Galaxy Watch 8 Unveiling May Potentially Introduce More Than a Fresh Aesthetic
Samsung is set to unveil its latest smartwatch offerings, the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic, at its Galaxy Unpacked event on July 9, 2022, in New York. The event, scheduled to start at 2PM BST, is anticipated to reveal more about the new devices, including the long-awaited Google Gemini AI assistant.
One of the key features expected on the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic is the integration of Google's Gemini AI assistant. Designed to replace Google Assistant as the default AI assistant, Gemini will support tasks like remembering specific actions, such as saving your gym locker number or summarizing your inbox. Users will be able to access these functions through custom buttons in the Gemini tile.
Gemini is expected to leverage AI to provide personalized assistance, enhancing the user experience by offering more contextually relevant information. However, details about what users will be able to "Ask Google Gemini" are yet to be disclosed.
The Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic are also set to feature One UI 8 Watch, aligning with the Galaxy Watch generation and phone software, offering a streamlined user interface. The Galaxy Watch 8 will jump directly from One UI 6 Watch to One UI 8 Watch.
Other expected features include a running coach, offering personalized, real-time guidance and motivation for runners. This feature analyses your fitness level and offers detailed training plans designed to improve performance without risking injury. The running coach's specific functionality is yet to be disclosed.
The Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic are also expected to feature bedtime guidance, analysing sleep patterns to suggest optimal bedtimes, aiming to improve sleep quality and next-day alertness. They will also track vascular stress during sleep, offering insights into how lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, and stress affect heart health.
Additional features include adaptive charging, allowing the watch to halt charging at a custom percentage, potentially extending battery life. Users can also shuffle between favourite watch faces and add app shortcuts directly to the main watch face, enhancing customization. A new gesture, the double-pinch, will summon the Now Bar, displaying useful information like directions, media controls, and health updates.
The watches are also expected to utilise a BioActive Sensor, used for features like the Antioxidant Index, which measures carotenoid levels to encourage healthier eating habits.
Leaked images by Roland Quandt of WinFuture show a redesigned hardware previously rumoured. Samsung's smartwatches have a history of offering a variety of health and fitness features, and the latest leaks reveal promotional material for the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic.
Stay tuned for more updates about the Galaxy Unpacked event, as Samsung is also expected to launch new folding phones and smartwatches. Official details about launches can be found in a separate feature.
- Users may interact with the personalized assistance provided by Google's Gemini AI assistant through custom buttons in the Gemini tile, expected to be integrated in the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic.
- The forthcoming Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic are anticipated to include various groundbreaking technologies, such as the BioActive Sensor, used for features like the Antioxidant Index, designed to encourage healthier eating habits.
