When I got engaged a couple of years ago my wife asked if there was anything I’d want in return to symbolize it: she gets to wear a ring, would I want a new accessory or piece of jewellery to match her. My immediate answer was a watch, with the plan that it’d be the one I wear on our wedding day.
I’d need something smart and sophisticated. Something that I wouldn’t regret seeing immortalized in our wedding photos for decades to come, and something I’d want to wear often.
I had ideas for the watch I'd get, but as wedding costs grew the idea of splashing out on a pricey timepiece felt less and less sensible. Even less so when I was also considering grabbing a smartwatch — as my pre-wedding fitness regime kicked into high gear and a more sophisticated tracker than my smart ring was feeling increasingly essential.
That’s when my eyes settled on a gadget that I thought might be both: a classic I could wear to the gym and on my wedding day. My wife was skeptical, but after seeing it in person she agreed that it did look the part.
So she let me wear a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic to our wedding. It might be my current favorite gadget, and I can’t understand why there isn’t a Galaxy Watch 9 Classic.
A winning design
The Classic doesn’t look like your basic utilitarian smartwatch. It dodges the simplistic look of the regular Watch 8, the Pixel Watch, or Apple Watch, and also the overly sporty designs of a Garmin or similar running companion.
Besides offering a larger screen size — 46mm vs the base model’s 40 or 44mm options — the Classic boasts a chunkier design than the regular Watch 8, and comes with a rotating metal bezel controller which provides some extra detailing and also a smoother way to navigate watch menus besides swiping.
Coupled with its band — the Hybrid which combines durable rubber with faux leather — and a watch face with moving hands you could very easily confuse the Classic for an analogue timepiece at a glance. And frankly, I just love how it looks and feels on my wrist (it puts my aged Fitbit to shame).
The design doesn’t just look impeccable, it can handle so many different scenarios too.
Besides wearing it for formal occasions I’ve taken the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic everywhere I go. To the office, on a 5K run, on hiking treks, to the gym, when I jump in the pool, and so much more. I even wear it in bed to track my sleep.
While the weight and size can be a little strange at first, after my first night sleeping with it I’ve had no complaints, and the trade off for the bulk is the Watch feels very usable and looks stylish.
Useful but not distracting
A similar effect could have been achieved with a smart ring and an analogue watch, wearing both to match the health tracking utility and sophisticated packaging. However I’ve been steadily growing frustrated with even the best smart rings.
The main draw of a ring is how simple it is: slip it onto your finger and it’ll follow your health and fitness metrics for days between charges. This simplicity falls apart, unfortunately, as soon as you want to access your data.
The apps of various rings I’ve tried have started to feel a little messy, and because I constantly have to check my phone to start workouts or understand my ring’s data I find I’m easily distracted by the plethora of other software and notifications I brush past on the way to my ring’s app. When I’m ready to run or hit the weights I want to focus, not succumb to a last-minute distraction.
With a watch I can start my tracking from my wrist at the press of a button. I can also see essential performance stats on the 46mm display, or (because it pairs nicely with my Samsung foldable) as part of the morning Now Brief on my phone.
I also love the non-fitness apps integration. I don’t text from my watch much, but I do often rely on wrist-based music controls and Google Maps directions — I can have a digital map while my phone can stay safely in my pocket where would-be biker thieves can’t snatch it.
My only gripe is I wish I could change the long press control on the bottom button. It defaults to opening Samsung Wallet and cannot be changed. I’m a Google Wallet user and while I could maybe move a couple of cards over I’m a) a bit too lazy, and b) weirdly nervous about paying for things with my watch.
Where’s my Watch 9 Classic, Samsung??
Given my Classic love I was hoping to see a Watch 9 Classic when Samsung debut its new lineup, but it was missing — replaced by a regular Watch 9 and a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
The Ultra 2 comes close to being a Classic — it adopts the bezel, though it doesn’t rotate — especially if you pick up the PeakForm Band, though it does also come at a more premium price.
And the lack of a rotating bezel is genuinely a major let down. You just have to trust me.
Though I doubt this means the end of the Classic. It has taken a break before to make room for the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, and I expect it’ll return next year as the Watch 10 Classic.
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