In this article, we will list the 15 best Apple Watch alternatives in 2024. If you want to sip our discussion about Apple's patent infringement, smartwatch market, and smartwatch ownership globally, go to the 7 Best Apple Watch Alternatives in 2024.
A patent infringement case is pushing Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) to stop selling two of the most recent Apple Watch models, Series 9 and Ultra 2. The disputed component in these watches is the blood oxygen technology. The International Trade Center (ITC) ruled on October 2023 that Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) has infringed patents for pulse oximetry tech by Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ:MASI), a medical device manufacturer. The tech giant is trying to come up with a solution, but it seems like it will be a while before that happens. Given this ban, it is worth looking at some of the best Apple Watch alternatives in 2024.
The global smartwatch market is growing at a fast rate. It was valued at $33.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $90.4 billion by 2032, growing at a compounding annual growth rate of 10.5% during this period. The convenience of glancing at the wrist to stay informed about messages, calls, and important updates without picking up the phone is one of the biggest reasons for its market growth.
Another pivotal factor propelling the smartwatch market is health and fitness. These watches provide a holistic approach to health management. They offer features such as heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and workout guidance. However, smartwatches do not come cheap, and their cost is one of the greatest hindrances in the growth of the global market.
There are many ways to segment the global smartwatch market, but one of the most common segregation is based on screen type. Currently, these watches are segmented into LCD and OLED according to the screen type, with OLED having a 91% share of the market.OLED has many advantages, which is why it is contributing to the overall growth of the market. Compared to LCD, it offers more vibrant colors and is more energy efficient.
Another way to segment smartwatches is based on the application. These segments include running, notification checking, swimming, and cycling. The running segment takes the lion's share of 36%. Brand-wise, Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) is the largest player in the market with a 20% market share. Other major players include Fossil Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOSL) and Gramin Ltd (NYSE:GRMN).
Fossil Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOSL) was founded in 1984 and went public in 1990. The company has been at the forefront of smartwatch technology, recently launching exclusive smartwatch capabilities like next-gen touchscreen technology and advancements in hybrid smartwatches. However, it is worth noting that Fossil Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOSL) recently announced quitting the smartwatches market.
Gramin Ltd (NYSE:GRMN) is a prominent company known for its innovative products and solutions. The company is known for its continuous innovation in the smartwatch industry. Some of the most popular smartwatches by Gramin Ltd (NYSE:GRMN) include the Gramin Venu 2, which ranks quite high on our list of the 15 best Apple watch alternatives in 2024.
Currently, more than 200 million people use smartwatch globally. Like smartphone ownership in the US, men have a slight advantage as 23% of them use a smartwatch compared to 21.8% of women. It is worth noting here that ownership is the highest among internet users aged 25 to 34. Interestingly, within this age group, women are more likely to own a smartwatch. Of all internet-using people aged 25 to 34, 27.2% of women use a smartwatch as opposed to 26.9% of men.
With that backdrop, let's look at the 15 best Apple Watch Alternatives in 2024.
15 Best Apple Watch Alternatives in 2024
A marathon runner wearing a company branded smartwatch, monitoring his performance in real-time.
Methodology
To curate our list of the 15 best Apple watch alternatives in 2024, we consulted 5 (1,2,3,4,5) sources. In our methodology, we referred to frequency as the number of times the watch appeared in our sources. We gave the utmost importance to frequency, but we also wanted to account for the ranking of watches in our sources. So, we devised the following calculation, which we call the ranking factor: 15/ (sum of rankings*100). Our final Insider Monkey score was calculated by adding the frequency and the ranking factor. The higher this score, the higher the watch ranks on our list.
The ranking factor is designed in a way that it is always positive but less than 1. So, if the Insider Monkey score of watch A is 3.75, 3 is its frequency, whereas 0.75 is its ranking factor. For comparison, if watch B had an Insider Monkey Score of 4.40, its frequency is 4, but overall it ranked lower than watch A on our sources. However, since we prioritize frequency, watch B ranks higher on our list.
By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional looking for the best stocks to buy you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.
15 - Amazfit T Rex 2
Insider Monkey Score - 1.038
Amazfit T Rex 2 is one of the best Apple Watch alternatives in 2024. The watch has a rugged look and is perfect for all kinds of outdoor activity. It features real-time navigation along with route import which makes it easier for users to explore new terrains and trails. The watch also features an AI-powered workout guidance app that lets users optimize their workouts. Amazfit T Rex 2 features a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen with a 434px x 434px resolution and 1,000 nits brightness.
14 - Amazfit GTR 3 Pro
Insider Monkey Score - 1.039
Amazfit GTR 3 Pro is 14th on our list of the 15 best Apple watch alternatives in 2024. The watch is compatible with both Android and iPhones and comes with a stylish high-quality AMOLED screen. One of the best things about Amazfit GTR 3 Pro is that its battery can last for up to one week, depending on the usage. The watch features a 46mm aluminum body case and a 1.45-inch display. It also comes with an interchangeable strap option. Amazfit GTR 3 Pro is also waterproof up to 50 meters.
13 - Garmin Venu 3
Insider Monkey Score - 1.050
Gramin Venu 3 features a 45mm AMOLED display with a sleek and streamlined design perfect for both, indoor and outdoor use. One of the standout features of this watch is its battery life, as it can last for up to two weeks. The watch offers advanced sleep tracking and features sleep coaching, which guides regarding the amount of sleep needed for optimal recovery. The watch is also perfect for fitness tracking as it tracks a range of activities from cardio to strength training and running.
12 - Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Insider Monkey Score -1.150
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is 12th on our list of the best Apple Watch alternatives in 2024. It comes in two sizes, the 40 mm and 44 mm. The watch includes health-tracking features such as heart rate monitoring, body composition analysis, and a skin temperature sensor. The watch also provides sleep tracking and features an IP68 certification, which protects it against ingress up to 5 ATMs, making it swim-proof.
11 - TicWatch Pro 3
Insider Monkey Score - 2.008
Ticwatch Pro 3 is one of the most innovative smartwatches. It comes with two panels integrated into a single frame: the AMOLED and TN panel. The TN panel takes over when the watch is not in use for a certain time period to display time and other essential information. This saves battery life and the watch is known to last for four days which is a rare occurrence for Wear OS smart watches.
10 - Withings ScanWatch Horizon
Insider Monkey Score - 2.009
Withings ScanWatch Horizon is 10th on our list of the 15 best Apple watch alternatives in 2024. The watch combines luxury design with advanced health tracking features such as ECG, blood oxygen saturation monitoring, atrial fibrillation detection, and breathing disturbance detection during sleeping. The watch comes with an exceptionally long battery life as the company claims it can last for up to a month on a single charge. ScanWatch Horizon also comes with enhanced water resistance with a rating of 10 ATM.
9 - Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Insider Monkey Score - 2.011
It is surprising that an older model of the Galaxy Watch ranks much higher than the newer model. However, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has been around for quite a few times and the has stood out for its durability and functionality. The watch was released in 2020 and is still one of the best in 2024. It has a rotating bezel, a high-resolution AMOLED display, and a durable design. The watch comes in two sizes; 41mm and 45mm.
8 - Amazfit GTS 4
Insider Monkey Score - 2.013
Amazfit GTS 4 is 8th on our list of the 15 best Apple watch alternatives in 2024. It is a watch-style fitness tracker with an impressive battery life of up to 8 days. The watch has a rounded rectangular face and a rotating digital crown, making it look quite similar to the Apple watch. It also features a 390 x 450 OLED display which is vibrant and bright.
