I Tested the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. This One Feature Alone May Be Worth the Splurge

CNET's key takeaways

• The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic provides tactile navigation that feels premium and satisfying.
• It costs $500, $150 more than the cheapest Watch 8 -- but it does come with 64GB of storage and a slightly longer battery life.
• The Classic is also larger, thicker and heavier than the Watch 8, making it less comfortable for smaller wrists.

It didn't take long after strapping on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for it to win me over with its blingy, yet functional, rotating bezel. After a week of testing, I'm convinced it's not only the prettiest, but also the most satisfying way to navigate a smartwatch. And after nearly a decade of reviewing wearables, I should know.

The bezel is like an elegant, grown-up fidget spinner that dresses up the new design and will leave you questioning why every other smartwatch maker doesn't follow suit, especially ones that've managed to land products on our best smartwatch list. 

Samsung's rotating bezel isn't new -- the company first introduced it on the Gear S2 nearly a decade ago -- but it's been two years since we've seen it, and this is the first time it's paired with the new design. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, launched alongside the flagship Galaxy Watch 8, combines this signature bezel with a fresh "cushion" frame design inspired by the Ultra line. 

Though other smartwatches (including the Galaxy Watch Ultra) have bezels, what's unique about the Classic's is that it rotates and clicks like what you'd find on an old-school analog watch. It's not groundbreaking, but it can be used as a tactile navigation tool to scroll through apps and tiles, or to adjust volume or brightness without smudging the screen with your greasy finger or blocking the content. The bezel elevates the watch, giving it an elegance reminiscent of traditional timepieces, and it masks the somewhat awkward juxtaposition between the circular screen and the squared-off frame, which looks jarring on the Galaxy Watch 8.

If it was just about looks alone, I'd have no issue shelling out the extra $150 for the Classic (the standard Galaxy Watch 8 starts at $350). But there's more to consider than just a shiny bezel. 

My experience with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

My day-to-day on the Classic was very similar to what I experienced with the flagship Watch 8 -- plus the bezel of course. To be honest, having this shiny new toy on my wrist basically gave me a new fidgeting habit of sorts. If there's a lull in my Zoom meeting, or even if I'm just procrastinating on writing a story, I'll find myself reaching down to rotate the bezel, like a smoker would reach for a cigarette in a bustling '80s newsroom.

But the bezel also came in handy. When I was shooting a comparison video with both new Galaxy watches, I didn't have to wipe my fingerprints off the Classic's screen after every shot like I would with the Watch 8, because I wasn't having to touch the screen as much thanks to the bezel. 

Beyond the bezel, another key difference that makes the Classic stand out for me is the dedicated action button that doubles as a physical watch crown. It's nestled between the home and back buttons. Rotating it won't do much in terms of navigation, but pressing it acts as a customizable shortcut for things like initiating a workout, turning on the flashlight or starting the stopwatch. 

If I could program it to find my phone, I'd be singing a different tune and likely wearing out that crown! But since that's not an option, I have it set to turn on a flashlight, which has come in handy during my hour-long bedtime routine with my toddler in the pitch black. Not only is it convenient to press in the dark, it brings the watch closer into classic analog wristwatch territory. But it's also not crucial, especially because I discovered more ways to add shortcuts beyond just the action button. 

You can also customize shortcuts from the other two buttons and use the one-handed gesture control. Samsung builds on the pinch gesture from last year, adding new "shake" and "knock-knock" gestures you can program as well. I like that the Classic actually calls out when something can be dismissed or engaged via gesture control so I don't forget to use it, and it's becoming more of a habit now than an afterthought. 

The material is also more durable and high-end on the Classic. It's made of stainless steel, versus aluminum on the Galaxy Watch 8, which should mean fewer scratches and better overall protection. But it also means the Classic is a heavy watch.

Its larger screen size means a larger battery, and I was able to squeeze roughly four additional hours of use from the Classic compared with the 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 (I haven't yet tested the 44mm version). The Classic offers double the storage capacity, too: 64GB versus 32GB on the Watch 8. I'm not one to work out with music, so running out of space on a smartwatch has never been an issue for me, but if you don't like lugging your phone around and you download a lot of playlists, podcasts or even trail maps directly onto the watch, this would come in handy.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is $500 $500 at Amazon

The specs

• Display: 1.5-inch circular AMOLED
• Case size: 46mm
• Weight: 63.5g
• Material: Stainless steel
• Battery life: Approx. 1.5 days (~30 hours at full capacity)
• Storage: 64GB
• Sensors: Advanced BioSensor (heart rate, SpO₂, ECG, Vascular Load, AGEs Index, Antioxidant Index)
• Water/dust resistance: IP68, 5ATM
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, LTE (optional), Wi-Fi, NFC, Dual Frequency GPS
• Straps: New proprietary lug system (not compatible with older bands)
• Price: $500 (Bluetooth), $550 (LTE)

CNET's buying advice

The rotating bezel comes at a cost in both price and bulk. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is noticeably larger, thicker and heavier than the standard Galaxy Watch 8. It weighs 63.5 grams compared with the Watch 8's 30 grams (40mm model) and 33.8 grams (44mm model). The Classic is available only in a 46mm size, which offers plenty of screen real estate but can feel oversized on smaller wrists (mine is six inches for reference).

Interestingly, I found that the white version of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic that I tried at Samsung's launch event looked far less bulky and masculine than the black version I tested for this review, even though they're the exact same size. The Classic's profile is thicker compared with that of the regular Watch 8. It's not uncomfortable, but switching from the sleek and lightweight Watch 8 made the Classic feel like an adjustment. Had I tested them in reverse, I might not have noticed the difference as much.

There's also the matter of maintenance. Though the Classic is equally durable (IP68 and 5ATM rated for water and dust resistance), sand or other fine particles can get lodged under the bezel. This is just something to keep in mind if you spend time at the beach or in the kitchen.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic starts at $500 for the Bluetooth model, which is $150 more than the entry-level 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 and $120 more than the 44mm version. The Classic model with LTE is $550, and the imitation leather strap with stitching (which I tested) adds another $50.

Though the Watch 8's slimmer design and lower price are better suited to my current lifestyle as a working mom of three, I'd recommend the Classic for anyone in search of something different that stands above the smartwatch crowd. Its polished design and the unique appeal of the rotating bezel are worth the splurge. It elevates an already feature-packed smartwatch, combining robust health tracking with tactile feedback that no other Galaxy Watch offers. 

Make sure to check out my full and extensive review of the Galaxy Watch 8 for an in-depth look at all the other features these watches have to offer.