Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 ASMR unboxing – Slimmer, smarter, sleeker

We’ve had the Galaxy Watch 8 on our wrist for a first look, and while it doesn’t shout “revolution” from across the room, the quiet design shifts and subtle refinements hint at a smartwatch that could feel very different once you actually live with it. But before we tell you about our early impressions, let’s take a look at the pricing and unboxing experience.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Pricing and Variants

The Galaxy Watch 8 comes in two case sizes: 40mm and 44mm. The 40mm Bluetooth-only model is priced at ₹32,999, while the LTE version comes in at ₹36,999. If you opt for the larger 44mm size, it’s ₹35,999 for Bluetooth and ₹39,999 for LTE. Colour options for the Galaxy Watch 8 include Graphite and Silver.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Unboxing

The Galaxy Watch 8 arrives in Samsung’s now-familiar minimalist white box — no flashy graphics, no unnecessary frills, just a promise of what’s inside.

Lift the lid, and you’re immediately met with the star of the show: the watch face itself, finished in a sleek graphite colourway. Flip it over and you’ll find the cluster of health sensors neatly arranged on the back. It's the kind of tech that quietly works in the background while you go about your day.

There’s also a small white accessory box holding the usual paperwork and a USB-C charging cable paired with Samsung’s magnetic charging puck.

Nestled underneath the watch face are the top and bottom straps. Snapping them into the watch takes seconds — no tools, no fuss, just a satisfying click that tells you it’s ready to wear.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Design

The Galaxy Watch 8 subtly changes Samsung’s familiar design language. Previous generations stuck with a classic circular face, but this year, that circle sits inside a soft square frame — a cushion shape that feels modern without abandoning the brand’s identity. It’s a small change that makes the watch look more contemporary on the wrist.

Samsung has also given the Watch 8 its thinnest profile yet, trimming the body by 11 per cent through a complete internal redesign. The result is a sleeker, more refined shape that feels less bulky daily. The new Dynamic Lug system moves naturally with your wrist, improving stability and, in theory, tracking accuracy.

The 44mm LTE variant we received can feel slightly bulky on smaller wrists, but on larger wrists it’s perfectly manageable. It’s the kind of watch you can wear through a full workday and straight into the night without feeling the need to take it off. That’s important, especially if you want to use its expanded sleep tracking features.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Features (Health & AI)

The upgraded BioActive Sensor is at the heart of those capabilities, offering more precise measurements across health metrics. Bedtime Guidance, for example, monitors your circadian rhythm and suggests the best times to sleep and wake — acting like a built-in sleep coach via Samsung Health. Do note, we had our test unit paired with the all new Galaxy Z Flip 7.

New additions include Vascular Load monitoring, which gauges cardiovascular strain at rest, and an Antioxidant Index that measures carotenoid levels in five seconds — a first for any smartwatch. Both are designed to offer more data points for long-term health tracking.

The Galaxy Watch 8 also marks the debut of Gemini AI on a smartwatch. It allows you to start workouts, set reminders, or interact with Samsung’s native apps using voice commands. It’s not about novelty here — it’s about making the watch quicker to use when you don’t want to navigate menus or tap on a small display.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Battery Life

The Galaxy Watch 8 offers about 8 per cent more battery capacity than last year’s model — a modest bump that should help offset the extra features Samsung has packed in. For comparison, last year’s Galaxy Watch 7 lasted around 21 hours with the always-on display enabled, so it’ll be worth seeing if the Watch 8 can stretch that figure any further.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 First Impressions

After a short time with the Galaxy Watch 8, it’s clear that Samsung has focused on making the experience more wearable and capable. The slimmer, lighter build feels easy to keep on all day, and even the larger 44mm LTE model remains comfortable on bigger wrists. The updated BioActive Sensor and new health metrics suggest a genuine step forward in tracking accuracy.

At the same time, the addition of Gemini AI promises a more intuitive way to interact with the watch. Battery life will need more testing, but the small capacity bump is encouraging. So far, the Watch 8 feels like a thoughtful evolution rather than a radical overhaul, which might be exactly what makes it so appealing.