Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
Last year’s flagship, now $50 cheaper. Antioxidant Index, body composition, and blood pressure on one wrist.
Key specs
- Battery life
- 2 days
- Charging
- 1h 20m
- Weight
- 30g
- Case size
- 40mm
- Display
- AMOLED, always-on
- Water resistance
- 5 ATM (50m)
- Phone
- Android only
- Sensors
- Optical heart rate, ECG, SpO₂, Skin temperature, Body composition (BIA), Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Compass, GPS, Altimeter, Ambient light, Microphone
Superseded by the Watch 9 but still sold, and now $50 cheaper, the Watch 8 is the value pick. It is thinner than the Watch 7, brighter at 3000 nits, and introduced the Antioxidant Index — a five-second thumb-on-sensor reading of skin carotenoid levels, pitched as a proxy for how much colour is in your diet. The rest of the health stack matches the Watch 9: ECG, BIA body composition, and cuff-calibrated blood pressure, which Samsung opened to US users in March 2026. The case and the 40-hour battery claim are identical to the Watch 9’s; what you give up is the Snapdragon chip and, until One UI 9 Watch leaves beta, Daily Cardio Load, Fitness Index, and Heart Health Score. None of it costs a subscription.
Strengths
- Same case, sensors, and battery claim as the Watch 9 for $80 less
- Blood pressure, ECG, and BIA body composition with no subscription
- 3000-nit display and the full Wear OS app catalog
Tradeoffs
- The 40-hour claim assumes always-on is off — expect a day and a half
- Blood pressure needs a cuff recalibration every 28 days
- Blood pressure and ECG setup requires a Galaxy phone
Full specs
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Common questions
- How much does the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 cost?
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 starts at $299.99, with larger sizes and premium finishes costing more.
- Does the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 require a subscription?
- No. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has no subscription — you pay for the hardware once and the Samsung app is included.
- How long does the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 battery last?
- About 2 days of typical use per charge. Heavy GPS use, an always-on display, and continuous sensing all pull that number down.
- How much does the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 weigh?
- The 40 mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 weighs 30 g.
- How big is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8?
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has a 40 mm case in the configuration we list, which weighs 30 g.
- Is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 waterproof?
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is rated 5 ATM (50m), which covers showering, swimming, and surface water sports. It is not a dive rating.
- Does the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 work with iPhone and Android?
- It pairs with Android only — there is no iPhone app.
- When was the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 released?
- Samsung released the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 in 2025, and it is still in the current lineup.