2024 has been an unlimited 12 months for wearable tech and one which’s modified the panorama massively.
Proper right here we’re on the end of 1 different giant 12 months of wearables — in an commerce that’s one of many thrilling in tech. That’s Wareable’s tenth end of 12 months evaluation, and genuinely, this could possibly be most likely probably the most attention-grabbing 12 months as a result of the rise of wearables in 2014.
Wearables often usually are not solely driving new sort components and insights however moreover characterize one of many thrilling and associated intersections for AI, by means of nicely being insights and likewise AR-based glasses.
Attempting once more at 2024, it’s been one factor of a breakout 12 months. We’ve seen Oura develop from cult wearable tech hero to an unlimited $5bn success story, and superior sensors and nicely being metrics go from vibrant ideas to realities.
Let’s look once more on the 12 months and all the huge tales that caught our eye.
January
Xiaomi Watch 2 was first worth vary Placed on OS watch
Xiaomi launched its Watch 2, and for the first time launched an actual worth vary option to the Placed on OS cannon. Working on Placed on OS 4, it marked the first truly aggressive Xiaomi smartwatch by means of choices and pricing.
Samsung launched sleep apnea detection
Samsung introduced sleep apnea detection attribute for its Galaxy Watch assortment, gaining FDA clearance. Samsung’s implementation shows oxygen saturation and respiratory patterns all through sleep to find out potential sleep apnea episodes. Apple would later observe go nicely with using completely totally different know-how and approaches.
Oura rolled out Stress Resilience
Oura unveiled its Stress Resilience feature, utilizing coronary coronary heart cost variability (HRV) to supply real-time stress insights. Via the app, prospects acquire actionable solutions, much like mindfulness exercises and lifestyle adjustments, to reinforce their psychological well-being.
February
Samsung Galaxy Match 3 revived well being trackers
Samsung’s Galaxy Match 3 debuted as an entry-level well being tracker, combining affordability with necessary choices. Sporting a vibrant AMOLED present, robust train monitoring, and as a lot as two weeks of battery life, it was an injection of faith into the stuttering well being tracker market.
Honor smart ring launched, on no account to be heard of as soon as extra
Once more at MWC, Honor unveiled its first smart ring, signaling its entry into the rising market for compact nicely being wearables. The ring focuses on core choices like coronary coronary heart cost and sleep monitoring, with an emphasis on affordability and minimalist design. Nevertheless we’ve heard treasured little regarding the ring since then, and a promised 2024 launch has been and gone.
Humane liked AI Pin hype
It seems years prior to now now, nonetheless the Humane AI Pin was the communicate of town in February. The imaginative and prescient of a wearable AI assistant for hands-free interaction truly caught of us’s imaginations. We tried it at MWC and it was clear that whereas there was the seed of an thought, it was sluggish, clunky, and ludicrously pricey. By the summer time season, the company will be up in the marketplace and the Humane AI dream efficiently lifeless.
March
Oura launched Being pregnant Insights
Oura launched its Pregnancy Insights feature, tailoring its biometric monitoring for expectant mothers. Using coronary coronary heart cost variability, sleep information, and temperature developments, it offers personalised insights into the altering physique all through being pregnant. The switch doubled down on ladies’s nicely being, which was a key pillar of Oura’s approach.
Dexcom Stelo formally launched for the usmarket
After a CES unveil, Dexcom introduced Stelo, the first prescription-free regular glucose monitor (CGM) for the U.S. market. Geared towards pre-diabetics or Type 2s, it broadens entry to glucose monitoring and was the first over-the-counter decision.
Ray-Ban Meta gained AI powers
Ray-Ban smart glasses acquired a severe substitute with Meta’s AI integration. The model new choices enabled voice-controlled assist, hands-free messaging, and real-time contextual help.
Polar Grit X2 challenged Garmin
Polar unveiled the Grit X2, a rugged multisport GPS watch with dual-band GPS, a bolstered sapphire glass present, and extended battery life.
April
Sort launched 2nd gen AR swim goggles
Form launched its second-generation smart swim goggles, that features improved AR overlays for real-time swim metrics. The updated design affords larger comfort and efficiency, along with enhanced information monitoring and compatibility with normal swim apps.
Oura rolled out Symptom Radar beta
Oura launched Symptom Radar into beta as part of its Labs attribute. Symptom Radar tracks biometric monitoring with illness detection. It appears for deviations in metrics like coronary coronary heart cost and temperature, the gadget helps prospects decide potential indicators of illness early. It’d land out of beta as a fully-fledged attribute in December 2024.
Would possibly
Fitbit Ace LTE took all people unexpectedly
Fitbit shocked all people with the launch of Ace LTE, its first kid-focused wearable with cellular connectivity. The Ace LTE permits kids to make calls, ship messages, and share their location with authorised contacts.
June
Samsung pre-emptively sued Oura
Ahead of the Galaxy Ring launch, Samsung filed a pre-emptive lawsuit in direction of Oura, escalating tensions throughout the aggressive smart ring market. Oura had been aggressively suing every smart ring agency for infringement on its patents, and the go nicely with marked a pre-emptive strike in direction of the company doing the an identical. As of December 2024, Oura stays to be to sue Samsung.
Galaxy Watch FE was worth vary numerous
Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch FE, a budget-friendly smartwatch offering necessary nicely being and well being choices. Positioned as an entry-level selection, the Watch FE consists of coronary coronary heart cost monitoring, sleep monitoring, and entry to Samsung’s Nicely being ecosystem.
Abbott reveals off Rio
Abbott launched the Rio CGM, a consumer-focused regular glucose monitor, throughout the U.S. A riposte to Stelo, the system targets to make glucose monitoring further accessible and cheap for diabetes administration over-the-counter.
July
Oura went full AI
As July bought right here spherical, Oura rolled out AI-driven nicely being educating, enhancing its smart ring’s capabilities. Oura Advisor affords personalised suggestion based mostly totally on the patron’s biometric information, serving to them optimize restoration, train, and sleep.
RingConn Gen 2 smashed crowdfunding targets
RingConn unveiled its second-generation smart ring, offering enhanced nicely being metrics like coronary coronary heart cost variability and sleep monitoring. With a sleeker design and improved battery life, RingConn 2 turned a strong competitor to commerce leaders like Oura. It went on to smash crowdfunding targets, and get a beautiful 4 stars in our evaluation.
Meta moved its glasses mission right into a model new wearables division
Meta restructured its AR glasses mission beneath its devoted wearables division, signaling a stronger dedication to {{hardware}} innovation. It separated AR and smartglasses from the company’s VR and Oculus performs and arguably gives the part further room to develop and succeed.
Ultrahuman launched PowerPlugs for Ring Air
Ultrahuman expanded its ecosystem with PowerPlugs, which are primarily an app retailer for its Ring Air platform. The company added apps for AFib detection, along with Jet Lag Advisor and others.
Samsung launches Ring and Watch 7
The Galaxy Watch 7 wasn’t an unlimited talking stage this 12 months, nonetheless Galaxy Ring was. As a major gen product, the form subject and sleep educating insights impressed us — although Samsung priced the Ring elevated than we anticipated. It moreover launched the Galaxy Watch Extraordinarily, a straight shot at Apple’s premium smartwatch.
August
Garmin Fenix E and Fenix 8 land
Garmin launched the Fenix 8 and Fenix E, and launched its flagship multisport wearables up to date. Fenix 8 obtained AMOLED exhibits for the first time, along with improved photograph voltaic charging, and longer battery life. The Fenix E offered a Fenix with pared-back choices to compete in direction of the Apple Watch Extraordinarily, although made too many sacrifices to impress us in our evaluation time.
Pixel Watch 3 went giant
Google formally unveiled the Pixel Watch 3, introducing a model new 45mm dimension alongside the current 41mm selection. The smartwatch accommodates a brighter AMOLED present with decreased bezels, reaching as a lot as 2,000 nits brightness. Nicely being and well being enhancements embody superior working analytics, teaching load analysis, and a personalised readiness ranking.
September
Abbott Lingo launched throughout the US
Abbott launched its Lingo biowearable throughout the U.S., offering real-time glucose monitoring starting at $49. Abbott’s entry into the U.S. market positions it as a key participant in biowearables.
Apple Watch Sequence 10 obtained new sizes and sleep apnea attribute
Apple celebrated the tenth anniversary of its smartwatch with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 10. The design modified barely with an increase (as soon as extra) to 42mm and 46mm case sizes. It moreover launched sleep apnea detection by means of the accelerometer, which was authorised by the FDA merely after launch.
Apple added listening to choices to Apple AirPods Skilled 2
Apple expanded the nicely being efficiency of AirPods Skilled 2 with hearing-focused features, along with a professional-grade listening to verify, along with a listening to help attribute. The listening to verify is rolling out extensively, whereas the company stays to be battling regulators in most territories to get the AirPods authorised as an over-the-counter (OTC) listening to help.
October
Oura Ring 4 joined the smart ring battle
Oura launched its fourth-generation smart ring, introducing improved sensors for sleep and train monitoring and a sleeker design. The company boosted signal pathways from 8 to 18, to reinforce accuracy on darkish pores and pores and skin, elevated BMI, and when the ring twisted on the finger. It moreover launched a revamped app with a take care of longitudinal nicely being and ovulation monitoring. Study our Oura Ring 4 review.
Aktiia launched smartphone blood pressure breakthrough
Aktiia unveiled a smartphone-based blood pressure monitoring know-how, eliminating the need for cuffs, and even the company’s wearable system. By utlising a smartphone digital digital camera, the app can take on-demand blood pressure readings, making it further helpful and accessible.
Whoop added step purpose (after saying it wouldn’t)
Whoop introduced a step-counting feature, aligning with commerce norms and enhancing its attraction to casual well being prospects. The company had stoically dismissed step monitoring for years, nonetheless had U-turned as a consequence of purchaser demand, and allegedly, realization that step counts are a great way of staying healthful.
Strava Intelligence launched
Strava debuted its Athlete Intelligence attribute, using AI to supply effectivity analysis and training insights. On the market in beta, the gadget affords insights and context into workouts.
NHS put smartwatches and wearables at coronary coronary heart of NHS plans
The NHS revealed plans to integrate wearables into its healthcare strategy, using devices for distant monitoring and preventative care. The initiative shows the rising recognition of wearables as essential devices for bettering public nicely being and streamlining medical suppliers.
November
Oura and Dexcom partnered up
Oura launched a $75m investment from Dexcom, that included a partnership to mix regular glucose monitor information into its platform. The collaboration permits seamless information sharing, providing prospects with a holistic view of their nicely being, and further context about blood glucose spikes. And that wasn’t the tip for Oura funding for 2024…
Strava pissed off all people with API modifications
Strava confronted backlash over changes to its API policy, proscribing third-party app entry. The switch sparked outrage amongst builders and prospects after it efficiently reduce off a whole cottage commerce of suppliers and apps that analyzed train information from the platform.
Oura acquired Sparta Science
Oura acquired Sparta Science, a frontrunner in movement and hurt analytics, to develop its capabilities in effectivity monitoring. The acquisition enabled Oura to entry Sparta’s enterprise-grade nicely being platform and experience working with the military after the smart ring giant penned a $90m+ address the Pentagon.
Coros launched Tempo Skilled to undercut Garmin
Coros introduced the Pace Pro, a working watch with an AMOLED present and distinctive battery life. It as soon as extra locations pressure on Garmin, with a formidable $349 ticket and extreme grade choices that restores Coros as a worth vary numerous.
Ultrahuman turned first ring with Afib detection
Ultrahuman added its AFib PowerPlug, and made the Ultrahuman Ring Air the first smart ring to provide early warnings for irregular heart rhythms. This addition aligns with the mannequin’s mission to ship full nicely being monitoring, fascinating to prospects prioritizing cardiovascular nicely being.
December
Vuzix Z100 launched to prospects
Vuzix brought its Z100 smart glasses to the consumer market, offering AR choices like real-time navigation and hands-free notifications. It’s the first consumer offering from the enterprise-focused agency, which possibly indicators a maturation of the AR market.
Oura hit $5.2bn valuation and checked out new merchandise
Oura reached a $5.2 billion valuation, after an additional Sequence D spherical of funding along with its $75m funding from Oura. Tom Hale, Oura CEO moreover teased new upcoming merchandise.
Polar 360 went B2B
Polar launched its 360 B2B platform, providing corporations with customizable wearable choices. The initiative targets firm wellness, healthcare, and sports activities actions industries, demonstrating Polar’s shift in direction of enterprise-focused decisions.
