Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic review: Brings back nostalgia with the power of AI

Watch8 Classic

The smartwatch landscape within Android’s ecosystem has changed significantly over the past few years. Samsung, once the lone player experimenting with its Tizen-based smartwatches, has now settled comfortably into Google’s Wear OS fold. Yet, it has managed to retain its identity through the One UI Watch interface, distinctive design choices, and the return of a fan-favourite feature — the physical rotating bezel. On top of all of these – the Galaxy AI features that ensure that the Galaxy Watch experience stands apart from other Wear OS based watches.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic builds on what Samsung started two generations ago, bringing back the tactile dial, enhancing software capabilities with One UI 8 Watch, and integrating Gemini as the new voice assistant. But beyond the nostalgia and polish. It has been a while since the Watch 8 Classic is my go-to smartwatch and this is how it behaved in the real-world conditions.

Design and display

Oh, it is a familiar looking smartwatch and I am happy about it. The rotating bezels.. Yes they are back and they are even better than before as well. The rotating mechanism is smooth and soft and is more responsive than ever – navigating using the bezel is almost therapeutic. The deeper grooves around the bezel make it easier to grip, especially during workouts or when the watch is wet, which subtly improves usability.

Watch8 Classic

At the same time, the watch distinct itself with the newly acquired square-circle design language from the Galaxy Watch Ultra. It’s an aesthetic decision. But it makes the watch feel premium and modern. The stainless-steel build, however, continues to convey a sense of quality and sturdiness.

The Dynamic Lug mechanism underneath the case introduces a more practical touch. A simple push button now releases the straps, making swapping bands much easier. The only downside: previous 20mm bands no longer fit, which means those with a collection of older Galaxy straps will have to start over.

The display, a 1.34-inch Super AMOLED panel, is sharp and vivid, peaking at an impressive 3000 nits of brightness. Whether indoors or under harsh sunlight, visibility is never an issue. The screen, however, feels slightly smaller than ideal considering the watch’s case size — a trade-off that may not sit well with users expecting more display real estate from a watch this large.

Software

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic runs One UI 8 Watch on top of Wear OS 5, marking one of the most substantial updates to Samsung’s smartwatch software in years. The interface is cleaner, better organised, and more flexible. You can rearrange widgets more intuitively, group apps into folders, and even access a new “Now Bar” — a live activity strip that displays real-time progress for ongoing workouts, navigation, or timers.

Watch8 Classic

A major change this year is the integration of Gemini, which replaces Google Assistant. The difference is noticeable right away. Voice commands are faster, more consistent, and conversational. Asking Gemini to start a workout, set a reminder, or display your heart rate graph feels smoother than it ever did with Google’s assistant. It also plays a more active role in contextual responses — if you ask for your current activity stats, Gemini pulls them from Samsung Health almost instantly.

Samsung’s ecosystem integration remains strong. Notifications from Galaxy phones appear promptly, calls and messages sync seamlessly, and Samsung Wallet with Tap to Pay now works in India — a convenience feature that adds genuine practicality to daily use.

Health and fitness

Samsung’s health tracking suite is broad and well-developed, covering all major areas including heart rate, SpO₂, ECG, body composition, skin temperature, stress, and sleep. The sensors are quick to respond, though accuracy for SpO₂ readings can sometimes be inconsistent — a common issue with wrist-based optical sensors.

Watch8 Classic

Sleep tracking remains one of the standout features. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic doesn’t just record sleep duration but breaks it into stages, correlates skin temperature fluctuations, and even factors in snoring and movement patterns. And my personal favourite is the sleep score and “sleep animal” metaphor carry forward from older versions, but Samsung has refined its coaching element — the insights feel more actionable and less generic.

New metrics powered by AI — such as antioxidant index and vascular load — sound ambitious and deliver some important health data that people should be aware about.

The Running Coach deserves special mention. It uses AI-driven algorithms to assess your running level and provide guided feedback mid-run, both through audio prompts and on-screen visuals. For beginners, it’s a great motivator. For experienced runners, though, the guidance may feel basic after a few weeks of use.

And, the usuals – the automatic workout detection. The option to create your own workout combinations is a pure blessing. For instance, I tend to forget exercise. And, the custom workouts for Chest day, Leg Day, Shoulder Day and Back day helps me remember what exercises I am supposed to do on each day. If you are on Push, Pull and Leg, you can customise or create your own custom routine too. I think this is a feature every smartwatch brand should offer.

Watch8 Classic

Battery endurance has always been a balancing act for smartwatches, especially those running Wear OS. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic doesn’t dramatically change that equation but manages modest improvement. With Always-on Display active, regular notifications, GPS workouts, and sleep tracking enabled, the watch lasts around 2 days on a single charge, which is good enough. If you are a moderate user, then it will easily last for around 3 days.

The charging speed is another mixed bag. The first 50 percent fills up quickly, which is handy when you need a short top-up before heading out. However, the remaining half takes significantly longer, stretching the full charge cycle close to two hours.

Verdict

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic merges classic and modern with a functional rotating bezel, bright display, and premium design. One UI 8 Watch offers smoother navigation, and Gemini enhances voice interactions. Health tracking is comprehensive and AI-based antioxidant/vascular metrics adds value too. Sleep tracking continues to be one of the best here in any smartwatch. Battery life is acceptable, not exceptional. Priced at the starting price of Rs 48,999 it is a premium smartwatch and suits those valuing design, tactile interaction, and Samsung's ecosystem