The smartwatch market continues to grow every year, with companies releasing exciting new models packed with innovative features, some landing on our Best Smartwatch 2024 list. As technology advances, these handy devices are becoming increasingly useful in our everyday lives, allowing us to track our health and fitness, manage notifications, make calls, listen to music, and more, all from our wrist.
With so many options on the market, it can be tough to determine which smartwatch fits your needs and budget. That’s why the CGMagazine team has thoroughly tested and reviewed the latest models to crown the Best Smartwatch 2024. Ranging from premium flagship models to great budget options, we share our hands-on impressions and highlight each smartwatch’s key strengths and any drawbacks to consider. Read on to find out our selections and to see our picks for the Best Smartwatch 2024.
Best Smartwatch 2024:
HUAWEI Watch GT4 Smartwatch
Writer: David Walters
Aesthetically, the Watch GT4 smartwatch is a thing of beauty. It satisfies my desire for simple elegance by not having too much going on around the edges. The minute/hour guide around the perimeter is easy to read and not too small. The minute/hour guide is also split between a white colour on the bottom half and a lovely green colour on the top half to match the colour of the watch strap. Green isn’t my favourite colour at the best of times, but I really like the look of the watch and the strap.
All told the HUAWEI Watch GT4 smartwatch is a very reliable device that looks good and does pretty much what you expect a smartwatch to do. If/when more features become available outside of China, then the true potential of the watch will be seen, but until then, I’ll continue to use it every day simply because it’s a low-maintenance peripheral that gives me better integration with my phone.
The HUAWEI Watch GT4 smartwatch is a smart and serviceable device, but you may need to wait for many features to come to your country.
- 1.43 inches AMOLED screen
- 14-day maximum battery life
Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
Writer: Brendan Frye
Xiaomi has become a major player in the smartwatch market, producing some of my favourite smartwatches to date. With the release of the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, the company is looking to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple in the premium smartwatch segment. Priced at around $200, the Watch 2 Pro is Xiaomi’s first smartwatch to run Google’s Wear OS software, marking a significant shift from its previous watches and bringing a new level of flexibility to its wearables.
I have to say, once set up, I really liked what the Watch 2 Pro brought to the table, and I have to admit, Xiaomi has managed to make a compelling offering for people currently on Android and who want to keep fit while they stay connected. The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro packs impressive specs and features into a stylish yet sporty smartwatch design. For its price point, it delivers exceptional value compared to rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5.
The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro delivers impressive style, display, performance, and battery life in a premium yet affordable package, cementing Xiaomi as a major player in the Android smartwatch market.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Smartwatch
Writer: Dayna Eileen
Smartwatches often elude me, with many looking far too sporty to be fashionable and some far too fashionable to wear to bed to track sleep or sweat on. I mean, that is what they are meant for, but it just feels wrong to me. Luckily, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 smartwatch walks a fine line between fashion and function, and it has a few more tricks up its sleeve, too.
Battery life on the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is outstanding. I thought that the larger screen, when compared to my Inspire, would mean I had to sacrifice its battery, but I was very wrong. I can go almost two weeks between charges, probably longer, but I can’t bring myself to wait. I’ve gone away for work for more than a week and don’t even think about bringing my charger because I have that much faith in it. It also charges to full in around 40 minutes, gaining around 30% in just ten.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 has everything I could need in a smartwatch, tracks more than I could ever use and does it with an insanely long-lasting battery life. Coming in at only $62.99 USD, I couldn’t imagine choosing another smartwatch for my day-to-day, especially since I can the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 up with accessories, too!
- The upgraded Xiaomi wristband features a brand new quick release structure, which not only allows for easy replacement, but also frees up the surrounding “constraints” of the wristband, achieving more “material freedom” for the wristband; The exquisite body showcases a fashionable metallic texture, bringing for the first time two new mid frame colors of “light gold” and “bright black”
- Water resistance level : water resistant
