When smartwatches are brought up, the Google Pixel Watch is the first topic of conversation. It shouldn't be, because Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 is the all-around best Wear OS smartwatch around. I reviewed it last year, and spent my own money on one. The selling point for me was its size — it's only 8.6mm thick and sits comfortably on my wrist.
That meant I could take it more places and wear it more consistently, using the extra data to power my workouts and get better sleep. The price is surprisingly the best part. You can get a Galaxy Watch 8 for just $218 during Prime Day, down from the usual $350 sticker price.
That's about what I paid for my Galaxy Watch 8 at launch, and I had to trade in another smartwatch to get that price. You can get it with no strings attached.
✅ Recommended if: You use Samsung Galaxy devices and need a Wear OS smartwatch; you need a thin and lightweight watch for fitness and health monitoring; you want longtime Wear OS update support.
❌ Skip this deal if: You need a smartwatch with the longest battery life; you want to wait for the Galaxy Watch 9, even though it'll cost much more.
I've tested many smartwatches, and I learned one thing along the way: the best smartwatch is the one you'll actually wear. Every other smartwatch felt too thick for me to wear for sleep tracking, and even some strenuous workouts. When I took them off, I missed out on data. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8's slim profile makes it ideal for your vacation getaways, summer workouts, or nightly sleep tracking.
It runs Wear OS 6 out of the box, and it's guaranteed to get four years of software updates. So, you can buy this watch for 38% off and it'll be updated to Wear OS 7 in a few months' time. A capable chip, Samsung's Exynos W1000, powers the entire experience.
On the inside, a Samsung BioActive sensor capable of handling optical and electrical heart-rate sensing monitors your underlying health metrics. There are also BIA and temperature sensors that help give you a complete picture of your health.
My one gripe with the Galaxy Watch 8 is that you need to charge it daily, but a quick recharge while showering should be all it takes. Aside from that, this is a current-gen smartwatch that'll stay up to date for years to come available for just over $200. I've used one for nearly a year, and I can't recommend it enough.
All Prime Day 2026 - quick links
- Phones: major savings on Pixel, Samsung, and beyond
- Wearables: up to 50% off Garmin, Galaxy Watch, and Fitbit
- Headphones/earbuds: huge discounts on Beats, Sony, and more
- Smart Home: up to 60% off Alexa devices
- Tablets: Galaxy Tab, Kindle, and Amazon tablets from $50
- Smart TVs: cheap smart TVs from $69.99
- Chromebooks: discounts on ASUS, HP, and Lenovo
