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Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra is one of my favorite smartwatches thanks to its long battery life, unique design, and WearOS functionality. And with Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 8 series, the company has incorporated that same core design with a curved square back and round watch face, which Samsung calls a cushion design, across all of its products.
Also: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked: Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, Watch 8 Series, more
The Galaxy Watch 8 is available in two sizes, 40 and 44mm, while the Watch 8 Classic is available in one 46mm size with the iconic physical rotating bezel last seen on the Watch 6 Classic. In addition to these two watches, Samsung revealed an updated Galaxy Watch Ultra with twice the storage and in a silver, blue, and orange color scheme.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The Galaxy Watch 8 is 11% thinner than the Watch 7 and that was achieved through intensive engineering effort that also results in the same battery life. The display is 50% brighter so you will not have any issues viewing it in full direct sunlight. It is available in Graphite or Silver with the Bluetooth model priced at $349.99 and the LTE model at $399.99.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The Watch 8 Classic comes in Black or White for $499.99 for the Bluetooth model and $549.99 for the LTE model. I haven't owned a Galaxy Watch with that rotating bezel since the Watch 3 and the smoothness of the rotation has been greatly improved.
I couldn't believe how seamlessly the bezel rotated and found myself rotating it right and left as a fidget spinner. The cushion design and notches in the bezel also make the rotating bezel stand out a bit from the frame so it felt easier to access than with past watches, where the rotation wasn't always consistent.
Also: Best Android smartwatches: I tested every popular watch so you can find the perfect fit
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