Wearable

The FDA has cleared Rune Labs to collect Parkinson's symptom information from patients via its StrivePD Apple watch app. The software can detect tremors and other symptoms of the disease and can be used to log the benefits felt by medication. Rune Labs will use the data collected by the app in clinical trials for new Parkinson's therapeutics.

Not only does Samsung plan to launch the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro soon, but it is also working on another fitness tracker. Billed as a successor to the Galaxy Fit2, the Galaxy Fit3 should offer an AMOLED display and numerous sports modes at a budget price tag. Samsung has not confirmed anything yet, but a launch date and a price have been mooted.

Huawei has started distributing software updates for the Watch GT 3 Pro, its latest flagship smartwatch. So far, Huawei has released Harmony OS 2.1.0.316, Harmony OS 2.1.0.358 and HarmonyOS 2.1.0.359 in quick succession.

A renowned leaker is already recommending that people skip the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro, both rumoured to be carrying over the design of the Galaxy Watch4. Purportedly, the Galaxy Watch5 series is uglier than any other smartwatches produced by smartphone OEMs.

According to an accurate leaker, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 will cost a fair bit more than the Mi Smart Band 6. Anticipated to be released globally soon, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 has a 1.62-inch AMOLED display with over 120 exercise modes, among other features.

The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini smartwatch has been spotted in FCC filings, indicating that the forthcoming Amazfit GT 4 series from Zepp Health will feature at the very least three smartwatches. However, it is possible that number will be added to by the presence of a Pro model. The Amazfit GT 3 series featured only three SKUs but the GT 2 range had five watches to choose from.

Following months of leaks and rumors, the existence of the Galaxy Watch5 series might have been confirmed outright thanks to new FCC certifications. Their SKUs, model numbers and some specs are included in this new leak. Their charger also pops up again here, with a potentially interesting detail that may contradict a previous tip.

Realme has been spotted certifying a new wearable suspected of being the Watch 3 with various national regulators. Now, it has popped up again on the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) database. This might prove another good indication of the new health- and fitness-tracking accessory's launching soon.

Telegram's founding organization has long been suspected of switching to a paid model; now, its leader has released a post formally outlining this new "subscription plan". The app will still be available for free, although full use of its latest features will only be available to those who subscribe to this new Premium tier, which will launch soon.

HTC has begun to tease the debut of a new device on its Taiwanese Facebook page. The product is to become part of the Viverse virtual reality (VR) ecosystem, even though it is also projected to be a smartphone. This possibility may or may not be backed up by an initial launch poster.

Meta had been rumored to launch a (possibly Facebook-brand) first-gen wearable that looked somewhat like an Apple Watch, albeit with at least 1 camera. However, the project is now believed dead in the water. Subsequently, a device that might have been its prototype has leaked out, along with reports of what would have been specs for the final product.

DIZO has unveiled the Watch D, a large smartwatch with a 1.8-inch display. To be sold initially in India, the DIZO Watch D also has over 110 exercise modes, 150 watch faces and should last up to 14 days between charges. The DIZO Watch D will start at INR 1,999 (~US$26) but will rise to INR 2,999 (~US$39) after DIZO's pre-sale period.

Samsung has released the Galaxy Watch4 Black Yak Edition, another special edition of its first One UI Watch-powered smartwatch. Designed for outdoor use, the Galaxy Watch4 Black Yak Edition also contains an environmental protection reminder.

The global version of the Smart Band 7 is already shipping, albeit inadvertently in some cases. Xiaomi has also certified the fitness tracker with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore, underlining that it is preparing a release outside China.

Huawei has started distributing a new update for the Watch 3, one of its recent smartwatches. HarmonyOS 2.1.0.236 brings several new features and improvements, but is only rolling out in China for now.

Garmin has started issuing system software 21.80 to the Fenix 6 series, which is rolling out as an over-the-air (OTA) update. Also available through Garmin Express, system software 21.80 focuses on addressing various bugs, among other minor improvements.

Realme has unveiled the GT Neo 3 as Europe's first Android smartphone capable of charging at up to 150 watts (W), thanks to its new UltraDart technology. It has also brought its MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC with it to the region, as well as a check-patterned 3T sibling that is also to become available as a new Dragon Ball Z Edition.

Fossil has finally commented on Wear OS 3 availability for its smartwatches. Confusingly, the company suggests that the Snapdragon Wear 3100-powered Fossil Gen 5 series will receive Wear OS 3, as well as the newer Fossil Gen 6. It remains to be seen whether the likes of Fossil will receive the same version of Wear OS as Samsung is currently beta testing on One UI Watch, though.

Apple has been rumored to launch its first-gen mixed-reality device (in the form of glasses or a headset) shortly. However, should all the leaks concerning its release have proven accurate, it would be on the market already. Now, a leading market analyst claims that its announcement has been pushed back due to production issues.

The European Commission (EC) has now completed its deal to make USB type-C a "common charging port" across its jurisdiction. The decision is now set to ensure that new devices of a swathe of consumer electronics categories can use the same cables and power bricks anywhere in the European Union - laptops and iPhones included.

Apple has presented its latest potential Watch software updates during its WWDC 2022 keynote. The Cupertino giant has added a number of new apps and features that many users might find welcome and useful. They include a "next level of insight" into atrial fibrillation and sleep.

According to new reports, the next-generation pair of AirPods Pro will not feature substantial design changes. Purportedly, Apple will return to its much-loved stem design language, while swapping out IR sensors for skin-detect sensors from the AirPods 3. Apple Lossless support is also expected to make an appearance on the AirPods Pro 2, which Apple is rumoured to launch in the autumn.

The New York State Senate and Assembly have approved the motion to sign the Digital Fair Repair Act into law. The bill is intended to oblige OEMs to make it easier for users to restore their personal devices on their own within the state. Its new law is now viewed as a watershed moment for right to repair throughout the rest of the United States.

A beta version of the Samsung Health app has confirmed the company's plans to launch the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro later this year. Additionally, the app now contains a reference to skin temperature monitoring, a rumoured Galaxy Watch5 feature. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro may only support up to 5 W charging, rather than matching Apple's fast charging capabilities.

New details about Amazfit's Bip 3 and Bip 3 Pro have leaked, courtesy of Amazon Brazil. Equipped with a 1.69-inch display, the Bip 3 will also feature 5 ATM water resistance, plus numerous exercise modes. The Bip 3 Pro will ship with GPS and GLONASS support too.

Realme has begun teasing the DIZO Watch D, a smartwatch that it will unveil next week. Due to arrive on June 7, the DIZO Watch D will have a monstrous display spanning 1.8-inches.

Creative has presented the Zen Hybrid, a new pair of wireless headphones that retail for under US$100. The Zen Hybrid offers up to 37 hours of battery life, Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Creative's Super X-Fi technology. The Creative Zen Hybrid is orderable now in multiple markets, including the Eurozone, the US and the UK.

The Bluetooth SIG has certified four upcoming Fossil Group smartwatches. Seemingly the Fossil Gen 7 and the Skagen Falster Gen 7, at least the former is slated for a June 2022 release.

According to reports, the Pixel Watch will feature a 300 mAh battery, regardless of which version you pick up. Apparently, Google will rate the Pixel Watch for up to a day's use between charges, but recharging the Pixel Watch could take nearly 2 hours.

Amazfit is currently previewing a New Version of the GTS 2 smartwatch on Amazon India. However, it should be noted that this unexpected reboot has an update in terms of price and not much else. Then again, this means it has the original former flagship wearable's best attributes, an Apple Watch-like design and SpO2 measurements included.

Garmin has presented the Forerunner 955, also available as the Forerunner 955 Solar. Only available in two colours, the Forerunner 955 series has a familiar design, a few new features and longer battery life than the Forerunner 945 series.

Garmin has introduced the Forerunner 255 series, consisting of the Forerunner 255, Forerunner 255S, Forerunner 255 Music and the Forerunner 255S Music. Costing between US$349.99 and US$399.99, the Forerunner 255 series offers better battery life than Forerunner 245 smartwatches, among other changes.

Razer has launched the Barracuda Pro as its latest THX-enhanced gaming headphones. The brand also asserts that it is also ideal for use outdoors, thanks to its design and specs. It is rated for hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) and beam-forming dual mics for call quality. The Barracuda Pro has an estimated 40 hours of battery life per charge, but lacks a wired mode.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 is up for sale in China, and it is likely a global variant of the fitness tracker will soon follow. Owners of the Mi Band 6 (aka Mi Smart Band 6) may wonder if an upgrade is worth the money, which will partially depend on how important a continuous blood oxygen measurement feature is to the wearer.

Sony's latest flagship TWS earbuds have been re-released in Japan as new special editions dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts. They can be ordered alongside one of the OEM's latest Walkmans, which has been given the same treatment. The 2 new SKUs can be ordered via an official store online.

The Xiaomi Band 7 Pro could be coming soon, according to a few tech leakers. The Pro variant of the Band 7 had been rumored for some time, but Xiaomi has only officially revealed a regular and NFC variant of the smart band so far. It’s rumored that the Xiaomi Band 7 Pro will be unveiled at the same time as the Xiaomi 12 Ultra phone.

The messaging app Telegram has been linked to a shift to a subscription-based model as of late. Now, the developer Alessandro Paluzzi claims to have spotted more signs that the service is preparing for this change. It consists of the re-wording of a reassuring page many users may recognize as part of the UI furniture.

Described as "the world's first non-skin contact wearable device which aims to improve overall human body performance and help people with anxiety, insomnia, and chronic disease related to problems in the vagus nerve," the Amofit S is the improved version of the AMO+, which was released in 2019, and starts at US$199.

It may have taken Google and Samsung the best part of a year, but Google Assistant is finally available on the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic. Initial tests are not all that convincing though, especially compared to older Wear OS smartwatches with the last generation version of Google Assistant.

Pricing and official images of the Forerunner 255 Music have emerged. Not only does the leak confirm what the Forerunner 255 series looks like, it also suggests that Garmin will price the upcoming smartwatches at significantly higher price points than their Forerunner 245 equivalents.

Samsung has confirmed that it will begin issuing One UI Watch beta builds for the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic, still the company's flagship smartwatches. The One UI Watch beta program will begin next week, starting in South Korea.

The Honor Watch GS 3 is now officially slated to become available on the Indian market soon, thanks to a new Amazon.in preview page. The wearable is being teased in terms of its better attributes, its dual-frequency GNSS, new 8-channel PPG AI heart-rate monitor and 14-day battery life included.

T+A Elektroakustik has unveiled the Solitaire T, a premium pair of wireless headphones that have 42 mm drivers. Equipped with a Qualcomm QCC 5127 chip, the T+A Solitaire T supports Sony LDAC and Qualcomm aptX HD codecs, but AAC is missing for iOS devices.

Mobvoi has announced the TicWatch GTW in China, a smartwatch that offers up to 30 days of battery life. While the TicWatch GTW does not run Wear OS, it has over 100 watch faces, a comparable number of exercise modes and has an NFC module for making contactless payments. Mobvoi has even included an eSIM for LTE coverage.

Amazfit has announced the T-Rex 2, a smartwatch that features a 1.39-inch AMOLED display. Weighing in at 66.5 g, the Amazfit T-Rex 2 offers 10 ATM water resistance, up to 24 hours of battery life and over 150 sports modes, among other features. The Amazfit T-Rex 2 is orderable now in multiple markets.

Google may have announced the Pixel Watch a few weeks ago, but many details about the smartwatch remain unknown. While the Pixel Watch will not arrive until the autumn, the FCC has shared new details, including what variants to expect.

ZOTAC has unveiled the latest generation of its VR GO PC at Computex 2022. It consists of a purpose-built form-factor that can be mounted on a compatible backpack shell (included in the box) for unencumbered extended reality (XR) gaming. Therefore, the user can go around with the GO 4.0's updates to a Tiger Lake platform and RTX graphics literally on them, although they will have to bring their own wired headset.

Xiaomi has introduced the Band 7, a fitness tracker that the company has released in China. With a 1.62-inch AMOLED panel and a 180 mAh battery, the Band 7 contains a few upgrades over its predecessor. The Band 7 starts at CNY 239 (~US$36) in China and is available in multiple colours.

Google has rolled out two major changes for Wear OS, months before the Pixel Watch's launch. Now, it is possible to stream music over LTE or Wi-Fi via YouTube Music, a feature that has been missing since the service's introduction last year on Wear OS. Also, the next-generation version of Google Assistant has finally landed, but only for the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic for the moment.