Brighter and slimmer - Samsung Galaxy Watch8 LTE smartwatch review
Brilliant.
The Galaxy Watch8 is getting closer to the Watch Ultra with the design and display brightness following the top model of the series. In addition, the new smartwatch measures vascular load such as antioxidants and determines an energy score. We tried the Galaxy Watch8 as an everyday companion.Benedikt Winkel, 👁 Daniel Schmidt (translated by Mark Riege) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
Verdict - A lot of functions and daily charging for the Galaxy Watch8
The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 shines with an extremely bright display and slimmer looks. The number of supported functions is huge, both in terms of health and everyday usage.
The LTE version of the smartwatch that we tested also works great without having a connected smartphone. A weakness of the WearOS smartwatch remains its battery life: If you use all its functions, daily charging is required.
It is also unfortunate that Samsung continues to only offer its blood pressure and ECG measurements in combination with a Samsung smartphone.
Pros
Cons
Price and Availability
The Galaxy Watch8 is available in different sizes and versions, with the case coming in either a 40 or 44-mm size. For both sizes, Samsung offers an LTE version, and you can choose either the Silver or Graphite color.
The Galaxy Watch8 currently starts from ~$330 for the 40-mm model without LTE, with the version with eSIM adding $50 to the price. The larger 44-mm Watch8 without LTE costs ~$360, with LTE again adding another $50. Our test unit measures 44 mm, comes in Graphite color, and includes LTE.
Samsung offers the smartwatches in its own online shop, and they are also available from other vendors such as Amazon.
- $338.96Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (2025) 44mm Bluetooth Smartwatch, Cushion Design, Fitness Tracker, Sleep Coaching, Running Coach, Energy Score, Heart Rate Tracking, Graphite [US Version, 2 Yr Warranty]
- $319.99Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (2025) 40mm Bluetooth Smartwatch, Cushion Design, Fitness Tracker, Sleep Coaching, Running Coach, Energy Score, Heart Rate Tracking, Silver [US Version, 2 Yr Warranty]
Table of Contents
- Verdict - A lot of functions and daily charging for the Galaxy Watch8
- Case and Features – Galaxy Watch8 in the Ultra design
- Setup and Operation - Galaxy Watch8 with two apps
- Health and Fitness - Samsung determines an energy score
- Display - Similar brightness as the Watch Ultra
- Performance and Battery Life - The Galaxy Watch8 runs smoothly
- Possible Alternatives in Comparison
Samsung offers a whole line-up of new Galaxy watches. In addition to the Galaxy Watch8, there are the new Galaxy Watch8 Classic and a Galaxy Watch Ultra in new colors. While the Samsung smartwatches made a huge performance jump with the Galaxy Watch7, the performance remains the same this year.
Samsung now concentrates on the display, the software functions, and a new design.
Case and Features – Galaxy Watch8 in the Ultra design
Visually, the design of the Galaxy Watch8 follows the Galaxy Watch Ultra. This becomes clear from its shape, which is somewhere between round and squared. The Galaxy Watch8 comes without a bezel ring around the watch face, with the round display sticking out from the color-contrasted case. Compared to its predecessor, the smartwatch is slimmer overall.
The materials and workmanship look very good. The case is made of a matte brushed aluminum, and we did not notice any scratches during the time of our testing. The keys on the right side offer a good pressure point but feel a bit loose. There is a microphone between the keys, and the speaker is on the other side.
The bands are 20mm wide and can be replaced without having to use tools. There is a button to loosen the band on the bottom of the case. However, since there is a custom connector, you cannot use any standard bands. The Galaxy Watch8 without band weighs 34 grams (~1.2 oz) and 52.1 grams (~1.8 oz) with the band.
Sustainability - No information from Samsung
Samsung doesn't offer any information on the ratio of recycled materials used or the CO2 footprint of the Galaxy Watch8. There is also no information on the repairability and no promise on a period of updates. The packaging doesn't include any plastic.
Setup and Operation - Galaxy Watch8 with two apps
After turning it on, the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is automatically displayed on Android smartphones nearby. In our test, we connect the smartwatch to a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Samsung Wear app has to be installed as the software and an extension is downloaded for the Galaxy Watch8. During the setup process, a Google account is saved on the WearOS smartwatch, and you have to give a number of permissions.
The setup asks whether the smartwatch is worn on the left or right hand and the preferred position of the keys, and various settings on health measurements are presented. At the end of the setup process, there is an overview with the commands in the app. In addition, a tutorial directly on the smartwatch introduces its operation.
The Wear app allows you to adjust the tiles and designs. In addition, you get access to the SIM management, images and music files on the watch, and apps and key setup. The Galaxy Watch8 also offers detection of falls, and you can save your emergency contacts in the app. All the training data is collected and analyzed in the separate Samsung Health app.
The Galaxy Watch8 can be operated via inputs on the 1.5-inch display, two keys, and finger gestures. The contents and order of the tiles can be individually adjusted.
Phone Calls and Notifications - The Galaxy Watch8 offers the complete package
Samsung offers a well-rounded package of calling and notification functions with the Galaxy Watch8. With its microphone and speaker, you can use the smartwatch for making phone calls. The voice quality is good, and the speaker can get loud enough. The integrated eSIM allows you to make calls without having a connected smartphone within range.
The smartwatch offers full access to your contact and call lists and includes a dial pad. Notifications are displayed clearly and reliably, with the Galaxy Watch8 showing all the Emojis and even images in a fairly good quality.
You can respond using a full QWERTY keyboard, a selection of preset responses, Emojis, voice input, or drawing letters. Inputs on the small display work surprisingly well without resulting in too many mistakes.
Voice Assistant - Samsung uses Gemini and Bixby
Google's Gemini assistant is already introduced during the setup. Gemini can be started via key press or voice command. Voice inputs are recognized reliably and implemented quickly. The assistant is also able to perform more complex tasks and access apps, like starting navigation on Google Maps, for example.
In addition, Samsung's own Bixby voice assistant is installed, although the extent of its functionalities is far from that of Gemini.
Health and Fitness - Samsung determines an energy score
Samsung offers new health features with the Galaxy Watch8. The "energy score" is supposed to mean a lot. Based on sleep parameters and activity measurements, the score is supposed to tell you about the overall health and performance capabilities of the user during the day. In addition to the numeric point score, you also get a qualitative rating and a recommendation for the day. The graphic display of the day's values gives some information about trends.
What is new is the AGEs Index, which is supposed to be an indicator of metabolic health and fitness. The value is displayed on a color scale, and there is also a qualitative rating and a point score. In addition, the Galaxy Watch8 is able to measure the Antioxidant Index, vascular load, and body composition.
Activity Goals - Samsung completes little hearts
On the smartwatch itself as well as in the Fitness app, the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 displays the daily activity level in form of hears that are getting completed as the goals are reached. The software shows the values for the steps, activity times, and calories.
In addition to the overview, there is information on the total amount of calories used, the traveled distance in kilometers, and the number of active hours and floors climbed. You can also follow the core values on timelines.
Heart Rate, Heart Rhythm, and Blood Oxygen Saturation
Samsung's Galaxy Watch8 is able to measure the heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and ECG. However, the blood pressure and ECG measurement only work in combination with a Samsung smartphone. To measure blood pressure, the Galaxy Watch8 has to be calibrated with a blood pressure monitor.
In order to evaluate the accuracy of the measurements, we compare them with those from reference devices. (German readers can find out more on the difficulties when measuring health data in a detailed report.) For heart rate measurement, we use a Polar H10 chest belt as a reference. Both devices measure the same resting pulse rate, and the averages of three measurements of the activity rate show a deviation of 5.2%. The incident with the highest deviation is 9 heart beats per minute.
The deviations are lower with the blood oxygen saturation. The average values of three measurements differ by 1.36%, with a maximum single deviation of 2 percentage points. We are using a Braun Pulsoximeter as a reference device.
The blood pressure measurements present a similar image. The deviation in the systolic value is 2.68% in the average of three measurements, and 3.18% for the diastolic value. The maximum deviation of a single measurement is 5 mmHg. Our reference device is a Braun ExacFit 5 Connect here.
Sleep Tracking - The Galaxy Watch8 is a sleep coach
Samsung offers extensive sleep tracking, with the sleep score being in the center. This score is calculated from the areas of the amounts of times spent sleeping, in deep sleep, in REM sleep, and in rest and relaxation, as well as the sleep latency.
In addition, trends are shown together with the recommendation on how to increase the score. The sleep phases are also displayed graphically on a timeline. There is information on the percentages of the phases, the times, and the capture of movements.
The Galaxy Watch8 also measures the blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, skin temperature, and breathing frequency during sleep. If the smartphone is also connected during the night, the smartwatch is supposed to recognize snoring and sleep apnea.
The app allows you to create a sleep protocol. If the watch is worn regularly, it creates an analysis of your sleeping behavior, assigning you a "sleep animal." It offers optional sleep coaching with individualized suggestions for improvements. Alarms can be synchronized with the smartphone, but there is no smart alarm.
Training Recording - A running coach on the Galaxy Watch8
The Galaxy Watch8 allows you to track numerous types of sports, allowing you to adjust the configurations for each type. You can set up goals and individualize the displays. Optionally, the smartwatch can also offer intermediate reports during the trainings.
What is new is a running coach that is supposed to determine the running performance in 12 minutes. The training display is easy to read. The software captures the training times during the week, chronologically showing the trainings completed.
The Health app also offers some video courses in the fitness area, with some of them requiring payment and others offered for free. The Galaxy Watch8 includes automatic training recognition, which worked really well during our test. Movements are recognized reliably, with the recordings starting and ending automatically.
GPS and Navigation - Google Maps preinstalled on the Galaxy Watch8
The Galaxy Watch8 supports all the usual satellite systems, and routes can also be recorded without taking the smartphone with you. You can export the recorded routes as GPX files and also import GPX files.
The traveled routes are recorded fairly accurately, even if the final precision is lacking particularly in curves. The Galaxy Watch8 comes with Google Maps preinstalled and using it for navigation works very well in everyday operation. The smartwatch supports navigation using the map or arrows. In our test, the satellite connection is stable and established quickly.
Display - Similar brightness as the Watch Ultra
Already with the Galaxy Watch7, we were impressed by the display and its maximum brightness available. The Galaxy Watch8 increases this even more. We measure a top brightness of 3052 cd/m² in the 1.5-inch AMOLED display. This makes the smartwatch display very easy to read in any light condition and places it at the same level as the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Without the activated brightness sensor, we measure a maximum of 532 Nits in our test. We also detect display flickering at a frequency of 60 Hz. The Galaxy Watch8 offers an always-on display that can be controlled by using different modes according to the time-of-day. Activating the display by turning your wrist works quickly and reliably.
The display is very sensitive to touch. At times, the digital crown leads to inadvertent inputs in form of scrolling instead of swiping.
| Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Apple Watch Series 9 45mm | Huawei Watch 5 | Samsung Galaxy Watch7 LTE 44mm | Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra | Google Pixel Watch 2 LTE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | ||||||
| PWM Frequency (Hz) | 60 | 310 | 60 | 110 | 60 | 120 |
| PWM Amplitude * (%) | 15.22 | 25.32 | ||||
| Screen | -47% | -4% | -38% | 5% | -70% | |
| Brightness middle (cd/m²) | 3052 | 1619 -47% | 2919 -4% | 1884 -38% | 3192 5% | 907 -70% |
| Black Level * (cd/m²) | ||||||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -47% /
-47% | -4% /
-4% | -38% /
-38% | 5% /
5% | -70% /
-70% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 60 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 60 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 60 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8152 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance and Battery Life - The Galaxy Watch8 runs smoothly
The SiP remains unchanged from the Galaxy Watch7 with an Exynos W1000 being used. Operation is smooth at all times, with smooth transitions in the UI and apps starting quickly.
Samsung has equipped the smartwatch with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB storage.
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average Samsung Exynos W1000 (12676 - 13654, n=4) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch8 (Samsung Internet Browser 4.2.) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (Samsung Browser 3.2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch7 LTE 44mm (Samsung Browser 3.2) | |
| OnePlus Watch 2 (samsung browser 3.0) | |
| Google Pixel Watch 2 LTE (Samsung Browser 3.0) | |
| Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score | |
| Google Pixel Watch 2 LTE (Samsung Brwoser 3.0) | |
| OnePlus Watch 2 (samsung browser 3.0) | |
| Apple Watch Series 9 45mm | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (Samsung Browser 3.2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch7 LTE 44mm | |
| Average Samsung Exynos W1000 (358 - 490, n=4) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch8 (Samsung Internet Browser 4.2.) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Apple Watch Series 9 45mm | |
| OnePlus Watch 2 (samsung browser 3.0) | |
| Google Pixel Watch 2 LTE (Samsung Browser 3.0) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (Samsung Browser 3.2) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos W1000 (2802 - 3090, n=4) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch8 (Samsung Internet Browser 4.2.) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch7 LTE 44mm (Samsung Browser 3.2) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result 2.0 | |
| Apple Watch Series 9 45mm | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch8 (Samsung Internet Browser 4.2.) | |
| Average Samsung Exynos W1000 (31.4 - 41.9, n=4) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch7 LTE 44mm (Samsung Browser 3.2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (Samsung Browser 3.2) | |
| Google Pixel Watch 2 LTE (Samsung Browser 3.0) | |
| OnePlus Watch 2 (Samsung Browser 3.0) | |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life - The Galaxy Watch8 needs daily charging
Samsung has equipped the 44-millimeter version of the Galaxy Watch8 with a battery offering a 435-mAh capacity. During our test, we use all the health functions, training recognition, and an eSIM. With the activated AoD and the smartphone connected most of the time, the Galaxy Watch8 battery lasts for 24 hours. Without AoD, 1.5 days are possible with the same kind of usage.
Trainings with their own data and satellite connection consume significantly more power. If the smartwatch is used for a long time without a connected smartphone nearby, the battery won't last for a whole day. The watch can be charged wirelessly using the Qi standard.
In our test, the Galaxy Watch8 can be completely recharged in 73 minutes using an Anker 335 charger.
Possible Alternatives in Comparison
Image | Model | Price | Size | Weight | Battery Capacity | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.  | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Exynos W1000, Mali-G68 MP2 | Amazon: 1. $329.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (2025... 2. $338.96 Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (2025... 3. $319.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (2025... List Price: 459€ | 1.50" | 52.1 g | 435 mAh | 1.50" 480x480 AMOLED |
2.  | Apple Watch Series 9 45mm S9 | Amazon: List Price: 479€ | 1.90" | 47 g | 308 mAh | 1.90" 484x352 329 PPI OLED |
3.  | Huawei Watch 5 | Amazon: 1. $22.99 Jacoosa Smart Watch for Men ... 2. $7.99 iDaPro Screen Protector for ... 3. $8.99 Suttkue Compatible for Huawe... List Price: 649€ | 1.50" | 56 g | 867 mAh | 1.50" 466x466 310 PPI OLED |
4.  | Samsung Galaxy Watch7 LTE 44mm Exynos W1000, Mali-G68 MP2 | List Price: 399€ | 1.50" | 33.8 g | 425 mAh | 1.50" 480x480 453 PPI Super AMOLED |
5.  | Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Exynos W1000, Mali-G68 MP2 | Amazon: 1. $599.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (... 2. $589.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (... 3. $599.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (... List Price: 699€ | 1.50" | 93 g | 590 mAh | 1.50" 480x480 AMOLED |
6.  | Google Pixel Watch 2 LTE SD W5 Gen 1 | Amazon: 1. $74.95 Google Pixel - Android Smart... 2. $69.99 Google Pixel Watch, 41mm Pol... 3. $199.99 Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm) ... List Price: 449€ | 1.20" | 57 g | 306 mAh | 1.20" 450x450 320 PPI OLED |
More articles related to this device
Samsung Galaxy Watch8 (Galaxy Watch Series)Related Articles
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
This is how Notebookcheck is testing
Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.
