Galaxy Watch 8's best feature is a scientifically proven longevity marker
In terms of hardware, there aren't many upgrades. The chipset is the same, there's kind of a new design, borrowed from the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and the displays are brighter.
But Samsung updated its BioActive sensor system to add a couple of new metrics, one of which could be a game-changer. I'm talking about the new Antioxidant Index, and in my opinion, it's the best Galaxy Watch 8 feature. Let me try to explain why. Galaxy Watch 8 Antioxidant Index—what is it? Oxidative stress and aging
Reactive species play a key role in aging | Image by PixaBay
One of the key factors in aging is oxidative stress. You've probably heard of antioxidants as the miracle anti-aging substance, and even though these molecules are wildly overhyped, there's truth to the story.
What happens is that as your body functions, oxidative species, also called free radicals, are released into your system. These chemicals are very reactive and oxidize cells (think how iron rusts when oxidized) causing cell damage.
Free radicals damaging the cell | Image by Auro Wellness
Now, specific lifestyle choices can speed up this process, and these include drinking alcohol, smoking, UV exposure, stress, and lack of sleep.
Conversely, the aforementioned antioxidants can slow this process down by removing the harmful free radicals from your system.
Surprisingly, some of the most potent antioxidants out there are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and other amino acids that can be found in many foods.
If only there was a way to know if we're getting enough of those without going to our GP and visiting the lab. Well, now there is. How does it work?
The new Antioxidant Index measures carotenoids on your skin | Image by PhoneArena
Samsung has managed to provide us with a metric that reflects the amount of antioxidants in your body. This "Antioxidant Index" uses skin measurement of carotenoids to assess the overall levels of antioxidants in your body.
These carotenoids are compounds similar to the vitamins I was talking about and do the same job—they remove "bad" free radicals from your system.
Just place your thumb on the sensor | Image by PhoneArena
You take your watch off, place your thumb on the BioActive sensor array on the back, and wait for five seconds to get a measurement.
Your score is on a scale from 0 to 100 with three zones in between—Very Low, Low, and Adequate.
I guess I should eat more veggies | Image by PhoneArena
The system uses light reflected from your skin (reflection spectroscopy) in a certain way to assess the level of these carotenoids, much like the SpO2 sensor measures the levels of oxygen in your blood. But is this method scientifically proven, and how accurate is it? Is it scientifically proven?
A medical-grade skin carotenoid scanner | Image by NuSkin
The short answer is yes! Measuring carotenoids both through blood samples and through skin (using reflection spectroscopy) are both scientifically proven methods of assessing overall health in humans.
There are many studies on the subject, including a peer-reviewed one from 2021, which aimed to assess how measuring skin carotenoids in low-income schools correlates with the overall health of the children there.
Another big study published in ScienceDirect reviewed the measurement of skin carotenoids and their association with diseases. Scientists found that skin carotenoid levels correlate with blood carotenoid levels and can be used as a marker for health and longevity. Here's an excerpt from the study:
" Skin carotenoid levels are correlated with blood carotenoid concentrations and can serve as an alternative indicator for evaluating carotenoid levels in the body, thus reducing the need for blood concentration measurements.
Skin carotenoid levels can be measured using optical methods, and once the equipment is available, there are minimal costs associated with these measurements. Additionally, the measurement process is quick, making it suitable for large-population studies, such as epidemiological research.
Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants associated with the prevention of various diseases. Extensive research has been conducted on the relation between blood carotenoid levels and diseases, with carotenoid indices indicating susceptibility to certain diseases."
It's worth noting that during my test with the system, the results were slightly different between my left thumb and my right thumb, and there was also a slight deviation between different measurements. But overall, the results were in the same ballpark. The best Galaxy Watch 8 feature?
Foods high in antioxidants | Image by PixaBay
Okay, this is all fine and dandy, but why do I think it's the best feature in such a feature-packed smartwatch? Well, first—almost all smartwatches on the market now measure very similar metrics and also use similar algorithms.
You get your heart rate or ECG readings, your SpO2 levels, your stress levels (via algorithms tied to the heart rate variability), and in some cases skin temperature on the wrist (which is not a very useful metric).
But the Galaxy Watch 8 is the first mainstream gadget that's able to measure the concentration of a chemical compound in your body in a non-invasive way.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is a powerful mini lab on your wrist | Image by PhoneArena
Second, while heart rate and SpO2 levels are important, these metrics are not very good at showing your dietary habits and choices. You have to use a separate app and manually punch in what you eat to get an idea of how you're doing on that front.
Having the ability to check your antioxidant level on the go in just five seconds is just astonishing. When you couple these measurements with the other BioActive suite of metrics, including body composition, you're getting a mini medical lab on your wrist.
And any feature that helps you feel better and live longer must be deemed "the best," right? What do you think about the new Antioxidant Index? Would you be using it on a regular basis, or is it just another gimmick for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Secure your connection now at a bargain price!
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GSM Arena
4 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Weekly poll: do you still have your ringer on or is your phone on vibrate all the time?
Peter, 10 August 2025 A long, long time ago, polyphonic ringtones were a noteworthy feature. Years later, the iPhone ringtone (Marimba) became instantly recognizable. Before that it was the Nokia Tune. Even to this day smartphone makers put a lot of effort into making ringtones – e.g. Samsung rented out a concert hall to add Vivaldi's The Four Seasons for One UI 8. But do people still leave their ringer on? Do you? Speaking of Apple, it recently removed the Ring/Silent switch, which was present even on the very first iPhone. It replaced it with an Action Button and Camera Control. Similarly, OnePlus axed its Alert Slider. Goodbye, Alert Slider All of this suggests that people set up their phone one way and leave it that way – no need to silence the ringer for class or a meeting if it's already on silent, right? You may as well have a shortcut key instead. Additionally, the rise in popularity of smartwatches and bands means that you don't need the phone to make noise – a wearable buzzing on your wrist is more than enough. What do you do with your phone – do you have the ringer on all the time, off all the time, do you switch manually or do you do something else? If you have an interesting or unusual setup, let us know in the comments. And while we're at it, if you do use the ringer, have you picked out a custom ringtone or do you just use one of the ringtones that came with the phone? Maybe even the default ringtone?
GSM Arena
5 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Weekly poll: do you still have your ringer on or is your phone on vibrate all the time?
A long, long time ago, polyphonic ringtones were a noteworthy feature. Years later, the iPhone ringtone (Marimba) became instantly recognizable. Before that it was the Nokia Tune. Even to this day smartphone makers put a lot of effort into making ringtones – e.g. Samsung rented out a concert hall to add Vivaldi's The Four Seasons for One UI 8. But do people still leave their ringer on? Do you? Speaking of Apple, it recently removed the Ring/Silent switch, which was present even on the very first iPhone. It replaced it with an Action Button and Camera Control. Similarly, OnePlus axed its Alert Slider. Goodbye, Alert Slider All of this suggests that people set up their phone one way and leave it that way – no need to silence the ringer for class or a meeting if it's already on silent, right? You may as well have a shortcut key instead. Additionally, the rise in popularity of smartwatches and bands means that you don't need the phone to make noise – a wearable buzzing on your wrist is more than enough. What do you do with your phone – do you have the ringer on all the time, off all the time, do you switch manually or do you do something else? If you have an interesting or unusual setup, let us know in the comments. And while we're at it, if you do use the ringer, have you picked out a custom ringtone or do you just use one of the ringtones that came with the phone? Maybe even the default ringtone?
GSM Arena
11 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Deals: Galaxy Z Fold7 gets its first discount, Pixel 9a, 9 and 9 Pro also get price cuts
Peter, 09 August 2025 Samsung's new foldables launched only a couple of weeks ago, while Google's Pixel 9 series will be replaced with the 10-series later this month. Let's have a closer look at their prices. This might not last long, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 got its first discount – the 512GB model, only in Jet Black, is just under $2,000 now – that makes it a bit cheaper than the 256GB MSRP. Alternatively, you can get a gift card but then there's no discount – the 256GB model is $2,000, the 512GB one is $2,120, but you score a $200 Amazon Gift Card, so the effective price is lower. If you don't want to deal with gift cards, use the deal below. The Google Pixel 9a, the affordable model of the family, is at $400 – its lowest price yet. The discount is the same for both the 128GB and 256GB versions. If you're looking at the 9a, you should also consider the Pixel 9. It's quite a step up in price - $200 up, which is +50% for the 128GB model – but you get more RAM (12GB vs. 8GB), better glass (GG Victus 2 vs. GG 3) and, most importantly, a better camera system. Here is a detailed Pixel 9 vs. 9a comparison. Another $200 step up brings us to the Google Pixel 9 Pro. This one is the same size as the other two with a 6.3' display, but it's a premium LTPO panel with a higher resolution (1280p+ vs. 1080p+) and adds a 48MP 5x/113mm telephoto camera. You can read more on Pixel 9 vs. 9 Pro here. Last week, we put the Samsung and Motorola flip foldables head to head. The Motorola Razr+ 2025 presents an interesting alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE, but last week the discount was only $50. Now it's over $200, which tilts things in favor of the Moto flip. It has a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, the Samsung has an Exynos 2400. The Moto boasts bigger inner (6.9' vs. 6.7') and cover (4.0' vs. 3.4') displays. The batteries have the same capacity (4,000mAh), but the Moto charges faster over USB (45W vs. 25W) and the same wirelessly (15W). Both phones have 50MP main cameras (the Samsung has a larger sensor), but their secondary cameras differ – 50MP 2x/47mm telephoto for the Razr and 12MP ultra-wide for the Galaxy. Motorola Razr+ 2024 $227 off Read our review 12/256GB - $773 at Amazon US We're hearing rumors of upcoming Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S10 Lite models, but for now the Tab S10 series is the flagship offering from Samsung. The Galaxy Tab S10+ is $180 off for the base model and $120 off for the version with more storage – of course, the microSD slot offers an alternative way to get more storage. This model has a 12.4' 120Hz OLED display. For a more affordable option – or if you prefer LCD over OLED – the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE+ come in 10.9' and 13.1' sizes, respectively, both with 90Hz IPS LCDs. These have mid-range chips (Exynos 1580 vs. Dimensity 9300+), so they are better-suited for productivity and streaming, AAA gaming is better left to the flagship model. We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
