The Galaxy Watch 8 is one of the most exciting smartwatch models in years, and you can probably guess why. It’s the first base Galaxy Watch since 2021 to boast a brand-new design, both inside and out. Here is how it compares to the Galaxy Watch 4 (2021).
Samsung has used the same design language for the base Galaxy Watch since the releas of the Galaxy Watch 4 in 2021. A year later, its sequel, the Watch 5, looked the same and had very similar specs. And although the subsequent Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 7 had bigger screens, both were based on the same design language that the Watch 4 established in 2021.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is the first to break away from that formula. It looks new and different, as you can tell in the photos below. Nevertheless, looks aren’t everything, so let’s take a closer look at how the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 compares to the Galaxy Watch 4 in terms of design as well as hardware and software.
Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch 8: Everything’s changed
Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 8 marks the end of the Watch 4 era and the beginning of a new chapter. The Galaxy Watch 4 is the oldest Wear OS-based Samsung smartwatch around, while the Galaxy Watch 8 is the new and updated model.
The Galaxy Watch 8 runs the Wear OS 6-based One UI 8 Watch update out of the box. Meanwhile, One UI 8 Watch will be the last major OS upgrade the Galaxy Watch 4 will ever receive.
Even then, the 2021 smartwatch model won’t offer the full One UI 8 Watch experience. The Watch 4 hardware simply can’t support every new health and fitness tracking feature available on the Galaxy Watch 8 running One UI 8 Watch.
Here’s everything that’s new and changed, and what you can expect by finally leaving the Galaxy Watch 4 behind in favor of the newer Galaxy Watch 8.
- The most complete One UI 8 Watch and Samsung Health experience, including Antioxidant Index.
Bigger screens. The 40/44mm Galaxy Watch 8 has 1.34/1.47-inch panels. The 40/44mm Galaxy Watch 4 has 1.2/1.4-inch displays. - Thinner display bezels.
- Much higher display brightness. The Galaxy Watch 8 is just as bright as the Ultra, topping 3,000 nits. The Watch 4 can’t achieve 1,000 nits.
- A much more powerful Exynos W1000 3nm chip. Penta-core instead of dual-core.
- 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, up from 16GB+1.5GB.
- Bigger batteries. The 40/44mm Galaxy Watch 8 is equipped with 325mAh/435mAh units. The 40/44mm Watch 4 features much smaller 247mAh/361mAh batteries.
- A new and improved BioActive sensor (introduced last year).
- Better connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 vs 5.0, dual-band GPS for higher location tracking accuracy.
- Superior build quality with Armor Aluminum 2 frame.
- A new squircle Cushion Design.
- A modern Dynamic Lug system for easy wrist strap removal/replacement.
Not only is the Galaxy Watch 8 superior in terms of hardware and software, but the Cushion Design and the Dynamic Lug system enable a better fit on the wrist and improved health and fitness tracking.
Samsung also completely redesigned the internal structure of the Galaxy Watch 8, resulting in a thinner profile. While the Galaxy Watch 4 measures 9.8mm, the Galaxy Watch 8 has a slimmer 8.6mm body.
All in all, the Galaxy Watch 8 looks new, arguably better, and it’s smarter and more powerful than any of its predecessors. If you’ve been waiting for a chance to upgrade to something that doesn’t look like a Watch 4 in disguise, now is the time to consider Samsung’s latest model.
If you are tempted to upgrade from the Galaxy Watch 4 to the Watch 8, make sure you look up Samsung’s trade-in offers, where available. In the USA, you can get a $125 discount on the Galaxy Watch 8 if you trade-in the Watch 4.
Browse Galaxy Watch 8 trade-in offers and pre-order deals
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