Wearable

Update: Amazfit has finally announced a launch date for the X: April 28, 2020. This 92-degree curved wearable was first introduced as a concept device in 2019. Now, however, it is ready to become a reality via its upcoming Indiegogo campaign.

It seems likely that Xiaomi will release the very affordable Redmi Band onto the European market as the Mi Band 4C. The fitness tracker has been spotted in registration certificates as the Mi Smart Band 4C, but some detective work has unearthed the evidence that points to this wearable simply being a rebranded Redmi Band.

The Indian government had released new guidelines that allow online shopping sites to get up and running in the country once again. These measures, which permit order fulfilment as usual nationwide with certain necessary caveats, were to take effect from today (April 20, 2020). However, the authorities have now chosen to reverse this decision.

Adequate hand hygiene is one of the everyday measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help combat Covid-19. Accordingly, Samsung has developed the ‘Hand Wash’ app for its watches. It promotes this activity through regular reminders, a tracker and a corresponding watch-face.

Huami has confirmed that the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is still on course to launch later this year and that the working relationship between the two companies is as strong as ever. Recent rumors had suggested that Xiaomi was considering taking its considerable investment out of Huami, which could have scuppered plans for the Mi Band 5 wearable.

The Note 20s are YOBYBO's latest go at revolutionizing the TWS earbud form-factor. They have a unique asymmetrical shape that extend out of the wearer's ear while in use, as well as an equally innovative square charging case with a case rated to be up to 50% that those of competitors. They are available via their new Indiegogo campaign.

The latest variant of the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ are hailed as some of the best non-ANC TWS earbuds out there. However, they are also affected by the potential for severe wind-noise during voice calls. Their latest firmware update is touted to fix this problem.

OnePlus has unleashed new versions of its wireless earphones alongside its new 8-series of flagship phones. This new generation has an improved range of color options compared to its predecessors. It also features low-latency connections and a battery that can support up to 20 hours' worth of playback.

We have now reached a part of April 2020 increasingly regarded as "iPhone SE 2 Week"; however, this has not stopped the new Apple Watch rumors coming thick and fast. They now point to a new form of authentication for this device, as well as the ability to detect anxiety as well as blood-oxygen levels in the user. There may also be new case-variants in the offing.

The Watch GT 2 has been well received, but the lack of blood oxygen saturation monitoring was an oversight. Now, the smartwatch can finally use its Sp02 sensor courtesy of a software update, six months after launching.

Recently spotted Bluetooth certificates have indicated an upcoming announcement of two new products from the Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi: the Redmi AirDots 2 and the Redmi SonicBass Wireless Earphones. The first Redmi AirDots have been called a cheap AirPods killer and offered active noise cancellation and Bluetooth 5.0 support.

Casio's upcoming addition to the G-SHOCK line has heart-rate tracking functions for the first time. The watch's new sensor is also joined by others to track fitness-related activities while in use. It is also a Bluetooth device, with its own app to display its measurements and manage notifications while training.

Razer is now making face masks. Likely a temporary move during the COVID-19 pandemic, the move follows on from it redesigning its logo to promote social distancing.

The Redmi Band is now available through an online retailer for the low price of US$19.99. The cheap fitness tracker comes in a choice of four colors and is even waterproof. Unearthed BIS and Bluetooth certifications for the new Redmi Band from Xiaomi have indicated that the wearable will soon be made available in India.

Fancy a cheap pair of Apple AirPods rip-offs? Well, Xiaomi has you covered with the Mi Air 2S. The TWS earbuds offer up to 24 hours battery life, support for the LHDC codec and wireless charging. Likely sold as the Mi AirDots Pro 2s in other regions, the Mi Air 2S indistinguishable from the Mi AirDots Pro 2.

Following in the footsteps of Xiaomi and countless other Android OEMs, POCO has confirmed that it is developing a set of TWS earbuds. Understandably, the news has got POCO fans excited.

Live images of the upcoming Redmi Band from Xiaomi have made their way online, and the fitness tracker looks surprisingly good considering its ridiculously low price point. The Redmi Band features a 1.08-inch color LCD screen and will initially cost 95 yuan (US$13) before rising to 99 yuan (US$14) upon wider retail release.

The Xiaomi subsidiary Haylou, pronounced "Hello", has released a new smartwatch, the Solar. While the Haylou Solar is not a solar-powered smartwatch as its name suggests, it still packs some impressive tech for ~US$20.

According to a new Counterpoint Research report, music-streaming service subscriptions have increased in 2019 compared to 2018. Spotify has retained the top spot in this market year-on-year (YoY), also other popular platforms such as Apple Music have taken decently-sized shares of it as well.

The 8 Pro is rumored to become OnePlus' first flagship phone with wireless charging. Now, a prominent leaker asserts that the OEM will sell a power accessory to support this feature. This brand is also now rumored to have Bullets Wireless Z earphones in the works.

Samsung is now rumored to have a completely new type of Galaxy Bud in the works. According to a new leak, they will have a much larger shape that looks somewhat like a pair of beans. Some renders generated based on this idea suggests that they may have an improved range of sensors compared to the Buds+.

Redmi has launched its first wearable: a smart band quite like that of Realme's initial foray into this market. It will be only 99 yuan (~$US14) when it goes on sale in China - or even cheaper during a crowd-funding event to be held beforehand. By contrast, the Mi Band 4 is about $8 more in this country.

The market for smartwatches is associated with an estimated 43.87 million unit shipments in 2018. However, this number is now thought to reach a possible total of 108.91 million by 2024. This growth may be driven by an increased demand for health- and fitness-management, as well as standalone connectivity, in these wearables.

Interested in a smartwatch but put off by the price? Well, Fossil is currently offering some stonking discounts on its Sport and Gen 4 smartwatches. Featuring a waterproof design, Wear OS, a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100, GPS, 4 GB of storage and iOS compatibility, the Fossil Sport can be bought for US$99, £89 or €99 depending on where you live. You can take over 50% off a Gen 4 smartwatch, too.

Sony has unveiled the WH-CH710N completely wireless headphones. They are equipped with Automatic Artificial Intelligence Noise Canceling (AINC), which excludes ambient sounds in a way that adapts to the wearer's environment. They are also NFC-enabled for rapid pairing with a mobile device.

The Mi Bands 3 and 4 have a new firmware update that fixes several UI-related bugs. It also introduces a first-party notebook-unlocking facility to these fitness trackers. They also now support Apple ID logins for the first time.

Xiaomi has posted some details about the upcoming Mi Fan Festival event that is taking place in China on April 3. The Chinese manufacturer revealed that over 100 million Xiaomi wearables had been shipped between 2014 and 2019 and that new wearables will be unveiled at the Festival. This could be a subtle hint that the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is about to be launched.

Sony has released the WF-XB700 earphones: TWS devices designed to incorporate this OEM's EXTRA BASS technology. They also have an IP4 rating against sweat and water-splashes and ergonomics that may help them stay in the user's ear. These new accessories will become available during April 2020.

Fitbit has unleashed its latest Charge 4 and 4 SE band-style wearables. These devices look much like their predecessors, but now pack advanced features such as on-board GPS. The OEM also claims that they are rated for up to 7 days' worth of battery life.

Samsung has launched the AKG N400, a new pair of true-wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds. These accessories, unlike the Galaxy Buds+, have active noise cancellation (ANC). They also hold an IP rating and different color options over the pre-existing earphones.

A study conducted by a broadband internet research group has found that millennials are more likely to develop anxiety at the thought of a voice-call compared to boomers. 50% of the former group also reported getting their parents to make doctor's appointments over the phone for them. However, this aversion abates in those aged 35 or older.

Jabra has announced new editions to its collaboration- and co-working-focused Evolve series of headsets. They are compatible with the Unified Communications (UC) platforms typically used in offices, and may block a greater degree of distractions with new Digital Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) features.

Sony has announced a plan to take its existing Electronics Products & Solutions (EP&S) divisions, which includes its Mobile Communications business, and combine them into 1 intermediate holding entity. This new corporation is intended to streamline and optimize these areas for the Japanese giant.

A promo video showing off the upcoming Fitbit Charge 4 fitness tracker has been shared online. Prices for the European market for both the standard edition of the Charge 4 and the special edition of the fitness tracker have also been revealed. It seems Fitbit has also decided to install a GPS module in its latest Charge model.

Samsung's latest smartwatch has an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor, but it is deactivated at present. The OEM had projected that it would be working via a firmware update in the first quarter of 2020 (1Q2020). However, it now seems it's going to miss this deadline.

Qualcomm has introduced the QCC514X and QCC304X, 2 new audio SoCs that are "optimized for" true wireless (TWS) earbuds and other similar accessories. They are equipped with support for its Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and generally improved sound over low-energy Bluetooth.

GlobalData is an analysis firm that produces the ‘Tech, Media & Telecom Trends' report. It has just released a re-evaluated form of the same for 2020 that takes the economic impact of COVID-19 into account. It indicates that all aspects of the titular sectors will suffer as a result of the pandemic.

HP has teased its latest VR headset and it looks like it will be a genuine challenger to the current top tier VR headsets on the market. The new headset has been designed in partnership with both Valve and Microsoft, suggesting that it could be something special.

Taiwan's NCC regulator has reportedly cleared a new set of TWS devices from Google. This suggests that the Pixel Buds debuted last year will see successors in 2020. However, it is difficult to guess from their new putative leak how the 2 generations might differ.

Amazfit has announced that its iF Design Award for the innovative ZenBuds came in during the week of World Sleep Day this year (March 13, 2020). These TWS earbuds, appropriately enough, have been created in order to support improved nightly rest. They do so through an ultra-light and compact build, ANC and stress-busting features.

The well-known power accessories brand Aukey has launched the Graphite Pro 15W, a wireless charger that has won a 2020 iF Design Award for its futuristic form-factor. It integrates vents, a fan and "aviation-grade aluminum" to keep it cool during use. This device has been released alongside a slimline new power bank.

Fitbit has thrown many of the normally pay-walled aspects of its ecosystem open to all users as they continue to cope with the ongoing pandemic. This offer comprises 90 days of its Premium package, which includes advanced sleep-tracking options and customized workouts for free. It is open to existing and new users of this platform.

Some images of the upcoming Fitbit Charge 4 fitness tracker have been leaked online, hot on the heels of the revealed full specifications for the wearable. The new pictures show the Charge 4 looking very similar to the Fitbit Charge 3, although the new watch face of the former features larger numerals than the latter.

The last few years have seen a scatter of articles about Surge, Xiaomi's supposed competitor to the Kirin or Exynos SoC series of the world in development. Now, however, there are indications that the Chinese OEM is finally giving up on this idea. However, it will continue with other, related projects that may produce chipsets for wireless communications.

The Fitbit Charge 4 fitness tracker has made a couple of online appearances recently. One of them was for an FCC certification and the other was on a retailer site. Unfortunately, no images of the Fitbit Charge 4 were leaked, but the prices and colors of the fitness tracker were revealed, as well as the fact it features NFC technology and is water resistant.

Apple has debuted a refreshed pair of Powerbeats for 2020. These new products look much the same as their predecessors, although they have comparably extended battery life and Audio Sharing. They are available from now for ~US$150.

Huami is a wearables OEM that has recently made a name for its own brand, Amazfit. Besides this, it also has a role as an ODM to other brands such as Xiaomi to make their smart accessories. The company has reported a year-on-year (YoY) growth of no less than 72.4% in terms of shipments for 2019.

Swiss luxury watch maker Tag Heuer has launched its third-generation Connected smartwatch. The most notable change, in addition to a more refined design, is a switch from an Intel chipset to Qualcomm’s 2018 Snapdragon Wear 3100 SoC.