5 wearables we expect to see in 2024: The gadgets to look out for
If a new wearable is on your wish list, you might be a little disappointed with 2023's offering. There were some excellent devices announced, but none were hugely groundbreaking compared to previous iterations.
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 were identical in design to the previous best Apple Watches, the Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra for example, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic also weren't much different from their predecessors – apart from the reintroduction of the rotating ring on the Classic of course.
There's plenty in the pipeline for 2024, though, with rumors of some really exciting wearables to look forward to in the next twelve months.
Samsung Galaxy ring
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is the first wearable we expect to see released in the new year, and it's also one of the most exciting. Samsung has been working on wearables for a long time β does anyone remember the Samsung Galaxy Gear? β but the Galaxy Ring would mark a new category for the company, and it's a sector it could dominate if it applied the same premium build quality to smart rings as it does to its Galaxy smartphones.
Following on from the popular Oura Ring and Circular Ring pictured above, the Galaxy Ring is expected to be a minimalist take on fitness trackers, packing a number of sensors into a small and discreet size. Rumors suggest that many key features of the Galaxy Watch will be on the Ring, including the ability to measure heart rate, steps and SpO2 with your finger.
The best part? It's expected to launch alongside the Galaxy S24 smartphones in January 2024, so it won't be long to see if Samsung will put a ring on it.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
It doesn't seem right to mention the Galaxy Ring without talking about the Galaxy Watch 7 models. Whether we will continue to see a Galaxy Watch 7 and a Galaxy Watch 7 Classic, or whether Samsung will switch back to a Watch 7 Pro instead of the Watch 7 Classic for 2024, remains to be seen for now. We can be sure that Samsung will refresh its Galaxy Watch in 2024, probably by the end of summer, alongside the Galaxy Z devices.
Details are scarce at the moment, but we're hoping the Watch 6 Classic's rotating bezel will either remain for the 2024 successor or be swapped for a Watch 7 Pro. With the flagship Watch 7, we expect the premium quality that these smartwatches offer, and we would like even longer battery life to compete with Garmin's. 48 hours please!
The Galaxy Watch 7 models are also expected to run Wear OS while offering a range of health features, including the Watch 6's blood pressure monitoring through pulse wave analysis, and full body composition tracking to replace a smart scale. Compatibility with the iPhone would be a nice addition, although we have to say that we cannot maintain it.
Apple Watch SE3
It's a big year for Apple Watch in 2024, marking the tenth anniversary of the original Apple Watch's announcement. We highly expect the Apple Watch
This model is typically released biannually, and since no Watch SE has been announced in 2023, an update is planned for 2024.
Our wishlist for the third-generation model includes an Always-On Display β this has been on the Apple Watch Series since the Series 5, so it's no longer new technology, but it never made it to the SE range. An electrocardiogram and blood oxygen monitoring function (once the legal issues with Masimo are resolved) wouldn't be out of place either.
It will undoubtedly continue to have a smaller feature set than the Watch it also remains a fair price. The only bad news with this is that we don't expect it to appear on the new iPhone models until September 2024.
OnePlus Watch 2
When OnePlus launched its first smartwatch in 2021, it was initially met with great enthusiasm. Then came the reviews and it was clear that you would settle (see what we did there) by choosing it over the Pixel Watch or Samsung's Galaxy Watch models.
However, the company seems to have learned a thing or two from the first attempt, with rumors suggesting that the OnePlus Watch 2 will launch in 2024 and bring a number of improvements.
It's said to come with a larger AMOLED display and run Wear OS 4 – the same operating system as the Pixel Watch 2 – which would be a huge advantage over the custom software the OnePlus Watch runs on.
Google's operating system offers more flexibility in terms of apps, in addition to a simpler user experience. As for the launch of the next OnePlus Watch, our money would be around Mobile World Congress at the end of February 2024, but nothing concrete yet.
Garmin Forerunner 65
Garmin has so many devices that you could be forgiven if you can't keep up. An update to the Lily smartwatch has been mooted and as always we're patiently waiting for the Garmin Fenix ββ8, but we're also looking forward to an update to the budget Forerunner in 2024.
The Forerunner 55 arrived in June 2021, so it's due for a refresh despite not having a regular release pattern. It was great for offering many of Garmin's brilliant software features, but for a more budget-conscious runner who was satisfied with a less premium build quality compared to the company's more expensive devices such as the Fenix ββrange.
There are few rumors at the moment, but a refresh of the Forerunner 55 into what would presumably be the Forerunner 65 is one we expect (or hope) in 2024.