A year ago, I groaned when opening Galaxy Watch Ultra and seeing how big (and ugly) it was. I kept it for the larger screen and better battery life. Did I miss the Watch6 Classic! I got good value from the distinguishing, unique feature: Control bezel around the circumference. It’s back with Watch8 Classic. Thank you, Samsung!
Eh, slight problem: The company didn’t offer a trade-in option—Ultra for Classic. Damn. But Samsung would give, among other devices, $100 for any smartphone in any condition. One of my sisters had a functional Garmin she didn’t need and was willing to send it off for me. I should be able sell the Ultra for enough to make a good chunk of the remaining cost.
UPS delivered the newer smartwatch this morning, and I love it—based on positive first impressions. You can see both in the Featured Image (Classic is left). From the aesthetic and ergonomic perspectives, I love the bezel. The slightly smaller size also appeals, as does Stainless Steel versus Titanium construction. On the software front, including artificial intelligence, a future post will cover all.
I quickly shot the no-frills photo using Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Vitals: f/1.9, ISO 20, 1/50 sec, 13mm (film equivalent); 4:53 p.m. PDT, today.