LAS VEGAS—Formula 1 held the third annual Las Vegas Grand Prix this past weekend in the Nevada city. The race is an outlier in so many ways, and a divisive one at that. Some love the bright lights that make it appear to be set in Mega-City One or F-Zero. Others resent the rampant commercialism of F1 at its most excessive. And this time, Ars was on the ground, making one of our periodic visits to the series. The race we saw was something of a damp squib, seemingly leaving McLaren’s Lando Norris in control of the championship.

At least that’s how it looked when I left the track on Saturday night. Within a few hours, Norris and his teammate (and one of his two title rivals) Oscar Piastri were both disqualified for having worn away too much of the “legality plank” underneath the car—more on that in a while.

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The UK government will promise to buy emerging chip technology from British companies in a 100 million pound ($130 million) bid to boost growth by supporting the artificial intelligence sector.

Liz Kendall, the science secretary, said the government would offer guaranteed payments to British startups producing AI hardware that can help sectors such as life sciences and financial services.

Under a “first customer” promise modeled on the way the government bought COVID vaccines, Kendall’s department will commit in advance to buying AI inference chips that meet set performance standards.

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The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is now available at a $100 discount for Black Friday, bringing the Bluetooth model down to $399.99 from its original $499.99, and the LTE version to $449.99 from $549.99. That extra $50 for LTE only really matters if you plan to use the watch without your phone nearby. For most people who keep their phone close, the Bluetooth version is more than enough.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (46mm, Bluetooth, Black Band)

$399.99
at Amazon

$499.99
Save $100.00

$399.99
at Amazon

$499.99
Save $100.00

The physical rotating bezel makes a return with the Classic and remains one of the easiest ways to navigate the interface, particularly when your hands are sweaty or occupied. The display is brighter and more readable in direct sunlight, the case has been trimmed slightly for a sleeker fit, and the battery comfortably lasts through a full day and a night of sleep tracking. The watch also gets Google’s Gemini assistant and an updated sleep dashboard, so even if you don’t dive deep into data, the summaries are easier to understand. 

Samsung has added a few smart touches this year. The updated health sensors feel more accurate in everyday use, the dual-band GPS locks onto routes faster, and the gesture controls make one-handed navigation easier when you’re on the move. The AI running coach also feels more grounded, offering small adjustments to your stride or pace instead of vague motivational fluff. None of these are headline-grabbing changes, but they’re the kind that make a difference in daily use.

Reviews (including this “excellent” PCMag review and our own hands-on review) agree that the Classic version feels more like a traditional watch while still packing in full smartwatch features. That said, the 46mm size may not suit everyone, particularly those who prefer a smaller or lighter option. And serious workout folks may want a longer battery life than the 30-ish hours you get here. But for an everyday smartwatch with a fitness angle, it strikes a strong balance.

If you’re weighing your options, we’ve also compared the Google Pixel Watch 4 with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic in detail so you can see how they match up.