Wearable

The OnePlus Band is seemingly in the works and should soon be ready to challenge the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 in the budget wearable sector. Rumors state that the OnePlus Band will be unleashed with a sub-US$40 price tag and may be launched in the Indian market first, where the Xiaomi Mi Band series has dominated affordable fitness tracker sales.

Some users with brand-new affordable Apple Watch and HomePod variants have encountered difficulty in their set-up or configuration while trying to connect them to their personal or home systems. This is thought (somewhat understandably) to a seasonal overload of the OEM's servers, although the timing is still a bit unfortunate.

Samsung is slated to launch the Galaxy Buds Pro alongside the S21 series in January 2021. According to their latest leak, they will have improved active noise cancellation (ANC) and ingress-protection compared to the Buds Live. However, they may also be the costliest of their series yet.

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed that the company is almost ready to announce its first smartwatch. The putatively called OnePlus Watch will be released in early 2021.

The Amazfit Bip U Pro fitness smartwatch is now available to customers in the US at a price of US$69.99 with free shipping. Buyers of the wearable from Huami will get to enjoy built-in GPS, Amazon Alexa assistance, and over 60 sports modes. The Amazfit Bip U Pro also offers blood-oxygen level measurement and heart-rate monitoring.

The Realme Watch S Pro is almost upon us, but CEO Madhav Sheth has found time to publish several teasers of the upcoming smartwatch. The Realme Watch S Pro will have an AMOLED screen, up to 14 days of battery life, GPS and a heart rate monitor, among other features.

The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini fitness smartwatch from Huami is now officially available to shoppers in the US. The wearable, which comes with a heart-rate monitor, PAI health assessment system, and SpO2 level measurement, is priced at US$99.99 with free shipping. The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini weighs just 19.5 g (0.69 oz).

Huami's latest smartwatches are 'e' versions of the Watch GTS 2 and Watch GTR 2, respectively. The new models are cheaper, but they have better battery life. Huami has not skrimped on other areas either, with the Watch GTS 2e and Watch GTR 2e both featuring AMOLED displays and SpO2 sensors.

Realme has started revealing some of the details about its upcoming Watch S Pro device, including the launch date for the high-end wearable. The Realme Watch S Pro comes with a blood oxygen and heart-rate monitor, built-in dual-satellite GPS, and it can offer up to 14 days of battery life. Realme’s first premium smartwatch will be launched on December 23.

Some recent leaks have pointed to a first-gen smartwatch from OnePlus, for which the OEM might develop a proprietary UI. However, a new interview with this company's CEO indicates that it will use Google's WearOS - then again, it may be heavily modified so as to fit in with its device ecosystem.

JLab Audio has released its latest TWS earbuds rated for active noise cancellation (ANC). There are 2 varaints in this new Epic Air line: AirPod-clone and non-AirPod clone with earhooks for active use. They offer long battery life, a low-latency mode and a patented inbuilt USB cable for their charging cases.

A couple of Apple Watch-related patents could give an indication of the direction Apple is taking in regard to a potential Apple Watch Series 7 device. One of the patents details a Touch ID button for the smartwatch while the other reveals an under-display camera solution that would make an Apple Watch 7 ideal for quick FaceTime video calls.

Qualcomm has unveiled the new QCC305x series of chipsets for TWS earbuds. The OEM claims it can be used to make new products in this category that are cost-effective yet have some current or upcoming premium specs. They include audio-sharing between multiple earbud sets, Adaptive ANC and Bluetooth LE Audio

Xiaomi has released a new firmware update for the Mi Band 5 activity tracker. The software has been pushed out to deal with problems with the accuracy of the sleep-tracking function, with a few other minor additions such as extra language support included. It’s likely the update will eventually make it to the international Mi Smart Band 5 variant.

Realme is gearing up to release a new smartwatch into its wearable lineup in the form of the Realme Watch S Pro. The device has already been leaked via the FCC and now Realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Sheth has been continuously teasing the Watch S Pro ahead of its imminent launch. Built-in GPS and a large AMOLED should feature.

The phrase "OLED Provided by Samsung" has been submitted as a trademark by the OEM in question with the European Union's Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It has led to speculation that this move is part of the company's run-up to CES 2021. It may also simply serve to underpin its position in the relevant market.

Xiaomi has introduced the Mi Watch Lite with little to no fanfare. The new smartwatch has a square display, up to 9 days of battery life, a 230 mAh battery and GPS support, among other features. The Mi Watch Lite currently retails in China for CNY 299 (~US$45).

Huawei has released new software updates for two of its most popular smartwatches, the Watch GT 2 Pro and Honor MagicWatch 2. Each update adds a few interesting new features, such as workout upgrades and a quick dial that contains shortcuts for favourite features.

Google has announced an update for Chrome OS to version 87. This upgrade allows users to see how much battery their Bluetooth-connected peripherals have left for the first time. It also confers the ability to search through open tabs and makes the system more accessible to multilingual users.

The start-up RollingSquare scored a major crowdfunding win with its original inCharge product, a miniature cable that clicks together with magnets to form a keychain for portability. Now, it is back with a new version, rated to deliver up to 100 watts (W) of power when connected to a compatible device.

The Galaxy S21 series is currently touted to launch soon. Their launch is now said to mean the end of support for some older smartwatches or fitness bands from the same OEM, however. They may still work with older phones, though, just not those released after 2020.

The Xiaomi Redmi Watch is already available to order from third-party retailers. Currently, AliExpress offers the best deal on the smartwatch, where it sells for US$59.99. The Redmi Watch is available in three colours from the retailer, all of which have the same 1.4-inch display and IP certification, among other features.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that the upcoming 100% virtual version of its flagship conference is now taking registrations. They include a special reduced price from now until January 4, 2021. The actual digital show itself starts on the 11th of that month.

GoPro has posted "record-breaking" sales on its website due to its Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2020 event. The OEM also now increased the number of its subscribers to over 670,000, compared to about 500,000 at last count. The latest holiday period has also helped the company to an important milestone.

Good news, Malaysian fans of the latest OnePlus special-edition flagship phone: it's coming to your market! Then again, there are just 10 of them, and they are only found in blind boxes to be sold via Lazada. This promotional event will take place on December 12, 2020.

Wristcam has announced its eponymous band for the Apple Watch. True to its name, the Wristcam band adds not just one, but two cameras to the embedded in an Apple Watch-compatible band.

An earlier tip dropped a strong hint that the successors to the Galaxy Buds Live TWS earbuds would be called the Buds Pro. Now, their certification with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) all but confirms this state of affairs. Meanwhile, another prominent leaker has posted the first renders for these potential accessories.

The Amazfit Pop Pro offers almost an unbelievable amount of smartwatch for about US$60. Despite its relatively low price, the Pop Pro has a GPS module, a SpO2 sensor, 5 ATM waterproofing, NFC and up to nine days of battery life.

The Amazfit GTS 2 mini builds on the GTS 2, albeit by being a cheaper and smaller alternative to Huami's recent smartwatch. The feature set has been shrunk compared to the Amazfit GTS 2, as has the size of the display and watch body.

Huami only unveiled the Zepp Z in the middle of November, but it turns out that there is a second version of it. The second model includes an ECG monitor and an NFC module, which were both missing from the Zepp Z that Huami announced internationally.

Huami plans to bring the Amazfit Bip U Pro to Europe, and for only about €70. The Bip U Pro has a 1.43-inch display, a SpO2 sensor and GPS, among other features.

Cubot has unveiled the C3, its latest smartwatch. Not only does the C3 have a rugged design, but it has a unique dual crown system. The Cubot C3 has a 1.3-inch display and is 5 ATM water-resistant, too.

Huawei has heavily discounted the Watch GT 2e, just over seven month after it launched the smartwatch in April. The Watch GT 2e can now be purchased for under £100, a saving of over £60. The offer is available on multiple colours and comes with two Huawei Mini Speakers if bought from Huawei directly.

The Amazfit Pop Pro will join the Amazfit GTS 2 mini in being released tomorrow. The former will have a 1.43-inch display and many of the features that one would expect from a contemporary smartwatch. The design of the Amazfit GTS 2 mini has apparently been leaked, too.

Xiaomi is preparing to release new Bluetooth wireless earphones in the near future, which may either be called the Redmi True Buds 2 Pro or the more familiar and concise Redmi AirDots 3. The audio device has been spotted receiving its Bluetooth certification. The Redmi AirDots 2 were launched in July 2020 at just 79 yuan (US$12) in China.

ZTE has launched the Watch Live in its native China. This new wearable is of the Apple Watch-clone variety, although it sells for much less than its clear inspiration. Its maker claims that it packs 24-hour heart-rate tracking, blood-oxygen sensing, sleep-tracking and up to 21 hours of battery life in its square casing.

Samsung is rumored to have a new member of its Galaxy Buds series to launch alongside the S21 smartphones in January 2021. Now, a recent certification has revealed that they may be revealed as the "Pros" of their line at this event. This may be due to the inclusion of ANC in this generation.

The start-up Olive Union has put its latest product up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo. On first glance, they are a particularly chunky take on the AirPod-clone TWS earbud. This may be because they apparently pack an "FDA-registered" hearing aid in with typical Bluetooth and audio components. They, for example, purport to exclude background noise to isolate human voices.

HTC might be planning a return to the smart mobile market with new TWS earbuds. These products have been spotted on the database of the Taiwanese regulator NCC ahead of their launch. This leak indicates that these new accessories have a Sony-clone look and can use Bluetooth 5.0.

Xiaomi has certified the Redmi Watch and Mi Watch Lite with the Bluetooth SIG. Correspondingly, the two devices should receive global releases, albeit probably in different markets. Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Watch in China yesterday.

Huami has begun teasing the Amazfit GTS 2 mini, its next smartwatch. The Amazfit GTS 2 mini will arrive on December 1 and will probably resemble the popular Amazfit GTS with a rectangular display.

The first-ever Redmi smartwatch is finally here. Dubbed as the Redmi Watch, it comes with a 1.4-inch display, a heart rate sensor, various pre-installed fitness modes, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC. It costs CNY 299 (US$45) and is expected to be launched internationally as the Mi Watch Lite.

The Urun is a new smartwatch from Umidigi, and one that is available for US$46.99. The budget smartwatch comes with a built-in GPS module, a 1.1-inch round display, a 24/7 heart rate monitor and blood oxygen monitoring, too. The Umidigi Urun can be purchased from Amazon in multiple countries too, and for £10/US$10 off until November 27.

This week will be a busy one for Xiaomi, with the launch of the Poco M3 and new Redmi Note 9 series devices scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. However, the company has hinted that more 'smart things' will be arriving at Thursday's event, possibly including two versions of the Redmi Watch.

The Realme Watch S can now be ordered in Europe. The smartwatch retails for €79.99 and should last up to 15 days between charges. The Realme Watch S has a 1.3-inch display too, along with over 100 watch faces, 16 sports modes and a SpO2 sensor, among other features.

The Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 have received some exciting upgrades, thanks to a new software update. The update brings the Google Assistant to the two smartwatches, along with improvements to the SpO2 sensor, among other changes. Fitbit OS 5.1 is rolling out now in the US.

Citizen has unveiled its inaugural WearOS smartwatch, the CZ Smart. Sadly, the company has used the outdated Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform rather than the newer, and considerably more powerful, Wear 4100 or Wear 4100+ platforms. The Citizen CZ Smart retails for US$395, which is mighty expensive for a Wear 3100 smartwatch.

The Xiaomi Mibro Air offers a 1.28-inch display, a heart rate sensor, IP68 certification and up to 25 days of battery life - all for US$29.99. The smartwatch includes 12 sports modes and has a digital crown, too.