When I got engaged a couple of years ago, my wife asked if there was anything I’d want in return to symbolize it: she gets to wear a ring, would I want a new accessory or piece of jewelry to match her. My immediate answer was a watch, with the plan that it’d be the one I wear on our wedding day.
I’d need something smart and sophisticated: something I wouldn’t regret seeing immortalized in our wedding photos for decades to come, and something I’d want to wear often.
I had ideas for the watch I’d get, but as wedding costs grew, the idea of splashing out on a pricey timepiece felt less and less sensible. Even less so when I was also considering a smartwatch as my pre-wedding fitness regime kicked into high gear and a more sophisticated tracker than my smart ring was feeling increasingly essential.
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That’s when my eyes settled on a gadget that I thought might be both: a classic I could wear to the gym and on my wedding day. My wife was skeptical, but after seeing it in person, she agreed that it did look the part.
So she let me wear a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic to our wedding. It might be my current favorite gadget, and I can’t understand why there isn’t a Galaxy Watch 9 Classic.
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A Winning Design
The Classic doesn’t look like your basic utilitarian smartwatch. It dodges the simplistic look of the regular Watch 8, the Pixel Watch, or the Apple Watch, and also avoids the overly sporty designs of a Garmin or similar running companion.
Besides offering a larger screen size — 46mm vs the base model’s 40 or 44mm options — the Classic boasts a chunkier design than the regular Watch 8. It comes with a rotating metal bezel controller, providing extra detailing and offering a smoother way to navigate the watch menus besides swiping.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic in white
(Image credit: Future)
Coupled with its band — the Hybrid which combines durable rubber with faux leather — and a watch face with moving hands, you could very easily confuse the Classic for an analogue timepiece at a glance. Frankly, I just love how it looks and feels on my wrist (it puts my aged Fitbit to shame).
The design doesn’t just look impeccable; it can handle various scenarios too.
Besides wearing it for formal occasions, I’ve taken the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic everywhere I go. To the office, on a 5K run, on hiking treks, to the gym, when I jump in the pool, and so much more. I even wear it in bed to track my sleep.
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While the weight and size can be a little strange at first, after my first night sleeping with it, I’ve had no complaints. The trade-off for the bulk is that the Watch feels very usable and looks stylish.
Useful but Not Distracting
(Image credit: Future)
A similar effect could have been achieved with a smart ring and an analogue watch, wearing both to match the health tracking utility and sophisticated packaging. However, I’ve been steadily growing frustrated with even the best smart rings.
The main draw of a ring is how simple it is: slip it onto your finger, and it’ll follow your health and fitness metrics for days between charges. This simplicity falls apart, unfortunately, as soon as you want to access your data.
The apps of various rings I’ve tried have started to feel messy, and because I constantly have to check my phone to start workouts or understand my ring’s data, I find I’m easily distracted by the plethora of notifications I brush past on the way to my ring’s app. When I’m ready to run or hit the weights, I want to focus, not succumb to a last-minute distraction.
With a watch, I can start my tracking from my wrist at the press of a button. I can also see essential performance stats on the 46mm display, or (because it pairs nicely with my Samsung foldable) as part of the morning Now Brief on my phone.
(Image credit: Future / Hamish Hector)
My only gripe is I wish I could change the long press control on the bottom button. It defaults to opening Samsung Wallet and cannot be changed. I’m a Google Wallet user, and while I could maybe move a couple of cards over, I’m a bit too lazy and weirdly nervous about paying for things with my watch.
Where’s My Watch 9 Classic, Samsung?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9, Watch 8 Classic, and Ultra 2
(Image credit: Future / Hamish Hector)
Given my Classic love, I was hoping to see a Watch 9 Classic when Samsung debuted its new lineup. However, it was missing, replaced by a regular Watch 9 and a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
The Ultra 2 comes close to being a Classic — it adopts the bezel, though it doesn’t rotate — especially if you pick up the PeakForm Band, but it does also come at a more premium price.
The lack of a rotating bezel is genuinely a major let-down. You just have to trust me.
Though I doubt this means the end of the Classic. It has taken a break before to make room for the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, and I expect it’ll return next year as the Watch 10 Classic.
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