The best smartwatches of 2024: from Apple to Huawei

While smart rings haven’t finally replaced smartwatches (although the little gadget is unlikely to ever tell the time), we’re here to summarize another year in review. And this time, it’s smartwatches we’ve got in our sights.

Every self-respecting brand has already released at least one such device, and some, like Apple for example, have already released three series – regular, SE and even Ultra. In general, all smartwatches have similar functions: time (as corny as that sounds), fitness trackers, and health tracking. On some you can play mini-games, some will allow you to view information and make calls, and on some you can type a reply to a text message. So what is it about these devices that attracts customers time after time, and what makes some models stand out in 2024? Let’s take a look.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2024)

The apple company’s most powerful and tricked-out watches. Not only do they have so many features that most people will never even need in their lives, but they also look extremely impressive. Like the first model, this smartwatch is aimed primarily at active athletes who don’t just go to the gym, but hike, play dangerous sports, and generally lead very active lifestyles.

What else sets them apart from the base version? A bright, large screen, improved battery life, and the ability to detect sleep apnea. It may not seem like a big improvement, but for those who care, Watch Ultra 2 is sure to be an essential device.

Apple Watch Series 10

For those who prefer fewer features for professional sports and a sleeker, more minimalist design, the Apple Watch Series 10 is a great fit. They’ll reveal most of their potential if you’re using an iPhone as your smartwatch. Otherwise, you might want to consider an Android smartwatch from the brand in question.

The Series 10 is considerably thinner than the previous generation, but it doesn’t compromise on longevity. It’s also slowly but surely becoming your own personal fitness trainer that’s always by your side (namely, on your arm). And (if that’s important to you), it can track your ECG.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Samsung is struggling to keep up with global trends (which are often set by Apple), and so this year the company decided to release its own version of a smartwatch with the word “Ultra” in the title. Since Samsung needed its own flagship in this segment, it made it, and it’s a great watch.

As with the Apple products, they’re aimed at outdoor activities and professional athletes. They have a lot of workout modes, a high level of water and dust resistance, and a long run time on a single charge. They have a cute design and quite understandable interface. If you own an Android smartphone, they will be a great choice for you (although you can also pay attention to the Huawei Watch Ultimate. They came out last year, but they still do a great job, especially when paired with Android smartphones).

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

Xiaomi with its Smart Band 9 Pro immediately stands out in the market. It doesn’t have a round display, or even a square one – it’s rectangular, and it looks pretty special. The watch has an AMOLED screen with up to 1,200 nits of brightness and a refresh rate of 60Hz, giving users a rich and crisp picture.

With a brightness level of up to 1,200 nits and a refresh rate of 60Hz, it’s a great choice.

As with all previous and future smartwatches, it tracks workouts, physical activity and your health. What makes this particular model stand out is its collaboration with Just Dance. With the help of them you can play your favorite dance game with even clearer motion capture. Plus they’re NFC-enabled, so you can make contactless payments.

Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro

The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is most reminiscent of a classic mechanical watch in the best sense of the word. From year to year, the watch design of this series changes a little bit, but it changes, which users regard positively. This year the smartwatch became a little more “brutal”. Its case is made of titanium alloy, so it feels weightier on the hand.

But more than anything else, Huawei’s watches won their attention in the marketplace thanks to their renowned autonomy. If you just wear it on your wrist, rarely look at the screen and don’t use it much, it’ll easily last about two weeks on a single charge. If you decide to use them as you should – workouts, calls, keeping them on overnight – they’ll last one week. But compared to the same Samsung and Apple smartwatches, these are very impressive figures. So if battery life is important to you, the Watch GT 5 Pro is your choice.