That painful Galaxy Watch 8 price jump makes this Watch 7 Prime Day deal look even better

Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Galaxy Unpacked has revealed the Galaxy Watch 8, from its thinner, square-shaped case to its new AI perks. But one unwelcome change is to the price: It costs $350 and up, a $50 jump compared to the Watch 7. And since the Galaxy Watch 7 is $159 (47% off) on Amazon for Amazon Prime Day, it'd be pretty crazy not to look at the last-gen option.

Based on the official specs, the Galaxy Watch 8 has the same 3nm Exynos processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, BioActive health sensors, connectivity standards, and durability rating as the Galaxy Watch 7.

The Watch 8 does have some new perks, like a 1mm-skinnier case, 1,000 extra nits of brightness, and a very small increase in battery capacity (about 25mAh). But otherwise, all the main differences come from the new Wear OS 6 update, which the Watch 7 will get later this year!

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Save $140
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: was $299.99 now $159.99 at Amazon

also Galaxy Watch 7 44mm: was $329 now $199.99 at Amazon

We've had the Galaxy Watch 7 ranked as the best Android smartwatch for the past 12 months, beating out Google Pixel, Garmin, OnePlus, and other brands for its combination of fast performance, solid battery life, and four years of software support. It's a fantastic device that'll keep getting updates through 2028, and at a very reasonable price.

The 1.5-inch display upgrade is "only" $130 off, but still much less than the Watch 8 44mm ($379).

✅Recommended if: You want highly accurate health data, a comfortable design, a bright sapphire glass display, and low app loading times for an affordable price.

❌Skip this deal if: You don't want to wait months for One UI 8 Watch, or you especially like the new Watch 8's Ultra-like redesign.

As our Galaxy Watch 8 hands-on found, it's the Watch 8 Classic that looks the most compelling with its rotating bezel and unique style. Unfortunately, it's also $499, which is hard to justify when the Watch 7 offers the same core experience for $159!

The main reason to choose the Watch 8 is if you don't want to wait for One UI 8 Watch, which will deliver new AI insights like Vascular Load, Antioxidant Index, and a Running Coach, plus new tools like a Now Bar. The Watch 7 will receive these before the end of 2025, though, so if you can be patient, you should hop on this last-gen deal instead.

There are other great Android watch deals like the OnePlus Watch 2R for $172 (25% off) if you want to prioritize multi-day battery life over better sensors, durability, and software updates. Or if you're willing to spend a little more, the Pixel Watch 3 for $249 ($100 off) makes this pricey model much more accessible.

For everything on Amazon Prime Day, head to our ultimate shopping guide.

Michael L Hicks
Senior Editor, Wearables & AR/VR

Michael is Android Central's resident expert on wearables and fitness. Before joining Android Central, he freelanced for years at Techradar, Wareable, Windows Central, and Digital Trends. Channeling his love of running, he established himself as an expert on fitness watches, testing and reviewing models from Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, COROS, Polar, Amazfit, Suunto, and more.

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