Original topic:

Suggestions on why I should keep the Galaxy Watch 8

(Topic created: 10-06-2025 10:24 AM)
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HopFrog
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Galaxy Watch

To be clear, I am a long-time Samsung product customer, and I have loved loved loved every single Samsung Phone I have ever had. Love them. Aaand ... welll ...

 
I recently started using the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 ... and it's not like either the advertising nor the Samsung Support chat folks represented it to be. I'm trying to decide whether to cut my losses and try something else, or stick with it in the hopes the advertised benefits materialize ... help, please?
 
My purpose for the Watch8 is to passively measure and record, 24-7, estimated blood pressure, pulse-oxygen, heart rate, actual skin temperature, and then measure and record sleep and movement during sleep. 
 
I was assured by a Samsung Support person via chat (yes, screen-shotted) that passive blood pressure measurement and recording was now available in the US. I bought the watch. Aaand ... it's not.
 
I check the skin temperature, and all it gives me is a range of variation around a non-disclosed midpoint temperature. Not useful. Not at all. And it apparently is only being measured when it detects sleep? I need this 24-7 ... 
 
And I'm having to tell the Samsung Health app when I nap, instead of the Watch8 figuring it out through absence of movement and recording it passively.
 
On top of all this, even though I have notifications, sound, vibration, everything I can find turned off except for the health measurement, I'm having to take the watch off and charge it every day to every other day ... this is wayyy less than helpful, as measurement is only possible while the watch is being worn and has power ... 
 
The Watch8, in theory, cost me nothing through a special run by T-Mobile, my carrier; aaaaand, in true "give them the razor and sell them the blades" fashion, the charges come in for the insurance and extra line and accessories that aren't explicitly included in the Watch8's package ... 
 
So, on a fixed income, I'm out around an additional $40/month for something that isn't doing what it was represented to be able to do here in the US.
 
I'm looking for both encouragement, honest feedback, and hope, please. 
 
Has anyone heard of upcoming updates or changes that will bring estimated blood pressure functionality? Will improve skin temperature recording? Or sleep detection? Or battery function?
 
Hoping Samsung Support sees this and has something useful to say ... thank you all in the Community for your information and opinions!! 8-)
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HopFrog
Asteroid
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Galaxy Watch
Thank you so much for the constructive charging suggestions! I did procure a second charging cable ... and I do have battery blocks ... hmmmm ... it's still figuring out the timing that's challenging ...

So, let me be certain I'm understanding, please ... it's not out of the ordinary for the Watch8 to need daily charging, even though the ad copy implies it lasts a week with "normal" email, text, calendar, reminder, and phone usage?

I'll get all my device research back out and re-check everything thoroughly, again ... struggling to find the FDA's "docket" to see when they will hear any appeals from Samsung regarding the estimated BP monitoring ... and I'm not getting clear answers on if/when raw skin temperature numbers will be reinstated.

If it turns out this Watch8, however imperfect, is still the best option, I'll keep it. It's just discouraging when it doesn't come close to its ad copy.

Thanks for listening! 8-)
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realaud
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Galaxy Watch

The watches have a small battery compared to the phones.  None of any of the three watch models I have had over the last several years has ever had more than a day and a half of life.  I actually never expected anything more as my habit is to charge every morning anyway. It wasn't until my battery kept bleeding on my watch 4 that I even paid any attention to the battery life.  When the battery is fully charged, if you go to the Wear app, it will tell you the expected remaining uptime based on your usage patterns (e.g. my watch currently says 80% 1d 1h left) and you can gage your booster timing accordingly.  I also have a watch face with a battery complication, so I can see at a glance where the battery level is.  The Ultra watches get more uptime because they have a much larger battery  - something like 500 mAh as opposed to 300 or 425 mAh.  You might be better off switching to the Ultra model.

 

You will not find anything on the FDA docket relating to application or appeals on the BP issue, as it is my understanding that Samsung has never applied to the FDA and has no current plans on doing so.  I believe they added the capability mostly to use for other regions (as it is active there), and are still weighing the decision to apply for approval.  It's a long process. Because they use the same hardware for all regions, they can legally say the device is "capable" even if it's not functional.

 

Good luck on on getting the raw temperature back.  No one seems to know the logic they were using when they decided to take it away.  This is a critical feature for many people. Everyone wants it back, or there is no point in even having the temperature sensor on the watch.  The watch is capable, they changed the software programming. You can send feedback, adding another voice to the chorus, as the more feedback they get on an issue, the more likely there is to be some action.  https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Tips-Tricks/How-to-Send-Feedback/ba-p/3001692

Certain things you can do to extend, even by a smidgeon, the battery life is to lower the screen brightness to a level where you can still easily see it, but not at the brightest setting.  You can turn off sound for notifications and just use vibration, or sound instead of vibration (I think vibration uses slightly more, but few people want their watch making noise), or turn off notifications to the watch entirely, if you usually have your phone nearby where you can hear the notifications.

 

Screenshot_20250506_172104_One UI Watch Home.png


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HopFrog
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Galaxy Watch
I very much appreciate your reality checks ... many thank yous! I especially appreciate the tips-tricks link ... 8-)

Ahhhh ... capable is not necessarily equal to functional ... got it ...

I will double-check the ultra models ... have to go back to my notes to see why I chose differently ...

All notifications are off, ringer off, vibrations off ... very stripped down plain watch face that includes battery remaining ... basic dashboard? Looking for face brightness adjustment now ... and I have that turned most of the way down ...

Thanks again!
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PAHelper
Sun
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Galaxy Watch
Other watches just use a disclaimer and allow the bp function. Not sure why after years samsung hasn't did same.
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