I’ve given the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic 3 chances. It has failed each time

I spend far too much time thinking about and wearing watches of all types, and it makes me a harsh critic of smartwatches that don’t get things right.

One such smartwatch is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. I really like the normal Watch 8, but I simply haven’t gelled with the Classic at all.

After wearing a range of watches and smartwatches since I last tested the Classic, I thought it was time to see if I’d warm to it on my third try. Sadly, it has not been third time lucky.

What’s wrong with it?

It’s really just one thing

I’m sure there are lots of people who really like the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. I’m not, and don’t think I ever will be, one of them.

Its issues are not software-related or due to its functionality. It’s all to do with proportions and shape.

It’s one of the least comfortable, least forgiving smartwatches I’ve ever worn. Proportionally, it’s all wrong, and it actually has nothing to do with the squircle design, which I still like.

The lugs are too short and too low on the case, the case back is too flat, the bezel is too tall, and the case is too slab-sided.

This heady mix means the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic never becomes part of your wrist. Instead, it sits on top of it, like an obstinate wart.

It’s always noticeable, never well-balanced, and practically impossible to get sitting correctly on your wrist.

Because the stainless steel case is top-heavy due to the bezel and all its inner workings, you need to wear the strap quite tightly to ensure the watch doesn’t flop about.

When you do, the flat case back soon becomes sweaty, and because it’s so big in general, the straps don’t curve neatly down your wrist.

I’ve found it impossible to find a sweet spot where it’s comfortable enough that I forget that it’s there.

I don’t have a problem doing this with a host of other watches, even large Casio G-Shock models. The Watch 8 Classic’s big dimensions make it annoying under a cuff, too.

Samsung was so intent on using the Watch Ultra’s squircle design and incorporating the rotating bezel. It compromised on shape and comfort.

Forget wearing the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic overnight to track sleep. I can’t always make it through the day with it on my wrist.

I actually want to like it

There are a lot of good things, too

This is my third time wearing the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, which should be evidence that I don’t want to feel so negatively towards it.

I love the silver-and-white color scheme. It’s striking while remaining classy. The polished sections glint in the light, while the brushed sides stop it from being overpowering.

Samsung got a lot right with the finishing.

Even though I believe the rotating bezel is part of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic’s problem, it’s still a tactile joy to use, and the clicks are perfectly dampened, giving it a really high-quality feel. It leads into One UI Watch, which is smooth, slick, and fast to respond.

I’ve even explored some other watch faces to jazz up the Watch 8 Classic a bit. Samsung’s own selection is uninspiring, and while I’ve found a couple I do like, they don’t function all that well.

This is why a good selection of watch faces from the manufacturer is so important. Third-party faces don’t always operate in a satisfactory manner, leading to problems setting functions and changing widgets.

I’ve been happy with the battery life. As I’m not tracking sleep, the battery lasts for two to three days on a single charge, which is good performance.

At least Samsung stuffed a sensibly sized battery inside the oversized case.

I’m just glad there’s an alternative

It fixes the problem

I want to like the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic more than I do. It has most of the right ingredients, whether that’s the materials used for its construction, the software, or the battery life.

I just don’t really like wearing it, and seeing as I must do so to get the benefit of the other aspects, it’s a serious downside. Thankfully, there is another.

The Galaxy Watch 8 avoids all the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic’s ergonomic downsides by being thinner, lighter, and better proportioned. No, you don’t get a physical rotating bezel, but the virtual version does a surprisingly good job of emulating one.

The battery life of the 44mm version is just as good. It runs exactly the same software, has the same processor, so the performance is identical, and it has exactly the same health and fitness tracking features.

Make life simple and comfortable

Buy the cheaper model

The best smartwatches are not arduous to wear or own. They should feel part of us immediately, so we can wear them 24 hours a day to gain the maximum from the software and features.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic can be arduous. Ergonomics has been ejected from the window, as the need to conform with what I imagine is Samsung’s own, self-enforced rules regarding shape and style.

It’s a real shame, as the Watch 8 Classic had so much potential to be the best smartwatch Samsung has made to date. Instead, that honor has gone to the standard Galaxy Watch 8.

It’s not often we get to say the cheapest product is the one to buy, but in the case of Samsung’s current smartwatches, it absolutely is.