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Credit: Illustration by Ian Moore and product image courtesy of Amazon.
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 lineup was just released this summer, with the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic offering two different design options. Surprisingly, Amazon is already offering a discount on both watches.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is $249.99 (originally $349.99) for the Bluetooth version and $299.99 (originally $399.99) for the LTE version. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is $399.99 (originally $499.99) for the Bluetooth version and $449.99 (originally $549.99) for the LTE version.
If you’re coming from the Galaxy Watch 7, there are a few improvements to warrant the $50 list price increase for the base model. You get a brighter display, a bigger battery, a thinner design, a redesigned exterior, new health sensors, an AI-powered running coach, more sleep insights, dual-band GPS, one-handed gesture controls, and Google’s Gemini voice assistant directly on the watch. Not bad—but if that doesn’t inspire you, the Galaxy Watch 7 now starts at a crisp $129.99 (originally $249.99), and it too is getting the Gemini and sleep updates.
If you’re not sure whether to get the regular Galaxy 8 or the Classic, the biggest difference is that the Classic comes with a rotating bezel that helps you navigate the menus. (You can read Lifehacker Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki’s first impressions here.) Also of note, the Classic only comes in the bigger 46mm screen size, while the regular Galaxy 8 comes in 40 and 44mm sizes. For either, you can expect about 30 hours of use from a single charge.
What do you think so far?
If you’re planning on keeping your phone with you when using the watch, get the Bluetooth version. But if you want to go on runs and leave your phone behind while still listening to music or taking calls, $50 extra for the LTE is worth it. (Read more about the Galaxy 8 Watch in CNET’s review.)
