The Galaxy Watch8 LTE drops to €311.71 in Italy, challenging the newer Galaxy Watch9 on price and features, highlighting a close battle between value and the latest technology.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch8 LTE in the 44mm size has become the sharper value buy in Italy after falling to €311.71, but the newer Galaxy Watch9 is not far behind at €359 for the 40mm Bluetooth model with a Prime offer. The result is a close comparison between an older watch with cellular support and a newer one that brings a more up-to-date platform at only a modest premium.
The biggest technical change is inside. According to the comparison, the Watch8 uses Samsung’s Exynos W1000 built on 3nm, while the Watch9 switches to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite, also on a 3nm process. The software stack has also moved on: the Watch8 launches with Wear OS 6 and One UI 8 Watch, while the Watch9 arrives with Wear OS 7 and One UI 9 Watch, giving it the latest Samsung interface and platform software.
Battery life is another clear differentiator. In the 40mm size, the Watch9 carries a 390mAh cell versus 325mAh on the equivalent Watch8, a substantial increase. On the 44mm models, the gap is narrower, rising from 435mAh to 445mAh. Samsung still rates both watches at up to 40 hours with always-on display switched off. The display hardware is unchanged, with Super AMOLED panels, up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness and sapphire glass protection, while memory also stays at 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
Connectivity is where buyers need to look closely. The discounted Watch8 unit includes LTE, which means it can stay connected without a phone nearby. The Watch9 variant being compared here is Bluetooth only, despite the wider Watch9 range also being offered with LTE on Samsung Italy’s own store. Bluetooth has been upgraded to version 6.0 on the newer model, but anyone who wants standalone calling or mobile data will need the cellular version.
Health and durability features remain broadly familiar. Both watches use Samsung’s BioActive sensor for heart-rate tracking and body composition measurements through bioelectrical impedance, along with temperature sensing, sleep tracking and exercise monitoring. Both are rated 5ATM, IP68 and MIL-STD-810H. One practical difference is phone compatibility: the Watch9 requires Android 13 or later, while the Watch8 can work with Android 12 devices too.
In short, the Watch8 LTE is the better choice for shoppers who want cellular connectivity and the lowest outlay. The Watch9 makes more sense for buyers who want the newer chip, newer software and a larger battery in the 40mm size, and who are content to rely on Bluetooth. According to Trovaprezzi, some Watch8 LTE listings start even lower, but the specific Italian deal in question still stands out because it combines a competitive price with built-in mobile connectivity.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
