS 26, so it will likely be attention-grabbing to match the 2. Google Pixel watches and Fitbits at the moment have the choice of an AI-powered operating coach, but it surely’s restricted to Premium subscribers. Garmin affords an adaptive coaching program known as Run Coach as effectively, so this isn’t a wholly novel thought.

Samsung’s operating coach begins with an evaluation: Run as quick as you may keep for twelve minutes. You’ll then be awarded a efficiency degree starting from one to 10. Every degree comes with a tailor-made, four-week plan with 4 exercises per week meant to get you prepared to finish a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon. My 12-minute, 22-second per-mile tempo put me at a degree three. My plan was geared in direction of getting me to run a 5K on the finish of 4 weeks.

The primary exercise was low-intensity interval operating with 4 segments of operating arduous, interspersed with cool-down walks. As I ran, the AI coach advised me when and what to anticipate on the following section and what my objectives had been for every. It spouted occasional phrases of encouragement and let me know when my tempo began to lag. The steering wasn’t intrusive and I appreciated the preview of and expectations for the following section. I attempted it relying simply on the watch’s audio system, and I might hear OK so long as the streets had been quiet, however I positively advocate utilizing earbuds.

I discovered myself operating quicker than I’d have with no “coach” and now I’m truthfully questioning whether or not I, an individual my athlete sister describes as “not an athlete,” might really full a 5K. Possibly there’s some worth on this idea in spite of everything. In any case, I discover myself trying ahead to taking it additional. My subsequent exercise is a straight up, 30-minute jog. I’ve by no means repeatedly run for a half an hour in my life, so we’ll see how that goes.

Vascular load, bedtime reminders and battery life

The short turnaround on this text means I didn’t get to correctly check a few of the new options. Vascular load takes readings whilst you sleep to judge the well being of your circulatory system, then tells you when your load is larger or decrease than regular and affords suggestions. It requires three nights of information to set a baseline, however after the third night time of sporting the watch to mattress, it mentioned I nonetheless wanted yet one more.

Three nights of sleep also needs to set off a Bedtime Steering function, however I did not see an notification letting me know the steering had begun. After asking Samsung why, I used to be advised I wanted to show it on within the Well being app (Well being > Sleep > faucet three dots icon > Bedtime steering). So I will report again on the expertise after utilizing it for just a few days.

One of many prior mannequin’s shortcomings was battery life. The always-on show (AOD) tanked the cost, so I saved it off. The Galaxy Watch 8 has a much bigger 325mAh battery, in comparison with the 300mAh one on the Watch 7. Twenty-five milliamp hours isn’t an enormous leap, however larger is at all times higher. As a result of I used to be testing each attainable function (sleeping, operating, exercises, antioxidants, Gemini and extra), I used to be continually dropping the watch on the charger for partial refills in between exams. That meant I didn’t have the chance to methodically check the battery’s runtime simply but.

I did notice what I might. The primary day of testing, the battery was at 100% at 4PM. The subsequent day at 4PM it nonetheless had 17 p.c remaining. That 24-hour interval included driving instructions, three exercises, plenty of Gemini requests, watch face modifications and a full night time of sleep. I’d toggled the AOD on and off all through that point, however the outcomes had been nonetheless higher than what I tracked on the Watch 7.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Basic is tremendous swank

I didn’t have a ton of time to spend with the Basic model of the Watch 8, but it surely’s clearly aimed on the luxurious watch-hound crowd. The knurled spinning bezel, inset diving bezel duplicate and the default chronograph watch face offers off severe Rolex Daytona/Omega Speedmaster wannabe vibes. It ships with a stitched leather-look band and the metal case has the heft and stature of an computerized mechanical timepiece. The always-on show and chunky buttons solely add to the impact.

For me, the principle benefit it has over the usual Galaxy Watch 8 is the safety the spinning bezel affords the raised show. The glass is shielded on the edges and it’s even inset barely which can chase away scratches. It’s a bit chonky for my style, but it surely’s surprisingly snug for its measurement and is extraordinarily engaging. I might see this interesting to model fanatics who desire a smartwatch however don’t need to seem like they’re sporting a wrist gadget.

Pricing and the competitors

Samsung added $50 to the value tag on the 40mm Galaxy Watch 8, bringing it to $350. The bigger 44mm mannequin is now $380 (versus $330 final yr) and the Basic variant is $500 for the one 46mm measurement. For reference, there was no Galaxy Watch 7 Basic and the Galaxy Watch 6 Basic offered for $400 for the 43mm measurement and $430 for the 47mm.

At $350, the bottom mannequin Galaxy Watch 8 prices the identical as Google’s Pixel Watch 3 (although the Pixel Watch 4 is sort of actually on the best way and may very well be costlier.) The Apple Watch Sequence 10 begins at $399, but it surely went as little as $279 throughout Prime Day. And, after all, a brand new Apple wearable is probably going coming this September with a possible value bump as effectively. So Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 might find yourself being probably the most inexpensive of the most important smartwatch releases as soon as the mud settles from 2025’s launches. And should you’re a Samsung smartphone person, it’s simply your finest guess.

Every part else and an eventual rating

The core capabilities of the Galaxy Watch 8 haven’t modified all that a lot. We went in-depth on the health and well being options for our evaluate of the Galaxy Watch 6 and coated the notable perks of Samsung’s wearable in our Galaxy Watch 7 evaluate and our Galaxy Watch 5 evaluate. So I’ll simply level out that the exercise monitoring continues to be correct — and it’s quicker to suss out after I’m on a stroll than my Apple Watch. The companion Well being app, the place you view all the info your watch gathers, is useful and a delight to make use of with its common sense solutions and pleasant animations. And the each day Vitality Rating is a helpful indicator of how I’m doing with my sleep and motion objectives.

The Watch 8 covers the fundamentals effectively, performing as an industrious accent for a Galaxy telephone. Though, as with the Watch 7, I want the notifications had been extra intrusive as they’re straightforward to overlook. The double faucet function is nice — a pinch gesture that dismisses or triggers actions with out you having to the touch the display. I exploit it usually and the watch virtually at all times registers the movement. And eventually, I really like how customizable the watch faces are. If you mix all that with a considerably refreshed look, some succesful Gemini integration, just a few new well being options and a extra navigable interface, Samsung’s newest wearable turns into a really succesful wrist companion. I nonetheless must stay with it some time longer (with a brand new display protector firmly in place) to assign a evaluate rating, however up to now, I’m impressed.