Whereas a lot of the tech world’s focus has been drawn to AI in 2024, smartwatches and health trackers proceed to turn into an increasing number of vital to our on a regular basis lives. As we hit the midway level of the 12 months, it is time to look again on the greatest smartwatch launches to this point in 2024 – and what’s coming within the subsequent six months.
Whether or not it is new software program options like watchOS 11 or Polar’s large Vantage 3 replace, or new {hardware} altogether just like the OnePlus Watch 2, smartwatch makers have been working laborious this 12 months.
That does have the knock-on impact of constructing it robust to maintain up, which is why we have rounded the entire greatest smartwatch releases you must find out about this 12 months –adopted by among 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 12 months’s highlights that can assist you resolve your plan of motion…
Smartwatches in 2024: what have been the largest launches to this point this 12 months?
Contemplating we’re nonetheless anticipating some large releases quickly (extra on these shortly), 2024 is wanting like a stacked 12 months for smartwatches.
March noticed the arrival of Garmin Forerunner 165 a way more reasonably priced smartwatch from the corporate that is taken the business by storm in recent times. Regardless of the cheaper price tag, it is nonetheless a great-looking system with an AMOLED show and 13 days of battery life – learn our Garmin Forerunner 165 overview for an in-depth tour of its strengths and weaknesses.
Talking of cheaper choices, we have already seen two improbable contenders for our greatest low cost health tracker listing – 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 large, vivid AMOLED panel, nevertheless it lacks built-in GPS. The latter provides GPS help, and prices $99.99 / £60 / AU$95 (although it is attainable to search out it for much much less).
Again to smartwatches, and the undoubted Put on OS spotlight of the 12 months has been the OnePlus Watch 2 (under). It landed a few months in the past and has already pressured its means into our information to one of the best smartwatches. We referred to as it “the comeback king” in our OnePlus Watch 2 overview for its full performance with Google’s Put on OS, the slick look, and its glorious dual-frequency GPS monitoring.
Searching for a substitute for a Garmin that is health first and smartwatch second? The brand new Suunto Race is a significantly better smartwatch effort from the Finnish firm. It is a premium-feeling system that, regardless of some UX quirks, is nicely value a glance – and is cheaper than its rivals. Take a look at our Sunnto Race overview for our full verdict.
Lastly, Samsung gave us a bit of style of what is to return in 2024 with the shock launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE in June. It is Samsung’s reply to the Apple Watch SE and prices $199 for the Bluetooth-only mannequin (there is 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 targeted on the doubtless launch of its pricier siblings…
Smartwatches in 2024: what launches are we anticipating throughout the remainder of the 12 months?
We have seen loads of good smartwatch launches this 12 months, however the ‘large three’ are but to point out their hand. That is about to alter.
The large launches to return…
Samsung is anticipated to launch its Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 very quickly, probably at its subsequent Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 occasion on July 10. As is so usually 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 be anticipated to debut the higher-end Galaxy Watch Extremely this 12 months, with higher battery life, a brand new colorway, and the potential for a bigger show.
What in regards to the present king of our greatest smartwatches information, Apple? As certain as demise and taxes, we’re anticipating a brand new Apple Watch mannequin this 12 months to have fun the tenth anniversary of the product line’s reveal.
Sources cannot fairly get a deal with on what it’s going to appear like, or what it’s going to provide, however the Apple Watch 10 (or Apple Watch X, as it is also been referred to) is anticipated to have a barely bigger show. It could 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 may very well 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 lately introduced occasion in August, and it may very well be bigger than its predecessor. That is bought us hoping for extra sensors, or not less than a much bigger battery.
Smartwatches in 2024: what different information did you miss?
Keep in mind after we mentioned that blood oxygen monitoring might not be part of Apple’s 2024 lineup? That is as a result of late final 12 months the corporate was banned from promoting its wearables on account 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 an enormous deal in regards to the sensor in its anticipated September occasion. Whereas issues might change earlier than then, it stays to be seen whether or not it’s going to add the sensor however depart it dormant forward of a subsequent software program replace, or take away it solely.
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 customary information factors, in addition to Coaching Load to lastly assist you work out when it is best 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 lately confirmed it’s going to finish help for Tizen-based fashions. Primarily, in case your Galaxy Watch is older than the Galaxy Watch 4, there is a good probability it’s going to be sundown, with content material help slowing down till September 30 subsequent 12 months, when it’s going to formally finish help.
Lastly, the OnePlus Watch 2 we talked about earlier holds a powerful distinction of providing two working programs on the identical system. Put on OS 4 and RTOS each run on their very own chips, and the system switches between them as wanted. OnePlus calls it “twin engine structure”, and as we lined earlier, it is made the Watch 2 among the finest releases of the 12 months to this point.