Can the Samsung Watch 8 Use Apple Watch Bands?

I’m not sure, but judging by leaked images of its supposedly new design, it certainly seems possible. If true, I may finally be able to switch from my Apple Watch 8 to a Samsung wearable.

The reason I haven’t switched yet isn’t that I particularly like the Apple Watch 8. It’s because when I bought it in 2022, I also bought a silver band for it from famous Japanese silver jeweller, Artemis Classic, & this band isn’t compatible with Samsung devices. At 55,000 yen, this silver band costs about as much as a smartwatch itself. Switching to a device that cannot accommodate this band therefore isn’t appealing, as I don’t want this beautiful, ornate piece to go unworn.

While adapters exist that could conceivably work with this band, since the band itself is not even slightly adjustable it was custom-resized for me already. So, unless a smartwatch is 41mm like my Apple Watch 8 or below, the band won’t fit & would need further resizing. To this point, I was somewhat dismayed by leaked images of the Samsung Watch 8 Classic, which, at 46mm, would be much too large for this silver band to work. Moreover, its attachment points didn’t appear compatible with the band, even with an adapter. However, subsequent leaks of the standard Samsung Watch 8 suggest it may be the most compatible Samsung device for Apple Watch bands yet, featuring a squarish design similar to the Apple Watch, & a track record of 40mm & 44mm size variations. However, it is hard to tell without a rear image of the band connection points like this one like this one here.

Though I strongly prefer the rotating bezel design of the Watch 8 Classic, if my assumptions prove correct & my silver band fits, I will likely make the switch with the standard Watch 8 model. While nothing is wrong with my Apple Watch 8, & it’s still going strong after 3 years, it’s inconvenient to have it connected to an old iPhone I don’t carry. I can’t track health stats beyond a daily period, & advanced features like emergency crash detection are useless as are any other web-enabled features since the watch isn’t linked to my daily carry device. It’s also difficult to reload Suica on the go, as connecting the Apple Watch 8 to my Samsung Flip 6 via a Wi-Fi hotspot is not only a slow hassle, it’s unreliable since the watch sometimes refuses to connect. It’s not that I’m missing basic smartwatch features, which seem to have plateaued across the industry; it’s about being able to them when I need to.

Still, I’m somewhat worried we may have reached this point too late. Recent rumours suggest Samsung plans to charge subscription-based fees for their Watch devices. One of the attractive points about Samsung is its lack of such subscriptions. I don’t want them to lose that & become more like Apple. I despise subscription-based services &, band compatibility or not, will likely not switch if this rumour proves true.

With the Samsung Unpacked event expected within the next three weeks, we can only wait & see.

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