Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs. Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Blending Classic and Ultra

Samsung is sticking to a biannual release schedule for the Galaxy Watch Classic, and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has finally been revealed. The company is shaking things up a bit with this new model thanks to a blend of the classic Galaxy Watch design and the Watch Ultra. The result is a beefier-looking smartwatch with an extra button, a larger battery, and double the storage as the standard Watch 8.

However, is that enough to satisfy fans of classic Galaxy Watch models, or will they want to stick with traditional options like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic? That's the big question, as the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic now features a squircle design, which not everyone is a fan of.

Let's break down how the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic compares to the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and which one is right for you.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs. Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Design and display

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Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra last year as a premium, fitness-oriented smartwatch with a squircle chassis and an inset circular display. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic bears a striking resemblance to this, which some may or may not love, depending on how you felt about the Ultra's design. The good news is that the rotating bezel is back, which is the highlight of the Classic series.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in just a single case size of 46mm and just two colors, white and black. It measures 46 x 46.4 x 10.6 mm, making it nearly identical to the Watch 6 Classic. However, considering that Samsung usually omits the protruding biosensors from its dimensions, the true thickness is a bit more. It's also not all that heavier than the older model, weighing just 63.5 grams. You can choose between an LTE or Wi-Fi-only variant, too.

For perspective, the 47mm model of the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic has dimensions of 46.5 x 46.5 x 10.9 mm, excluding the sensors on the back. Still, if you account for that, it's still thinner than the specs of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic comes in two sizes of 43mm and 47mm, along with LTE or Wi-Fi options for each size. It also just comes in two colors — black and silver. The Watch 6 is going to be slightly lighter on your wrist, but it is a tad thicker than the new Watch 8 Classic.

The choice of display on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic strikes me as a bit odd, as it's actually smaller than the 47mm Watch 6 Classic. Despite the 46mm case size, the Watch 8 Classic has a 1.34-inch Super AMOLED screen, just like the 40mm Galaxy Watch 8. The resolution is also the same at 438 x 438 pixels, and you get Sapphire Crystal glass for scratch protection. This means everything is going to look a little smaller when you view it against the Watch 6 Classic.

Speaking of which, you get a pretty large 1.5-inch Super AMOLED screen on the older Classic, with a higher 480 x 480 pixel resolution. There's Sapphire Crystal here as well for scratch protection.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs. Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Hardware and specs

Samsung introduced a new BioActive sensor within the Galaxy Watch 7 series, and that makes its way to the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. As expected, there are new health monitoring features like the ability to measure your antioxidant levels. Other features include Running Coach to calculate your fitness level, a High Stress Alert notification, and a Mindfulness Tracker, to name a few.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes with 2GB of RAM and four times the storage as the Watch 6 Classic, at 64GB. It even has a larger 445mAh battery with support for WPC-based fast charging. The watch is 5ATM rated for immersion in water, and has an IP68 and MIL-STD-810H rating for toughness.

The current Galaxy Watch 6 Classic uses an older Exynos W930 chip, which is a dual-core processor built using the 5nm process node. It's no slouch, but a newer Exynos chip could make for a big upgrade, especially as AI continues making its way to our wearables.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs. Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Software

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic ships with Wear OS 6, and it's the first new smartwatch to do so. You also get the new One UI 8 Watch running over Android, with revamped features like Multi-Info Tiles for easy access to health metrics, weather, etc. There's also the Now Bar from One UI 7, which puts all your main activities front and center.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is also one of the first watches to have Gemini integration, replacing the Google Assistant. You'll now be able to ask your smartwatch to help with basic tasks, using phrases like "summarize my last email" or "remember what locker I'm using." Gemini will work across apps and features on Galaxy Watch models, providing a unified and intelligent experience, similar to the one you'd get on your Android phone.

The good news is that, although the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic launched with Wear OS 4, it should also get these new Gemini improvements eventually.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic vs. Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Which classic is best?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic costs $100 more than the Watch 6 Classic at launch. It starts at roughly $499 for the Wi-Fi-only variant, and it's more for the LTE variant. It's much cheaper than the Watch Ultra 2025, so if you want that look but without the premium price, the Watch 8 Classic is a good option.

For fans of the Classic series who are looking for a rotating bezel and a more classic watch look, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic remains a viable option. You can easily find the 47mm LTE variant for under $250, making it an insane value for money. Keep in mind that you might not get the same accuracy level for health and fitness monitoring as compared to the newer Watch 8 Classic. On the plus side, it is in line to receive the One UI 8 Watch update soon.