Samsung launches Galaxy Watch 8, Classic, and Ultra: 2025's complete smartwatch lineup

A new generation of Samsung smartwatches is on the way, and this year, fans can pick from three models instead of the usual two. Much to our lack of surprise, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 series and a slightly refreshed Galaxy Watch Ultra for 2025 at Galaxy Unpacked. Here is everything the company had to say.

The 2025 lineup marks the release of a brand-new base Galaxy Watch 8 model with a fresh design, the return of the Classic formula with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and the enduring spirit of the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The entire lineup builds upon the foundation of the original Ultra model from 2024 and adopts Samsung's Cushion Design with a Dynamic Lug system. In other words, all three smartwatches have a squircle shape with a circular screen on top, complete with easy-to-swap wrist straps.

Perhaps the most striking model of the three is the base Galaxy Watch 8. For the first time in years, Samsung redesigned the base Watch inside and out.

The Galaxy Watch 8 is 11% thinner than the Watch 7, and thanks to the Cushion Design and Dynamic Lug system, it offers a more secure fit for improved health and fitness tracking accuracy.

Re-engineering the Galaxy Watch 8's internal structure also led to a slight increase in battery capacity. The 40 and 44mm variants are powered by 325mAh and 435mAh batteries as opposed to 300mAh and 425mAh.

The circular display is gorgeous and, once again, upgraded. It's a Super AMOLED panel that is 50% brighter than the Watch 7's. It boasts a peak brightness of 3,000 nits instead of 2,000 nits, making the Watch 8 much easier to use in direct sunlight.

The Classic formula is beloved by many Samsung smartwatch fans, and now it's making a return. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has the iconic rotating physical bezel powered by a 3D Hall Sensor. The bezel surrounds the circular screen atop the Cushion Design body.

This time, rather than offering two sizes, the new Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is available only in a 46mm size. It, too, has a larger battery of 445mAh compared to the last Classic (6) model, and the screen is just as bright as the Ultra's, topping 3,000 nits.

Oddly enough, the Galaxy Watch Ultra remains the most expensive and powerful smartwatch in Samsung's lineup for 2025, despite the fact that it looks virtually identical to the original model from 2024.

It remains the most premium variant because the Galaxy Watch Ultra is uniquely equipped with titanium case elements and offers better protection for hardcore activities, such as deep diving. It has a 10ATM instead of 5ATM rating.

The refreshed Galaxy Watch Ultra now has double the storage of the original model and comes in a new color option, Titanium Blue. Other than that, it is essentially the same smartwatch.

The entire Galaxy Watch series for 2025 uses the same Exynos W1000 3nm chip and 2GB of RAM. The Classic and Ultra have 64GB of storage, while the base Watch 8 has 32GB.

All three wearables take advantage of dual-frequency GPS for more accurate location tracking, and they're all equipped with the same BioActive sensor that Samsung upgraded last year. The sensor array consists of:

Most importantly, all three new Galaxy Watches run One UI 8 Watch and offer the same new and improved health features, including:

Since all three new Samsung smartwatches run One UI 8 Watch (based on Wear OS 6), they also introduce Gemini for hands-free voice controls.

The Galaxy Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic, and Watch 8 Ultra are now available for pre-order and will go on sale globally starting July 25.

The base model is available in Graphite and Silver. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in Black or White. And the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) brings back the existing Titanium Silver, Titanium White, and Titanium Gray color while introducing a new Titanium Blue variant.