Technologies
Here’s a Clever Way to Lower Your Monthly Streaming TV Costs
If you spend more $100 or more on HBO Max, Netflix and others, it’s time to change things up.
With the upcoming rollout of Netflix’s account-sharing fees, HBO Max’s rebrand and a wave of streaming service price hikes, it may feel like a luxury to stream. If you add up the costs of each platform, you may discover you’re spending $100 or more a month. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Let’s say you’re subscribed to multiple streaming platforms, you watch one or two of them until your favorite series ends its season, then look for the next thing. But is it worth keeping all those accounts active if you’re not watching anything on them? I don’t think so.
Have a look at this budget-conscious strategy to help you save on your streaming TV expenses.
Rotate all your streaming subscriptions
For cord-cutters, shifting from cable to streaming can be a wise financial move. Because you’re able to sign up for monthly plans, it’s easy to jump into a streaming service and jump out when prices increase or content gets dull. But according to Deloitte’s 2022 Media Trends report, the main reasons people cancel their streaming subscriptions are because of costs and lack of fresh content. Media companies call this behavior «churn.» We’re calling this the rotation method, and you should try it.
The incentive? You save your coin and avoid content droughts. Let’s say a popular show like Ted Lasso or The Masked Singer is set to premiere on a streaming service. Find the total episode count and wait until they’re all available at once on a platform. You cancel Apple TV Plus, Hulu, Disney Plus or other service and then, once all the episodes are available, resubscribe to catch up. Alternatively, you can start streaming a show midseason to cut costs. My monthly guide on which streaming services to cancel can help you keep up.
The downside? You won’t have immediate access to every show you want to watch and will have to wait until the full season airs. And since many streaming services release new episodes weekly, you might not be caught up at the same time as your friends. If you’re someone who prefers to watch episodes immediately when they drop, you may decide it’s worth it to have multiple subscriptions at a time. If you have patience, however, you can save some money.
The strategy can also work if you have a live TV streaming service to watch a particular sport or major event like March Madness. Once the season wraps, cancel the service or move to a cheaper platform with fewer channels, like Sling TV.
Need help figuring out the best way to rotate? Follow the tips below to learn how to churn streaming platforms until your wallet feels content.
Why pay for three months of Apple TV Plus to watch Ted Lasso’s final season when you can watch all 12 episodes in May for the price of one month?
Apple TV PlusTip No. 1: Cancel your subscription before getting charged
Set calendar reminders for your billing cycle and upcoming TV show or movie release dates. Give yourself enough warning to begin or end a subscription. Apps such as JustWatch, TV Time and Hobi help you track when and where TV shows and movies appear on a streaming service. And JustWatch added a tracker specifically for sports. If you have a smart home device from Google or Amazon, you can set reminders for specific dates and allow a voice assistant like Alexa to notify you of an upcoming bill or streaming release date.
Tip No. 2: Sign up for streaming service deals
Look for discounts on streaming services. For example, Starz is now $3 per month for three months, a drop from its regular $9-a-month rate. You can also take advantage of the Disney Bundle, which provides access to Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus in a single package for a reduced price. And eligible Hulu subscribers can add on Disney Plus for $2. Lastly, be sure to check with your mobile carrier to see which ones offer free streaming subscriptions.
Tip No. 3: Pick one or two default streaming services
Subscribe to one or two must-have services for the year, and select only one or two more options to fit your monthly budget. Rotate the bonus service(s) according to what you want to watch, ensuring you don’t miss your favorite shows while sticking to your monthly spending cap.
Tip No. 4: Use monthly billing only
Avoid annual subscriptions and pay attention to your auto-renewal payment dates. Your billing cycle can help determine when it’s the best time to quit a service, even if you’ve only signed up for a free trial. The only advantage to signing up for an annual plan is when the price is drastically cut down.
Tip No. 5: Don’t cancel your subscription, pause it
Hulu allows you to pause your subscription for up to 12 weeks, and Sling has a similar option with stipulations. Check with your streaming provider to see if you can take a temporary break without canceling.
Give it a shot, and if you don’t like it you can always resubscribe. For more excellent tips on streaming TV, check out this guide to Netflix’s hidden tricks and our tips on the best VPNs.
2023’s Best TV and Streaming Shows You Can’t Miss on Netflix, HBO, Disney Plus and More
Technologies
Donkey Kong Bananza Review: The Best Switch Game in Years Is a Switch 2 Exclusive
DK is helping me punch my way through summer.
Summers are about big, fun, mind-numbing movies. Great escapes in the best of ways. I need that right now, and maybe you do too. I’m happy to say that Donkey Kong Bananza is here to whisk you off to multilevel worlds of satisfyingly smashing madness, to cheer you up and give you an excuse to punch the heck out of things. It’s a game my 12-year-old son has loved playing along with me, although I’ve had to find ways to wrestle the game back to play for myself.
I was wowed by Bananza during an early preview a few weeks ago, but after a few weeks of play at home, it’s even better. This is my favorite Switch game since… I have no idea when. Maybe since Super Mario Odyssey.
The catch is that you need the new Nintendo Switch 2 console to play it. Donkey Kong Bananza won’t work on the original Switch — or on any other gaming device. Of course, that’s the whole idea.
Nintendo needed home run games for its new Switch 2 console, and it hit a grand slam with the new Donkey Kong. I still haven’t finished the game, but I already know it’s the best reason to buy a Switch 2 yet.
Donkey Kong Bananza comes out tomorrow, July 17. It’s available for preorder now for $70 from Nintendo.com and other retailers. We’re also keeping track of Nintendo Switch 2 restocks if you’re still seeking a console.
Smashing story with co-op options
In a lot of ways, Bananza feels like Zelda and Mario met in the middle.
The story’s weird, but what Mario (or Nintendo) game isn’t? Donkey Kong’s world has been threatened by a sinister bunch of apes, after a large meteor knocks a mining company deep into the planet’s core. The adventure involves diving down into those sublevels — it’s Donkey Kong Hollow Earth, or Journey to the Center of the Kongiverse. The big difference in this game is that you can destroy just about anything, burrowing and tunneling throughout the game’s large 3D maps.
Technically, this isn’t a true collaborative co-op game, but there’s a mode where Pauline — a young girl who mysteriously fell from the sky and becomes Donkey Kong’s friend — can throw her voice, literally, at things to destroy them. A second player takes over as Pauline and aims and shoots words at enemies, and can absorb material powers from nearby rocks and objects. It’s more engaging than the hat-throwing co-op in Odyssey.
You can Game Share Bananza with a local Switch 2 or Switch 1 in co-op mode to play on two screens, or just play on one. For this review, I wasn’t allowed to Game Share to a second Switch.
The Mario mojo
Bananza is made by the Super Mario Odyssey team, and its 3D platforming feels like a Mario sequel. You can wander through large but still self-contained sublevels that remind me of the Kingdoms in Super Mario Odyssey. As you descend to new levels, the characters you meet and the level’s game mechanics shift up a bit. The levels aren’t as drastically different or quite as weirdly whimsical as the ones in Odyssey, but they feel a lot busier.
Jumping and punching are the main ways to control things, but there are plenty of other moves. There’s also a skill tree of abilities to unlock and power up, which uses points you accumulate by collecting giant, crystal bananas (just go with it). Donkey Kong can also buy new outfits, much like Mario Odyssey, but these outfits (or pieces of outfits) give extra perks, like cold resistance or faster energy recovery.
Each of the levels has goals and sub-bosses to fight, but also secret subchallenges to discover — some of them 3D, some 2D side-scrolling. There are other things to find, in every direction, on any potential hillside or surface, if you just pummel your fists and dig. The free-digging usually involves either finding more crystal bananas or various-sized fossils, which can be collected and redeemed for costumes. There’s gold to accumulate, too, which acts as general currency. But even as I rush to the next goal on any level, I’m equally tempted to just start digging around and see what’s going on somewhere else.
The Zelda zeitgeist
Here’s where Bananza really starts to feel like a lower-key Zelda game, especially when it comes to finding characters and following sub-missions. You can talk to lots of the strange characters in each sublevel, and some share important news. You’ll get directed to a particular goal, and on a 3D map, you can track your progress or warp to other spots. But as the game’s progress starts to wind up and down through sublevels, it begins to feel a lot more quest-y than any Mario game.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom kept coming to mind for me. That game’s vast overworld and underworld — and its various ways of finding passages between — is very much like Bananza. Also, like recent Zelda games, you can climb just about anywhere (or surf chunks of rock you rip out of the ground). The outfit perks feel Zelda-like, and so does the game’s sense of real-time, chaotic physics. Some puzzles involve understanding the environment and manipulating it, much like I did many times in Tears.
There’s also a sense of persistence in Bananza. You can create little home bases that let you rest up and change outfits. You’ll meander off and come back to locations. Mario Odyssey had some of this too, but Bananza feels more lived in.
Unlike recent Zeldas, though, this game’s challenges are relatively contained. You won’t have long lists of subquests or stories to lose track of. After spending months away from Zelda, and coming back not remembering what I was meant to do next, I appreciate Bananza’s simpler vibe.
A whole new yet familiar feel
Most importantly, Bananza just feels fresh. I get a little tired, sometimes, of diving back into new Zeldas and Marios that layer legends on top of legends. Donkey Kong’s universe is different from previous Kong games, especially the giant, wrinkled Elders who preside over subworlds like spirits, granting extra transformation powers. This is where the «Bananza» name comes in.
Accumulating enough gold triggers a chance to become a spirit animal. There’s a Bananza version of Kong that has stronger punches, an ostrich that can fly and drop egg bombs, and a zebra that can run fast over ice and water. (I haven’t unlocked any others yet.)
After a week-plus of playing, I’m still consistently surprised by what I’m encountering. But I’m also finding it familiar and comfortable, just like a big summer movie. And that’s what this is: Nintendo’s big blockbuster summer game, one of the best I can remember. Something I don’t want to end, and I’m glad to have more to explore.
I’m also surprised by other things: there’s no online mode, which I don’t mind but feels surprising after Super Mario Wonder’s clever additions. The game download size is only 8GB, shockingly small compared to Switch 2 launch games like Cyberpunk 2077, which were nearly 60GB. I was getting worried about how much storage space I’d have on the Switch 2 over time, but if more games are like Bananza, things will be OK.
My youngest son was instantly interested in Bananza, so much so that he didn’t want me playing without him. I had to, though, so I could carve enough time out to play. We’re going to backtrack and play again, and he’ll start playing, too. Will Bananza feel as replayable and infinitely fun as many of Nintendo’s best? I can’t entirely tell yet, but there’s already so much I’ve skipped over in so many levels, I don’t doubt it. There’s also a 3D art mode thrown in as a bonus where you use the Joy-Cons to sculpt and paint ape heads and bunches of bananas.
Donkey Kong makes it worth buying a Switch 2
Bananza is a great sign for where Nintendo’s heading with the Switch 2. It feels like a more evolved version of many Switch games of the past, but just like Mario Kart World, the other major Switch 2 exclusive, it takes the good ideas even further. Bananza is also an extension of Nintendo’s universe, including the Super Mario Movie, which has a Donkey Kong that looks like this one, and Super Nintendo World, which has a Donkey Kong land, too. And yes, Super Nintendo World’s Donkey Kong Power-Up bands even work like Amiibo with this game.
This is a game as vibrant and kinetic as Sony’s fantastic Astro Bot and similarly full of things to search for and do. In comparison, Super Mario Odyssey now seems surprisingly quiet and chill.
And yes, this game is worth getting a Switch 2 for — that was the idea all along. It’s nice to see that Nintendo really pulled it off, though. Combined with Mario Kart World, this is a heck of a one-two punch. I’d still love a proper 3D Mario sequel someday, but Bananza is practically that right now.
Technologies
I Don’t Stress About Transferring Data to a New iPhone Anymore, Now That I Know the Right Steps
Switching to a new iPhone used to be a hassle, but these steps make it painless, even from an Android phone.
Summer is usually an in-between time when there are good reasons to wait for upcoming iPhone models, but we don’t always have the luxury of choosing — sometimes gravity or old hardware makes it necessary to buy a new iPhone. And that leaves you with the task of safely moving your information from the old phone to the new one. When you know the best ways to do it, the process becomes much less stressful, giving you more time and energy to configure the most important settings and explore new features like Apple Intelligence.
Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to shift data to a new iPhone from the phone you have now — even if it’s an Android model.
I’m here to break down the four ways to easily transfer your data from your old phone to your new iPhone, whether you’re starting with a new iPhone 16 or a different model replacing your old device.
If you’re upgrading your current phone to the latest operating system, here’s how to download iOS 18, and here’s our review of iOS 18. And if it’s an iPhone 15 Pro or later, get up to speed on what Apple Intelligence offers.
For more, explore a bunch of hidden iOS 18 features, and learn everything you can do with the iPhone 16’s new camera button.
Read more: A Billion Pixels a Second: A Rare Look Inside Apple’s Secret iPhone 16 Camera Labs
1. Restore from iCloud
During the setup process, you’ll be asked if you want to directly transfer apps and information from your old iPhone to your new one using Quick Start. This feature was first rolled out with iOS 12.4, so if it’s been several years since you’ve upgraded phones, it’ll be the first time you’ve seen the option. The easiest and quickest method to set up your new iPhone is to restore from a recent iCloud backup. As you walk through the initial setup process, tap Restore from iCloud Backup, sign in with your Apple Account (previously called Apple ID before iOS 18) and then pick the most recent backup of your old iPhone.
If the backup is more than a day or two old, take an extra few minutes to create a new backup. To do so, open the Settings app on your old phone, search for iCloud Backup in the Search field at the top of the screen and then click the matching result. Click Back Up Now to update the cloud backup.
Once that finishes, go back to your new iPhone and select the backup you just created as what you want to use to restore from.
Your phone will then restore your settings and preferences, and you’ll be able to start using it in about 15 minutes. It will continue downloading your installed apps in the background.
Once everything is restored, you’ll need to sign back into any accounts you added to your phone, as well as go through your apps and make sure you’re still signed in.
2. Apple direct transfer
If you do not have a recent iCloud backup or your Internet connection is slow, you can transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone, either wirelessly or via cable. When the Quick Start process asks for the source, choose the direct transfer option.
Make sure you have both phones (preferably plugged in and charging to ensure they don’t run out of battery), a Wi-Fi connection and enough time for the process to finish — it could take over an hour. You can speed up that process by connecting both phones using a USB cable, but note that you might need an adapter if your current phone is an iPhone 14 or earlier with a Lightning port. Apple has more details on how to make a wired transfer work.
The more information you have on your phone, like photos in your library, the longer it will take. When the transfer starts, the phones will show you a time estimate. Every time we’ve used this tool, that estimate has been accurate within a couple of minutes. It’s worth taking the time if you don’t use Apple’s iCloud service to back up your phone.
3. Use a Mac or PC
The method I use with every new iPhone is to restore from an encrypted backup using a Mac or PC. Not only does this process transfer all of your apps, settings and preferences, but it also means you don’t have to sign into the countless apps you have on your phone.
Before you can use this method, you’ll need to create an encrypted backup of your current iPhone. I know that may sound intimidating or overly complicated, but it only means you have to check an extra box and enter a password.
On a Mac, you’ll use Finder to back up your old iPhone — and make sure you take the steps to make an archive backup. Just make sure to check the Encrypt backup box and enter a password you’ll remember when prompted. Let your Mac go to work, creating a backup file. It will let you know when it’s done.
On a PC, you’ll need to use iTunes (it’s not completely dead) or the Apple Devices app to create a backup, as explained here. Again, you’ll need to make sure the Encrypt backup box is checked and enter a password.
To restore your new phone, open Finder or iTunes, and connect your phone to your computer. Click Trust when prompted, and then follow the prompts, selecting the backup you just created as what you want to use to restore the phone. You will need to enter the backup’s password before the process begins, so make sure you don’t forget it.
Once it’s done, your new phone will be an exact copy of your old phone and you won’t have to spend any time signing into apps or random accounts.
4. Move to iOS for Android users
Apple doesn’t have many Android apps listed in Google’s Play Store, but Move to iOS is one of them. This free app will connect your Android phone to a new iPhone and allow you to transfer the most important information from one phone to the other.
Here’s the entire step-by-step process, as well as some caveats, like the fact that it won’t transfer any locally stored music or PDF files.
Apple said it has redesigned Move to iOS to make it faster and easier to migrate from your Android phone to your new iPhone. The company goes on to say it has sped up Wi-Fi migration with transfer speeds up to 5GHz, and you can use Wi-Fi on your iPhone to connect to your Android phone. You can also connect your Android phone to your new iPhone with a USB-C or USB-C to Lightning cable to move everything over more quickly, Apple said.
No matter the process you used to set up your new phone, you’re in for excitement and fun as you explore what it can do.
Here is what you can do with the new iPhone 16 camera button and your monthly reminder to clear your iPhone cache.
Technologies
The Galaxy Watch 8 Pissed Me Off, but I’d Still Recommend It
Samsung’s Running Coach questioned my running skills. But Gemini may have just restored my faith in voice assistants.
Our Experts
The Running Coach on the Galaxy Watch 8 needs to be kicked to the curb. I’m not expecting an Olympic endorsement deal anytime soon, but after 20 years of running (four half marathons, multiple 10K and 5Ks), I’d hope to graduate beyond «beginner.» Not according to Samsung’s latest watch. Either it’s using a rigid set of criteria to assign training plans, or it’s gaslighting me on purpose to tap into my competitive streak. Whatever the case, Running Coach left me questioning its usefulness and cast a gray cloud over my running experience. Something seemed off, so I checked in with Samsung and am still waiting to hear back.
Running Coach aside, the $350 Galaxy Watch 8 ($50 more than last year’s Galaxy Watch 7) gets a lot of other things right, and I still recommend it to anyone looking for a solid Wear OS smartwatch. One of the biggest surprises: Gemini. This is the first smartwatch to come with Google’s AI assistant built in, and the voice assistant actually feels useful on the wrist. It’s also one of the most comfortable watches I’ve ever worn (though not the most stylish). It has nearly every feature I could hope for, including a screen that’s blindingly bright and new health sensors for more accurate health tracking.
Pros
- Dual sizing options that fit well on smaller wrists
- Comfortable, lightweight design
- Gemini assistant is fast and genuinely helpful
- New health sensors offer more accurate insights
- Bright display is visible in direct sunlight
Cons
- Price is $50 more than the Galaxy Watch 7
- Squared frame isn’t for everyone
- Health features require manual setup
- Running Coach accuracy is questionable so far
- Proprietary straps limit options from third parties
- 40mm model tops out at 30 hours battery life
From feature-rich smart rings (Samsung’s Galaxy Ring included) to budget smartwatches like the $80 Amazfit Bip 6, the competition for your health data is getting fierce. In a crowded landscape, Samsung positions the Galaxy Watch 8 as a high-end alternative with the goal of long-term success: slowing the hands of time, promoting healthy aging and delivering more meaningful measurements.
The result is a mature smartwatch that goes above and beyond the basics, offering new metrics for cardiovascular health, a skin-based antioxidant index, improved bedtime guidance, and yes, a personal running coach that promises to get you «marathon-ready.» I swear I’m not bitter. Most of these tools rely on Samsung’s advanced BioActive sensor, which is available only on the Series 8 models (and the Ultra), and one of the main reasons why you’d consider upgrading. It’s also worth noting that none of these features are medical-grade devices and therefore should be taken with a healthy grain of salt.
After wearing the Galaxy Watch 8 for less than a week, some of the new features still feel like works in progress while others show real potential. Paired with a Galaxy phone, the Watch 8 feels like a confident, integrated health and fitness companion with a voice assistant that might actually talk you into keeping it on.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is available now for preorder for a base price of $350 for the 40mm model, and $380 for the 44mm version. Add $50 more for LTE on either size.
Galaxy Watch 8 Running Coach
As a longtime runner, I was genuinely excited about the new Running Coach — a virtual coach that would give me personalized training plans and real-time feedback to whip me back into racing shape. The setup involved filling out a brief questionnaire on my phone about my running and workout habits. Then it asked me to record my longest run in the last three months, which happened to be a 5K.
I’m a no-frills runner; I usually have about 30 minutes to squeeze in a jog, which means getting out the door without searching for a headset or curating the perfect playlist. So the idea of needing headphones just to hear the Running Coach felt like a drag. A quick «turn up the volume to max» command to Gemini saved the day. Fortunately for me, the watch plays the prompts through its speaker, which, while not particularly loud, was loud enough for me to finish the assessment without headphones.
The test started with a short warmup, then moved into intervals: a normal pace, an all-out sprint, then back to normal, followed by a cooldown to gauge how quickly my heart rate recovered. In total, it took about 14 minutes. The voice was definitely robotic — not exactly the tough-love human sounding coach I had imagined.
I was still recovering from intense travel and a lingering ACL injury, so I wasn’t expecting a gold star. But with an average pace of 9:45 per mile, I figured I’d at least score higher than level one. Being labeled a beginner and assigned a plan to «build up to a 5K» felt borderline insulting, especially considering I’d just told it that I’d already completed one.
Looking closer at the plan, I saw it had me walking for 30 minutes during the first week, with a goal of running 0.93 miles in less than 10.5 minutes by week four. Both of which I’d already done during the initial assessment.
Meanwhile, a colleague who isn’t a runner and walked the entire test got the same training plan I did. That raised some serious questions. How «personalized» can this really be if two people with vastly different running backgrounds are given the exact same plan?
For now, the experience has left me skeptical — and has definitely taken some shine off a feature I was really hoping to love. It’s possible the coach will recalibrate my training plan as it gathers more running data, but it’s also just as likely that Running Coach itself needs to step up its game with future updates.
Galaxy Watch 8 Antioxidant Index
Samsung’s new Antioxidant Index, which measures carotenoid levels in the skin, is arguably one of the most interesting features on the Galaxy Watch 8, and one of the most confusing.
I didn’t know much about antioxidants beyond a vague association with fruits and vegetables. So I had to go down multiple rabbit holes just to understand what exactly it was measuring in the first place. Carotenoids are one type of naturally occurring antioxidant, found in veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes and leafy greens. According to the National Institutes of Health, antioxidants help the body clear out potentially harmful free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules typically caused by stress, poor diet, smoking and pollution). When those free radicals build up over time, they create oxidative stress, which has been linked to long-term health issues like heart disease, cancer and premature aging. So, keeping healthy levels of antioxidants in your body is one of the keys to prevention.
The Galaxy Watch 8, Classic and Ultra use new optical sensors to detect these carotenoid levels in your skin. It doesn’t take the measurement from your wrist because, according to Samsung, there’s too much interference from blood vessels and ambient light. Instead, the watch asks you to remove it and place your thumb on the sensor for a few seconds. After that, you get a score between 0 and 100, which falls into one of three categories: very low, low or adequate.
My first score was «low» (67/100). Not terrible, but also not great. Apparently, even a healthy diet can’t offset the stress, sleep deprivation and general chaos of my overnight travel and a three-day product launch in a new city.
To get more context, the watch connects you to the Health app on your phone. To improve my levels, it suggested I eat «half a pear today.» Not a full pear. Not five blueberries. Half a pear. Going further down the rabbit hole will lead you to more background on what the feature does and generic advice about antioxidant-rich diets (leafy greens and sweet potatoes). It also mentions it can take up to two weeks of consistent habit changes to see a significant difference in your overall score, so chugging a green smoothie (or eating half a pear today) will do little to move the needle if I were to test the very next day.
Despite the initial learning curve, I have to step back and acknowledge how impressive this tech is. It’s wild that a watch can estimate antioxidant levels using light-based sensors without requiring a lab or a blood test. That’s no small feat.
What the Galaxy Watch struggles with right now is translating that science into something meaningful. I wish it had at least a weekly reminder built in to use it. Maybe after a few months of consistent use, I’d start to see clearer trends and better correlations. But I think it’ll be up to Samsung to make those connections easier to understand and easier to care about. But for now, I probably wouldn’t buy this watch for this feature alone.
Galaxy Watch 8 design
The Galaxy Watch 8 has a brand-new design that, for me, was definitely an acquired taste. At first glance, it looks like the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 had a baby — and not the cute kind. The new squircle frame feels unnecessary, and without a bezel (rotating like the Watch 8 Classic or static like the Ultra), the transition from the squared-off frame to the circular screen feels abrupt, like it’s missing a piece. That sharper transition also means the screen is more exposed, making it more vulnerable to bumps and drops.
Then there’s the band situation. Samsung has moved away from the universal strap system, swapping it for the proprietary lug system similar to what it introduced on the Galaxy Watch Ultra. That limits your options for watch bands, especially if you were hoping to bring your favorite third-party band along for the ride.
But when you dig into the «why» of these design changes, they start to feel less like an arbitrary redesign and more like a calculated decision aimed at comfort and accuracy.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is thinner, lighter, and less bulky than previous models. The 40mm version I tested is one of the most comfortable smartwatches I’ve worn. I usually dread wearing smartwatches to bed, and this one I almost forgot I had on. The squircle frame and lug system allow the strap to sit flush against my skin, reducing gaps and creating a snug, more secure fit.
Samsung says this tighter fit allows its sensors to work more effectively by minimizing interference from motion, sweat and outside light. What’s clear is that Samsung is prioritizing precision over aesthetics, even if it means alienating longtime Galaxy Watch owners who value the classic circular design or easy strap-swapping.
Personally, I don’t wear a smartwatch for looks. While design matters, I’d rather have accurate, reliable health data and a better fit than a slick design that compromises on function.
Galaxy Watch 8 and Gemini AI
My history with voice assistants on smartwatches has been… rough. I’ve probably spent more time yelling at my wrist than actually getting anything done (looking at you, Bixby and Siri). But with Gemini, I’m officially a convert.
I’ve been hardwired to cater to voice assistant limitations, so speaking naturally was probably the hardest adjustment for me when using Google’s Gemini. No awkward phrasing, long pauses or shouting required. What I got back was useful, bite-size summaries that were read aloud instead of just dumped as a string of links I’d never open on a watch screen.
It’s also smart enough to handle vague prompts and context. For example, I asked for «that famous bridge shot in Brooklyn that’s allover social media,» and Gemini immediately pulled up the right landmark.From there, I just said, «show me photos,» and it displayed images ofthe bridge without having to repeat its name. A simple «take me there»command then brought up directions automatically. Gemini does require an internet connection to work (Wi-Fi or LTE), so Bluetooth-only watch users will need to have their phone nearby. It can even draft a text for you in a different language.
The Galaxy Watch 8 runs on Wear OS 6 and Samsung’s One UI 6 Watch, both of which bring welcome design changes. You’ll find new action tiles, a cleaner interface, more watch faces and a refreshed Now Bar at the bottom of the screen for quickly jumping back into timers, workouts or anything else running in the background.
Galaxy Watch 8 Bedtime Guidance
The Galaxy Watch 8 has a new Bedtime Guidance tool that uses a three-day analysis of your circadian rhythm and sleep pressure (sleep debt you’ve accumulated) to recommend an ideal bedtime window. It factors in heart rate, HRV, skin temperature, and even environmental cues like room temperature or brightness. The goal: Improve your sleep quality, recovery and energy throughout the day.
As someone who wasn’t sold on the Galaxy Watch’s original Sleep Coach feature (which felt more like a checklist of generic bedtime advice), I was skeptical about the new bedtime guidance. But this is one I’d actually consider sticking with. It’s not that I don’t know how many hours of sleep I should be getting, but hearing a science-backed reason for why I should go to bed at a specific time makes me more inclined to listen.
In my case, the watch recommended 11 p.m. As I write this, it’s currently 10:57 p.m., so I guess I’d better wrap up this review. It’ll be interesting to see how my energy levels shift if I actually follow the guidance for a week. I could also see this being helpful for shift workers or anyone traveling across time zones who doesn’t know how best to reset their sleep schedule. I’ll report back in a longer-term review.
Galaxy Watch 8 battery and storage
Let’s set expectations: Just because the Galaxy Watch 8 looks like the Ultra doesn’t mean it matches the Ultra’s three-day battery life, it’s not even close.
Samsung says the Watch 8 has an 8% larger battery than the Watch 7: 325mAh vs. 300mAh on the 40mm model, and 435mAh versus 425mAh on the 44mm. In theory, the larger batteries paired with the efficiency gains coming with Wear OS 6 should mean at least a few extra hours of use compared with last year’s models, but the reality is that all these new health and AI features offset any gains.
In my six days of testing, I had to charge the Watch 8 four times, averaging about 30 hours on a single charge with all features turned on: always-on display, notifications, at least one GPS workout a day, and full night sleep tracking. That’s right on par with what my former colleague Lexy Savvides reported in her Galaxy Watch 7 review from last year. How it would fare now running Gemini, is a question for another day, but worth considering if you happen to see a dip in your Galaxy Watch 7 after the Gemini update.
The Watch 8 offered to switch to low power mode when it got to 15%, but I’m an all-or-nothing kind of gal, so I declined. The good news is that it recharged in just about an hour, which makes it less likely for me to forget on the charger as I’m running out the door.
It’s unclear whether the 44mm model or the Classic will give you noticeably more battery life, but if you want to go a full three days without recharging, the Ultra is still your best bet.
The storage and processor also remain the same as last year’s Watch 7 and Ultra, with 32GB (the Classic and Titanium Blue Ultra got bumped to 64GB of storage). All three models are powered by a five-core Exynos W1000 (processor) which handles everything smoothly, from general tasks to running Gemini, with zero complaints on speed or responsiveness. They also have the dual-frequency GPS using L1 and L5 bands that Samsung debuted on last year’s models.
Should you buy the Galaxy Watch 8?
Calling the Galaxy Watch 8 an «ambitious» smartwatch feels a little cliché, but in this case, it actually fits. Sure, some of the features are still a work in progress, but they point to where Samsung is headed: turning these smartwatches into true health companions that will help bridge the gap between the doctor’s office and your day-to-day. But not everyone needs all of these new features (at least not right now), and I wouldn’t buy this watch for the health tools alone.
Most people will be enticed by its more «boring» upgrades: it’s brighter screen, lighter, more comfortable fit and a built-in AI assistant that finally makes wrist-based voice control feel useful instead of frustrating. Plus, the processing power and battery life to make it shine.
If you already own a Galaxy Watch 7, you’re probably OK skipping this upgrade cycle, unless you’re drawn to the new shape or improved sensor accuracy. You’ll still be getting many of the same software upgrades on older models, including Gemini and Bedtime Guidance. And if you prefer the freedom of universal watch bands, the Watch 7 may be a better buy for now.
Having two Watch 8 size options (40mm and 44mm) is definitely a plus if you have smaller (6″) wrists like me. But if you’re leaning toward a larger face and miss the rotating bezel, you’ll want to consider the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, which I’ll be reviewing soon too.
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