Samsung Galaxy Watch8 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic
The Galaxy Watch8 has the edge: it is lighter, has a bigger screen and has an EDA stress sensor.
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Key differences
-
Battery life
Evenly matched
Similar battery life: up to 40 hours and 40 hours.
-
GPS
Evenly matched
Both have built-in GPS with similar features.
-
Display
Galaxy Watch8 wins
Both are AMOLED, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch8's screen is bigger (1.5 in against 1.3 in).
-
Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
-
Weight
Galaxy Watch8 wins
The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is lighter: 34 g against 63.5 g.
Other differences
- Screen size Galaxy Watch8 wins
The Galaxy Watch8 has the bigger screen: 1.5 in against 1.3 in.
- Stress sensor Galaxy Watch8 wins
The Galaxy Watch8 adds an EDA sensor that reads skin response to measure stress.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Galaxy Watch8 if…
- You wear it to bed or have small wrists: it weighs 34 g.
- You want maps and stats easy to read: it has the bigger screen.
- You want to track stress: it has an EDA sensor.
Choose the Galaxy Watch8 Classic if…
- You load music or maps onto the watch: it has 64 GB.
- You prefer its look and app: it covers the same essentials as the Galaxy Watch8.
Full spec comparison
The Galaxy Watch8 leads on size and durability; elsewhere the two are closely matched.
Green cells with a ✓ mark the better spec in that row. Tick "Show differences only" to hide the rows where they match.
Overview
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Series | Galaxy Watch | Galaxy Watch |
| Released | 2025-07 | — |
| Replaces | — | Galaxy Watch6 Classic |
| Versions | 40 mm, 44 mm | 46 mm Bluetooth, 46 mm LTE |
| Colours | Graphite, Silver | Black, White |
| Also sold as | Galaxy Watch 8, Watch8 | Galaxy Watch Classic8 |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Wear OS | Wear OS |
| Works with | Android only | Android only |
| Minimum Android | Android 12 | Android 12 |
| Chipset | Exynos W1000 | Exynos W1000 |
| RAM | 2,000 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Storage | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| App store | — | Yes |
Display
The Galaxy Watch8 is ahead on the display.
It has a bigger screen, and the Galaxy Watch8 Classic doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Display name | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.5 in | 1.3 in |
| Resolution | 480 x 480 | 438 x 438 |
| Pixel density | 327 ppi | 337 ppi |
| Peak brightness | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | — |
| Controls | — | touchscreen, buttons, rotating bezel |
Design & durability
The Galaxy Watch8 is ahead on size and durability.
It is lighter, is slimmer and comes in 2 sizes, and the Galaxy Watch8 Classic doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 40 / 44 mm | 46 mm |
| Case shape | Round | Round |
| Dimensions | 46 x 43.7 x 8.6 mm | 46 x 46.4 x 10.6 mm |
| Thickness | 8.6 mm | 10.6 mm |
| Weight (case) | 34 g | 63.5 g |
| Case material | Armor Aluminium | Stainless steel |
| Lens | Sapphire crystal | — |
| Back material | Sapphire glass | — |
| Band material | — | Hybrid Band |
| Band fitting | — | Dynamic Lug System |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| MIL-STD-810 tested | Yes | Yes |
Battery
Battery life is close on both.
How you use the screen, GPS and notifications will matter more than the difference between them.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 40 hours | 40 hours |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 40 hours; Always-on display: 30 hours | Smartwatch: 40 hours; Always-on display: 30 hours |
| Battery capacity | 435 mAh | 445 mAh |
| Battery type | Built-in battery | — |
| Charging | wireless | wireless |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Full charge time | 78 min | — |
GPS & navigation
Both have built-in GPS with similar capabilities.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Multi-band GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo |
Health & sensors
The Galaxy Watch8 is ahead on health tracking.
It has an EDA stress sensor, and the Galaxy Watch8 Classic doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, ECG electrode, SpO2, skin temperature, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, ambient light, EDA | accelerometer, barometer, BIA, ECG electrode, gyroscope, compass, hall sensor, Infrared Temperature Sensor, ambient light, optical HR |
| Heart-rate sensor | — | Optical Heart Rate Sensor |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| ECG | Yes | Yes |
| Irregular rhythm alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | Yes | — |
| Blood pressure | cuff-calibrated | cuff-calibrated |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep coaching | Sleep coaching |
| Sleep apnea alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Energy Score | Energy Score |
| Cycle tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Body composition | Yes | — |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | Via phone | — |
| Fall detection | Yes | Yes |
Training
Training features are evenly matched.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Auto activity detection | Yes | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, Personalised Functional Threshold Power | VO2 max, advanced running metrics, Personalised Functional Threshold Power |
| Adaptive coaching | Yes | Yes |
| Running dynamics | Yes | Yes |
| Wrist running power | — | Yes |
Smart features
The Galaxy Watch8 Classic is ahead on smart features.
It has more storage (64 GB), and the Galaxy Watch8 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | Android |
| Calls on the watch | Yes | Yes |
| Speaker | Yes | — |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Voice assistant | Gemini | Gemini |
| Contactless payments | Yes | — |
| Payment service | Google Pay | — |
| Cellular | LTE version available | LTE version available |
| Music storage | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n 2.4GHz+5GHz | 802.11a/b/g/n 2.4GHz+5GHz |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |