Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Hands-on: New Look, New Ai And.... New Antioxidants?

Do you moreover antioxidant bruh? Samsung’s latest smartwatch tin thief reply that mobility and supply receipts, should you request it. The Galaxy Watch 8 series, which nan institution unveiled astatine its Unpacked arena today, comes pinch a caller trial that uses existing optical sensors to gauge nan level of antioxidants successful your body. That’s coming successful some nan modular Watch 8 arsenic good arsenic nan caller Watch 8 Classic, which comes pinch nan rotating bezel that has historically been celebrated pinch Samsung smartwatch fans.

The Watch 8 is besides what Samsung calls “the thinnest Watch 8 ever,” which I deliberation is expected to mean it’s nan slimmest Galaxy Watch to date. Despite nan smaller profile, nan Watch 8 besides has bigger batteries, a caller “dynamic lug system” for its bands, arsenic good arsenic different hardware tweaks for illustration a brighter surface and a perchance polarizing “cushion design.”

Gemini comes to nan Galaxy Watch 8 series

The Galaxy Watch 8 bid is nan first to motorboat pinch Wear OS 6 retired of nan box. With that, it’s besides getting support for Google’s Gemini AI assistant. Theoretically, this intends Gemini tin do connected nan Watch 8 what it tin connected your phone. But astatine nan large, engaged demo area wherever I checked retired nan caller watches this week, nan Gemini integration was laggy astatine best.

Using nan punctual suggested by Samsung’s reps. I asked Gemini to show maine “two cool things to do successful New York City.” There was a noticeable multi-second region earlier nan Watch 8 Classic I was testing registered nan petition and showed nan words connected its screen. It past took different 2nd aliases truthful for nan reply to beryllium displayed (we person a video of this sluggishness, cheque it retired below).

To its credit, Gemini’s answers were reasonably accurate, depending connected your meaning of “cool.” For example, it recommended nan High Line parkland and an study platform astatine Top of nan Rock arsenic candidates. But erstwhile Samsung reps and I followed up pinch “Add that to Samsung Notes” aliases “Add that to Google Tasks,” some of which are apps nan adjunct is expected to beryllium capable to interact with, nan strategy ne'er completed either action. On 1 attempt, Gemini said I would first request to link Google Workspace to nan device, while connected different effort I sewage a much wide correction message.

It’s astir apt nan demo units were either failing owed to spotty Wi-Fi aliases not group up for definite apps, and we’ll request to decently trial Gemini connected a reappraisal portion successful nan existent world to spot really responsive and effective it really is.

Preview of nan caller antioxidant trial connected nan Galaxy Watch 8

Of each nan caller features coming to nan Galaxy Watch 8 series, I was astir intrigued by nan antioxidant test. It doesn’t require specialized hardware and uses what look to beryllium nan aforesaid optical sensors that were connected erstwhile Galaxy watches. You do request to region nan watch from your wrist and spot your thumb connected nan bosom complaint scanner connected nan underside, though, truthful this is decidedly a trial that can't passively way information successful nan background.

Samsung says this should thief you “gain penetration into nan accumulated antioxidants successful your skin,” and you’ll person recommendations connected really to amended your people and tips connected adopting healthier habits. The institution said this uses its “bioactive sensor” to measurement carotenoid levels truthful you tin “make informed manner choices,” and cautions successful good people that this isn’t intended for aesculapian use. My ears twitched astatine nan mention of “antioxidants,” which I presume is nan effect Samsung was hoping for. They’re nutrients for illustration Vitamin C and Vitamin E, and are mostly considered to beryllium good for health.

I was frankly shocked and borderline offended to find retired that successful each 3 tests I ran connected a demo portion of nan Watch 8 Classic, my antioxidant scale number was “very low.” I scored 38, 41 and 39 connected a standard of 1 to 100.

To tally nan test, you person to unfastened nan Samsung Health app connected nan watch and scroll each nan measurement to nan 3rd tile from nan bottommost to motorboat it. From there, you conscionable person to pat nan “Measure” button, swipe done 3 pages of guidance and past flip nan watch astir to put your thumb connected it.

As nan Watch suggested, I made judge my thumb covered nan full sensor and felt a speedy vibration quickly after. I continued to clasp my digit successful spot until nan instrumentality buzzed much aggressively, which was a cue that nan reference was complete. The process, aft I placed my thumb connected nan sensor, took only astir 5 seconds. I did find that my people jumped from 38 to 41 erstwhile I made judge to time off my digit firmly connected nan scanner for nan afloat 5 seconds.

You tin spot your consequence connected nan Watch 8 (and this trial requires a Watch 8 to work, which is perchance sad news for those who person older Galaxy watches). The Samsung Health connected your telephone tin supply much information, and I noticed that nan Z Flip 7 my Watch 8 portion was connected to was responding successful tandem erstwhile I started a test. A mini sheet popped up connected nan phone’s screen, and nan results appeared connected some devices astatine nan aforesaid time.

Over connected nan phone, I tapped various parts of nan surface to find much specifications connected my performance, but thing responded until I tried nan mini info icon to nan apical correct of my score. This brought up a page pinch paragraphs of accusation titled “About antioxidant index.” It explained what “free radicals and oxidative stress” were, saying nan harmful unstable molecules were exacerbated by “unhealthy manner habits” for illustration smoking, dense drinking, overeating and stress.

It besides included nan World Health Organization’s recommended regular intake of consequence and vegetables, arsenic good arsenic a array explaining each nan imaginable ranges of results connected Samsung’s Antioxidant Index. The institution said these numbers are based connected study of “clinical tests astatine Samsung Seoul Hospital.”

Surprisingly, nan highest level is simply “Adequate” while those pinch levels beneath 75 get assigned “Low” (74 to 50) aliases “Very Low” (below 50). A footnote clarifies that “the supra criteria whitethorn beryllium adjusted based connected early objective results,” and this scale doesn’t look to beryllium a standard utilized successful non-Samsung aesculapian settings.

I’m not judge if my debased number is nan consequence of a deficiency of antioxidants aliases a precocious level of stress, but it’s surely motivated maine to eat much vegetables (I already devour a adjacent magnitude of fruit). I’ll request much clip pinch a reappraisal portion to spot if changes to my fare will make immoderate quality and whether nan characteristic really is effective astatine motivating longterm accordant manner change.

What other is caller connected nan Galaxy Watch 8 series?

I’ll besides person to walk much than an hr pinch nan Watch 8 bid to cognize really I consciousness astir nan updated interface, but my early impressions are positive. This was my first relationship pinch Wear OS 6, and while I’m not judge really overmuch of nan tweaks are exclusive to Samsung’s One UI overlay, I person to opportunity nan seemingly larger tiles and rearrangement of really accusation is displayed made nan surface consciousness roomier. One point I tin opportunity is surely a Samsung tweak is nan Now Bar, which sat astatine nan bottommost of nan location screen. I didn’t interact pinch it overmuch during my clip pinch nan demo unit, but truthful acold it seems to show excessively small accusation astatine a glimpse to beryllium very helpful.

New creation and lug system

Most of nan different updates I was capable to cheque retired astatine nan hands-on arena were related to nan hardware. I person to admit I wasn’t a instrumentality of nan alleged “cushion design” erstwhile I saw pictures of nan Watch 8, which fundamentally looks for illustration a information surface encased successful an aluminum squircle (squarish circle aliases information square?). The aforesaid goes for nan Watch 8 Classic, isolated from that its rotating bezel is ample capable to hide immoderate of nan metallic lawsuit astir nan watch face, and it has markings successful nan bezel to denote time.

In person, I didn’t mind nan caller look arsenic much, and was really rather taken by nan Watch 8’s thinness. At 8.6mm thick, this exemplary is 11 percent slimmer than nan Watch 7. Plus, Samsung says it improved nan strap’s perspective utilizing a “dynamic lug system,” which makes it easier to switch retired different bands and minimizes nan spread betwixt nan watch and your wrist. Altogether, nan institution says these changes consequence successful “11 percent much meticulous bosom complaint tracking.”

Do I deliberation nan thought makes consciousness successful theory? Yes. Do I besides find nan aggregate occurrences of “11 percent” suspicious? Extremely so. I’ll assistance that coincidences tin happen, and numbers for illustration 11 percent don’t really mean anything, truthful I won’t get excessively skeptical astir that correct now. I will opportunity it’s besides very convenient (and weird) that Samsung said successful a briefing that nan improved “pressure uniformity” makes for a 12 percent summation successful comfort, arsenic if that’s thing you tin quantify.

Now, nan fastener to merchandise nan watch straps is connected nan lawsuit itself alternatively than nan bands, which gives maine a firmer backing to push against. But I could spot it being an accommodation for those who person gotten utilized to pushing down connected nan strap and pulling away. You’ll person to bargain caller bands if you’re upgrading to nan Watch 8 aliases Watch 8 Classic, though, since nan strategy won’t beryllium compatible pinch older straps aliases devices. That’s mildly annoying, particularly erstwhile you see that companies for illustration Apple and Google mostly make their bands compatible pinch caller and aged models.

Watch 8 Classic’s rotating bezel and different hardware tweaks

I besides want to outcry retired nan Watch 8 Classic’s rotating bezel, which looks much for illustration a toothed cogwheel than that connected nan Watch 6 Classic. When I tried spinning it to scroll done apps connected nan caller Classic and its predecessor (there wasn’t a Watch 7 Classic), I recovered nan later exemplary somewhat stiffer, but it wasn’t sluggish aliases difficult to use. I stay a instrumentality of nan mechanical bezel arsenic a measurement to interact pinch Wear OS.

I’ll tally done a fewer speedy hardware specs for nan Watch 8: it comes successful 40mm and 44mm sizes. These will person batteries that are 325mAh and 435mAh respectively, representing an 8 percent summation complete nan erstwhile generation. Both versions of nan Watch 8 person displays that are 50 percent brighter than before, up to 3,000 nits. The aforesaid goes for nan Watch 8 Classic, which is only disposable successful a 46mm exemplary and has a 445mAh battery. Finally, crossed nan lineup, nan devices person what Samsung says is simply a durable Armor Aluminum 2 frame, and are rated 5ATM and IP68 for h2o (and dust) resistance, arsenic good arsenic MIL-STD-810H.

Software, fittingness and wellness updates I didn’t get to test

I didn’t get to trial immoderate different caller package features coming to nan Watch 8 series, including vascular load insights, moving guidance and bedtime suggestions. Vascular load requires you deterioration nan watch overnight and it tracks your bosom wellness while you sleep. Samsung says it will supply penetration into your sleep, workout and stress, and make suggestions for bringing down your vascular load

Meanwhile, aft you’ve worn nan watch for astatine slightest 2 nights successful a row, nan Watch 8 tin urge an perfect bedtime, based connected slumber and activity patterns. According to Samsung, prompts to get fresh for furniture will beryllium delivered connected nan watch astir 2 hours anterior to nan suggested window, truthful you’ll person ample clip to upwind down.

Of course, I didn’t walk that overmuch clip pinch nan demo units, truthful I can’t opportunity really meticulous aliases effective they are. I besides didn’t usage nan Watch 8 capable to cheque retired nan moving guidance feature, but it sounds akin to existing versions crossed nan smartwatch ecosystem. In fact, based connected Samsung’s description, it’s astir reminiscent of nan Workout Buddy that Apple precocious announced for watchOS 26. Both will connection motivational messages, insights and real-time feedback during your workout. Apple’s does support much types of exercises, though, including biking, spot training and HIIT. It’s besides unclear whether Samsung’s type will analyse your past workouts for nan insights it delivers.

After years of incremental updates, it’s bully to spot a reasonably important group of changes coming to nan Galaxy Watch series. As usual, I urge waiting till we’re capable to reappraisal these successful nan existent world earlier spending your money, but if you’ve already decided to get one, you won’t person agelong to wait. The Watch 8 will commencement astatine $349.99 and $379.99 for nan 40mm and 44mm (Wi-Fi only) models, while nan Watch 8 Classic will costs $499.99 and $549.99 for nan Wi-Fi and LTE versions respectively. All are disposable for pre-order coming and will unit much broadly connected July 25.