You have to hand it to Samsung -- the company has never been afraid to break from the cookie-cutter smartwatch mold. Unlike the predictable updates from its competitors, Samsung surprises us nearly every year. The new Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, announced at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event, blend design cues from previous generations: There's the Ultra's functional, squared-off frame and the romantic elegance of the Classic's physical rotating bezel -- a feature that made me fall in love with Galaxy Watches in the first place.
The company is also stepping things up when it comes to health tools, including several features that I've never seen on a smartwatch, like noninvasive skin analysis and AI-powered coaching for sleep and running. The Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic also have a smarter voice assistant and are the first smartwatches with Google's Gemini AI baked right inside, ready to handle complex tasks.
Watch this: The Rotating Bezel is Back! A Look at Samsung's New Galaxy Watch 8 and Classic 04:31
Pricing and availability
The Galaxy Watch 8 starts at $350 for the 40mm model and $380 for the 44mm one. The LTE versions are $50 more: $400 for the 40mm model and $430 for the 44mm watch.
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, with its rotating bezel and physical crown, comes in a single 46mm size and costs $500, or $550 for the LTE model.
The Titanium Blue version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is $650, the same price as the original 2024 model. This version gets the same internal upgrades as the Watch 8 lineup, including a 64GB storage bump.
All models are available for preorder starting July 9, and you can reserve early and get $50 in Samsung credit.
The 40mm version of the Galaxy Watch 8 has a new design with a circular screen and squircle frame. Joseph Maldonado/CNET
Health and fitness features
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