Tracking health via wearable tech has become essential for many. Monitoring everything from sleep patterns to mindfulness and bodily metrics these days, is merely a tap away.
In July, South Korean technology giant Samsung revealed its newest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7, featuring enhancements to its AI capabilities. Another partner for so many in today's world of wearables is smartwatches, and along with its smartphone news, the tech company unveiled its new Galaxy Watch8 series, which includes the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic.
Marketed as the "thinnest, most comfortable Galaxy Watch ever for continuous health tracking", there's now an opportunity for customers to enjoy some savings. In a rare deal, buyers can now reduce the expense of Samsung smartwatches via an Amazon promotion, providing them with hundreds of pounds returned through cashback.
The promotion enables customers to lower the cost of these models. The Galaxy Watch8 is currently discounted on Amazon - now priced at £374 rather than £399 - and the cashback reduces the price further still. Following purchase, customers will receive £50 back, reports the Manchester Evening News.
This brings the total cost down to £324 - a substantial £75 reduction. The deal remains valid until October 7, with shoppers initially needing to complete the Amazon transaction as normal before having 30 days to lodge their claim through Samsung's cashback deal.
The same opportunity applies to the Galaxy Watch8 Classic, offering customers £75 in cashback. Samsung has previously described its Series8 watches as being "every biohacker's new go-to tech."
Biohacking has become big news over the last few years, whether it's former Twitter (now X) CEO Jack Dorsey talking about intermittent fasting, or Gwyneth Paltrow previously advocating for juice cleanses. And of course, there are more intense ways of biohacking - some of which include chip implants - but for most people, it essentially means optimising your lifestyle to improve how your body feels.
According to Samsung, the GalaxyWatch8 series can assist users in optimising rest through examination of sleep cycles and surroundings, whilst delivering "actionable tips" on developing superior sleep routines. Using it for three evenings will activate the Bedtime Guidance function which evaluates sleep patterns, including the optimal moment to begin relaxing at day's end.
The Galaxy Watch8 series also features an integrated Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor, which the company claims measures body fat percentage, body-water levels and skeletal muscle mass, offering users a comprehensive overview of their physique. For those seeking to develop an extremely tailored training programme, these represent valuable data points.
Samsung has announced that its Galaxy Watch8 series is the first smartwatch to track antioxidant levels, offering users Instant Nutritional Feedback by simply placing their thumb on the back sensor. For those aiming to increase their water intake, Samsung Health can assist in monitoring hydration levels.
However, Samsung emphasises that the health features of the watch are "intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder." The Galaxy Watch8 series also comes equipped with Gemini, Google's AI assistant, allowing users to utilise voice commands for hands-free operation.
On Amazon, the Galaxy Watch8, usually priced at £399, boasts features such as heart health tracking when worn for "at least" four hours each night, and acts as a 'fitness coach', helping users identify fitness levels and set goals. The design of the watch is described as "sleek and minimalist", making it suitable for everyday wear.
Tech enthusiasts will appreciate the aesthetic differences between models, with the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic, listed on Amazon at a full price of £449 before any discount, featuring modern elements like a rotating bezel and a quick access button. It also boasts an impressive battery life, with up to 100 hours in power saving mode and up to 48 hours in exercise power saving mode.
In other deals, Currys is offering the GARMIN vivoactive 5 Smart Watch in Cream Gold and Ivory for £229.00. Available in a variety of colours including black, blue, and purple, this smartwatch tracks sports activities, steps, calories, and sleep. It boasts a battery life of up to 11 days and features Garmin music functionality.
For those looking for a more budget-friendly option, Argos has the HUAWEI Band 9 Smart Watch in Black for just £29.99. This smart band comes with heart rate monitoring technology and a sleep tracker. It's also swim-proof, capable of identifying four different strokes, monitoring heart rate, counting strokes and laps.
Both Samsung watches have no shortage of fans on Amazon, with one shopper saying of the Samsung Galaxy Watch8: "Great watch, got a discount which made Amazon the best place to buy it. It's thinner than my last watch and feels very comfortable on."
Another person said: "I bought this for my wife to replace her 2019 Galaxy Watch. This new Galaxy Watch 8 is so much better in every way. It is so much lighter, less chunky and with so many more facilities.
"My wife loves it and even more so as part of the offer, which gave a free wireless charging pad and hybrid strap. Brilliant watch, looks good and having tested various activities against the old watch, it's very accurate. The health side of things is excellent."
On Amazon, someone said of the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic: "Absolutely quality, must buy for any smart watch fan." While another person said: "Fully recommend. Apple user for 17 years and haven't looked back switching to Samsung".
One shopper said, however, of the Samsung Galaxy Watch8: "Charges quickly, nice watch and easy to use. Downside the battery life only lasts about a day and a half." While another said of the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic: "Nice upgrade from Galaxy Watch 6 classic however battery still could be better, last only 1 day."