Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch8 series refines the smartwatch formula with better comfort, longer battery life, and a sharper focus on meaningful health data. No radical reinvention here; just a series of subtle upgrades that make it more wearable, more helpful, and more in sync with your lifestyle.
Softer on the wrist, stronger in function
The regular Galaxy Watch8 gets a redesigned cushion-shaped housing that’s 11% slimmer, 12% more comfortable, and 8% more stable during workouts, thanks to a new curved inner surface that hugs the wrist better.
It’s also Samsung’s brightest display yet, with up to 3,000 nits peak brightness—a 50% jump over its predecessor. Battery life sees a modest bump, with the 40mm model lasting up to 30 hours with the display always on and 40 hours without, while the 44mm model extends that slightly further.
Health gets more personal
The Watch8 introduces a trio of new wellness features built on deeper biometric tracking:
Sleep Apnea Detection (likely a first in a mainstream smartwatch): Detects signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea after two nights of continuous sleep tracking. It analyses breathing patterns and blood oxygen levels to flag irregularities—but does not provide a medical diagnosis. However, the feature is certified by Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), which adds credibility to its early-warning potential.
Antioxidant Index (first on any smartwatch): Measures the level of carotenoid levels in your skin—a proxy for antioxidant activity—using light absorption sensors on your thumb.
Vascular Load: A new recovery insight tool that estimates stress on your arteries using heart rate, variability, and movement data.
You also get an updated 3-day Sleep Score analysis, combining circadian rhythm tracking, sleep pressure, and body clock alignment—with bedtime guidance based on your unique rhythm.
Smarter training, without the pro tax
The Watch8 expands its fitness tools with a smarter Personalised Running Coach, offering real-time feedback like pace strategies, fatigue alerts, and heart rate zone guidance. Also new:
Power Score: A catch-all fitness metric to summarise performance
- Energy Score: An AI-powered estimate of your daily energy level based on physical and mental stress inputs
Improved auto-detection for multisport sessions
Race prediction tools and recovery insights
High stress alerts now prompt users to take breaks, while a Mindfulness Tracker helps log mood and offers guided breathing to reset focus. And while some competitors lock these tools behind a subscription, Samsung keeps all features fully unlocked—no paywall, no premium tier required.
Enter the Ultra
The Ultra version shares the same base profile as the Watch8, but its design cues are more overt: the cushion case echoes ’70s dive watches, complete with a crown guard not unlike a certain submariner. With its customisable Quick Button, it’s closer in spirit to performance-first smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra.
It’s Samsung’s most capable and sport-focused watch to date, designed to rival endurance-class wearables without compromising Galaxy smarts:
47mm titanium case with flat 1.5″ Sapphire Crystal display
3,000 nits peak brightness for high visibility
10ATM water resistance with EN13319 diving equipment certification
Dual-frequency GPS for accurate tracking in dense urban or mountain terrain
Customisable Quick Button for workouts, flashlight, or app shortcuts
New Double Pin Band for added security during high-motion activities
Up to 100 hours battery life in Power Saving Mode
And it’s still fully integrated with Galaxy AI, bringing on-wrist suggestions for recovery, performance, and day-to-day context.
More serious, still accessible
The Galaxy Watch8 doesn’t try to blow minds, but it sharpens every tool. It’s more comfortable, more capable, and more focused on delivering real insight, beyond just numbers.
The Galaxy Watch8 Ultra, meanwhile, fills a gap that the Watch5 Pro only partially addressed, finally offering an endurance watch built for multisport, outdoor adventure, and performance tracking within the Galaxy ecosystem.
Pricing and availability (Singapore)
Galaxy Watch8:
40mm (Green, Silver, Cream): from SGD 448
44mm (Green, Silver, Cream): from SGD 498
Galaxy Watch8 Ultra:
47mm (Titanium Grey, Titanium Silver, Titanium White): from SGD 898
Availability:
Pre-orders include bonus trade-in value, early delivery from 29 July 2025, and Samsung Care+ discount options.
Retail availability begins 1 August 2025.
