:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Best-Smartwatches-of-2024-tout-ec98057ea3834bbfa1e2b8782393e923.jpg "The 7 Best Smartwatches of 2024")
Once upon a time, watches simply told time. Today, smartwatches can do just about anything, from providing directions to monitoring your health and fitness to facilitating phone calls.
There are more than a few smartwatches on the market these days, so you’ll want to consider what exactly you want your watch to do and how you’ll use it before picking a device. You’ll also want to ensure that your smartwatch is compatible with your phone, as most of them require an accompanying device to connect with. Beyond that, smartwatches aren’t necessarily the clunky devices they once were — some even look quite elegant on the wrist.
Because smartwatches are so versatile, both in appearance and function, it can be a challenge to figure out which product suits your needs and preferences. We’ve sifted through the smartwatches on the market and chose the best ones that can make your life easier, safer, and healthier.
Best Overall
Apple Watch Series 9 Smartwatch
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/apple-watch-series-9-gps-41mm-smartwatch-96ac21556b434155ad9202a5f5bc9fb8.jpg)
Amazon
-
The new Double Tap feature means you can make and end calls, view messages, set timers, and more without ever touching the screen.
There’s a reason you see Apple Watches almost everywhere you go: this product has set the standard for what smartwatches can and should be. It’s loaded with built-in features, including a heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, GPS, fitness app, temperature sensing, emergency detection, voice control, Apple Pay, and Siri. You can even add additional apps to the watch, customizing its function even further.
Apple Watch users can customize their watch’s appearance with a wide variety of color options and band styles. And despite the slim design, the watch is surprisingly durable. It’s IP6X-certified dust-resistant and swimproof up to 50 meters deep. One fully-charged battery can last up to 18 hours, or up to 36 hours on low power mode.
For travelers, the Apple Watch Series 9 can be an invaluable tool. It keeps you connected hands-free, allowing you to keep your phone in a pocket or a bag — use it to navigate a new city, track your fitness activity, and even monitor potential health emergencies. The new Double Tap feature even lets you control things on the screen by just touching your thumb and index finger together twice with the hand wearing the watch. Ultimately, convenience is key when it comes to this device.
The Details: 41mm, 45mm | Up to 18 hours of battery life | GPS | Apple Pay | Heart Rate Monitor | Water-resistant up to 50 meters | Aluminum
Best Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Samsung-Galaxy-Watch-6-990e06d3187749d282e7dfbac3b21e01.jpg)
Amazon
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is, unsurprisingly, best paired with Samsung smartphones — since many users don’t pay for standalone cellular service on their watches, it’s crucial that your watch be able to sync with your phone for connectivity. (The Galaxy 6, however, does have cellular service capabilities.) It’s particularly notable for its large, bright display — a welcomed attribute for those who find the touchscreens of smaller watches difficult to manage. Its battery life is notably better than the Apple Watch by about 22 hours, although it doesn’t quite have the style options of an Apple Watch. There are just three watch colors from which to choose, though there are far more band styles.
The device comes with a bevy of health and fitness features, such as sleep tracking (and coaching), heart rate monitoring, and body fat measuring. In terms of durability, it’s water resistant up to 50 meters in depth and safeguards against dust — beneficial for anyone using its health and fitness capabilities while working out. The Galaxy 6 can also perform typical smartwatch tasks such as playing music, navigating a route, and receiving texts and calls.
The Details: 40mm, 43mm, 44mm, 47mm | Up to 40 hours of battery life | GPS | LTE optional | Heart Rate Monitor | Water-resistant up to 50 meters | Aluminum
Best Google
Google Pixel Watch 2
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Google-Pixel-Watch-2-8d1b7ed738e3436e83de772d1fb21091.jpg){kind=tracking}
Amazon
The Google Pixel Watch 2 has two unique qualities that we’re especially fond of. For one thing, it is fully compatible with all sorts of commonly used Google apps, such as Google Wallet, Google Calendar, and Gmail. The Google Assistant voice feature also allows you to use your watch hands-free. The Pixel Watch 2 also comes with detailed sensors using Fitbit technology that track your heart rate, skin temperature, and stress levels — when your stress levels get too high, your watch can provide guided breathing sessions to help you relax. We also love its safety features, such as fall detection and emergency sharing. For those who enjoy spending time exploring the great outdoors, particularly if they’re alone, this smartwatch is especially valuable as a potentially life-saving tool as you can set up automatic alerts to your emergency contact and local emergency services.
In terms of design, there are four color combos from which to choose. The battery life is good, but not superb, and it’s water-resistant in “shallow water,” with no depth specified. Nonetheless, there’s a lot to like about this product (particularly if you’re a Google Pixel user) and it may not be long before Google’s smartwatches are giving Apple a run for its money.
The Details: 41mm | Up to 24 hours of battery life | GPS | Google Wallet | LTE optional | Heart Rate Monitor | Water-resistant | Aluminum
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Amazfit-GTR-4-6eb948c98988412d904736cd5d3f8698.jpg)
Amazon
Smartwatches can get pretty expensive, so it’s understandable that some consumers might prefer a device with a lower price tag — the trade-off being fewer bells and whistles. The Amazfit GTR 4 is considered a “budget” smartwatch, but it still packs in a surprising number of fitness features. Its two standout qualities are its 150-plus different sports modes that can track your heart, activity, and stress levels and its whopping 14-day battery life. It also places a particularly strong emphasis on its GPS accuracy, making this smartwatch a great option for runners tracking their path or hikers heading off-trail. We also like that it comes with Amazon Alexa for hands-free use.
All that said, the lower price does have its drawbacks. There are only six different style/color options, and there’s not much here in terms of advanced apps that you’ll find on most other smartwatches, such as digital wallets. The basics, however, are covered, from receiving phone calls to setting alarms. So, if you’re sporty and looking to save some coin, the Amazfit GTR 4 is a strong smartwatch option.
The Details: Up to 14 days of battery life | GPS | Heart Rate Monitor | Water-resistant up to 50 meters | Aluminum
Best Splurge
Apple Watch Ultra 2
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Apple-Watch-Ultra-2-f1b464669a964d83ac86ab58d11aadbc.jpg)
Amazon
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 distinguishes itself from its competitors in two ways: it’s more durable than any other smartwatch on the market, and it improves upon the Apple Watch Series 9 capabilities in almost every way (other than price, of course). While most smartwatches are made of aluminum, this one is made of ultra-strong titanium. It’s also among the most waterproof smartwatches: water-resistant up to 100 meters in depth. It can hold up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 72 hours in low-power mode, far surpassing the capabilities of the Apple Watch Series 9.
For off-the-beaten-path travelers, you’d be hard-pressed to find a smartwatch better suited to your needs. The Ultra 2 allows you to call or text without an iPhone — cellular capabilities are built-in — and you can even stay connected overseas with an international roaming plan. The GPS is ultra-precise (even in dense cities) and the Compass app shows elevation, incline, and even longitude and latitude. The only thing that prevents this watch from topping our list as best overall is its rather exorbitant price tag and the limited design choices: It only comes in one color, though there are various bands.
The Details: 49mm | Up to 36 hours of battery life | GPS | Apple Pay | Heart Rate Monitor | Water-resistant up to 100 meters | Titanium
Best for Health
Fitbit Sense 2
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fitbit-158cdfde7afa4e55860bc0c76a77af73.jpg)
Amazon
Before the rise of modern smartwatches, there was the humble Fitbit — originally, it was mostly a step counter. These days, some Fitbit models have evolved into smartwatches, such as the Fitbit Sense 2, though they all still maintain their focus on health and fitness. Features for this model include blood oxygen tracking, stress management, irregular heart rhythm notifications, sleep scores, skin temperature, and blood glucose tracking, to name a few. You can also subscribe to Fitbit Premium to access a variety of workout programs.
Beyond that, the Fitbit Sense 2 has typical smartwatch capabilities, like calling and texting, navigation via Google Maps, digital wallets (both Google Wallet and Fitbit Pay), and Alexa voice commands. What’s more, its battery lasts up to six days, and it’s compatible with both Apple and Android devices. If there’s any minor concern, it’s that there are only three color combos between the watch itself and its band.
The Details: Up to 6 days of battery life | GPS | Google Wallet/Fitbit Pay | Heart Rate Monitor | Water-resistant up to 50 meters | Aluminum
Best Hybrid
Garmin Vívomove Trend
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Garmin-Vivomove-Trend-8170360602444405a4d8b827c697e6ae.jpg)
Amazon
The beautiful design of the Garmin Vívomove Trend disguises smart features under a traditional watch — hence “hybrid.” Simply tap on the watch face or raise your wrist to reveal the smart feature displays. There are multiple colors to choose from, including gold, rose gold, silver, and black. Or you could opt for adjacent models for additional styles: Vívomove Sport, Vívomove Style, and Vívomove Luxe.
The battery life is excellent, with up to 5 days of use — and Garmin offers a wearable power bundle that allows you to charge your watch without taking it off. But when you do take it off, you can charge the device via any Qi charger. Although this product can’t match the extensive capabilities of a Fitbit or Apple Watch, there’s nonetheless a fair amount of smart capabilities, including contactless payment, a heart rate monitor, sleep score, and stress tracking. Do note that there’s no GPS built into the watch, though you can connect the watch to your phone’s GPS.
The Details: 40mm | Up to 5 days of battery life | No GPS | Garmin Pay | Heart Rate Monitor | Water-resistant | Stainless steel
Tips for Buying a Smartwatch
Know how you want to use it
Smartwatch features can entice a variety of potential users, from those primarily concerned with assistance with day-to-day tasks to those focused on fitness. The best smartwatch ultimately is the one that’s best suited for your needs and lifestyle. Before you buy anything, consider how you want to use your device. If you’re often traveling or outdoors, prioritize features such as durability, GPS accuracy, and health monitoring. But if you’re typically sitting at a desk all day, quick and easy access to apps like Gmail and Google Calendar might be your highest priority.
Consider device compatibility
Smartwatches sometimes need to be paired with a compatible smartphone in order to use its full suite of features. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Apple Watches pair with iPhones, Samsung watches work with Samsung phones, and Google watches work with Google phones. That being said, some third-party smartwatches can be used with either Android or Apple phones. And some watches don’t even rely on any phone at all — these are ones with built-in cellular capabilities. Before purchasing a smartwatch, be sure to investigate which phones it can be paired with.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
T+L contributor Stefanie Waldek is a freelance travel writer with more than a decade of experience in wearing and writing about smartwatches. For this article, she evaluated her own experience with smartwatches and read dozens of customer reviews.
Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.
