![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/S9QYyvUty8JP4cTFKaTMJN.jpg\")
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025<\/p>\n
The ultimate rugged watch<\/strong><\/p>\n If you need the extra durability and battery life that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 affords, it’s a great choice for adventurers. But for most people, it will be more than you need and you get a lot of the same features with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic<\/p>\n The best choice for most<\/strong><\/p>\n If you want all the goodies that come with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 and don’t need the added durability, and you prefer a rotating bezel, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the best model for you.<\/p>\n The perfect complement to a Samsung Galaxy smartphone is a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch. If you\u2019re looking to get something on the upper end of the scale, the decision comes down to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2025 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.<\/p>\n The Samsung Galaxy Watch 2025 is a slightly upgraded version of Samsung\u2019s first rugged smartwatch model launched in summer 2024, while the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the larger, highest-end version in the new standard line. The question becomes: is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 worth the extra coin? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Design and durability<\/p>\n \nWhy you can trust Android Central<\/p>\n Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025. (Image credit: Andrew Myrick \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n First, let\u2019s look at, well, looks. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025<\/a> is the largest Samsung Galaxy smartwatch, thicker than the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. But it also happens to be a smidge lighter. Both have three buttons, including a Quick Button for accessing frequently used options.<\/p>\n The biggest difference is that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has a digital-only bezel, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic adds a rotating bezel. Considering Andrew Myrick notes in his initial Galaxy Watch 8 hands-on <\/a>that the rotating bezel is his favorite way of interacting with a smartwatch, this will be a big deal for a lot of people like him.<\/p>\n The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025. (Image credit: Andrew Myrick \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 comes in four titanium finishes: Silver, Gray, White, and a new one: Blue. It has a large 1.5-inch AMOLED screen housed in a squircle design that affords up to 3,000 nits peak brightness. The screen is made from sapphire crystal, and the watch itself is as rugged as they come, meeting an IP68 and an impressive 10ATM rating as well as MIL-STD-810H standards for durability.<\/p>\n In terms of battery life, it has a 590mAh battery, the same as the previous generation model, which means it should last about four days in power savings mode, about two with frequent workout tracking, and more.<\/p>\n The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic showing the Gemini app creating a Google Calendar entry for the movie Superman. (Image credit: Michael Hicks \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in basic Black or White, though you can spruce it up with various band types (sport, fabric, or hybrid as well as third-party options). It employs a thin and cushioned design that has been brought over from the original Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.<\/p>\n This squircle design change is immediately noticeable, and Myrick notes that it\u2019s one that grew on him after he became accustomed to it with last year’s Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra<\/a> after wearing that model for a while. As noted, along with the Dynamic Lug System, the big differentiator is the inclusion of a handy rotating bezel on this watch.<\/p>\n The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has a smaller 1.34-inch Super AMOLED sapphire crystal display with the same 3,000 nits peak brightness. It boasts both IP68 and MIL-STD-810H certification, but it isn\u2019t quite as water-resistant for deep diving with \u201conly\u201d a 5ATM rating.<\/p>\n The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. (Image credit: Michael Hicks \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n The battery is also smaller at 445mAh, and while Samsung doesn\u2019t note its rated battery life, you can expect to charge it at least every day or two if it falls in line with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Classic<\/a>, which has a slightly smaller battery.<\/p>\n There\u2019s an LTE option with both watches as well as Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC for tap payments. While the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 is more expensive, there are trade-in deals with older model Samsung Galaxy Watches (not the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2024 at the time of this writing) that can save you a few bucks.<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Specs<\/p>\n Let\u2019s look at how these two smartwatches compare when it comes to basic specs.<\/p>\n Swipe to scroll horizontally<\/p>\n Category<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/tr>\n Compatibility<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Android 11.0 or higher<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Android 11.0 or higher<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n OS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Wear OS 6 (powered by Samsung) + Samsung One UI 6 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n Wear OS 6 (powered by Samsung) + Samsung One UI 6 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Colors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Titanium Silver, Gray, White, Blue<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Titanium Black, White<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Swappable Band<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Battery<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 590mAh<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 445mAh<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Battery Life<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Approx. 4 days in power-saving mode, up to 2 days with heavier use<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Approx. up to 2 days<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n App<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Samsung Health<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Samsung Health<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Heart Rate Tracking<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Stress Tracking<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Blood Oxygen<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n GPS<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes (built-in)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes (built-in)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Sleep Monitoring<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Water Resistance<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 10ATM, IP68<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 5ATM, IP68<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mobile Pay<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Samsung Wallet<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Samsung Wallet<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Storage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 64GB<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 64GB<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Screen Size<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.5 inches<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.34 inches<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Screen Type<\/p>\n<\/td>\n AMOLED<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Super AMOLED<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Screen Resolution<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 480 x 480<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 438 x 438<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Peak Brightness<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3,000 nits<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3,000 nits<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Dimensions<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 47.4 x 47.1 x 12.1mm <\/p>\n<\/td>\n 46 x 46.4 x 10.6mm<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Weight<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 60.5 grams<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 63.5 grams<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Health, wellness, and smarts<\/p>\n The Galaxy Watch 8 Ultra 2025. (Image credit: Nandika Ravi\/ Android Central)<\/p>\n When it comes to the internals of these two smartwatches, what they can track and what you can do with them are pretty much identical. Both run on an Exynos W1000 processor and come loaded with Wear OS 6. Both have 64GB storage (that\u2019s double that of the 2024 edition of the Galaxy Watch Ultra) and 2GB RAM.<\/p>\n Both track all the usual suspects when it comes to health, wellness, and vitals, thanks to the inclusion of a Samsung BioActive sensor. This includes workouts, calorie burn, activity levels, sleep, stress, temperature, heart rate, blood oxygen, and more. They offer tailored sleep coaching, an area where Samsung has been upping the ante. This includes the ability to detect moderate to severe signs of sleep apnea.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also Vascular Load tracking, which monitors your stress levels during sleep, and Antioxidant Index to measure your carotenoid levels. These relate to dietary intake and metabolism, and the data can help you make more informed lifestyle choices.<\/p>\n To use the latter, you need to remove the watch and place your finger on the underside sensor, which isn\u2019t ideal, but it\u2019s worth doing if cartenoid level measurements are important to you. High Stress Alerts will ping you if either watch notices your stress levels are too high, prompting you to take a breath. There\u2019s also a mindfulness tracker and energy score.<\/p>\n The “Basic” Tile on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic showing Weather, Calendar, and part of the Battery widget. (Image credit: Michael Hicks \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n Runners will love the Running Coach<\/a>, which calculates your fitness level on a scale from one to 10 and delivers a customized and personalized training plan with real-time guidance and motivational insights to help you along on your journey. Using Together, you can also challenge friends and family for further motivation. Both also incorporate dual-frequency GPS for tracking your runs, hikes, walks, cycles, and other outdoor activities.<\/p>\n One big update with both the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the inclusion of Google Gemini<\/a> out of the box, replacing the outdated Google Assistant smart voice assistant. With this, you can summon Gemini<\/a> with natural voice commands, whether that\u2019s to initiate a workout, check on your calendar, or simply ask questions about what\u2019s going on around you. Samsung worked closely with Google to ensure that there\u2019s seamless integration with its first-party Wear OS apps.<\/p>\n Speaking of which, you can also keep on top of things by leveraging the multi-info tiles and Now Bar<\/a>, which keeps your most crucial notifications front and center.<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Which should you choose?<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 (right) next to Watch 8 Classic (left). (Image credit: Andrew Myrick \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n The decision between the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 Classic really comes down to your personal needs and budget. But even if you have the bucks to spare, is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 worth it?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s consider your biggest upgrades with that model compared to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. It\u2019s lighter but also thicker, has a larger display, longer battery life, and is more durable. It\u2019s really designed to be the adventurer\u2019s watch. So, if you\u2019re the type of person who participates in a lot of outdoor sports, especially underwater activities, you\u2019ll find value in it.<\/p>\n (Image credit: Michael Hicks \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n The extra battery life is appreciated as well, but if you are already used to charging your smartwatch every day or two, you might be used to that routine anyway. With that said, longer battery life is always appreciated, especially on those days when you\u2019re at 2% right before you\u2019re about to go for a run.<\/p>\n Design and feature-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, as well as its smaller Galaxy Watch 8 sister, is starting to look more like an Ultra model anyway, with the same cushioned and squircle design. However, there\u2019s a key advantage with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic to keep in mind if you would use it: the rotating bezel.<\/p>\n The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025. (Image credit: Andrew Myrick \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n We haven\u2019t yet tested the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 but based on Michael Hicks\u2019 review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra<\/a> (2024 model), if the iterative update offers even slight improvements, it won\u2019t disappoint. He calls that model \u201ca great smartwatch that\u2019s enjoyable to use,\u201d applauding how powerful and reliable it is. We also named the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra among the best waterproof smartwatches<\/a> you can buy, and chances are the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 will take its spot on the list.<\/p>\n Interestingly, Hicks said last year that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra falls between casual and serious users. Given this, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is even more skewed to the casual side, but with all the same features serious users will appreciate, minus the extra battery life and durability, and with a cool rotating bezel. It\u2019s the more elegant-looking of the two watches without sacrificing too much. So, it will likely be the preference for most users.<\/p>\n (Image credit: Michael Hicks \/ Android Central)<\/p>\n Bottom line: if you have an older model to trade in and it brings the price of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 in line with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, it\u2019s worth considering. But it\u2019s not necessary for most people unless you\u2019re heavy into water and other outdoor sports, or you\u2019re a power user where every last minute of battery life counts. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a lovely medium that affords all the same features at a more affordable price and with a similar yet more stylish design.<\/p>\n If you want something smaller, consider the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. If you already have the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024), don\u2019t bother upgrading just yet. It\u2019s not a big enough jump in features to warrant it.<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025<\/p>\n Only if you need it<\/strong><\/p>\n The biggest upgrades with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 over the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the more durable and water-resistant design, the larger screen, and the extra battery life. If these features aren’t worth the extra dough, you’re pretty much getting the identical experience with the standard line model.<\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic<\/p>\n Likely the best fit<\/strong><\/p>\n Unless you’re a serious adventurer, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic will be the better fit for most people. It’s a more svelte, classic and elegant design and all the goodies inside are the same. You’re missing a higher ATM rating and the battery is smaller. But that rotating bezel could be the game-changer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 The ultimate rugged watch If you need the extra durability and battery life…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":279823,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3160],"tags":[1685,53,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-279822","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gadgets","8":"tag-gadgets","9":"tag-technology","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114891015935226304","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279822"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279822\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/EsJNwXE22phiafcE9ZTFKA.jpg\")
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