Wearable

The Huami Amazfit GTR 2 smartwatch has been launched in China at a very competitive price starting from 999 yuan (US$147). The GTR 2 mixes form with function so that buyers can expect an elegant-looking wearable that also provides a BioTracker, blood oxygen monitoring, PAI health assessment, and an incredible battery life.

A YouTube channel has allegedly posted a video of a heretofore-unreleased Huawei wearable called the Watch GT 2 Porsche Design. It seems much like the rest of its possible series, albeit with a new bezel and boot animation. This may be a sign that such a product will be unveiled alongside the upcoming Mate 40 series.

The TicWatch Pro 2020 may be a particularly interesting smartwatch due to its dual-layer display that is intended to save battery over time and 1GB of memory. Now, TicWatch has revealed that it has a successor that will launch in 3 days from now. This Pro 3 is slated to rock the latest Snapdragon wearables platform from Qualcomm.

Huami has been sharing some late details about the upcoming Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 smartwatches. Along with a new promo image of the fashionable wearables, Huami has also revealed that the screens of the GTR 2 and GTS 2 have sapphire-level hardness thanks to a special coating.

Turtle Beach has announced that the latest in its Stealth series of headsets for PlayStation or Xbox are available to purchase from today (September 20, 2020). These new variants of the "best sellers" in the wireless audio category for gamers boast features such as flip-to-mute mics, 50mm drivers and reinforced headbands.

OPPO has announced what it is calling a smartwatch with "professional"-grade electrocardiography (ECG) features. This is because it has been officially certified as such a device, albeit in China only. This wearable, which looks like the OEM's inaugural Watch, will launch worldwide in September 2020.

A Finnish retailer has listed the Polar Vantage V2, prompting speculation that Polar is on the verge of releasing a new smartwatch. Polar released the Vantage V in 2018, so an update is in order.

A photo of the AirPods Studio has leaked online, sparking debate about Apple's rumoured US$349 over-ear headphones. The headphones feature an industrial design, but apparently multiple versions are in development. No 3.5 mm headphone jack will be present on the AirPods Studio, which should come as no surprise considering Apple's dislike of the port.

JAM Audio has launched the Travel ANC wireless headphones. The OEM claims that they are rated for up to 24 hours of battery life, or 18 with active noise-cancelling (ANC) on. Their design also allows for folding up or folding flat

Mobvoi only announced the TicWatch GTX last month, but the company is already running a promotion on the budget smartphone. If you act fast, then you grab the TicWatch GTX for US$53.99, £49.49 in the UK or AUD$80.99 in Australia.

The GoPro Hero 9 Black is here, and it supports several GoPro Mods. The Hero 9 Black features better battery life and a larger camera sensor than its predecessors, along with a new front colour display. The Hero 9 Black costs US$449.99 but can be had for over US$100 cheaper with a GoPro subscription.

GoPro will be live streaming its annual product later today, which will be hosted on YouTube. This year's event will not be as feature-packed as the one in 2019 though, as it looks like GoPro only has plans to replace one of its action cameras.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 Titanium variant of the recently released smartwatch will be officially launched on the European and South Korean markets on September 18. However, potential customers in the US will have to wait a little longer. The Galaxy Watch3 Titanium comes with SpO2 measurement, military-grade durability, and a substantial price tag.

The latest Apple Watch is here...and so is the latest Apple Watch. The Cupertino giant has released 2 variants of its iconic wearable for the first time. The flagship Series 6 has the latest watchOS 7 features, a new always-on altimeter and the long-awaited blood oxygen sensor, whereas the SE has only some of these things.

According to an allegedly leaked patent, the OEM OPPO will follow its first-gen smartwatch with 2 more. One of these drops the Apple Watch style for a round face instead; however, it still appears to have the attractive curved-edge glass of its apparent forebear. However, fans of the square face may not be disappointed either.

Connected health devices are electronics that can provide links to organizations such as the Mayo Clinic or Electronic Caregiver so as to help monitor or even treat a patient in their own home. A new survey indicates that their adoption and use among US residents is growing. This is likely to be related to the fall-out from the Covid-19 pandemic and general trends in medical tech and its use.

The gaming headset maker ROCCAT has collaborated with its new parent, Turtle Beach, on its new Elo series. It comes in cross-platform stereo, USB and wireless varieties, all of which are rated for 7.1 surround sound. The Elos also have their brand's AIMO lighting system and self-regulating metal headbands.

Huami has been teasing the second-generation Amazfit GTR and GTS smartwatches, with a new promo poster simply announcing the new products will be “Beyond GT”. There is some expectation that the Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2 wearables will feature enhanced health functions that include a blood oxygen sensor.

US Customs has embarrassed itself and OnePlus in issuing a press release claiming to have seized US$398,000 worth of “counterfeit Apple AirPod Earbuds.” It was only when a tweet was posted showing examples from the purported hall that it became clear to observers that they were merely OnePlus Buds.

The Realme Watch S Pro is a new product approved for use by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Unlike this OEM's first wearable, it has a circular AMOLED display and a relatively large 420mAh battery. These details are known thanks to its new official certification.

An earlier leak suggested that the increasingly popular wearables brand Amazfit had a second-gen GTR smartwatch in the works. Now, a device of this name has been approved to use Bluetooth 5.0. Therefore, it may not be far away from an official unveiling.

Display panels that can fold and unfold regularly without damage will probably play a growing role in the electronics of the future. BOE is one company involved in their development and production. Its latest milestone in this endeavor is a panel type it has been working on that can bend with a radius of as little as 5 millimeters (mm), which can now reportedly be made in bulk.

Huawei has also launched its latest hearables at its ongoing Developer Conference. The FreeBuds Pro have the AirPod form-factor; however, it is also claimed that they have "intelligent dynamic noise cancellation" and active noise cancelling features. The FreeLace Pro neckbuds also have supposedly best-in-class performance in this right, as well as a battery life of up to 24 hours.

Bose has unleashed two sets of TWS earbuds called the QuietComfort and Sport Earbuds. With one billed as offering the most effective noise cancellation ever and the other as having amazing sound with 'unmovable design', Bose is gunning for competitors like Sony and Sennheiser.

Huawei has launched its new range of wearables at this OEM's own Developer Conference (HDC 2020). Its flagship is unarguably the Watch GT 2 Pro, which has titanium and ceramic in its casing, as well as a "sapphire" display crystal. It is rated for up to 2 weeks' worth of battery life and comes in Sport or Classic SKUs.

The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 may have an unusual name, but they offer incredible value for money. Priced at under £100, the Melomania 1 offers unrivalled audio quality and battery life while remaining impressively compact.

Sony finally got around to releasing the WH-1000XM4 last month, its premium set of over-ear headphones. Since we were such fans of previous generations, we thought we would take the fourth-generation units for a spin to see what Sony has changed in the last two years.

Mobvoi has replaced the TicPods 2 Pro, which it announced in January. The new earbuds, called the TicPods 2 Pro Plus, feature some minor improvements and are priced at US$139.99.

A Twitter leak suggests that OnePlus is working on a smartwatch. Earlier reports suggested that it would sport the Oppo Watch's square aesthetic, but the OnePlus Watch will allegedly have a round screen. OnePlus will likely unveil it alongside the OnePlus 8T.

The M7C smartwatch by SMAWATCH includes a GPS module, a touchscreen display, a heart rate monitor and a host of workout modes for US$30. The SMAWATCH M7C is available from AliExpress.

1More launched its first pair of true-wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) in late 2019. Now, it has revealed that the same accessories have attained a certification from the audio authority THX. This is attributed to the brand's QuietMax technology and hybrid ANC techniques.

The new Redmi SonicBass Wireless Earphones are accessories of the 'neckbud' variety alluded to in a leak earlier in 2020. Now, the brand has finally launched them in their first market, Nepal. They will cost the equivalent of about US$17 in this country on their imminent release.

Apple has maintained a strong regional share for the North America wearables market and even enjoyed growth in terms of amount of units shipped. Discounted Apple Watch Series 3 devices and the popularity of the Series 5 smartwatches have contributed to a steep decline for Samsung in this particular sector.

Realme has made a successful foray into the true-wireless (TWS) earbud market recently. Then again, none of its products have have the sought-after spec of active noise cancelling (ANC). A new leak suggests it is coming in a new set soon, and that their launch will take place in India.

The Withings ScanWatch hybrid smartwatch is now available to buy in Europe, and it can be purchased from £249.95/€279 (about US$330). This incredible health-focused wearable comes with its own on-demand electrocardiogram, respiratory scanner, atrial fibrillation detector, medical-grade SpO2 oximeter, and the ScanWatch is water resistant to 165 ft (50 m).

Realme rose to be a top 5 hearable (or audio wearables with a smart component) brand in research on the Indian sector of this market during the first quarter of 2020 (1Q2020). Now, a new Counterpoint Research report on the same space for 2Q2020 has found the OEM has taken the No.1 spot in its TWS earbud sub-sector. Its success is based on the increasing affordability of the devices in question.

Skullcandy has announced the latest addition to the Crusher series of personal audio products. The Evo headphones are equipped with Haptic Bass, which reinforces this range with physical feedback. They also offer the option of building an Audiododo personalized audio profile, which may tailor the headphones' sound delivery to each individual user.

The TCL 10 TABMAX and 10 TABMID are 2 new slates launched at IFA this year. They feature their brand's in-house NXTVISION technology for "the most vibrant colors and rich details", as well as reduced blue-light emission. They may also go well with the OEM's new MOVEAUDIO S200 TWS earbuds.

Marketing renders of the Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro have been leaked ahead of its likely launch later this month. The Watch GT 2 Pro is somewhat of an iterative update over last year's Watch GT 2 with a more refined design and the adoption of wireless charging.

Honor has released its first rugged smartwatch, the Watch GS Pro. With an AMOLED screen, over 100 workout modes and GPS, the €249.99/£249.99 smartwatch should be suited for most eventualities. The Honor Watch GS Pro will be available in three colours and also includes a heart rate monitor, along with a SpO2 sensor.

Honor's answer to the Huawei Watch Fit has arrived. Called the Honor Watch ES, the device features an elongated AMOLED screen, an optical heart rate sensor, a SpO2 sensor and a 6-axis IMU sensor. The Honor Watch ES retails for £99.99/€99.99 and comes in three colours.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) has been found to be of interest for 71% of consumers planning to buy true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds. However, the feature does require physical seals and a fit that some users may find less tolerable over time. Qualcomm claims that its new Adaptive ANC solves these problems.

Bang & Olufsen has a well-earned reputation as the purveyor of high-quality audio experiences so it is always exciting when the company launches a new set of headphones. Its new H95 compact over ear headphones have all the traditional hallmarks we expect from B&O blending enhanced comfort with active noise cancellation.

The Zepp E is now shipping in the UK and US. The Zepp E is available in two styles, which both feature AMOLED screens, up to 15 days of battery life and a host of sensors. The Zepp E supports Bluetooth 5.0 BLE connectivity, too.
Update: Zepp has clarified its relationship with Amazfit.

The Huami Amazfit Band 5 fitness tracker is now officially available to pre-order from Amazon. The wearable has a price tag of US$49.99 and offers users Amazon Alexa built in, heart-rate tracking, SpO2 monitor, women’s health tracking, and up to 15 days of battery life. The Amazfit Band 5 will be released on September 30.

The design of the Watch GT 2 Pro has leaked, and Huawei has made a few changes from last year's Watch GT 2. Huawei's next premium smartwatch will make the switch to Qi wireless charging too and boasts up to two weeks of battery life.

The Huawei Watch Fit is an interesting sports-focused smartwatch as it has launched with a screen that is rectangular rather than the usual square or strip-like shapes. Now, it seems this company's second major brand, Honor, is also going to adopt it in an upcoming wearable. It would join products like the MagicWatch on the market.

Xiaomi has what appear to be a Pro variant of its Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 in the works. This has been confirmed overtly by the certification of products going by this name by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). This is a strong indication they will be introduced to the market soon.

Huawei's latest smartwatch here and it is rather affordable. Priced at AED 399 (~US$109) and thought to retail for €119 in Europe eventually, the Huawei Watch Fit looks like a stretched Apple Watch without a Digital Crown. The Huawei Watch Fit has a SpO2 sensor, an optical heart rate sensor, 5 ATM water resistance, GPS and up to 10 days of battery life.