The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has one thing wrong with it, and it’s a serious misstep

Samsung got one of the fundamentals of smartwatch design wrong on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

What should be the current flagship smartwatch in the range is the awkward, badly proportioned sibling to the almost perfectly executed Galaxy Watch 8.

I’ve worn them both over the past few weeks, and you need to understand this about the Watch 8 Classic before you buy it.

Don’t take the on-paper spec for granted

It’s more than a numbers problem

When you boil the Watch 8 Classic down to a set of numbers, it sounds fairly ordinary.

The case is almost precisely square at 46.0 x 46.4mm, and a touch smaller than the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

It’s slightly thinner at 10.6mm, making it only marginally thicker than the 8.6mm thick Galaxy Watch 8.

With the strap, it weighs 87 grams, and the case is made from stainless steel with elements in aluminum.

It sounds great and is a good blend of premium materials and sensible sizing.

Unfortunately, these modest on-paper numbers do not tell the whole story, and on your wrist, the Watch 8 Classic feels very different.

The problem with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is that it’s top-heavy, and it throws off the balance on your wrist. I’ve found it particularly noticeable with the standard leather strap.

Because the specs don’t reflect this, it’s also only when you wear the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic that you will notice its shortcomings, and understand how the direction Samsung has taken is not the right one for a health and activity tracking wearable.

Before I go into detail, it’s really important to note that not everyone will feel this way about the Watch 8 Classic, and the main reason why it may affect some more than others will potentially be to do with wrist size.

My wrist is about 6.5 inches, and those with larger wrists may find the issues I’m about to describe less noticeable. Those with smaller wrists may find it’s even more pronounced.

Distribution of mass matters

Not all heavy watches are built this way

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is annoyingly top-heavy on your wrist.

It has been designed in such a way that most of its 87-gram weight sits above its center, potentially due to how low the lugs are on the side of the square case.

The rotating bezel, its defining feature, sits proudly on top of the case, rather than being a cohesive part of the design.

Because it doesn’t lead into the case and further down into the lugs — both visually and physically — it upsets the balance.

What happens is, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic pulls itself down on your wrist when you’re just walking around, even when the strap is tightly fitted.

It’s always noticeable, and because the weight hasn’t been evenly distributed or balanced out, it’s the top of the smartwatch which gravity constantly tugs on.

This is not to do with weight, as well-designed heavy watches with a good center of balance don’t have this problem.

I regularly wear Casio G-Shock GWF-D1000 Frogman dive watches, which weigh 141 grams and are 18mm thick, yet I experience none of the same wear and comfort issues.

To help understand why it’s not about the actual weight, this interesting piece by watch experts Hodinkee repeatedly points out how “mass distribution” is equally as, if not more important than actual mass when it comes to how a watch feels on your wrist.

It also discusses how a different strap affects the way it feels on your wrist, with high-quality metal bracelets helping to minimize the impact of a heavy case due to the way they flex and move.

Samsung has a problem here, too, as the Watch 8 series uses a proprietary band connector, leaving you with a limited choice of options if you want to change it. None will change how low the lugs are on the case anyway.

All-day comfort should be the focus

The Watch 8 got it right

I like the heft of a nicely made, well-proportioned watch, and being reminded what I have on my wrist is of sufficient quality that it won’t fall apart in a stiff breeze.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has some of the required heft, but it hasn’t been correctly distributed, and the result is a device I have taken off when I sit down to relax.

It’s too intrusive and too noticeable, which leads to a far more serious problem than gravity simply doing its thing.

Smartwatches need to be worn for the vast majority of the day to make owning them worthwhile.

If you wear one for only a few hours, none of the biometric data collected will be especially insightful.

If you decide not to track sleep, you won’t benefit from Samsung Health’s Energy Score and other health information.

It makes owning one a questionable investment.

I happily wore the Galaxy Watch 8 24 hours a day. It’s very well-designed, and it makes the most of its low weight, thin profile, and minimalist aluminum case. In this respect, it’s the perfect health and fitness tracking wearable.

I’ve forced myself to wear the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic all day, but I don’t want to wear it overnight.

Sleep tracking needs to be done with a non-intrusive wearable device, which is why smart rings work so well.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the absolute opposite of the Oura Ring 4.

Try before you buy

Not everyone will be the same

What does this mean to you, a potential Galaxy Watch 8 Classic buyer?

I implore you to try one on in a store first, rather than ordering one blind online.

I’m sure you will notice its top-heavy, poorly distributed weight almost immediately, and just a few moments wearing it will give you a good idea if you’ll be able to put up with it long-term.

It bothers me, but it may not bother you as much, particularly if you have a larger wrist than mine.

I’m also aware I’ve just come from the Galaxy Watch 8, which is thinner and lighter, so perhaps notice it slightly more. However, this does not mean the issues aren’t there.

Personal preferences aside, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic’s design and balance isn’t as well-judged as it should be.

The dramatic differences in wearing it compared to the Galaxy Watch 8 highlight Samsung has maybe forgotten what is most important about a smartwatch in its quest to give the models a unique character: ensuring it’s always absolutely comfortable to wear all day, every day.