Tech Desk 
Jul 10, 2025
Samsung has officially revealed the Galaxy Watch 8 series at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, bringing with it not only new AI features and new health upgrades but also a significant shift in design that replaces the traditional watch band pins.
The previously introduced dynamic lug connector found on last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra is now part and parcel of the Galaxy Watch 8. It's a quick-release method that effectively operates as the band connections used by the Apple Watch or Pixel Watch.
Instead of pulling on a pin, you now press a little button on the watch to detach the band, making everything quicker but also locking you into Samsung's ecosystem of proprietary bands.
The change was coming. Samsung tried to move away from standard quick-release pins with the Galaxy Watch 6 and 7, which had their own grip mechanism unique to those models.
Moreover, the Galaxy Watch 8 not only leaves behind the possibility of ever using the old system, but it also confirms the Galaxy Watch 7 is the last model Samsung released with a traditional pin to attach watch bands to the body.
The dynamic lug does hold the band securely and provides a noticeable click when the band is connected again; the only caveat is that it is difficult to remove at first.
Samsung says the new connectors are more secure, and they’ve introduced a wide range of first-party bands to match. Sizes are split into “small” for the 40mm Watch 8 and “large” for the 44mm Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic, and both Ultra models.
