Whereas a lot of the tech world’s focus has been drawn to AI in 2024, smartwatches and health trackers proceed to develop into increasingly necessary to our on a regular basis lives. As we hit the midway level of the yr, it’s time to look again on the greatest smartwatch launches up to now in 2024 – and what’s coming within the subsequent six months.
Whether or not it’s new software program options like watchOS 11 or Polar’s huge Vantage 3 replace, or new {hardware} altogether just like the OnePlus Watch 2, smartwatch makers have been working exhausting this yr.
That does have the knock-on impact of creating it powerful to maintain up, which is why we’ve rounded all the greatest smartwatch releases you should find out about this yr –adopted by a number of the most enjoyable ones we’re anticipating to land within the subsequent six months.
Fascinated about shopping for a brand new smartwatch? Learn on for a HIIT-style tour of this yr’s highlights that will help you resolve your plan of motion…
Smartwatches in 2024: what have been the largest launches up to now this yr?
Contemplating we’re nonetheless anticipating some huge releases quickly (extra on these shortly), 2024 is wanting like a stacked yr for smartwatches.
March noticed the arrival of Garmin Forerunner 165 a way more inexpensive smartwatch from the corporate that’s taken the trade by storm lately. Regardless of the lower cost tag, it’s nonetheless a great-looking gadget with an AMOLED show and 13 days of battery life – learn our Garmin Forerunner 165 evaluation for an in-depth tour of its strengths and weaknesses.
Talking of cheaper choices, we’ve already seen two incredible contenders for our finest low-cost health tracker checklist – the Honor Band 7 and the Xiaomi Sensible Band 8 Professional – if you would like one thing extra minimalist than a smartwatch. The previous has nice battery life and a pleasant huge, vivid AMOLED panel, but it surely lacks built-in GPS. The latter provides GPS assist, and prices $99.99 / £60 / AU$95 (although it’s potential to seek out it for much much less).
Again to smartwatches, and the undoubted Put on OS spotlight of the yr has been the OnePlus Watch 2 (under). It landed a few months in the past and has already compelled its approach into our information to the finest smartwatches. We known as it “the comeback king” in our OnePlus Watch 2 evaluation for its full performance with Google‘s Put on OS, the slick look, and its glorious dual-frequency GPS monitoring.
Searching for an alternative choice to a Garmin that’s health first and smartwatch second? The brand new Suunto Race is a a lot better smartwatch effort from the Finnish firm. It’s a premium-feeling gadget that, regardless of some UX quirks, is nicely price a glance – and is cheaper than its rivals. Try our Sunnto Race evaluation for our full verdict.
Lastly, Samsung gave us a bit style of what’s to return in 2024 with the shock launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE in June. It’s Samsung’s reply to the Apple Watch SE and prices $199 for the Bluetooth-only mannequin (there’s no worldwide pricing but, however that equates to round £160 / AU$300). The LTE model, in the meantime, will set you again $249 (round £190 / AU$360).
You’ll be able to learn our early ideas on the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE, however our consideration will quickly be centered on the probably launch of its pricier siblings…
Smartwatches in 2024: what launches are we anticipating throughout the remainder of the yr?
We’ve seen loads of good smartwatch launches this yr, however the ‘big three’ are but to point out their hand. That’s about to alter.
The large launches to return…
Samsung is predicted to launch its Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 very quickly, most probably at its subsequent Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 occasion on July 10. As is so typically the case, a lot of the particulars have leaked forward of time.
Anticipate a 3-nanometer chipset and AI-focused options, in addition to well being sensor enhancements. Samsung can also be anticipated to debut the higher-end Galaxy Watch Extremely this yr, with higher battery life, a brand new colorway, and the potential for a bigger show.
What in regards to the present king of our finest smartwatches information, Apple? As certain as demise and taxes, we’re anticipating a brand new Apple Watch mannequin this yr to rejoice the tenth anniversary of the product line’s reveal.
Sources can’t fairly get a deal with on what it’ll appear like, or what it’ll provide, however the Apple Watch 10 (or Apple Watch X, because it’s additionally been referred to) is predicted to have a barely bigger show. It might not include a blood oxygen sensor, although, however we’ll cowl that shortly.
An Apple Watch Extremely 3 has additionally been mooted, however it seems that upgrades could possibly be slim after the microLED that was reportedly deliberate was seemingly scrapped.
Lastly, the Google’s Pixel Watch 3 is more likely to be revealed at a just lately introduced occasion in August, and it could possibly be bigger than its predecessor. That’s received us hoping for extra sensors, or a minimum of an even bigger battery.
Smartwatches in 2024: what different information did you miss?
Keep in mind once we mentioned that blood oxygen monitoring will not be part of Apple’s 2024 lineup? That’s as a result of late final yr the corporate was banned from promoting its wearables because of a dispute between Apple and Masimo, an organization that claims to have a patent over blood oxygen sensor tech just like the one in Apple Watch.
Whereas the ban was lifted, the authorized battle continues on, and so Apple is unlikely to make a giant deal in regards to the sensor in its anticipated September occasion. Whereas issues may change earlier than then, it stays to be seen whether or not it’ll add the sensor however go away it dormant forward of a subsequent software program replace, or take away it fully.
Talking of software program updates, WWDC introduced new Apple Watch options with watchOS 11. Anticipate a brand new Vitals app for measuring any potential deviance out of your physique’s normal knowledge factors, in addition to Coaching Load to lastly assist you work out when it’s finest to have a relaxation day. You’ll be able to lastly pause your Apple Health rings, too, and use the Apple Watch to trace gestational being pregnant (sure, actually).
Issues aren’t fairly as constructive for homeowners of older Samsung health trackers, because the producer just lately confirmed it’ll finish assist for Tizen-based fashions. Basically, in case your Galaxy Watch is older than the Galaxy Watch 4, there’s a great likelihood it’ll be sundown, with content material assist slowing down till September 30 subsequent yr, when it’ll formally finish assist.
Lastly, the OnePlus Watch 2 we talked about earlier holds a formidable distinction of providing two working techniques on the identical gadget. Put on OS 4 and RTOS each run on their very own chips, and the gadget switches between them as wanted. OnePlus calls it “dual engine architecture”, and as we lined earlier, it’s made the Watch 2 top-of-the-line releases of the yr up to now.
