If you’re looking for a Wear OS watch that has all of your favorite Android apps, as well as some incredible fitness features, then the Galaxy Watch 8 is a really good choice. But if you’re looking for outstanding battery life, OnePlus is going to be a better option. That’s really about the only thing OnePlus has over Samsung here, actually.

Should you ante up for the fancy Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, or will the base Watch 8 suit your needs? I've tested both and am here to break down the differences to help you choose between Samsung's latest smartwatches.

Samsung’s most iconic smartwatch feature makes its grand return in 2025. This time it comes with a leather strap and a fresh coat of smarts.

There are many benefits when pairing a Galaxy Watch with a Samsung phone, but Modes and Routines might be the best. Here's how I use it.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has only minor physical changes from its predecessor, but new AI abilities help it take a meaningful step forward as a wellness assistant.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in a single, large size: 46mm. You get your choice of two accent colors, black or white, which apply to the trim around the watch's face and buttons. Outside those areas, the watch's case is silver on both colorways.

Samsung added $50 to the price tag on the 40mm Galaxy Watch 8, bringing it to $350. The larger 44mm model is now $380 (versus $330 last year) and the Classic variant is $500 for the single 46mm size. For reference, there was no Galaxy Watch 7 Classic and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic sold for $400 for the 43mm size and $430 for the 47mm.

Samsung bashed Chinese smartwatches offering 10 days of battery, while hinting its Galaxy Watch 9 and 10 will beat them in reliability.

Trying out the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic is a tough gig – not in terms of it being a hardship to try out two high-end models, but that it’s impossible to assess them with only 30 minutes’ use.