The best smartwatch make fantastic fitness device. They are designed to monitor your exercise, log your activity, and provide you with health and recuperation information. But they go above and beyond. The best smartwatches available today link to your smartphone to send alerts, including phone calls, to your wrist. They also provide you with quick and simple access to a variety of apps, including timers, meditation apps, weather reports, and much more. A smartwatch is a terrific piece of gear to invest in, regardless of whether you need a partner for your workout or just want a fashionable watch with a few extra capabilities. The good news is that there are many options available these days, including a number of affordable options for those on a tight budget.
Top picks for the best smartwatches
Embark on a journey of technological sophistication with our carefully curated selection – the “Top Picks for the Best Smartwatches.” From sleek designs to cutting-edge features, these timepieces redefine what it means to wear innovation on your wrist, offering an unparalleled blend of style and functionality.
Best Smartwatch for Iphone
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The strongest wristwatch made by Apple, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, has an Action button that lets you rapidly start exercises or open apps. With a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits, it boasts the brightest screen of any Apple Watch, making it exceptionally simple to read while out and about. It also features a dual-band GPS system for precise route tracking and an integrated siren for safety, making it ideal for athletes and explorers. Additionally, LTE is included so you can travel without a phone and remain connected.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Incredibly bright screen | Battery life is the same as first Ultra |
| More accurate dictation and on-device Siri | Limited recovery metrics |
| 64GB storage means more space for music and apps | – |
| WatchOS 10 brings great new cycling and hiking features | – |
| Double Tap is very useful | – |
Apple Watch Series 9
While the Apple Watch Series 9 may not be as adventure-focused as the Apple Watch Ultra 2, it still has an ECG, temperature, and blood oxygen sensor, as well as a dust- and crack-resistant design. It is available in 41 and 45mm sizes. Although it does cost extra, you may also select a cellular or LTE model that enables you to respond messages and take calls from your wrist without using your phone.
When you are unable to reach the watch with one hand, you can use the Double Tap gesture supported by the S9 chip to operate it by pinching your thumb and forefinger together. Similar to the Ultra 2, the Series 9 boasts quicker processing speeds than previous Apple Watches and on-device Siri. With normal use, the battery lasts roughly eighteen hours, which is less than many of its competitors.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Faster Siri performance | New Double Tap gesture can feel awkward |
| More precise at finding a misplaced iPhone | Lacks the Ultra’s useful Action button |
| Wide variety of health and fitness features | No improvements to battery life |
| Double Tap lets you use the watch without touching it | Precision Finding for iPhone requires iPhone 15 |
| – | Largely the same as the Series 8 |
Best Smartwatch for Android
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic
For most people, the greatest Android watch is Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6. With maximum brightness of 2,000 nits on both the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic, viewing your watch in any kind of lighting is effortless.
You get all the main features you would anticipate, including temperature, body composition, blood oxygen, and an ECG. It should be noted that while all other functions are compatible with other Android phones, using the ECG requires a Galaxy phone. The Galaxy Watch 6 requires daily charging, just like the Apple Watch Series 9, particularly if you wish to track your sleep.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Screen is twice as bright as last year | Need to charge the watch every day |
| One-click watch band design is backwards-compatible | Irregular heart rhythm/ECG only for Galaxy phones |
| Switch phones without resetting the watch | Classic is $100 more than the Galaxy Watch 6 |
| Rotating bezel is back on the Classic | Sleep tracking accuracy is uneven |
Google Pixel Watch 2
The Pixel Watch 2 is an elegantly designed Android wearable that boasts health sensors such as an ECG and precise heart rate tracking. Many of the features we desired in the original Pixel Watch, such automatic workout detection, are filled in by it. The Pixel Watch 2’s interface for tracking exercises and seeing your health data is comparable to that of Fitbit. The watch may provide heart rate zone notifications and pacing assistance for runners.
The battery life of this watch isn’t as good as that of some other models on our list, so you’ll probably need to charge it every day, especially if you enjoy tracking your sleep and doing outside GPS workouts. Indeed, it charges more quickly than the original Pixel Watch. Additionally, there is still only one 41mm size available.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Beautiful design | Battery life could be longer |
| Accurate heart rate sensor | Some features require Fitbit Premium |
| Faster charging | Only one size option |
| Good selection of health stats and workout options | Bezels are noticeable on certain watch faces |
Best Fitness Watch for Android and iOS
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
For fitness fanatics, Garmin produces a wide range of excellent smartwatches, although their smart features aren’t necessarily extensive. The best of both worlds is available with the Venu 2 hybrid smartwatch. Quick answers for watch notifications, contactless payments with Garmin Pay, and music storage via Spotify and other apps are also available. The battery lasts for at least five days, and the brilliant AMOLED circular screen is easy to see outside.
With the exception of a speaker and microphone for making brief phone calls from your wrist when your phone is nearby or for conversing with your voice assistant, the Venu 2 Plus has all the same functionality. The Venu 3 was just announced by Garmin; we will evaluate it soon and update this list as necessary.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Speaker and mic support | Only one 43mm size option |
| Same great fitness tracking as Venu 2 | No LTE version |
| Battery lasts 8 days | – |
Best Budget Smartwatch
Apple Watch SE
This is the Apple Watch to get if you’ve never owned one. With many of the same fantastic features as the Series 9, such as heart-rate tracking, water resistance, and crash detection, the second-generation Apple Watch SE is a more affordable option. The SE lacks the Double Tap gesture and an always-on display, which is the most obvious difference between the two devices. It also lacks health sensors like the ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensors included in the Series 9.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Affordable price point | No always-on display |
| Access to a wide range of apps | Lacks advanced health features |
| Compatibility with the latest watchOS | Limited customization options |
| Integration with the Apple ecosystem | No ECG or blood oxygen monitoring |
| Siri functionality and voice commands | Slightly older processor |
Best Smartwatch for Kids
Garmin Bounce
The Garmin is durable, water
If you’re looking for the basics, the Garmin Bounce offers voice messaging and text messages (no calls or video) and has preset messages kids can choose to send to their contacts, making communication seamless. It also tracks activity, and our kid tester loved being able to see their sports “stats.”
The Garmin has a helpful “Live Assistance” safety feature that can be enabled by your child—once activated, any pre-approved contacts in the watch will receive a message with a LiveTrack link to your child’s live location. We also appreciated that you can set location boundaries so that the watch alerts parents or caregivers when a child enters or exits a boundary.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built-in GPS and LTE connectivity for real-time location tracking | Large size might be bulky for some children |
| Two-way audio messaging for parent-child communication | Limited character count for messages |
| Tracks steps, sleep, and various activities | Limited sport-specific features |
| Preloaded games and challenges | Limited game selection compared to some other smartwatches |
Final Thoughts
The best smartwatches of 2024 have transcended their roles as mere fitness devices, offering a fusion of cutting-edge technology, style, and versatility. Whether you’re an iPhone user, Android aficionado, fitness enthusiast, budget-conscious consumer, or a parent seeking a smartwatch for your child, our curated selection covers a range of preferences and needs.
In this era of wearable innovation, the options are diverse, ensuring there’s a smartwatch for every lifestyle and preference. Whether you seek advanced health metrics, seamless smartphone integration, or a stylish accessory with additional capabilities, our top picks represent the pinnacle of the smartwatch landscape in 2024. Embrace the future on your wrist!