Samsung Galaxy 8 Smartwatch ZDNET's key takeaways Samsung's Galaxy 8 is available for preorder now, with shipping beginning on July 25.
It's a capable smartwatch with all the usual health metrics, along with Samsung's Running Coach, bedtime guidance, and recovery insights.
Some features feel more experimental than scientific, like Antioxidant Index and BMI, which failed to work several times. View now at Samsung
Samsung's latest smartwatches have arrived. The Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, which includes both the Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic with a rotating bezel, are available to pre-order now, and they're packed with all the standard health tracking metrics, and some unique ones of its own.
I've been testing Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 for a few days. I've run, slept, and socialized with it, and I'm confident it's one of the top Android smartwatches you can buy right now, whether you're training for a marathon or just looking for a capable AI-powered smartwatch.
Also: The biggest health upgrade Samsung announced at Unpacked was also the most subtle
Before I get into the software that makes this watch so unique, let's talk hardware. First off, the Galaxy Watch 8 is notably thinner than both its predecessor and the competition. Samsung made this watch 11% thinner than the Watch 7, and when compared to the other major smartwatches, the Watch 8 is not as thin as the Apple Watch Series 10, but far thinner than the Pixel Watch 3.
At 3,000 nits, the Watch 8 is one of the brightest displays in the game right now, trumping the 2,000 nits offered by the Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 10. This is a display that will be visible outdoors in virtually all conditions -- I had no trouble navigating it during my sunny runs.
Regarding battery life, it's important to note that its longevity varies based on smartwatch size. I tested the 40mm size smartwatch, and in my experience, when using it continuously for activity and sleep tracking, it lasted around a day and a half with Always-On enabled. Disabling that feature will squeeze a few more hours out of the battery, however, and the larger-sized watch may also last you a little longer.
Comparing the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Google Pixel Watch 3. Nina Raemont/ZDNET
One small but special touch I like on the Watch 8 is the new Multi-Info tiles that activate regularly-used features. I could easily swipe left to record an outdoor walk, check the weather, or see my sleep score without having to daintily press the small screen several times to get this information from its respective app. This intuitive and thoughtful product design is something Samsung excels at.
Before the Watch 8 lineup was even announced, Samsung teased some of its most compelling features arriving through One UI 8. Many of them relate to activity and sleep, with features like Running Coach, Antioxidant Index, and Bedtime Guidance, that aim to optimize your health whether you're moving or sound asleep.
Also: My new favorite Android smartwatch rivals Google and Garmin
Running Coach is by far my favorite feature on the Watch 8, and will be a major draw for smartwatch-curious customers. I recently tested it out, allowing the watch to assess my running level with a 12-minute test concluding with a personalized score on a 10 point scale.
I found the feature to be a useful application of the watch's AI, but also a humbling one. It rated me a three out of ten (yikes), then offered up some training plans to get me pounding pavement and finishing races faster. You can set up reminders for your race-training on the watch, and the watch will provide you with a personalized plan for reaching your distance and pace goals.
I've been out of it for a few months, but the poor score I received actually motivated me to take up running again. The personalized running plan geared toward a user's recovery, ability, and experience level is an approachable tool for novice runners looking to train for their first or next race. As I found in my feature testing, it makes running -- an already accessible sport -- even more so.
One feature I had a little trouble with is the Antioxidant Index, not because it didn't work, but because it kept rating my antioxidants low, despite the regular vegetables, berries, beets, and whole foods I eat. Antioxidant Index works by placing your thumb on the BioActive Sensor on the bottom side of the watch. Then, it reads it in less than ten seconds and ranks your levels as very low, low, or adequate.
Comparing the Galaxy Watch 8, Pixel Watch 3, and Apple Watch Series 10 Nina Raemont/ZDNET
I got ranges between very low and low, around 41 and 52 out of 100, which seems inaccurate considering I put a lot of care into my diet. When looking closer at this feature, Samsung says that my Antioxidant Index may vary because of the uneven surfaces of my skin. Also, it may take up to two weeks for my index to reflect a higher intake of these nutrients.
Antioxidant Index is a great idea, and I hope more biomarkers will be measured on the watch with this BioActive Sensor in future updates, but right now, it feels like something is missing: some context, or accuracy functionality that makes it less of a health gimmick.
Also: Nothing just launched a stylish $99 smartwatch - with a reported 13-day battery
Other features, like Bedtime Guidance and Cardio Load, monitor your sleep and activity level daily to estimate your ideal bedtime and wakeup time and cardio capacity. These additions help to optimize your waking and sleeping moments with helpful nudges and recommendations. I love any feature that takes your data to estimate your sleep or activity need and set a baseline.
Samsung is leaning heavily into its health functionalities on its latest smartwatch lineup. It makes sense, considering Samsung seems to be headed in a healthcare-minded direction, with a recent acquisition of digital healthcare brand Xealth.
ZDNET's buying advice
Samsung's Running Coach feature is one of, if not the best features of this smartwatch. If you're a runner in any capacity, you'll appreciate the helpful metrics and coaching the Galaxy Watch 8 can provide.
Whether you're training for your first-ever marathon or just want to improve and would benefit from some extra data capture (and encouragement), the Galaxy Watch 8 is the smartwatch I'd recommend for the job, especially if you're an Android user.