Wearable

The Lem X is a comparatively inexpensive smartwatch from Lemfo that packs a large display, an LTE modem and built-in GPS, among other features. The Lem X has 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, too.

Amazfit has confirmed that it will be launching its next smartwatch on March 23. While Amazfit hopes to keep the T-Rex Pro under wraps until then, a Polish retailer is already selling it for PLN 749 (~US$193), confirming all its specifications in the process.

The OnePlus Watch is one of the most anticipated smartwatches of 2021, having been in development for years. After months of leaks, rumours and teasers, Unbox Therapy has revealed the first OnePlus Watch marketing render. It looks like OnePlus has been inspired by Samsung and its Galaxy Watch Active 2, though.

The well-known wearable brand Amazfit hopes to release fitness trackers and smartwatches with ECG and blood pressure measurement in the US. The company is engaging with the FDA to bring these wearables to market.

ENACFIRE has announced A9 TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC). This spec is delivered via "smart noise-detect mics" rated to cut out up to 80% of ambient noise while also providing a 'Transparency' mode. The buds also feature IPX7 ingress-protection, a quad-mic system for call quality and a launch price of US$40.

Pete Lau has confirmed that the OnePlus Watch will not run Wear OS, despite offering hints to the contrary last year. Instead, OnePlus has based its first smartwatch on RTOS, apparently because it provides a smooth and reliable experience combined with long battery life.

Google has announced that it is reducing the cut of revenue made on apps sold via the Play Store from 30% to 15%. The change applies to all developers who make US$1 million or less per year on the platform. According to the Mountain View giant, this move is intended to help Android app-makers grow at critical stages of their enterprises.

Leaker Ishan Agarwal has managed to get his hands on the specifications of the eagerly anticipated OnePlus Watch. The device looks set to compete with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Watch range with features including blood oxygen level monitoring and sleep monitoring.

Huawei has announced an Elegant version of the Watch Fit, a smartwatch that the company released last year. Additionally, Huawei has unveiled the Band 6, which will succeed the Band 4 series. Both devices will be available later this month.

The FCC has inadvertently leaked Suunto's next smartwatch, the Suunto 9 Peak. The regulatory body has confirmed not only the smartwatch's design, but also several of its features.

Contrary to an earlier leak, analyst Ming Chi-Kuo's report indicates that Apple only plans on ramping up AirPods 3 production by Q3 2021. This could potentially mean a holiday 2021 or 2022 time frame for the wireless buds.

Huawei is allegedly planning to release the Band 6 and Band 6 Pro next month, thereby skipping the fifth generation of its Band series. The Band 6 series is expected to launch simultaneously with the P50 and P50 Pro.

Mobvoi has introduced a successor to last year's TicWatch Pro 2020. Unfortunately, the company continues to use the Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset, which should have long been retired. The TicWatch Pro S features 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of storage and retails for US$259.99.

Insta360's freshly-debuted GO 2 miniature camera is a considerable upgrade over its first generation, not the least in its design and function. Its case still doubles as a battery-pack, but can now also act as a remote control and a tripod. It also has more field-of-view options and storage, as well as a new FlowState stabilization clip mode.

Carl Pei asserts that his new Nothing brand can disrupt the consumer tech space with innovative, unique products. The company has just given the world the first hint of their design in its new Concept 1 TWS earbuds. However, they are also what they say on the tin, and apparently won't actually resemble Nothing's actual inaugural buds.

Industry analyst Ming Chi-Kuo offered up an eyebrow-raising prediction in a recent research note. Kuo believes that Apple will release augmented reality contact lenses by the mid 2030s, potentially transforming the way people engage with technology and the world around them.

Huami has brought an exciting feature to the GTS 2 mini, albeit one that should have been available at launch. Amazfit is pushing the update as an OTA through the Zepp app.

The Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro has received another update, less than a month after its last one arrived. This month's update is a large one, although its size belies the features it brings to Huawei's flagship smartwatch.

Amazfit is a popular wearables brand with its own e-store that serves several regions, the US included. It is currently running a promotion that offers a free second strap with every purchase of its latest GTS 2 and GTR 2 series of smartwatches. These bands normally cost about US$20, meaning this might be a good chance to get two in different colors for a limited time.

Samsung has two new wearables in store for us, the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch Active 4. Both smartwatches are expected to be launched sometime in Q2, 2021, and will likely be the first Samsung devices to run WearOS instead of Tizen.

Oppo released its Band fitness tracker last year in China, where it is available in two styles. However, the company has finally decided to bring the affordable device to a wider audience with a global launch, which is planned for March 8.

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro has featured in an unboxing video that shows off all of the features of the upcoming military-grade smartwatch. The T-Rex Pro utilizes software based on real-time operating system (RTOS) and features a BioTracker 2 PPG optical sensor and SpO2 blood-oxygen level measurement all for €169.90 (US$203).

Razer is known for gaming audio peripherals; however, its new Anzu product is something else altogether. They are of the smart-glass type that incorporate personal speakers for the wearer's audio, which, as the OEM claims, will reach the user's head with reduced latency and increased immersion. They are available in Razer's store from now for US$199.99.

The Apple Watch, Huawei Watch GT and Galaxy Watch lines helped their respective OEMs maintain their leading positions in the smartwatch space in 2020. This was a year in which the market showed relatively little growth, although its premium segment enjoyed a "significant" uptick.

Qualcomm offers a range of products that support or serve mobile wireless audio, ranging from its aptX technology to the entire 8-series of mobile SoCs. Now, it has announced that this panel of technology has a new, unified platform: Snapdragon Sound. It will also act as a badge to signal to the consumer that its specs are present in a given product.

Razer partnered with Conservation International for the Sneki Snek plushie, the sales of which go toward protecting forestry in various locations worldwide. The mascot has now achieved its initial goal of saving 100,000 trees in this manner, which means the OEM has new merch based on the character to launch at its upcoming RazerStore Live event.

Initial findings within One UI 3.1 have seemingly confirmed rumours that Samsung plans to switch to Wear OS this year. According to kernel source code, Samsung is working on a new Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Watch Active device codenamed Merlot that runs Wear OS.

Motorola's next smartwatch will feature the latest Snapdragon Wear 4100 SoC, which remains criminally under adopted by Wear OS smartwatch manufacturers. The circular smartwatch will also support GPS, NFC and 5 ATM water resistance.

Images and specs for the Amazfit T-Rex Pro rugged smartwatch have been leaked, indicating that the new Amazfit wearable is likely to be launched soon. The Amazfit T-Rex Pro looks very similar to the non-Pro model but offers at least one new color choice, greater water resistance, and access to the BioTracker 2 PPG health utility.

Nothing is the name of Carl Pei's new tech start-up, his first since leaving OnePlus in 2020. It has been introduced as based in London; however, it also now has an Indian presence. It is to be led by Manu Sharma, formerly a Samsung executive. Pei projects that he will "play a pivotal role for our growth in India".

Huami is a wearables OEM that has built a market leadership worldwide, mainly through the popularity of its Amazfit devices. Now, the company has announced that it will be known as Zepp Health from now on. This wholesale re-brand is intended to consolidate its position across all its businesses going forward

Xiaomi has recently launched the new Redmi AirDots 3 true wireless headset with Bluetooth 5.2 support. The third-generation Redmi earbuds utilize a Qualcomm QCC3040 chip solution to provide the best audio performance, with aptX audio technology being part of the package. The price in China for the Redmi AirDots 3 is 199 yuan (US$31).

A new version of the TTGO T-Watch is here, and it comes with a microphone. The additional component allows Lilygo's smartwatch to be controlled by voice input, improving its versatility. The new version of the TTGO T-Watch retails for under US$30.00 on AliExpress.

The Zeblaze Vibe 3S HD offers a round display, good battery life and plenty of other features. However, it is also an unashamed copy of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro.

Carl Pei's new start-up, Nothing, has announced that it has a new founding partner: teenage engineering. This Stockholm-based group has been involved in "craftsmanship" and industrial design for 10 years now, and is possibly best-known for its OP-1 synthesizer. Pei claims that its involvement in Nothing has resulted in a "product roadmap" that is "true to the company's vision".

HP has just confirmed it has secured "a definitive agreement" to buy HyperX, heretofore best known as Kingston's gaming-accessories division. That company's co-founder and CEO, John Tu, calls the move "a brighter future for HyperX", while its new owner is "thrilled" to admit it to its "family".

The new AR Smart Viewer Reference Design glasses from Qualcomm integrate the Snapdragon XR1 SoC, BOE micro-OLED binocular displays and Goertek hardware, plus dual monochrome cameras that enable six-degrees of freedom head and hand tracking with gesture recognition. OEMs can also include an 8MB RGB camera for remote assistance functionality.

More news about the Xiaomi Mi Band 6, which will likely be known as the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 for the global market, has been discovered via the Mi Fit app. It seems the Mi Band 6, which is expected to come with a built-in GPS, will allow wearers to reply to SMS messages and may even offer increased functionality for popular messenger services.

Samsung has added some new features to the Galaxy Watch 3 and the Galaxy Watch Active 2, its current flagship smartwatches. Unfortunately, one such feature requires you to have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, which seems unnecessary.

Recent leaks have supplied possible evidence of a successor to the popular, affordable Mi Band 5. Now, a new tip asserts that the wearable has been registered with Indonesian and Indian authorities, suggesting it may debut soon in those markets, at least. It also seems to spill the 6's model number, if no additional specs for the putative fitness tracker.

A Sony executive has just confirmed that the PlayStation 5 (PS5) is getting its own virtual reality (VR) system after all. It will consist of a next-gen headset and controller, which will apparently be informed by everything the OEM has learned since debuting this form of gaming on the PS4. Furthermore, the controller may also be DualSense in nature.

A new leak about the WF-1000XM4 has fleshed out some of the details about Sony's upcoming TWS earbuds. Apparently, the WF-1000XM4 will be Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified, which points to the adoption of Sony's high-resolution LDAC codec. The earbuds will support ANC too and up to 18 hours use between charges.

More evidence of Samsung's foray into the augmented reality (AR) market has emerged, in the form of a new video that might be marketing material for its first-gen Glasses. They are apparently pitched at use-cases such as gaming and content consumption as well as virtual conferencing and presentations. They may also work as sunglasses and have a virtual DeX modes.

Huawei has introduced its latest TWS earbuds alongside its new Mate X2 foldable. The accessories are definitely the more affordable of the two; nevertheless, they have high-end specs such as active noise cancellation (ANC), wearer detection and up to 10 hours of battery life. They have an AirPod-clone look, albeit with a new style of charging case and 3 color choices.

According to a new report, Samsung has two new Galaxy smartwatches in development, model numbers SM-R86x and SM-R87x. These smartwatches may be Samsung's first to run Android since 2013, with a pivot to Wear OS apparently on the cards, too.

The first sighting of the Sony WF-1000XM4 may have appeared online. The WF-1000XM4 looks radically different compared to the WF-1000XM3, which Sony released in 2019.

Rollme has just launched the Hero, its latest smartwatch with a completely bezel-free display. This is joined by a nano-SIM card slot for 4G/LTE connectivity in this wearable, not to mention up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Not only that, but it boasts an unusually large 1,600mAh battery rated for up to 10 days on power-save mode.