December 2024

Smartwatches: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of smartwatches rankings posted by key online experts, as of December 2024.

Summary

On 20 Dec 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 84 smartwatch endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

49 smartwatches were endorsed in total, only 15 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)

As of 20 Dec 2024, Apple Watch Series 10 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smartwatch with 5 expert endorsements. 4 experts out of 5 recommended it as the '#1 smartwatch' this month.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking smartwatches start at $79.95 (CMF Watch Pro) and go up to $839 (Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar). Median smartwatch costs $249.95 (OnePlus Watch 2).
$79.95
$839

At a glance - December Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Smartwatch
TechRadar
Wareable
10Beasts
Trusted Reviews
Tom's Guide
Popular Science
PCMag
Ars Technica
Android Authority
Reviewed
1
- Check price
Apple Watch Series 10
-
1
-
1
1
-
1
-
2
-
2
- Check price
Apple Watch Ultra 2
1
6
-
8
6
-
7
-
-
6
3
- $350
Google Pixel Watch 3
4
2
-
-
3
-
9
-
1
-
4
- $250
OnePlus Watch 2
5
-
-
3
-
-
10
-
5
5
5
- $300
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
-
4
-
-
2
-
5
-
3
-
6
+1 Check price
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE is a comprehensive fitness tracking device with heart rate monitoring, fall detection, noise monitoring, steps and general activity tracking, and a wide range of workouts, making it a great option for those who prioritize fitness tracking and health monitoring.
-
9
-
-
4
-
6
-
-
2
7
+1 $650
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
3
7
-
7
8
-
-
-
-
-
8
+1 Check price
Apple Watch 7
The Apple Watch 7 is a highly capable smartwatch with excellent health and fitness tracking, a durable and stylish design, and seamless connectivity with iPhones, making it a great choice for iOS users who prioritize health and fitness tracking and app integration.
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
9
+1 $139
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a comprehensive smartwatch with advanced health tracking features, a sleek design, and seamless connectivity for Android users.
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
10
+1 $398
Garmin Venu 3
The Garmin Venu 3 is a highly capable smartwatch that excels in fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, GPS accuracy, and smart assistant integration, making it a versatile and reliable choice for individuals looking to improve their overall health and well-being.
-
8
-
-
5
-
-
-
4
-
11
+1 Check price
Apple Watch SE 2
The Apple Watch SE 2 is a feature-packed smartwatch that offers extensive fitness tracking, smart assistant capabilities, durable design, and seamless integration with iOS devices, making it an ideal choice for iOS users.
2
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
+1 Check price
Fitbit Sense
The Fitbit Sense is a comprehensive smartwatch and fitness tracker that offers a wide range of features for users interested in tracking their health and wellness, including heart rate monitoring, automatic exercise tracking, built-in GPS, swim-proofing, voice assistants, and sensors that measure stress levels, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and oxygen saturation levels.
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
2
-
-
15
- Check price
Fitbit Versa 3
The Fitbit Versa 3 is a comprehensive fitness tracker and smartwatch that offers a wide range of features, including daily step tracking, heart rate monitoring, workout tracking, built-in GPS, blood oxygen monitoring, voice assistant technology, and a sleek and durable design.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
7
16
- $350
Withings ScanWatch 2
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
7
-
17
- $270
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 is a feature-packed smartwatch with accurate fitness tracking, long battery life, and convenient smart assistant integration, making it a great choice for Android users.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
8

Smartwatch
#9 $139.47 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
#4 $249.95 OnePlus Watch 2
#17 $269.99 Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5
#11 $278.12 Apple Watch SE 2
#5 $299.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
#16 $349.95 Withings ScanWatch 2
#3 $349.99 Google Pixel Watch 3
#10 $397.98 Garmin Venu 3
#7 $649.99 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

We ranked Apple Watch Series 10 #1 in December 2024 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 4 experts ranked Apple Watch Series 10 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Wareable

Best overall smartwatch (iOS only)

Easier to use
Lovely finishes
Sleep apnea detection

Battery life is still a day
Huge display is a lot on the wrist

Go to ranking

Trusted Reviews

The best smartwatch

Comfy to wear
Sleep apnea detection is great to have
Faster charging

Battery life remains short

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch for iPhone users

Bright, sizable display is easy to read at an angle
Thin and lightweight design
Sleep apnea detection
Excellent user interface with lots of useful apps
Fast charging

Same 18-hour battery life as Series 1-9
Blood Oxygen app disabled for U.S. customers

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best for iPhone Users / Editor's Choice

Thinner case and bigger screen than the Series 9
Gorgeous polished aluminum, titanium case options
Depth app, water temperature sensor
Supports audio playback
Sleep apnea notifications

Blood oxygen sensor is currently inactive

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Best For iPhone / Editor's Choice

Increased display size
Thinner, sleeker build
FDA-approved sleep apnea detection

Same 18-24 hour battery life
No SpO2 measurements disabled in US
Vitals app somewhat simplified

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple Watch Ultra 2 #2 in December 2024 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Apple Watch Ultra 2 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best smartwatch overall

Large, bright display
Action button is very useful

battery life could be better
Ultra Wideband only works with iPhone 15

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best sporty smartwatch (iOS only)

Great screen
Supreme GPS accuracy
Gestures are cool AF
Carbon neutral

Wellness feels a tad stale
Short on prosumer metrics
New carbon neutral bands slightly dull

Go to ranking

Trusted Reviews

Best rugged smartwatch

Top screen
Excellent sports tracking
The best Apple Watch

Fitness tracking feels dated
Lack of performance analysis
Mapping rolling out slowly

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch for longevity

Best battery life of any Apple Watch
Customizable Action Button
Emergency siren
Sleep apnea detection
100 meters of water resistance

Large case size
Pricey

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best for Outdoor Adventurers

3,000-nit display
Powerful processor
Expanded operating altitude
Carbon-neutral build option
Excellent connectivity features

Expensive
Some map limitations

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Editor's Choice

Rugged
Improved UI
On-board Siri processing

Battery could be better
Some features unavailable at launch
Plenty of competent competitors

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend smartwatches.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of smartwatches, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for December 2024 ranking

We ranked Google Pixel Watch 3 #3 in December 2024 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Google Pixel Watch 3 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best Google smartwatch for Pixel users

Elegant, classic watch-like looks
Brilliant screen
New multi-path HR sensor

One (small) size fit all
Band switch system takes practice
No blood oxygen sensing - yet

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best smartwatch for Android (Android only)

Finally in two case sizes
Two-day AOD battery life (45mm version)
Still excellent HR tracking

Not much of an upgrade for 41mm users
No dual-frequency GNSS
Stress tracking remains baffling

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best Android smartwatch overall

Two days of battery life (45mm model)
Useful sleep, wellness and training insights
Twice the screen brightness of the Pixel Watch 2
Advanced running form metrics

One day of battery life (41mm model)
Lengthy multi-week calibration period for metrics like Target Load

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Holistic Health Insights

Useful holistic health metrics
Detailed running guidance
Accurate heart rate monitoring
Excellent sleep tracking

Expensive
No new sensors
Some metrics take weeks to calibrate

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Best For Android / Editor's Choice

Larger, secondary case size
Multi-day battery life
Added wellness features, including advanced running metrics
Refined integration with Pixel phones and Google services
Accurate heart rate tracking
Runs Wear OS 5

GPS unimproved from Pixel Watch 2
Inconsistent total distances
Higher price than GW7 (but worth it)

Go to ranking

We ranked OnePlus Watch 2 #4 in December 2024 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best Wear OS smartwatch not made by Google

Big battery life with dual OS
Accurate fitness metrics
Looks great

Single size
Rotating crown not used

Go to ranking

Trusted Reviews

Best Wear OS smartwatch

Good battery life (with raise to wake)
Slick WearOS skin
Good sports and fitness tracking features

While it is well-made, it doesn’t stand out from the crowd
Battery life with always-on screen isn’t great
Heart rate readings during exercise aren’t the most accurate

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Battery Life

Up to four days of battery life
Stainless steel case
Responsive touch screen
Good app selection
Accurate sleep measurements
Excellent running insights

Comes in only one size
No cellular option
Lacks ECG, body temperature sensors, fall detection, period tracking
No phone camera controls

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Best for battery life

Runs Wear OS 4
Unique dual-chip architecture
Incredible battery life
Fast charging capabilities

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Editor's Choice

Easy to manipulate the screen, use the app
Fantastic battery life and quick charging
Lots of Watch Face options to personalize the look

Only comes in one larger size
No ECG app, menstrual cycle tracking
Always-on display significantly reduces battery life

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 #5 in December 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Wareable

Best Samsung smartwatch for most people (Android only)

Feature-packed software
Much-improved sports tracking
Some useful new health and wellness insights

The battery performance hasn't improved
Some features require a Samsung smartphone
No major design changes

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch for sleep tracking

Accurate and detailed sleep insights
Useful AI-powered wellness features
Comfortable design and responsive user interface
Double the storage capacity of its predecessor

One day of battery life
Health-monitoring features like sleep apnea detection require a Galaxy phone

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Android Watch for Advanced Health Tracking

Accurate heart rate measurements
In-depth sleep monitoring
AI health insights
Responsive touch and gesture controls

One-day battery life
Slightly inaccurate running distance and sleep time measurements

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Best for Samsung

Useful new Energy Score
Sleek, refined design
Familiar Wear OS experience
Easily interchangeable watch bands
Reasonable price
More accurate heart rate monitor

Some Samsung-exclusive features
GPS tracking still struggles with tall buildings
Still mostly minor updates
Battery life is good but not great

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple Watch SE #6 in December 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 May 2023)
The Apple Watch SE is a comprehensive fitness tracking device with heart rate monitoring, fall detection, noise monitoring, steps and general activity tracking, and a wide range of workouts, making it a great option for those who prioritize fitness tracking and health monitoring.
Critic endorsements:
Wareable

Best affordable Apple Watch (iOS only)

Tracking is very accurate
S8 chip provides very smooth experience
Superb value

Battery life hasn't progressed
Design is starting to look a little old
No always-on display

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best affordable smartwatch on the market

$249 starting price
Comfortable and sleek design
Available in two sizes and with/without LTE
Compatible with the latest watchOS 11 software

18 hours of battery life
Comparably dimmer screen than competition

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Affordable Apple Watch

Upgraded processor from previous model
New motion sensor with support for Crash Detection
Improved real-world battery life
Lightweight
Excellent app selection and safety features
Lower price than first-generation model

No always-on display
Lacks sensors for ECG, SpO2, or body temperature
No rating for dust resistance

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Best Value

More for less
Great iPhone integration
Crash detection

Still no always-on display
Inconsistent evercise detection

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra #7 in December 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best Samsung smartwatch overall

Powerful fitness features
Durable and tough

Relatively pricey
Optimized for Samsung phones

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best sporty Wear OS smartwatch (Android only)

Solid build and fun design
Excellent HR and GPS tracking
Cracking display
Sleep tracking is very detailed

Insane rotating bezel miss
Battery life feels inconsistent
Samsung phone required for some features
Looks ridiculous on smaller wrists

Go to ranking

Trusted Reviews

The best Samsung smartwatch

Wear OS gets some design personality
Strong GPS and HR accuracy
Ultra-bright and clear display
Comprehensive sleep tracking

Navigation crying out for rotating bezel
Inconsistent battery life
Not a good fit for smaller wrists
Exclusive features for Samsung phones

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch for monitoring your health

Premium materials and color options
Customizable 'Quick' button
Accurate health sensor readings
Actionable wellness insights
Sleep apnea detection
Solid battery life

Similar performance to the cheaper Galaxy Watch 7
Best health features require Samsung phones
Large case size

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple Watch 7 #8 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Apple Watch 7 as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 May 2023)
The Apple Watch 7 is a highly capable smartwatch with excellent health and fitness tracking, a durable and stylish design, and seamless connectivity with iPhones, making it a great choice for iOS users who prioritize health and fitness tracking and app integration.
Critic endorsements:
10Beasts

Best Smartwatch for iPhone

Connects seamlessly with iPhone
Acts as your phone when needed
Easy to read face
Waterproof
Many health and tracking features
Very few complaints

Expensive
Can be easy to crack the screen

Go to ranking

Ars Technica

The best smartwatch overall

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 #9 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 12 May 2023)
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a comprehensive smartwatch with advanced health tracking features, a sleek design, and seamless connectivity for Android users.
Critic endorsements:
10Beasts

Best Overall Smartwatch

Easy and sleek app
Customizable features with the app
Many features
Clean appearance
Great customer reviews

Slightly expensive
Short battery life

Go to ranking

Ars Technica

Best Android smartwatch

Go to ranking

We ranked Garmin Venu 3 #10 in December 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 5 Nov 2023)
The Garmin Venu 3 is a highly capable smartwatch that excels in fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, GPS accuracy, and smart assistant integration, making it a versatile and reliable choice for individuals looking to improve their overall health and well-being.
Critic endorsements:
Wareable

Best for wellness (iOS and Android)

Wellness features finally feel useful
Top HR accuracy
Lovely screen

Really pricey
Sports tracking offers basic metrics only
Some sleep accuracy niggles

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best fitness-tracking smartwatch

Intuitive sleep and workout advice
Borrows features from high-end Garmin watches
Up to 14 days of battery life

Not enough third-party apps

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Best for fitness tracking / Editor's Choice

Highly accurate GPS and heart rate sensors
Automatic nap detection and sleep coaching
On-device phone call and voice assistant support
Up to 14-day battery life
Larger display

Pricey compared to competitors
No LTE model
Limited third-party app support

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple Watch SE 2 #11 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 5 Aug 2023)
The Apple Watch SE 2 is a feature-packed smartwatch that offers extensive fitness tracking, smart assistant capabilities, durable design, and seamless integration with iOS devices, making it an ideal choice for iOS users.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best Apple Watch for iPhone users on a budget

Light and comfortable
Good battery life for price
Packs updated features compared to older cheap Apple watces

No always-on screen or ECG compared to higher-priced watches
Nylon back

Go to ranking

Trusted Reviews

The best value Apple Watch

Plenty of the best Apple Watch features in a cheaper package
Excellent software
Wide customisation options
Accurate tracking

Slow charging
No always-on display

Go to ranking

We ranked Fitbit Sense #12 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 May 2023)
The Fitbit Sense is a comprehensive smartwatch and fitness tracker that offers a wide range of features for users interested in tracking their health and wellness, including heart rate monitoring, automatic exercise tracking, built-in GPS, swim-proofing, voice assistants, and sensors that measure stress levels, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and oxygen saturation levels.
Critic endorsements:
Popular Science

Best fitness tracker

Offers a long-lasting battery life, so you can avoid charging for days at a time.

Screen response time can be slow when compared to other smartwatches.

Go to ranking

Ars Technica

Runner-up

Go to ranking

We ranked Fitbit Versa 3 #13 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 May 2023)
The Fitbit Versa 3 is a comprehensive fitness tracker and smartwatch that offers a wide range of features, including daily step tracking, heart rate monitoring, workout tracking, built-in GPS, blood oxygen monitoring, voice assistant technology, and a sleek and durable design.
Critic endorsements:
Ars Technica

A slightly more affordable smartwatch we like

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Editor's Choice

Automated fitness tracking
Always-on display
Battery life

Button design
Premium-feature paywall
Usability quirks

Go to ranking

We ranked Withings ScanWatch 2 #14 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Trusted Reviews

Best hybrid smartwatch

Lovely design
Performs well as a sleep tracker
Useful temperature variation data

Heart rate tracking accuracy during the day and exercise
Small screen isn’t great for phone notifications
Battery life with all monitoring features in use

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Best hybrid

Premium, classy design
Up to 30-day battery life
Broad health tracking tools
Useful fitness tracking
Available in two sizes

Limited display space
High price point
No built-in GPS
Few smart features

Go to ranking

We ranked Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 #15 in December 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartwatches” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 21 Jul 2023)
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 is a feature-packed smartwatch with accurate fitness tracking, long battery life, and convenient smart assistant integration, making it a great choice for Android users.
Critic endorsements:
Android Authority

Best innovation

Dual display is fantastic
Updated digital crown
Improved durability
Same snappy performance

Doesn’t run the latest Wear OS
No wireless charging
Only available in one size
No LTE model

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Up-to-date OS
Excellent build quality
Intuitive Interface

No Google Assistant Access

Go to ranking