In 2024, smartwatches have become an essential part of modern life, offering a mix of functionality, style, and convenience that appeals to tech enthusiasts, fitness aficionados, and everyday users alike. From health-tracking features to seamless integration with smartphones, these wearables have evolved significantly over the years. But with so many options available, how do you know which smartwatch is the best for your needs?
At NBC Select, our team of experts tested a variety of cnn10, evaluating them on factors like performance, battery life, design, health and fitness features, and ease of use. After careful analysis, we’ve curated a list of the top 5 smartwatches of 2024. Here are our picks:
1. Apple Watch Series 9: The Ultimate All-Rounder
Why We Love It: Apple’s flagship smartwatch continues to set the standard for the industry. The Apple Watch Series 9 is an evolution of the Apple Watch, offering a sleek design, powerful performance, and a wide array of features that make it the best overall smartwatch in 2024.
Key Features:
- Design & Display: The Series 9 offers a bright always-on display, and it’s available in 41mm and 45mm sizes. The OLED screen is crisp, vibrant, and readable even in direct sunlight.
- Health & Fitness Tracking: The watch includes a range of health and fitness features, including ECG monitoring, blood oxygen measurement, sleep tracking, and an updated fitness app with more advanced tracking features. The addition of a new skin temperature sensor is especially noteworthy for those interested in tracking changes in body temperature over time.
- Performance: Powered by the S9 chip, the Series 9 is fast, responsive, and handles all tasks with ease. With enhanced battery life, it lasts up to 18 hours on a full charge.
- Integration: As expected, the Apple Watch Series 9 seamlessly integrates with the iPhone, providing notifications, music controls, and the ability to respond to messages directly from the watch.
Verdict: The Apple Watch Series 9 is ideal for iPhone users looking for a stylish, feature-packed smartwatch that excels in health tracking and daily functionality.
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: A Top Contender for Android Users
Why We Love It: Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 is the go-to smartwatch for Android users in 2024. It delivers all the features you’d expect from a premium smartwatch, along with an attractive design and excellent performance.
Key Features:
- Design & Display: The Galaxy Watch 6 features a sharp AMOLED display with an always-on feature and two size options, 40mm and 44mm. The rotating bezel, a standout feature, adds a tactile element that makes navigation intuitive.
- Health & Fitness Tracking: Samsung’s Health app provides comprehensive fitness and wellness tracking, including advanced heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels, ECG, and even body composition analysis. The watch also offers sleep tracking and stress monitoring features.
- Performance: Powered by a dual-core processor, the Watch 6 offers solid performance, along with a battery life of around 40 hours on a single charge.
- Compatibility: While it’s optimized for Samsung Galaxy devices, the Watch 6 works well with other Android phones and supports apps from Google’s Play Store.
Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is an excellent choice for Android users who want a feature-rich smartwatch that blends advanced fitness tracking with smart features.
3. Garmin Fenix 7X: The Best for Outdoor Adventures
Why We Love It: For those who lead an active lifestyle, especially in the great outdoors, the Garmin Fenix 7X is the ultimate smartwatch. It’s built to withstand rugged environments and offers specialized features for athletes, hikers, and adventurers.
Key Features:
- Design & Display: The Fenix 7X is built to be tough, with a large, 1.4-inch display that’s easy to read in bright sunlight. It’s designed to withstand extreme conditions, including water resistance up to 100 meters.
- Health & Fitness Tracking: The Fenix 7X comes with advanced metrics for hiking, running, cycling, swimming, and more. It includes heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, pulse oximetry, and stress tracking. The watch also offers a solar-powered option, making it great for extended outdoor adventures.
- Performance: With a battery life that can last up to 28 days (with solar charging), the Fenix 7X is perfect for long trips or outdoor activities. It also comes with built-in GPS and mapping, making it ideal for navigation in the wild.
- Additional Features: The watch includes advanced features like a barometric altimeter, compass, and ski maps, all of which are invaluable for outdoor enthusiasts.
Verdict: The Garmin Fenix 7X is the best choice for adventurers and athletes who need a durable, feature-packed smartwatch that can handle any outdoor activity.
4. Fitbit Sense 2: A Comprehensive Wellness Watch
Why We Love It: Fitbit has long been known for its focus on fitness, and the Fitbit Sense 2 continues that tradition while adding enhanced health and wellness features. This watch is perfect for those who want a comprehensive health-tracking device.
Key Features:
- Design & Display: The Sense 2 offers a sleek, comfortable design with a bright AMOLED display. It’s available in a variety of colors and comes with a range of interchangeable bands.
- Health & Fitness Tracking: The Sense 2 is packed with health features, including heart rate monitoring, stress management, sleep tracking, and skin temperature tracking. It also includes an ECG feature to monitor for atrial fibrillation (AFib) and a blood oxygen sensor.
- Performance: The battery life on the Sense 2 is excellent, lasting up to 6 days on a single charge, depending on usage.
- Wellness Features: One of the standout features of the Sense 2 is its stress management tools, including guided breathing exercises and the ability to monitor stress levels throughout the day. The watch also includes mindfulness and meditation programs.
Verdict: If wellness and mental health tracking are priorities for you, the Fitbit Sense 2 offers one of the best all-around health-focused smartwatch experiences.
5. Amazfit GTR 4: The Affordable Smartwatch with Premium Features
Why We Love It: The Amazfit GTR 4 stands out as one of the best affordable smartwatches in 2024, offering premium features typically found in more expensive models. It’s a great choice for those looking for a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on performance.
Key Features:
- Design & Display: The GTR 4 features a sleek, premium-looking design with a large AMOLED display that’s bright and vibrant. The watch is lightweight, making it comfortable to wear all day long.
- Health & Fitness Tracking: The GTR 4 offers all the essential fitness tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and blood oxygen level measurement. It also has built-in GPS for outdoor activities and sports tracking.
- Performance: With a battery life of up to 14 days on a single charge, the GTR 4 is one of the best budget smartwatches when it comes to endurance.
- Affordability: Despite its premium features, the Amazfit GTR 4 is priced significantly lower than many high-end smartwatches, making it an excellent value for those who want advanced features on a budget.
Verdict: The Amazfit GTR 4 is a fantastic option for those seeking an affordable smartwatch that doesn’t sacrifice quality, performance, or style.
Conclusion: Which Smartwatch is Right for You?
Whether you’re an iPhone user looking for seamless integration with the Apple Watch, an Android enthusiast searching for the best alternative in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, or someone who’s all about outdoor adventures with the Garmin Fenix 7X, 2024 offers a smartwatch for everyone.
For fitness-focused individuals, the Fitbit Sense 2 and Amazfit GTR 4 are solid choices, providing excellent health-tracking features at a reasonable price point. Each smartwatch on this list has its unique set of features, so the best choice ultimately depends on your priorities—whether that’s top-tier fitness tracking, rugged durability, or the best overall functionality.
At the end of the day, a smartwatch can make your life more convenient, keep you on track with your health goals, and help you stay connected. No matter your needs, the 2024 smartwatch market has something for everyone.
