Smartwatch

It may have taken over three years, but it seems that Qualcomm is finally preparing a new Snapdragon Wear chipset for future high-end Wear OS smartwatches. Codenamed Aspen, the so-called Snapdragon W6 Gen 1 is set to feature various upgrades over the ageing Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platform to deliver superior performance and battery life.

The Zepp App Food Log feature has been improved for users of various Amazfit smartwatches and fitness trackers. The company has recently added the ability to save your favourite food items, a much requested feature. This should make it even easier for Amazfit wearable users to track their daily food intake.

Garmin has released a new update for an older Forerunner smartwatch. Software version 11.03 is another minor update for the wearable, tackling an issue linked to one type of notification. According to a post in the Garmin forum, it is rolling out in phases to the Forerunner 55 and can be downloaded in one of two ways.

The Garmin software version 17.40 update is currently rolling out to users of a Forerunner smartwatch. Following a recent beta, this stable release brings an improvement for pairing alongside three bug fixes. According to the company, the update is already available for at least half of all Forerunner 945 LTE smartwatches.

Early users of the Amazfit Balance 2 smartwatch have recently flagged two missing features. On social media, a representative for Zepp Health told customers why BioCharge was not currently widely available. They also explained why the golf mode had been removed for some users.

Googles' latest Pixel drop offers some new features and freebies for Pixel owners, but nothing about it is terribly surprising, and it certainly isn't Material 3.

Garmin has finally officially announced support for Google's Health Connect platform. A service for synchronising data across multiple platforms, Garmin stresses that it cannot draw upon the other data that Health Connect receives.

The Garmin smartwatch software beta version 10.16 is on the way to some users. This over-the-air update is said to resolve a problem with one of the charts displayed on the wearable. Plus, users have recently flagged other issues causing their Instinct 3 smartwatches to crash unexpectedly.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is now official. This new smartwatch comes with a handful of improvements over the predecessor, including a brighter display, thinner chassis, and an "improved" SoC. The starting launch price in the EU is €379.

With the Galaxy Watch 8 series, Samsung has brought back the Classic model. Alongside the signature rotating bezel, the smartwatch has a larger internal storage and higher battery capacity than the standard model.

The Samsung Galaxy Ultra has received a 2025 refresh. This new version of the smartwatch has specs identical to those of the 2024 wearable, but it comes with larger internal storage and sports a new health tracking feature.

Garmin has delivered another new update to its current flagship smartwatches as it works towards delivering finalised v17.xx software. The fourth build distributed this beta period, Beta Version 17.14 brings fresh bug fixes to the Enduro 3, Fenix E, Fenix 8 and Tactix 8 after Beta Version 17.13 landed last week.

The 43 mm OnePlus Watch 3 is now official. At the core, it's a rebrand of the Oppo Watch X2 mini, and compared to the standard 46 mm variant, OnePlus' new smartwatch is slightly more affordable.

The Google Maps app is now available for many Garmin smartwatches. Listed at the Garmin Connect store, it brings turn-by-turn directions to users while still allowing them to track their chosen activity. However, this new app is currently available for some of Garmin’s customers.

Nothing currently offers a range of smartphones, headphones and smartwatches under its budget-friendly sub-brand CMF, including the CMF Watch Pro 2 released last year. Now, it appears that this intriguing piece of hardware is about to get a successor: the CMF Watch Pro 3.

Samsung has been spotted outlining early launch offers for its next Galaxy Z devices ahead of schedule. While the company will discount the Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 FE in various ways, at least the next Galaxy Z Fold is now expected to be a fair bit more expensive than previous leaks anticipated.

Thanks to a new software update, the feature set of a certain Withings smartwatch has been expanded slightly. To be more precise, ScanWatch 2 users will no longer have to manually start an AFib analysis.

Amazfit’s upcoming Balance 2 XT smartwatch seems to have appeared in the SIRIM database. It follows recent leaks at a US retailer, an FCC filing and an EMVCo-related document. This wearable is rumored to be a premium version of the recently released Balance 2 XT smartwatch.

Huawei is currently rolling out software version 5.0.0.30(C00M04) globally to some of its smartwatch users. This release brings touch protection features for diving and golfing, as well as a new shortcut for contactless payments. Plus, the Watch Ultimate is said to gain improved offline maps with this release.

Various leakers have revealed new details about Samsung's next crop of devices that will be arriving later this week. Not only do the leaks highlight the Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7 and Galaxy Watch8, but they also showcase the advantages of Samsung's new smartwatches and foldables compared with their predecessors.

At $609.99, the discounted Epix Pro Gen 2 reinforces the already rugged Garmin watch with sapphire glass. Advanced fitness and sleep tracking features match or exceed similarly priced, less durable smartwatches. Only the complexity of the Epix Pro Gen 2 might scare away some buyers.

Garmin has delivered another new update for the Enduro 3, Fenix E, Fenix 8 and Tactix 8. Rolling out worldwide now, Beta Version 17.13 contains eleven significant changes for eligible smartwatches as Garmin builds towards delivering a future major stable update later this quarter.

An extensive Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra leak has revealed numerous details about Samsung's next smartwatches before their official release. Arriving July 9, all three are expected to feature the same 3,000-nit AMOLED displays as their predecessors with the same Samsung Exynos W1000 chipset and 2 GB of RAM too.

(Update: More bands leaked) The rumor mill has been comparatively quiet when it comes to the Pixel Watch 4 thus far. While there are Pixel 10 leaks pretty much anywhere, smartwatch fans have had to wait patiently for details on the successors to the Pixel Watch 3. However, a German retailer has now internally listed various different Pixel Watch 4 SKUs and accessories.

Huawei is pushing a new global software update to users of one of its latest smartwatches. While the change log for version 5.1.0.110 does not list any new features, users have reported a new voice recorder tool. The file size indicates that the release could include other new tools and improvements, as was the case in the Chinese version of this Watch 5 update.

Huawei is rolling out a new HarmonyOS 5.1 update for the Watch GT 5 smartwatch. Software version 5.1.0.16 is said to bring a range of new features to this wearable, including a voice recorder tool. Plus, there are also improvements for older tools like the alarm and contacts list.

Huawei is rolling out a new smartwatch update: software version 5.1.0.16 (C00M05). This HarmonyOS 5.1 release brings several new features to the Huawei Watch D2, including a new sleep-related heart rate variability (HRV) metric. While this update is currently on the way to users in China, it is expected to be rolled out globally in the future.

Apple has always advertised a battery life of just 18 hours on its watches, ranging from the first generation Apple Watch all the way up to the current Apple Watch Series 10. The big update to watchOS 26 also does not do anything to increase battery life, but will at least warns users when power consumption is too high.

Rumors suggest that a new Course Planner feature could be released for users of the brand's smartwatches. Said to be coming to the Garmin Connect app, it could be useful for endurance athletes. A report indicates that it will allow users to add cutoff times, rest breaks and notes to their courses.

With the Galaxy Watch8 series on the horizon, a video showcasing some of the design changes that Samsung hopes to showcase next week has appeared online. Already available in beta form, One UI 8 Watch will be coming to Galaxy Watch smartwatches as old as the Galaxy Watch5.

Garmin has started distributing a new stable update for its Instinct E and Instinct 3 smartwatches, including the recent Instinct 3 Tactical. While System Software 9.25 should resolve critical battery mode and BLE sensor issues, Garmin has already raced ahead with Beta Version 10.15 with even more bug fixes and new features.

The Amazfit Balance 2 XT smartwatch has been spotted on a US retailer’s website. This rumored model will join the recently launched standard version of the Balance 2 wearable. The product listing suggests that this could be a smaller watch, and its price may also have been leaked.

OnePlus is the latest Chinese company to be caught between souring Chinese and US relations. According to US lawmakers, OnePlus is transferring 'sensitive personal information and screenshots' to Chinese servers without seeking user consent to do so beforehand.

The Amazfit Balance 2 smartwatch is receiving its first software update. Announced in China, the release is said to add new scuba diving and HYROX modes. The update also brings a new safety light, display optimizations and various enhancements for the wearables maps.

Garmin has released beta version 17.40 for one of its Forerunner smartwatches. The change log states that the update improves pairing and also brings a couple of bug fixes to the wearables. According to a Garmin representative, this update is now available for all users of the Forerunner 945 LTE smartwatch.

The Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, and Instinct E smartwatches have received a new update: beta version 9.25. This is said to bring a range of improvements and bug fixes to these wearables. One of these resolves an issue linked to the watch's Bluetooth sensors.

Samsung has released the first public beta of One UI 8 Watch, allowing Galaxy Watch7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra users to try a number of new features in advance, ranging from a smarter homescreen to the antioxidant index.

Garmin has issued a new update for the Fenix 8 and other associated smartwatches. Available to try on Garmin's Beta Program, Beta Version 17.12 brings almost a dozen to the high-end smartwatches including four new features and important bug fixes.

Garmin is rolling out a fresh update to the Vivoactive 6 on its Beta Program. Available to try now, Beta 12.50 introduces several high-profile changes for the mid-range smartwatch like Evening Report and Custom Focus mode support.

Amazfit’s unannounced Balance 2 XT smartwatch has been spotted in another document. This time, the file provides certification for a contactless payment solution and reveals details about the wearables’ operating system. Earlier rumors suggest that this could be a premium version of the recently released smartwatch with a titanium casing.

The Haylou Watch 4 is a new and very affordable smartwatch that sports a GPS module, which makes it suitable for tracking numerous activities and workouts. The wearable further features a rotating crown but also comes with some limitations.

Huawei is now once again backed to launch a cutting-edge tri-folding smartphone for the second time in 2025. The "Mate XT 2" is also tipped to do so alongside the latest versions of some of its OEM's most premium peripherals. They consist of a new smartwatch and a pair of open earphones.

Apple should really make its own Ring, according to a prominent tech correspondent. The former might suit some potential wearable-users better, particularly when wishing to track their sleep or their workouts. However, the Cupertino giant would reportedly rather focus on other hardware instead, a new and potentially worse version of the Vision Pro AR/VR headset included.

The OnePlus Watch 3 is set to get a smaller 43 mm version. It's confirmed to launch on July 8, 2025, and ahead of the official launch, the company has shared some new details about the smartwatch.

Huawei is rolling out a new software update for the Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro. This significantly expands the functionality of the watch and also offers a new app that aims to provide better insights into your own health and well-being.

New research from Ben-Gurion University shows how malware can exfiltrate data from air-gapped computers using inaudible signals and nearby smartwatches, exposing overlooked risks in high-security environments.

The GS Explorer S is a new smartwatch on offer at an affordable price - at least on paper - for the advertised features. Even diving functions are marketed and the watch is said to have a robust design.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is apparently the first smartwatch in the world to support Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding. This makes it possible, among other things, to accurately locate compatible trackers even if they don't have an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip.

Vivo is launching a new smartwatch, the Vivo Watch 5, which not only offers a long battery life, but can also be used independently of a smartphone thanks to a cellular modem.

Garmin has returned to its Forerunner Beta Program after a short hiatus. While the company has not added the new Forerunner 570 or Forerunner 970, it promises to have resolved issues that were causing system crashes while also throwing in more bug fixes for good measure too.