Samsung Electronics today took the wraps off its new wearable lineup, the Galaxy Watch8 series, at its Galaxy Unpacked event in Brooklyn. The new series, which includes the minimalist Galaxy Watch8 and the traditional Galaxy Watch8 Classic, integrates sophisticated AI-powered health features, Google’s Gemini assistant, and a new ultra-slim design to position itself as a comprehensive personal wellness coach.
The launch emphasizes a growing trend towards proactive and personalized health monitoring, with the Galaxy Watch8 series introducing several first-of-their-kind features for a smartwatch.
The Galaxy Watch8 series introduces a suite of intelligent tools designed to provide users with a holistic view of their well-being and offer actionable guidance.
- Antioxidant Index: In a world-first for smartwatches, this feature measures the body’s carotenoid levels. By placing a thumb on the BioActive Sensor for five seconds, users can get a score and a color-coded result indicating their antioxidant status, offering insights into their dietary habits and aging-related health.
- Vascular Load: This feature monitors the stress on the user’s vascular system during sleep, incorporating data on sleep duration, physical activity, and stress levels to provide a more complete picture of cardiovascular health.
- Running Coach: Designed for runners of all levels, this tool analyzes performance after a 12-minute run to generate a customized three- to five-week training program. It provides real-time feedback during runs to prevent injury and offers detailed summaries afterward.
- Bedtime Guidance: To combat disrupted sleep cycles, this feature analyzes a user’s sleep patterns over the last three days and recommends an ideal time to wind down, helping to recalibrate daily routines.
Smarter Interaction with Gemini AI and One UI 8 Watch
The Galaxy Watch8 series is the first to come equipped with Google’s Gemini AI assistant built-in. This enables powerful, hands-free voice control for key functions. For example, a user can simply say, “start a 300-calorie circuit training workout,” and Gemini will launch Samsung Health to begin tracking the exercise seamlessly.
The new watches will run on the new One UI 8 Watch, which features redesigned tiles optimized for smaller displays, making essential information easier to see at a glance.
Watch8: Thinnest Design Yet and Classic Appeal
Samsung has also focused on hardware innovation. The standard Galaxy Watch8 now features the thinnest design in the series’ history, with an ultra-slim 8.6-millimeter profile and a lightweight build for all-day comfort. Both models adopt the soft-edged “cushion design” first introduced on the Galaxy Watch Ultra, giving them a refined, modern aesthetic.
The series includes two models to cater to different tastes:
- Galaxy Watch8: A minimalist and sleek design optimized for daily health tracking.
- Galaxy Watch8 Classic: Features the iconic rotating bezel and a quick button, combining smart functionality with the timeless appeal of an analog watch.
Additionally, Samsung announced that the high-end Galaxy Watch Ultra will now be available in a new Titanium Blue color.
The Galaxy Watch8 series represents a significant step forward in personalized wellness technology, combining advanced health tracking with powerful on-device AI to create a smarter, more intuitive companion for everyday life. Local pricing and availability for the Kenyan market are expected to be announced soon.
Discover more from Techspace Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.