While much of the tech world’s focus in 2024 will be on AI, smartwatches and fitness trackers will continue to become an increasingly important part of our daily lives. As we reach the halfway point of the year, it’s time to look back at the biggest smartwatch launches of 2024 so far – and what’s coming in the next six months.
Whether it’s new software features like watchOS 11 or Polar’s big Vantage 3 update, or new hardware like the OnePlus Watch 2, smartwatch makers have been working hard this year.
This has the knock-on effect of making it difficult to keep up. That’s why we’ve rounded up all the biggest smartwatch releases you need to know about this year, followed by some of the most exciting ones we’re expecting. country in the next six months.
Thinking about buying a new smartwatch? Read on for a HIIT-style tour of this year’s highlights to help you figure out your plan of action…
Smartwatches in 2024: What were the biggest launches so far this year?
Since we’re expecting a number of major releases soon (more on that later), 2024 looks to be a busy year for smartwatches.
In March, the Garmin Forerunner 165 was released, a much cheaper smartwatch from the company that has taken the industry by storm in recent years. Despite the lower price tag, it’s still a fantastic device with an AMOLED display and 13 days of battery life – read our Garmin Forerunner 165 review for an in-depth tour of its strengths and weaknesses.
Speaking of cheaper options, we’ve already spotted two fantastic contenders for our best cheap fitness trackers list – the Honor Band 7 and the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro – if you want something a little more minimalist than a smartwatch. The former has great battery life and a nice big, bright AMOLED panel, but doesn’t have built-in GPS. The latter adds GPS support and costs $99.99 / £60 / AU$95 (though it is possible to find it for much less).
Back to smartwatches, and the undisputed Wear OS highlight of the year was the OnePlus Watch 2 (below). It launched a few months ago and has already forced its way into our guide to the best smartwatches . We dubbed it “the comeback king” in our OnePlus Watch 2 review for its full functionality with Google’s Wear OS, slick look, and excellent dual-frequency GPS tracking.
Looking for an alternative to a Garmin that puts fitness first and smartwatch second? The new Suunto Race is a much better smartwatch from the Finnish company. It’s a premium-feeling device that, despite some UX quirks, is definitely worth a look – and is cheaper than its rivals. Check out our Sunnto Race review for our full verdict.
Finally, Samsung gave us a taste of what’s to come in 2024 with the surprise launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE in June. It’s Samsung’s answer to the Apple Watch SE and costs $199 for the Bluetooth-only model (no international pricing yet, but that works out to around £160 / AU$300). The LTE version, meanwhile, will cost you $249 (about £190 / AU$360).
You can read our initial thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE here, but our attention will soon turn to the likely launch of its more expensive siblings…
Smartwatches in 2024: which launches do we expect for the rest of the year?
We’ve seen a lot of great smartwatch launches this year, but the ‘big three’ have yet to show their hand. That’s about to change.
The big launches to come…
Samsung is expected to launch its Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 soon, likely at the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event on July 10. As is often the case, most details have already been leaked before.
Expect a 3-nanometer chipset and AI-focused features, as well as improvements to the health sensor. Samsung is also expected to launch the high-end Galaxy Watch Ultra this year, with better battery life, a new color scheme, and the potential for a larger screen.
What of the current king of our best smartwatches guide, Apple? As surely as death and taxes, we’re expecting a new Apple Watch model this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the product line’s unveiling.
Sources can’t yet determine exactly what it will look like, or what it will offer, but the Apple Watch 10 (or Apple Watch It may not come with a blood oxygen sensor, but we’ll get to that soon.
There’s also talk of an Apple Watch Ultra 3, but it appears there will be few upgrades to come as the microLED technology that was reportedly planned has apparently been scrapped.
Finally, the Google Pixel Watch 3 will likely be unveiled at a recently announced event in August, and it could be bigger than its predecessor. That makes us hope for more sensors, or at least a larger battery.
Smartwatches in 2024: What other news did you miss?
Remember when we said blood oxygen monitoring might not be part of Apple’s 2024 lineup? That’s because the company was banned from selling its wearables late last year due to a dispute between Apple and Masimo, a company that claims to have a patent on blood oxygen sensor technology like the one in Apple Watch.
Although the ban was lifted, the legal battle continues, so it’s unlikely that Apple will pay much attention to the sensor at its expected September event. While things may change before then, it remains to be seen whether the sensor will be added but remain inactive prior to a subsequent software update, or if it will be removed entirely.
Speaking of software updates, WWDC brought new Apple Watch features with watchOS 11. Expect a new Vitals app for measuring potential deviations from your body’s standard data points, and Training Load to finally help you work out when it’s best to take a rest day. You’ll also finally be able to pause your Apple Fitness rings, and use the Apple Watch to track your pregnancy (yes, really).
Things aren’t so positive for owners of older Samsung fitness trackers, as the manufacturer recently confirmed it will end support for Tizen-based models. If your Galaxy Watch is older than the Galaxy Watch 4, chances are it’s coming to an end, with content support slowing until September 30 next year when support will officially end.
Finally, the OnePlus Watch 2 we mentioned earlier has the impressive distinction of offering dual operating systems on the same device. Wear OS 4 and RTOS both run on their own chips, and the device switches between the two as needed. OnePlus calls it “dual engine architecture,” and as we mentioned earlier, it’s made the Watch 2 one of the best releases of the year so far.