Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is here, and it brings back something fans have sorely missed: the iconic physical rotating bezel. At a time when smartwatches are racing toward minimalism, this model makes a confident return to form—with style, smarts, and substance. We spent a few days with the watch, and here are my first impressions of what could be the most balanced smartwatch Samsung has made in year.
A Familiar Feel With a Premium Touch
The first thing you’ll notice is the build. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in a stainless-steel case with sapphire glass, offering a reassuring heft and polished elegance. The 46mm model I tested felt solid on the wrist—luxurious but not overbearing. It’s IP68-rated, water-resistant up to 5ATM, and meets military-grade durability standards (MIL-STD-810H), making it more than just a pretty face.
But the real headline here is the rotating bezel. Tactile, satisfying, and just intuitive, it’s a smart design choice that adds both form and function. Scrolling through menus using the bezel feels more natural than swiping on the screen, especially during workouts or when your fingers are sweaty.
Display and Performance: Bright, Bold, and Smart
Samsung fitted the Watch 8 Classic with a 1.34-inch Super AMOLED display (438 × 438 resolution), and it’s a stunner. Crisp, vibrant, and now with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, it remains legible under Malaysia’s harsh midday sun—whether you’re checking a message or tracking a run.
Under the hood, it’s powered by Samsung’s new 3nm Exynos W1000 processor, paired with 2GB RAM and 64GB of storage—double the capacity of last year’s Watch 6 Classic. Navigating through Wear OS 6 with Samsung’s One UI Watch 8 feels seamless. Apps open fast, animations are fluid, and the experience feels cohesive and responsive. No lags, no hiccups.
Health and Wellness: Smarter, Deeper Insights
Samsung is leaning hard into health and wellness this year. The Watch 8 Classic debuts new features like the Antioxidant Index, which estimates your body’s oxidative stress levels by measuring carotenoids in your skin through a 5-second thumb sensor scan. Is it a game changer? Too early to tell—but it’s certainly a unique direction in wearable health.
There’s also Vascular Health tracking, Personalized Sleep Coaching, Sleep Apnea detection, and a smarter Running Coach that calibrates your VO₂ max using a 12-minute test and adjusts workouts based on your fitness level.
For users in Malaysia where haze and air quality vary, Samsung’s inclusion of stress and sleep metrics paired with AI-driven suggestions may offer new health awareness previously only found in premium fitness trackers.
AI Integration: Gemini Joins the Wrist
Perhaps the most talked-about upgrade is the integration of Google Gemini AI. With just a press of the new Quick Button, Gemini answers questions, sets reminders, controls smart home devices, and even pulls up Google Search results—all from your wrist. LTE users can even use Gemini independently of their phone.
It’s still early days, but in testing, Gemini proved faster and more conversational than Bixby ever was. Offline, Bixby still handles basic voice tasks—so both options are available depending on connectivity.
Battery Life: Not Groundbreaking, But Reliable
With a 445mAh battery, the Watch 8 Classic offers around 40 hours of regular use or nearly two days on lighter settings. It’s not a revolution in battery life, but it’s consistent. A quick 30-minute top-up gave me around 45% charge—ideal for users on the go.
First Verdict: Polished, Practical, and Purposeful
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic isn’t a dramatic reinvention—but that might be its biggest strength. It doesn’t try to be something radically new. Instead, it refines what worked: solid hardware, a smart interface, fitness features that go beyond step-counting, and a rotating bezel that makes it stand out from the sea of circular swipes.
It’s ideal for those who want a smartwatch that feels like a watch but acts like a digital health assistant. That said, if you’re coming from the Watch 6 Classic, the jump may feel subtle. But if you’re on a Watch 5 or earlier—or jumping into the Samsung ecosystem for the first time—this is the model to get.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic – At a Glance
-
Price in Malaysia: From RM1,499 (Bluetooth), RM1,799 (LTE)
-
Colours: Black, Silver
-
Size: 46mm
-
OS: Wear OS 6 + One UI Watch 8
-
Key Features: Rotating bezel, 3,000-nit AMOLED screen, Gemini AI, Antioxidant Index, 64GB storage
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic might not shout innovation—but it whispers refinement, intelligence, and class. And sometimes, in a sea of flashy tech, that’s exactly what a smartwatch needs to stand out.
