Wearable

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has a new firmware update that brings part of the OEM's virtual group-workout initiative to the wearable. It also now supports SmartThings Find, which might help an owner recover a missing unit, as well as Samsung's hand-washing app.

Can smartwatches help to diagnose cases of Covid-19? According to a couple of new studies, they can. The research applies to the Apple Watch and other wearables associated with heart-rate monitoring, as they might record the variations in this metric that might indicate the presence of the virus, even in asymptomatic patients.

Realme is a brand that has built its appeal on affordable mobile and personal audio devices. Initial leaks suggest it is going to keep this going in 2021 with the launch of the C21 smartphone and the Buds Wireless 2 Neo. They are slated to be the successor to the cost-effective C11 and to be neckbuds rather than TWS earbuds respectively.

The Galaxy SmartTag is a new consumer-grade electronic tracker from Samsung. It has a versatile array of use-cases, from potentially protecting bags from theft to finding lost pets. It is rated for up to 6 months of use per charge, and for ultra-wide-band (UWB) technology, which helps with its AR Tracking feature.

Samsung has added Pro variants to its Galaxy Buds series of TWS earbuds. They are rated for upgraded active noise cancellation (ANC), voice-call quality and 360° Audio. They can also switch automatically between different mobile devices from their OEM depending on what the user is doing with either one.

Amazfit has teased another member of the growing GTR 2 and GTS 2 family in the form of the upcoming Amazfit GTR 2 LTE. This latest addition will bring the total of smartwatches in this range to six SKUs. Fortunately, Amazfit has published a handy graphic to help shoppers choose from the diverse range of “fitness for all” smartwatches.

TCL's new product launches are mainly display-centric; however, it has also announced the expansion of its smart device ecosystem at CES 2021. They include the new Wearable Display, a name the OEM has seen fit to give its first pair of smart glasses. They are joined here by other devices such as the hybrid ANC-enhanced MOVEAUDIO S600 earbuds, the MOVETRACK PetTracker and the LINKHUB 4G/LTE Outdoor CPE.

The Amazfit GTR 2e and Amazfit GTS 2e smartwatches from Huami have now officially become available to customers in North America. Both watches are priced at US$139.99, with the main differences between them being design and battery life. The Amazfit GTR 2e and Amazfit GTS 2e come with a data sensor for blood-oxygen saturation measurement.

OnePlus has made its budget fitness tracker, the OnePlus Band official. The OnePlus Band uses a 1.1-inch AMOLED display and can continuously monitor heart rate and SpO2 levels. OnePlus says the band can offer a 14-day battery life on a single charge.

HP asserts that its new Elite-series earbuds are an enterprise-grade way of introducing wireless audio into your professional online conferencing set-up. They are rated for both passive and active noise cancellation (PNC and ANC), streamlined device-switching and fast case charging via USB type C.

Samsung has announced that it will launch the Galaxy S21 flagship series on January 14, 2021 in India. However, interested consumers in this market can now "pre-reserve" one of these phones ahead of this date with a special "VIP Pass". Doing so reportedly gets the buyer a free case worth the equivalent of ~US$52.

Lenovo has made an ambitious leap into the business end of AR glasses with the new ThinkReality A3s. Their lenses are 1080p displays for their potential mixed-reality (MR) or heads-up display content. They also have dual RGB cameras to orient this view, and come in smartphone- or laptop-tethered USB type C variants.

According to a report by the Japan-based publication, Apple suppliers in China are already working on a new iPhone SE version, alongside the AirPods Pro 2. While further details about the devices aren’t, we expect to hear more in the months to come.

Recently, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau made a public commitment to improved cameras in the upcoming 9 flagship series, thereby fanning rumors that these phones would launch with Huawei-esque Leica co-branding. However, a reliable tipster now seeks to quash this idea, claiming the original leak behind it is false.

A new app called OnePlus Health has reportedly appeared on the Google Play Store. It has ostensibly been developed to accompany the new fitness band and smartwatch coming soon from this brand. Tech bloggers claiming to have torn its APK down have posted faces and UI snippets for either device.

An owner of a Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness tracker has taken to Reddit to report about the gadget exploding while it was being charged. Apparently, it was the global version of the Mi Band 5 wearable and was not a copy or mishandled in any way. Issues likes this have been frequently reported in regard to smartphones, such as the notorious Samsung Galaxy Note 7 episode.

OnePlus has started officially teasing its upcoming fitness tracker that will feature useful tools such as SpO2 blood saturation monitoring and real-time heart-rate tracker. The alleged OnePlus Band price in India and its launch date have also been leaked along with some key specifications. The OnePlus Band is expected to cost around ₹2,499 (US$34).

Some recent leaks point to new TWS earbuds that are to accompany the Samsung Galaxy 21 series at the next Unpacked event. Now, an official webpage has confirmed that they definitely won't be introduced as the Buds Beyond. These Pros are said to have improved ANC at a higher price-tag on their release.

According to a slew of recent certifications, Samsung has a new product called the Galaxy Smart Tag in the works. It, as the name suggests, is a Tile- or AirTag-like gadget that can connect to a phone via Bluetooth in order to locate it, or the other way around. It might be ready to debut alongside the OEM's new flagship phones.

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.