2018 was another strong year for wearables, smartwatches and fitness trackers, as their abilities grew, and so too did demand from consumers keen to use them.

Just as smartphone sales begin to slow, falling victim to a stagnant and expensive market where consumers held onto their purchases for longer than ever, more affordable wearables are on the up.

Analysts IDC predict global wearable sales to double over the next four years, as companies look to take advantage of consumer demand for quantifying their activity and keep closer checks on their health.

With devices like the Apple Watch Series 4 - able to take an ECG reading in the US — the wearable market is going to mature through 2019, as manufacturers of consumer tech edge ever closer to the medical tech industry.

Here's a look at what wearables — including smartwatches and fitness trackers — we expect to see in 2019.

Google Pixel Watch

  

YouTube: Android Developers

Perhaps one of the biggest disappoints of 2018 (in technology, at least) was Google not announcing the Pixel Watch. Speculation had mounted for weeks in the run-up to the company's Pixel 3 launch event in the fall, but Google's first own-branded smartwatch never materialized.

We hope Google will finally release this watch in 2019, giving consumers a new alternative to the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch — and potentially with a lower price point. Such a watch would of course run Google's own Wear OS operating system, and the Google Assistant would likely form an important part of the experience.

Samsung's Bixby voice assistant is almost completely useless on the Galaxy Watch, so bringing a competent and useful assistant to the Pixel Watch would be a smart move from Google.

Buy Google Pixel Watches on Best Buy

Fitbit Versa Smart Watch, Black/Black Aluminium, One Size (S & L Bands Included)

List Price: $199.95

New From: $148.96in Stock

Hands on with LG W7 Watchwww.youtube.com