Smartwatches have really hit their stride in the last couple of years with sleek designs, powerful hardware and slick software to boot.
They can do just about anything your phone can do from the convenience of your wrist and it’s no wonder that they are one of the most popular companion devices. Competition to be the best smartwatch is stronger than ever but we’ve chosen our favourite of the last year along with two runners-up.
Check out all the winners in this year’s Tech Advisor Best of 2024-25 Awards.
Note: The Apple Watch Series 10 arrived too late for awards consideration.
Best New smartwatch of the Year – Winner: OnePlus Watch 2R
Mike Sawh / Foundry
Sometimes less is more and although ‘R’ models from OnePlus are the downgraded versions of flagships we actually prefer the Watch 2R overall.
a smartwatch package that’s near perfect
It might not be available in a smaller size but the switch to lighter aluminium instead of stainless steel makes a big difference. It’s also cheaper but doesn’t come with any major downgrades to the specs.
With its excellent dual-engine architecture resulting in a 100-hour battery life, dual-band GPS and a 1.43-inch AMOLED display this is a smartwatch package that’s near perfect.
Read our full OnePlus Watch 2R review.
Best New smartwatch of the Year – First Runner up: Google Pixel Watch 3
Mattias Inghe
This year Google gave us what we’ve been asking for since the original Pixel Watch, a choice of sizes.
You can now get a larger 45mm option and the wearable is still one of the best looking on the market while delivering a brighter screen and a wave of new features thanks to Wear OS 5.
Read our full Google Pixel Watch 3.
Best New smartwatch of the Year – Second Runner up: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Jon Mundy / Foundry
It might be another case of incremental updates to the previous generations but the Galaxy Watch has been one of the best smartwatches for a long time.
This year’s model refines things further with performance and battery improvements along with deeper and more accurate health tracking.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review.
You may also be interested in all the 2023-24 award winners.
Author: Chris Martin, Reviews Editor, Tech Advisor
Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been at Tech Advisor for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.