Samsung Electronics Co. unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 on Wednesday, featuring its thinnest and lightest design yet, with the 44-millimeter model weighing just 34 grams.

Samsung announced in an event in New York that it has completely reconfigured the watch’s internal structure, increasing component integration by 30 percent and reducing thickness by 11 percent compared to the Galaxy Watch 7.

A new “Dynamic Lug” system improves flexibility at the connection between the watch body and band, allowing a snugger, more comfortable fit. Internal tests showed a 12 percent improvement in wearing comfort over the previous model.

The display has also advanced, offering peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits, 50 percent brighter than before, for clear visibility even in direct sunlight.

Health management functions have grown more sophisticated.

The Galaxy Watch 8 is the first smartwatch capable of measuring carotenoid levels in just five seconds with its Antioxidant Index, helping users monitor and adjust their diet. Samsung recommends using the thumb for better accuracy.

Sleep tracking has been upgraded as well.

The Bedtime Guidance feature analyzes recent sleep patterns to recommend optimal bedtimes.

The Galaxy Watch 8 is also the first smartwatch to measure vascular stress during sleep via its Vascular Load feature, supporting cardiovascular care.

This function integrates sleep, stress, exercise and diet data to offer personalized recommendations. Samsung’s recent acquisition of U.S. digital healthcare company Xealth hints at future healthcare programs using the watch.

In collaboration with Google LLC, the Galaxy Watch 8 is the first device to run Wear OS 6 and include the Gemini artificial intelligence assistant, allowing voice commands to launch Samsung Health.

The Galaxy Watch 8 comes in silver and graphite, in 44mm and 40mm sizes. The 44mm Bluetooth model is priced at 459,000 won ($333.87) and the LTE model at 489,500 won. The 40mm versions are 419,000 won for Bluetooth and 449,900 won for LTE.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is priced at 569,000 won for the 46mm Bluetooth model and 599,500 won for the LTE version.

Pre-sales begin in Korea on Thursday, with a global rollout starting July 25.

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