Another year of stunning smartwatches! I was so impressed to see how many companies came out with watches that had new features, better performance, and an overall vision of having a better outlook on what we use the smartwatch for.
Jumping right in, Google is taking the win with the best Android smartwatch. The company’s Pixel Watch 4 outshone what it means to be a great smartwatch.
Best smartwatch: Google Pixel Watch 4
The Pixel Watch 4 dominated the staff vote, with only a few Galaxy Watch 8 or Garmin picks. People are impressed with how many upgrades Google packed into this thing: the classy domed display, the significant battery boost paired with top-tier charging speeds, the accurate and efficient dual-band GPS, the satellite SOS, and the Material 3 Expressive UI redesign that feels much more Pixel-like.
Having reviewed and loved the Pixel Watch 4 myself, I could go on! But the main point is that, four generations in, Google is still focused on innovation and upgrades, while more established brands like Apple and Samsung have fallen into comfortable rhythms and rarely make such dramatic changes year over year. Plus, the Pixel Watch 4 experience should keep improving as Google upgrades the Gemini assistant experience and Fitbit AI coaching.
Best smart ring: Oura Ring 4
Oura continues to dominate the smart ring category, and while the Oura Ring 4 launched in the latter half of 2024, the company has not slowed down, launching massive updates to the hardware and software. The new Oura Ring Ceramic is a beautiful piece of hardware for those of you who want a more classy-looking wearable, and the newly revamped Oura app adds touches of Apple’s Liquid Glass UI design while invoking a calmer overall design to really hone in on the wellness aspect of the product.
Oura also leaned into AI this year with the launch of the Advisor, an AI-powered chatbot that helps you understand your metrics and can chat with you about your stats. You can even track meals just by taking photos of them, letting the Oura app determine what you ate and how it may contribute to your overall health.
Best smart glasses: Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2
After a very successful two-year run, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses got their first sequel, and Meta seemingly did everything right. Fresh styles are paired with excellent camera upgrades that both boost resolution to 3K and deliver substantially better video stabilization. Not only that, but the glasses feature double the battery life of the original release, plus new features like conversation focus, better microphones, and even better speakers with Dolby Atmos Surround support for an amazing audio experience. Oh, and don’t forget the fact that Meta updates these basically every month with a new feature, and you get a pair of AI glasses that can’t be beat.
