Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — the first smartwatch on Wear OS 6 with a set of health features that work almost without user involvement. Five of them set this model apart from other best watches of 2026, provided you’re willing to wear the watch around the clock and use the Samsung Health app. We explain what each feature offers in practice and who should pay attention to these watches.
Samsung smartwatches have many useful features
Energy Score Feature on Galaxy Watch 8
The Energy Score feature is a daily assessment of your readiness for physical activity. The watch calculates it automatically based on sleep and activity data from the previous day. There’s nothing to configure: just wear the watch on your wrist day and night and have a Samsung account with the Samsung Health app.
For the calculation, Samsung uses eight parameters:
- average sleep time
- sleep time stability
- sleep regularity
- bedtime
- previous day’s activity
- activity stability
- heart rate during sleep
- heart rate variability during sleep
The final score ranges from 0 to 100 points. The result is divided into four levels: Excellent (85–100), Good (75–84), Fair (60–74), and Needs Attention (0–59). If you slept poorly, the score will be lower — and daytime naps won’t necessarily help, because the Galaxy Watch 8 system takes time of day into account: late sleep disrupts circadian rhythms and doesn’t add energy.
In practice, this is a simple way to understand whether you should push yourself with a serious workout today or take it easy. You can check right on the watch through a dedicated tile or in the Samsung Health app on your phone.
Sleep Tracking Through Samsung Smartwatch
The sleep tracking feature is configured through the Health app
The Sleep Score feature works alongside Energy Score but measures something different: not overall readiness, but the quality of a specific night. The watch automatically tracks sleep and calculates a score based on five indicators:
- actual sleep time
- deep sleep duration
- REM sleep phase
- sleep calmness
- time to fall asleep
Samsung watches compare your results with data from people of your age. For example, the original reviewer once received a score of 92 — placing in the top 2% for their age group. A score of 85 and above is considered to correspond to healthy sleep. In the Samsung Health app, you can also view blood oxygen levels, sleep stages, snoring data, skin temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate.
For those who want to understand the quality of their sleep, this is a useful tool. But you need to be prepared to sleep with the watch on, otherwise there simply won’t be any data. If you monitor your health, this feature will become one of the most useful features of Galaxy Watch.
Personal Trainer on Samsung Smartwatch
The Running Coach feature is designed for those who want to start running with Galaxy Watch 8 or improve their results. To begin, you need to complete a 12-minute lactate threshold test: the watch analyzes your running capabilities and then creates a personalized training plan. It includes levels, and to advance to the next one you need to complete a test run.
The running coach provides personalized advice
To try it out, simply:
- Open Samsung Health on the watch
- Tap “Exercise”
- Find Running Coach in the list
- Follow the on-screen instructions
After the test, the watch will suggest a plan tailored to your level. The feature won’t replace a live trainer, but for beginners and casual runners, it’s a convenient way to structure your running routine without third-party apps or subscriptions.
Vascular Health Check on Galaxy Smartwatch
The Vascular Load feature is one of those options on Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 that works in the background and requires no attention. It monitors the state of the cardiovascular system and provides insight into overall health. To activate it, you need to add the Vascular Load widget to the watch tile screen through the Vitals section.
The watch even checks vascular health. Image: Samsung
There’s a condition: to start tracking, you need to wear the watch during sleep for at least three consecutive nights so Galaxy Watch 8 can establish a baseline level. Only after that will the data begin to come in. This is not a diagnostic tool but rather an indicator that can help you notice deviations and consult a doctor if necessary.
Why Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Is More Comfortable Than Other Watches
All the features listed above are only as useful as how often you wear the watch. And here the Galaxy Watch 8 smartwatch has an important advantage: the case thickness is only 8.6 mm (not counting the protruding sensor). That’s 11% thinner than the previous generation. The watch sits more comfortably on the wrist and doesn’t interfere during workouts or sleep.
The watch case is thin and very comfortable
The more you wear the watch, the more accurate and complete the data becomes. That’s why a comfortable case isn’t just a matter of appearance — it’s an important factor for all health features to work properly.
Who Should Buy Galaxy Watch 8
Galaxy Watch 8 in the 40 mm version starts at $349 (approximately from 38,000 ₽ in Russia).
