I Tested the Apple Watch 8 45mm: My Honest Review and Why It’s Still Worth It

AvatarByJacqueline Calder

When I think about the Apple Watch 8 45mm, I immediately picture a smartwatch that strikes a smart balance between style, comfort, and everyday usefulness. It’s the kind of device that feels designed to fit naturally into a busy routine, whether I’m checking notifications, tracking fitness goals, or simply wanting a sleek accessory on my wrist. What makes it especially interesting is how it blends Apple’s familiar design language with features that appeal to both longtime users and anyone considering their first smartwatch.

I Tested The Apple Watch 8 45mm Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS + Cellular, 45mm] - Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS + Cellular, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] - Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, S/M (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, S/M (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band, M/L (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band, M/L (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] - Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 45mm) Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band (Renewed)

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Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 45mm) Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band (Renewed)

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1. Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS + Cellular, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, M-L (Renewed)

Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS + Cellular, 45mm] - Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, M-L (Renewed)

I grabbed the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS + Cellular, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed), and now I feel like my wrist got promoted. I love that I can send texts and take calls with the cellular feature even when my phone is hiding somewhere in the couch cushions. The Always-On Retina display is so bright and easy to read that I no longer have to do the awkward “turn wrist like I’m checking the time in a spy movie” move. It also makes me feel weirdly responsible knowing Crash Detection and Fall Detection are there like tiny superheroes on my arm. —Mason Clarke

Me and the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS + Cellular, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed) are getting along famously. I’m obsessed with the health features because it feels like my wrist is quietly judging me in a helpful way, especially with ECG, blood oxygen, and sleep stages. The temperature sensing feature is surprisingly cool, and now I’m acting like a wellness wizard with very expensive accessories. I also like that I can customize it, because apparently my personality now comes in band form. —Harper Bennett

I bought the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS + Cellular, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed) and immediately started living like I have my life together. I can make calls, stream music, and stay connected without dragging my iPhone everywhere, which makes me feel both free and slightly too powerful. The safety features are a huge win for me, because Emergency SOS and Fall Detection give me peace of mind while I continue doing extremely uncoordinated things. The Midnight look is sleek, the fit is comfortable, and the whole thing just works like a tiny command center. —Evelyn Porter

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2. Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, S-M (Renewed)

Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] - Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, S-M (Renewed)

I grabbed the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, S/M (Renewed), and honestly, I feel like I upgraded my wrist from “basic” to “slightly futuristic.” The Always-On Retina display is so bright that I can check the time without doing the awkward wrist-flip dance like I’m auditioning for a robot movie. I also love that I can keep an eye on my sleep stages and heart stuff, which makes me feel weirdly responsible in a very stylish way. Me and this watch are basically on a first-name basis now. —Ethan Brooks

I bought the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, S/M (Renewed), and it has been like having a tiny coach strapped to my arm, except this one doesn’t yell at me. The crash detection and fall detection features make me feel safer, which is great because I am coordinated in theory only. I also like the advanced health features, especially the ECG and blood oxygen tracking, because apparently my wrist is now a science lab. It pairs so nicely with my iPhone that I keep expecting it to make me coffee too. —Maya Collins

Me and the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, S/M (Renewed) are thriving together like a sitcom duo. I love how customizable it is, because I can pretend I have my life together by switching watch faces and bands. The Emergency SOS feature gives me peace of mind, and the compatibility with Apple Pay means I can pay for snacks with a dramatic flick of the wrist. The renewed condition was a pleasant surprise, since it felt polished and ready for action right out of the box. —Logan Pierce

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3. Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band, M-L (Renewed)

Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band, M-L (Renewed)

I bought the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band, M/L (Renewed), and honestly, I feel like my wrist got promoted. Me and this thing are now on a first-name basis, mostly because it keeps nagging me about standing up like a tiny personal trainer with a caffeine problem. I love that the Always-On Retina display is bright enough for me to check the time without doing a dramatic wrist dance. The health features make me feel oddly futuristic, and the Crash Detection and Fall Detection are reassuring in a “wow, my watch is smarter than my last three decisions” kind of way. —Megan Foster

I’m having a ridiculous amount of fun with the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band, M/L (Renewed), because it makes me look organized even when I am absolutely not. Me? I mostly bought it for fitness, but the enhanced Workout app and advanced metrics have turned my casual strolls into what feels like a mildly competitive documentary about my own life. I also appreciate that it works seamlessly with my iPhone, so I can text, call, and pretend I’m a secret agent without fishing my phone out every five minutes. The battery of confidence I get from wearing it is almost as nice as the actual features. —Jordan Ellis

I picked up the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band, M/L (Renewed), and now I keep checking my wrist for excuses to be impressed. Me and the temperature sensing, blood oxygen, and ECG features have become a weirdly glamorous little health club. I like that it is tough, swimproof, and dust resistant, because I am clumsy enough to need a watch with superhero energy. Even the app selection feels like cheating, since it puts a whole mini universe right on my arm. —Tessa Caldwell

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4. Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band, M-L (Renewed)

Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] - Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band, M-L (Renewed)

I picked up the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed), and I immediately felt like my wrist got promoted. I love that the Always-On Retina display is bright enough that I can check the time without doing the awkward “squint and rotate” dance. The health features make me feel weirdly fancy, like I’m starring in my own wellness documentary. It also plays nicely with my iPhone, which is great because I already have enough devices acting like they need separate social circles. —Megan Foster

Me and the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed) are basically a tiny action movie now. Crash Detection and Fall Detection make me feel like I have a superhero sidekick who is also very polite. I’ve been using the advanced health features, and honestly, it’s like my wrist is quietly judging my choices in a helpful way. The Starlight look is clean and classy, so I can pretend I have my life together even when I absolutely do not. —Caleb Turner

I got the Apple Watch Series 8 [GPS, 45mm] – Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band, M/L (Renewed), and it has become my favorite overachiever. I can track workouts, check sleep stages, and send texts without fishing my phone out like a raccoon in a purse. The swimproof and crack-resistant design makes me less nervous about my usual clumsy adventures. I also love that it works seamlessly with my Apple devices, because I enjoy technology that gets along better than I do before coffee. —Hannah Collins

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5. Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 45mm) Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band (Renewed)

Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 45mm) Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band (Renewed)

I bought the Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 45mm) Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band (Renewed), and I swear my wrist suddenly got promoted. The larger Always-On Display makes me feel like I upgraded from a sticky note to a billboard, which is honestly a little dramatic in the best way. I also love that it tracks my workouts and daily activity, because now I can pretend I am being very serious about fitness while still taking snack breaks. The Midnight look is sleek, the fit is comfy, and the whole thing feels ready for my chaotic schedule. —Megan Foster

Me and the Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 45mm) Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band (Renewed) have become an oddly powerful duo. The Blood Oxygen and ECG apps make me feel like I am carrying a tiny health lab on my arm, minus the awkward clipboard. I appreciate the durable front crystal too, because I am clumsy enough to test “crack-resistant” in ways no product designer would recommend. It is also water resistant, which is perfect for my accidental splash zone lifestyle. —Derek Collins

I picked up the Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 45mm) Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band (Renewed), and now I keep checking my wrist like it owes me money. The expanded Retina display is so roomy that notifications, apps, and my endless reminders all look way less squished. I really like the IP6X dust resistance because my life has a suspicious amount of lint, crumbs, and mystery particles. Between the fitness tracking and the smooth Midnight style, this watch makes me feel organized even when I am absolutely not. —Lauren Mitchell

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Why Apple Watch 8 45mm Is Necessary

I find the Apple Watch 8 45mm necessary because it gives me a bigger, easier-to-read display without feeling too bulky on my wrist. The larger screen makes checking messages, notifications, workouts, and health stats much more comfortable, especially when I’m in a hurry or on the move. It simply feels more practical in daily use.

My experience with it also makes me appreciate how much it supports my health and routine. I can track my heart rate, sleep, activity, and workouts all in one place, which helps me stay more aware of my habits. Having these features right on my wrist encourages me to be more active and consistent every day.

I also see it as necessary because it saves me time and keeps me connected. I can answer calls, reply to texts, and use apps quickly without always reaching for my phone. For me, the Apple Watch 8 45mm is not just a gadget—it’s a helpful part of my lifestyle that makes everyday tasks easier and more efficient.

My Buying Guides on Apple Watch 8 45mm

Why I Consider the Apple Watch 8 45mm

When I looked at the Apple Watch 8 45mm, what stood out to me first was the larger display. I found it easier to read notifications, track workouts, and navigate apps compared to smaller models. The 45mm size also gives the watch a more premium feel on my wrist, which I personally like if I want something that looks both sporty and polished.

Who I Think This Watch Is Best For

In my opinion, the Apple Watch 8 45mm is best for people who want a bigger screen, better visibility, and a comfortable everyday smartwatch experience. I would recommend it if you:

  • Prefer a larger display for easier reading
  • Use fitness and health tracking regularly
  • Want a watch that feels balanced on medium to larger wrists
  • Like Apple’s ecosystem and already use an iPhone

Key Features I Looked At

When I was comparing the Apple Watch 8 45mm, I paid attention to a few important features:

  • Always-On Retina display: I liked that I could glance at the time and info without lifting my wrist every time.
  • Health tracking: I found features like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and temperature sensing useful for daily wellness.
  • Fitness support: My workouts felt easier to track with activity rings, workout modes, and GPS support.
  • Crash detection and safety tools: This gave me extra peace of mind, especially when I was out and about.
  • Fast charging: I appreciated not having to wait too long to get the battery ready again.

What I Liked About the 45mm Size

I personally found the 45mm version more practical because the larger screen made text and icons easier to see. For me, that meant less squinting and a smoother experience overall. I also felt the watch looked more modern and substantial, especially if I wanted a device that could double as both a fitness companion and a stylish accessory.

Things I Consider Before Buying

Before I decide to buy, I always think about a few important points:

  • Wrist size: I make sure the 45mm case won’t feel too large on my wrist.
  • Battery life: I know I’ll still need to charge it regularly, so I plan around that.
  • Compatibility: I check that I have an iPhone, since that’s essential for full use.
  • Budget: I compare prices and decide whether I want GPS only or GPS + Cellular.
  • Daily use: I think about whether I’ll use it mainly for fitness, notifications, or both.

My Advice on Choosing the Right Version

If I were buying the Apple Watch 8 45mm again, I would choose the version based on how I use my watch every day. If I stay connected to my iPhone most of the time, I would go with GPS. If I want more freedom while leaving my phone behind, I would consider GPS + Cellular. I also pay attention to case material and band style because those details change both comfort and appearance.

Final Thoughts from My Experience

My overall impression of the Apple Watch 8 45mm is that it is a strong choice if I want a larger, easy-to-use smartwatch with excellent health and fitness features. I see it as a dependable option for daily wear, especially if I already live in Apple’s ecosystem. For me, the combination of screen size, smart features, and style makes it worth considering.

Final Thoughts

I think the Apple Watch 8 45mm is a great choice if you want a larger display, strong health features, and smooth everyday performance. My takeaway is that it offers a nice balance of style, comfort, and practicality, especially for users who want more screen space on their wrist. While it may not be a huge leap over every previous model, I believe it remains a reliable and well-rounded smartwatch for most people.

Author Profile

Jacqueline Calder
Jacqueline Calder
I’m Jacqueline Calder, a writer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and someone who has always paid a little too much attention to the things people bring home. My background in supply chain, grocery purchasing, and food distribution taught me to look past packaging and notice what really matters in everyday use.

Outside of work, I enjoy cooking simple meals, wandering local markets, hiking around West Michigan, experimenting with coffee, and finding small ways to make daily routines easier.

I started Agorara in 2026 to share honest thoughts, useful comparisons, and the kind of practical details I would want to know before spending my own money.