Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

Every year, Samsung launches two smartwatch models in multiple sizes. In 2024, it launched the Galaxy Watch 7 in 40mm and 44mm sizes and the Watch Ultra with a 47mm dial. The year before, we got the Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm and 44mm) and Watch 6 Classic (43mm and 47mm). Before that, there were the Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm and 44mm) and Watch 5 Pro (45mm).

But current evidence points to it being called the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. Why? One big clue is the battery. The upcoming model is listed with a 435mAh rated capacity (likely around 450mAh typical), which is smaller than the 590mAh battery used in both the Watch 5 Pro and last year’s Watch Ultra. This makes sense only if the device features a rotating bezel, which takes up extra space. To recall, the 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic had a 425mAh battery.

Model numbers also offer a hint

Samsung’s upcoming “big” watch bears model numbers SM-L500 (Bluetooth) and SM-L505 (LTE), deviating from the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s SM-L705 (LTE). This suggests it will not follow the Ultra naming path. In fact, the Bluetooth certification for the watchEven if Samsung does use the “Ultra” branding, the presence of a rotating bezel — a fan-favorite feature — seems very likely. Either way, we’re in for another premium Galaxy Watch experience. Someone recently put the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic up for sale on eBay, confirming the branding and the iconic bezel ring. So, it’s not a mystery anymore, though not official either. mentioned the “Galaxy Watch 8 Classic” branding.

Besides the Classic, the 40mm base Galaxy Watch 8 model is identified by the model numbers SM-L320 (Bluetooth) and SM-L325 (LTE). Likewise, its 44mm sibling has model numbers SM-L330 and SM-L335 for the two connectivity variants, respectively.

A new Watch Ultra in the pipeline, too?

While the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic are all but confirmed by certifications, a recent leak hinted at one more model: a 2025 refresh for last year’s Galaxy Watch Ultra. Not much is known about this model, but it looks like a minor refresh. Samsung seemingly plans to re-launch the watch with One UI 8 Watch out of the box and possibly more onboard storage, and some new colors. In that case, the rest of the specs should remain unchanged.

Galaxy Watch 8: Design and Hardware

There may or may not be an entirely new Ultra watch in Samsung’s 2025 lineup, but all models may sport an Ultra-ish look. Samsung is ditching the traditional round design this year, with both Galaxy Watch 8 models switching to a squircle-shaped body — a blend of square and circle introduced with the Watch Ultra last year. While the screen remains circular, the casing is squircle, giving the devices a bolder, more rugged appearance. This may be the design identity for Samsung’s smartwatches going forward.

Last month, we exclusively revealed the renders of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (yes, we expect it to be called Classic), showing off its design up close. A squircle casing and circular screen, coupled with the iconic rotating bezel and accented action button, give the watch a sporty yet premium look. The base Galaxy Watch 8 lacks a physical bezel and action button, but shares the overall design with its Classic sibling.

Our source says the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic will have a 46mm case and sport a 1.5-inch display. This means Samsung’s upcoming smartwatch lineup will be available in three sizes: the base model in 40mm and 44mm sizes, and the Classic in 46mm. They should offer screen sizes of 1.3-inch, 1.5-inch, and 1.5-inch, respectively. Despite a bigger case, the Classic gets the same screen size as the 44mm Watch 8 because of a physical bezel ring.

As for the new Ultra, we expect unchanged dimensions of 47.4 x 47.4 x 12.1mm with a 1.5-inch screen. Its rugged design means the bezels around the display are substantially thicker. It should also be bulkier and heavier than other models.

Expect a strong build quality

There’s little information on the material choice for these watches, though. Last year, Samsung offered a titanium build on the Watch Ultra, but the Watch 7 featured an aluminum body. Both models have sapphire crystal glass on the front. It remains to be seen if the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic gets a titanium body or the entire lineup sticks with Samsung’s Armor Aluminum.

Nonetheless, all upcoming Samsung watches should offer a strong, MIL-STD-810H-compliant build quality. The devices should boast an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. In practice, they should block the finest of dust particles and high-pressure water jets. The watches should also survive underwater (up to 50m deep, if not 100m) for at least ten minutes. They should also withstand drops from waist height without major damage to the body.

Galaxy Watch 8: Processor and Specs

Samsung may equip the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic with the same processor as its 2024 smartwatch lineup. It’s the 3nm Exynos W1000 introduced last year. This penta-core chipset has one Cortex-A78 CPU core running at 1.6GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.5GHz. It supports LPDDR5 RAM and eMMC 5.1 storage. A Mali-G68 MP2 handles graphics.

Speaking of storage, Samsung looks all set to offer up to 64GB of onboard storage on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. It could be paired with 2GB or 4GB of RAM. It’s unclear if the smaller Watch 8 models also get 64GB of storage or if the company will limit them to 32 gigabytes. The new Watch Ultra, meanwhile, is likely to feature 64GB of storage, as the 2024 version is limited to 32GB.

The upcoming Samsung smartwatches won’t include a built-in camera or headphone jack, but you get a speaker. It won’t be loud enough for music playback, but useful for notification sounds and other functions. Expect optional LTE connectivity, dual-band GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a wide range of onboard sensors for health and activity tracking.

Galaxy Watch 8: Software and Features

Smartwatches have rapidly evolved from simple notification hubs into powerful health companions. Modern models are packed with advanced sensors that track heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep patterns, stress levels, and even ECG and skin temperature in real time. These devices now provide insights that help users monitor their fitness, detect irregularities early, and make informed lifestyle changes.

Unsurprisingly, health monitoring remains Samsung’s core focus with One UI 8 Watch, which should run out of the box on the Galaxy Watch 8 series. The company is readying various new health features, including Antioxidant Index, which allows users to track their beta carotene levels. Running Coach is another health-oriented tool in One UI 8 Watch. Samsung confirmed an expanded focus on health and productivity during an earnings call earlier this year.

AI on your wrist

Besides health, One UI 8 Watch brings deeper AI integration, offering advanced AI capabilities directly on your wrist. Google’s Gemini will be at the heart of these AI innovations. It replaces Google Assistant as the default AI assistant on the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic. You may get features like app-linking and task automation, which Gemini already offers on phones.

Additionally, you may be able to manage calendar events, summarize emails, and answer general queries from your watch. Gemini may also allow Galaxy Watch users to quickly mute voice responses with a simple tap — a convenient option in public or during a workout.

Now Bar and Now Brief are coming too

Samsung’s One UI 7 update for phones and tablets introduced Now Bar, a pill-shaped element on the lock screen surfacing ongoing activities across different apps. It gives you quick access to things like media controls, active timer or stopwatch, scores from live sports, and more. When unlocked, the information shifts to an expandable pill in the status bar. Likewise, Now Brief gives you quick access to your health information and summarizes your daily activities, upcoming events, and more. Samsung is now gearing up to bring Now Bar and Now Brief to Galaxy Watches with One UI 8 Watch.

Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic may introduce smarter AOD (Always on Display), UI changes, updated tiles, new system sounds, and more changes. Facer also returns as one of the third-party watch face providers, so you’ll get more choices when customizing watch faces.

Galaxy Watch 8: Battery and Charging

Based on leaks and certifications, the 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 has a rated battery capacity of 318mAh, while its 44mm sibling gets a 426mAh unit. The typical (advertised) battery sizes should be 325mAh and 435mAh, respectively. To recall, the Watch 7’s two size variants have typical battery capacities of 300mAh and 425mAh, respectively. Samsung has slightly increased the battery sizes this year.