Samsung has just unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 series, marking a significant evolution in its smartwatch lineup. Officially announced at the July 2025 Galaxy Unpacked event, the Galaxy Watch 8 brings a sleek, minimalist design paired with advanced health and AI features, while the beloved Classic model makes a strong comeback with its iconic physical rotating bezel, catering to users who favor traditional watch aesthetics combined with cutting-edge tech.
Available for pre-order starting July 2025 at a base price of $349, the Galaxy Watch 8 is designed for everyday wellness, offering a slimmer profile and enhanced comfort for all-day wear. Samsung has integrated built-in Gemini AI, which elevates health tracking by providing smarter insights and personalized wellness recommendations. This AI integration represents a leap forward in how smartwatches can assist users in managing their health proactively, from sleep monitoring to workout optimization.
In addition to the Galaxy Watch 8 and Classic, Samsung quietly refreshed the Galaxy Watch Ultra for 2025, introducing new color options and subtle design tweaks that enhance durability and user experience, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts and fitness buffs who demand rugged, reliable gear.
Security remains a top priority for Samsung, as evidenced by the July 2025 security update covering Galaxy devices. This patch addresses 40 vulnerabilities impacting critical components such as the Galaxy Watch system interface, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi password management, and Emergency SOS functionality. These updates not only fortify the watch against potential cyber threats but also improve overall system stability and user safety.
Samsung’s continued innovation in smartwatch technology, combined with robust security enhancements, positions the Galaxy Watch 8 series as a compelling choice for consumers seeking a versatile, stylish, and secure wearable device. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast, a tech-savvy user, or someone looking for a seamless health companion, the Galaxy Watch 8 lineup offers meaningful upgrades that blend form, function, and intelligence.
For a hands-on look at the Galaxy Watch 8’s new features and design, as well as detailed insights into Samsung’s AI-powered health tracking, you can explore the full coverage from the July 2025 Galaxy Unpacked event and expert reviews.
Galaxy Watch 5 vs 6
Thinking about upgrading your Samsung smartwatch? The Galaxy Watch 6 brings some notable improvements over the Galaxy Watch 5 that might make it worth considering. The newer model features a larger, brighter display that reaches up to 2,000 nits – double the brightness of its predecessor.
The Galaxy Watch 6 offers larger displays, a faster processor, improved memory, and bigger batteries compared to the Galaxy Watch 5, making it a substantial upgrade for most users. For outdoor enthusiasts, this brightness boost makes the screen much more visible in direct sunlight, solving one of the common complaints about earlier models.
Samsung has also refined the design while maintaining compatibility with Wear OS and Android devices. The Watch 6 Classic variant offers a different experience than the titanium Watch 5 Pro, with the Classic featuring the return of the popular rotating bezel but a heavier overall weight.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is an iterative upgrade over the Galaxy Watch 5, offering several enhancements while maintaining many core features. Here’s a table comparing the two:
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 |
| Release Date | August 2022 | July 2023 |
| Processor | Exynos W920 | Exynos W930 (18% faster) |
| RAM | 1.5GB | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB |
| Display (Size) | 1.2″ (40mm), 1.4″ (44mm) | 1.3″ (40mm), 1.5″ (44mm) (Larger screen-to-bezel ratio) |
| Display (Res) | 396×396 (40mm), 450×450 (44mm) | 432×432 (40mm), 480×480 (44mm) |
| Display Brightness | Up to 1,000 nits | Up to 2,000 nits (Brighter) |
| Display Material | Sapphire Crystal Glass | Sapphire Crystal Glass |
| Battery (40mm) | 284 mAh | 300 mAh (Slightly larger) |
| Battery (44mm) | 410 mAh | 425 mAh (Slightly larger) |
| Operating System | Wear OS Powered by Samsung (initially Wear OS 3, upgradeable to Wear OS 4/One UI Watch 5/6) | Wear OS Powered by Samsung (initially Wear OS 4/One UI Watch 5, upgradeable to Wear OS 5/One UI Watch 6) |
| Build Material | Armor Aluminum | Armor Aluminum |
| Water Resistance | 5ATM + IP68 | 5ATM + IP68 |
| Durability | MIL-STD-810H compliant | MIL-STD-810H compliant |
| Health Sensors | BioActive Sensor (Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart Sensor (ECG), Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor | Same BioActive Sensor array + Improved Sleep Tracking, Personalized Heart Rate Zones, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, Optional LTE | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, Optional LTE |
| Bands | Standard 20mm bands (traditional pin release) | New one-click bands (easier to swap) |
| Bezel | Digital bezel (touch-sensitive) | Digital bezel (touch-sensitive). Classic model has physical rotating bezel. |
| Key Software Features | Sleep Tracking, Body Composition, ECG, HR Monitoring, Blood Oxygen, Automatic Workout Detection | Enhanced Sleep Tracking (more detailed insights), Personalized Heart Rate Zones, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, improved Fall Detection |
Key Takeaways:
- Performance: The Galaxy Watch 6 offers a noticeable speed boost with its newer processor and more RAM, leading to smoother navigation and faster app loading.
- Display: The Watch 6 has a slightly larger and significantly brighter display with slimmer bezels, improving readability, especially outdoors.
- Battery Life: While the Watch 6 has slightly larger batteries, the improvements are marginal. Both generally offer around 1-1.5 days of typical use, though the Watch 5 Pro (not covered in this comparison of the base models) has significantly longer battery life.
- Health Features: Both watches share the same core sensor array. The Watch 6 brings software enhancements to existing features like sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring, adding personalized insights and irregular heart rhythm notifications.
- Design: The Watch 6 maintains a similar design, but introduces “one-click” bands for easier swapping. The Watch 6 Classic reintroduces the beloved physical rotating bezel, a major differentiator from the standard Watch 6 and Watch 5.
- Price: As the newer model, the Galaxy Watch 6 is generally more expensive than the Galaxy Watch 5, which can often be found at a discount.
Ultimately, if you prioritize the latest performance, a brighter and slightly larger screen, and the newest software refinements, the Galaxy Watch 6 is the better choice. If battery life is your absolute top priority and you’re considering the Watch 5 series, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (a separate model from the base Watch 5) offers significantly better battery performance, though it’s typically larger and more rugged.
Key Takeaways
- The Galaxy Watch 6 delivers twice the screen brightness plus larger displays and faster performance compared to the Watch 5.
- Samsung offers different design options with the titanium Watch 5 Pro versus the heavier Watch 6 Classic with its rotating bezel.
- Battery improvements and enhanced health features make the Watch 6 series a compelling upgrade for existing Samsung smartwatch users.
Design and Hardware Innovations
Samsung has made significant upgrades to the Galaxy Watch 6 series compared to the Watch 5, focusing on both aesthetic and functional improvements. The new generation brings slimmer bezels, brighter displays, and more powerful processing capabilities.
Aesthetic and Build Quality
The Galaxy Watch 6 features a refined design with noticeably thinner bezels than its predecessor. This reduction allows for a larger display while maintaining similar overall dimensions. Both watches use premium materials with aluminum cases and sapphire crystal glass for durability.
The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic brings back the beloved physical rotating bezel that was missing from the Watch 5 series. This mechanical ring provides a satisfying tactile navigation experience many users prefer over touch controls.
Samsung offers the Galaxy Watch 6 in 40mm and 44mm sizes, while the Classic version comes in 43mm and 47mm options. Color options for the standard model include Graphite and Gold for the 40mm, with Graphite and Silver available for the 44mm version.
Display and User Interaction
The AMOLED displays on both watches deliver vibrant colors and deep blacks, but the Galaxy Watch 6 takes brightness to new heights. Its screen reaches up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness—double that of the Watch 5’s 1,000 nits. This significant improvement ensures better visibility in bright outdoor conditions.
The Galaxy Watch 6 also sports a slightly larger display area thanks to its slimmer bezels. This expanded screen real estate makes reading notifications, navigating apps, and viewing health metrics more comfortable.
Both watches feature Always-On Display technology, but the Watch 6 implements it more efficiently. The higher brightness capability combined with optimized power management allows for better visibility without excessive battery drain.
Performance Upgrades
Under the hood, the Galaxy Watch 6 series runs on an upgraded processor that delivers noticeable performance improvements. The new Exynos W930 chip offers a higher clock speed than the Watch 5’s processor, resulting in smoother navigation and faster app loading times.
Memory has also been upgraded, with the Watch 6 featuring faster RAM that enhances multitasking capabilities. This improvement becomes particularly noticeable when switching between apps or using more demanding features.
On the software side, the Galaxy Watch 6 comes with Wear OS 4 and One UI 5 Watch interface. These updates bring refined animations, new watch faces, and improved health tracking algorithms. Samsung has optimized the software to take full advantage of the hardware improvements.
Battery capacity has been slightly increased in the Watch 6, though actual battery life remains similar due to the brighter display and more powerful processor.
Health and Lifestyle Integration
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch series has evolved to become more than just smartwatches—they’re comprehensive health companions. Both the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 6 offer extensive health monitoring capabilities, though the Watch 6 brings notable improvements in several key areas.
Advancements in Health Monitoring
The Galaxy Watch 6 builds upon the solid foundation of the Watch 5 with enhanced sensor technology. Both watches feature optical heart rate sensors that track your pulse throughout the day, but the Watch 6 offers improved accuracy and faster readings.
Body Composition Analysis remains available on both models, providing metrics for body fat percentage, skeletal muscle, and BMI with a simple two-finger touch on the watch sensors.
The Watch 6 introduces the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) feature, which monitors for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) and alerts users of potential concerns—something not available on the Watch 5.
Blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring continues to be offered on both models, though the Watch 6 provides more consistent readings with its upgraded sensors.
Fitness and Activity Tracking
Workout tracking has seen meaningful improvements in the Watch 6. Both watches track over 90 different exercise types, but the Watch 6 adds more detailed metrics and improved GPS accuracy for outdoor activities.
The Watch 6 introduces personalized Heart Rate Zones, which divide your heart rate range into five different zones to help optimize your workout intensity. This feature helps users understand if they’re training in fat-burning, cardio, or peak performance zones.
Fitness Tracking Comparison:
- Watch 5: Basic workout detection, standard metrics
- Watch 6: Advanced workout detection, personalized Heart Rate Zones, more accurate calorie counting
Route tracking is improved on the Watch 6, making it more reliable for runners and cyclists who want to analyze their paths and performance.
Sleep and Recovery Features
Sleep tracking has received significant upgrades in the Watch 6. While the Watch 5 tracks basic sleep stages (light, deep, REM), the Watch 6 offers more detailed sleep analysis with improved accuracy.
The Watch 6 introduces advanced Sleep Insights with personalized Sleep Animals that represent your sleep patterns. This fun visualization helps users better understand their sleep habits and receive tailored recommendations.
Both watches offer Sleep Mode to minimize distractions, but the Watch 6 provides more customizable settings for optimal sleep conditions.
Recovery guidance is more comprehensive on the Watch 6, with suggestions based on sleep quality, activity levels, and heart rate variability—helping users balance exercise with proper rest.
The Samsung Health app integration is smoother with the Watch 6, offering a more cohesive experience between the watch and smartphone for tracking health metrics and progress over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When comparing the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 6, several important differences emerge in features, performance, and design. These distinctions help users determine if upgrading is worthwhile for their needs.
What are the key features that differentiate the Galaxy Watch 6 from the Galaxy Watch 5?
The Galaxy Watch 6 introduces several notable improvements over its predecessor. Samsung describes it as “the most powerful and stylish Galaxy watch yet” with good reason.
The display on the Watch 6 is both brighter and larger than the Watch 5, providing better visibility outdoors and more screen space for apps and notifications. This enhancement makes the watch more functional in various lighting conditions.
Memory capacity has also been upgraded, with the Galaxy Watch 6 offering 2GB of RAM compared to the Watch 5’s 1.5GB. This increase allows for smoother performance when running multiple apps or features simultaneously.
How do battery life comparisons between the Galaxy Watch 5 and 6 stack up?
Battery performance remains relatively similar between both models, though efficiency improvements in the Watch 6 help balance its more powerful components.
The Watch 6 uses its battery more effectively thanks to optimized software and hardware integration. This allows it to maintain comparable battery life despite its brighter screen and enhanced processing capabilities.
Users can expect about a full day of use with both watches under typical usage conditions. Heavy users of fitness tracking features or GPS may still need to charge either watch daily.
What improvements in health and fitness tracking can be seen in the Galaxy Watch 6 compared to the 5?
The Galaxy Watch 6 offers enhanced health monitoring capabilities with more accurate sensors than its predecessor. These improvements provide more reliable health metrics for users concerned with tracking their wellbeing.
Sleep tracking algorithms have been refined in the Watch 6, offering more detailed analysis of sleep patterns and quality. This includes better detection of different sleep stages and more actionable insights.
Heart rate monitoring has also become more precise, particularly during high-intensity workouts where accurate readings matter most. The Watch 6 provides faster readings with less lag time during exercise.
Are there any significant design changes between the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 6?
The Galaxy Watch 6 features a slightly refreshed design with thinner bezels than the Watch 5. This change allows for the larger display while maintaining a similar overall watch size.
The build quality remains premium across both models, though the Watch 6 offers some subtle refinements in materials and finish. The Watch 6 feels slightly more polished overall with improved band attachment mechanisms.
Color options have been updated for the Watch 6, offering new choices to match personal style preferences. The gold variant of the 40mm model has received particular attention for its elegant appearance.
Can users expect an upgraded processor or better performance in the Galaxy Watch 6?
The Galaxy Watch 6 includes a more powerful processor that delivers faster performance for apps and system navigation. This upgrade is immediately noticeable when moving between screens or launching applications.
With the increased RAM (2GB vs 1.5GB), multitasking capabilities have significantly improved. Users can switch between fitness tracking, music control, and notifications more smoothly without lag.
App loading times have decreased, making the overall experience feel more responsive and instantaneous. This performance boost is especially beneficial when using more demanding applications.
Is there a difference in the software and available apps between the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 6?
Both watches run on Samsung’s Wear OS platform, though the Watch 6 ships with the newer version that includes interface improvements and optimizations. The software experience feels more refined on the newer model.
App compatibility remains strong across both devices, but developers are beginning to optimize apps specifically for the Watch 6’s enhanced hardware capabilities. This trend will likely increase the performance gap over time.
The Watch 6 receives priority for new features and updates, potentially extending its useful lifespan compared to the older model. Samsung typically supports newer devices with software updates for longer periods.
