Samsung’s squircle Galaxy Watch 8 Classic might split opinions
Samsung is bringing back the rotating bezel, but it may not look how you remember it. New renders of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic show a design that blends old hardware favourites with a body style borrowed from the Ultra.
A Classic name with a not-so-classic shape
The Watch 8 Classic is expected to be officially revealed at Samsung’s next Unpacked event in July. It’ll likely arrive alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. But we’re already getting a good look at it, thanks to detailed CAD-based renders shared by SammyGuru in collaboration with @OnLeaks.
This device marks the return of the “Classic” branding, a line that skipped the Watch 7 generation. While the name suggests a familiar look, the design has moved in a different direction. The shape is no longer a clean circle. It’s not a square either. Samsung has gone with a hybrid form. One might call it a squircle, similar to what we saw on the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
That change could be divisive. On one hand, the physical rotating bezel is back, which many users missed. On the other, the squircle frame makes this feel like a different kind of watch entirely. To our eyes, it’s essentially an Ultra with a bezel slapped on.
The upside is that the bezel helps soften the visual impact of the square-like body. It hides the edges a bit better than on the Ultra. But still, it’s hard not to notice the compromise. It’s neither fully traditional nor fully modern. It falls somewhere awkwardly in between.
One size for now and a battery bump
The Watch 8 Classic is tipped to come in a single 47mm case. That’s on the larger side, and it’s not clear yet if Samsung will release a smaller option. Hopefully they do, because this size won’t suit everyone.
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Regulatory info shows the battery will be rated at 435mAh, which is a small bump over the Watch 6 Classic’s 425mAh unit. In real terms, that’s likely a 450mAh typical capacity. Still, it’s smaller than what you’ll find in the Watch 5 Pro or Watch Ultra. That’s probably down to space taken up by the rotating bezel mechanism.
Physical dimensions are said to come in at 46 x 46.5 x 14.2mm. The display size should hover around 1.5 inches. All in all, this is a chunky watch, though still a bit more compact than Samsung’s top-tier outdoor model.
The Watch 8 Classic will reportedly be available in two variants: SM-L500 for Bluetooth and SM-L505 for LTE.
Preorders get a mystery bonus
Samsung will also offer a mystery box incentive for early adopters. If you preorder the Watch 8 Classic, or any Watch 8 series model, you’ll get a free case, screen protector pack, and an extra strap or band.
There’s still a lot we don’t know. Whether other sizes will launch. Whether Samsung will lean fully into this design in future. And whether this squircle approach will find fans, or end up as a one-off experiment. In any case, the rotating bezel is a welcome return. The shape might take a little longer to warm up to.
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