Smartwatch

Zepp Health has stated that ten Amazfit smartwatches will get their final planned security updates in 2025. Five models have already been designated as end-of-life (EOL) products on the company’s security webpage. Here, Zepp Health provides more information about its security software policy, which also affects users of more recently released Amazfit smartwatches.

More rumors indicate that the recently leaked Amazfit Balance 2 XT is a titanium version of the Balance 2 smartwatch, launched in May 2025. A new report and FCC filings reveal some details about this upcoming watch with model number A2430. Plus, it has been suggested that there could be an NFC feature.

Four new wearables from Zepp Health are expected to be launched very soon. The release date is more or less set in stone and the necessary certifications have already been obtained.

"Taptic Buttons" are back on Apple's drawing board, , according to a new report. This time, they are allegedly destined for next-gen Apple Watches and iPads as well as iPhones. The new kind of physical control is reportedly pressure-sensitive and potentially more versatile, and allegedly integrate haptics to inform the user experience.

Just after announcing a 15th anniversary edition powered by a proprietary 4G chipset, Xiaomi is preparing to refresh the Xiaomi Watch S4 again. The new model will launch as the Xiaomi Watch S4 41mm and should be noticeably smaller than the other variants.

Honor is offering a new compact and affordable smartwatch in two different variants. It supports phone functions and features a GNSS module.

Rumors suggest that Garmin is about to release new swimming and walking workouts for some smartwatch users. The swimming sessions could be linked to the new Garmin Triathlon Coach, which arrived with the Forerunner 970. A recent report appears to reveal details about what these workouts will offer.

HMD seems to be planning to grab a slice of the smartwatch market with two Wear OS smartwatches. A leaked spec sheet of the upcoming wearables reveals one of them will have a camera. There's also a possibility the smartwatches will be targeted at kids.

Garmin has released a new stable update for some smartwatches, software version 8.11. This release brings new watch faces and the Device Passcode feature to these wearables. Plus, users of the Lily 2 and Lily 2 Classic smartwatches gain three other minor changes with this latest update.

Amazfit is rolling out a new update for the Bip 6 smartwatch. Version 3.1.2.1 brings several new features to the recently released wearable, like a tap-to-wake feature and improvements for the Always On Display mode. Plus, a tool which arrived with the Balance 2 smartwatch is also being pushed to this wearable.

Zepp OS 5 recently arrived with the Amazfit Balance 2 smartwatch. It brings a range of new tools, including a glove mode, a Jet Lag Manager and advanced running metrics. Zepp Health has revealed that these are just some of Zepp OS 5’s features, and a company representative has also discussed Zepp Pay for customers in the US.

Garmin has now started rolling out a new stable update for many of its recent smartwatches. Available globally, the update for Instinct E and Instinct 3 smartwatches should resolve a bug that has been causing activity crashes on some smartwatches when GPS is active.

A new rumour has revealed more details about Garmin's alleged plans to bring LTE connectivity to the Fenix 8 series. Arriving after the releases of the Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970 and Instinct 3 Tactical, the Fenix 8 Pro could be the only model in the series to offer a cellular connection, albeit not in the same way as an Apple Watch or Pixel Watch.

Apple is reportedly set to replace Game Center with a new gaming app across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

Garmin has released a new update to several of its outdoor-focused smartwatches after claiming to have concluded its recent beta testing phase. Available globally, the new update targets bugs that could cause system crashes when a GPS-led activity is running.

Amazon has given the Apple Watch Series 10 GPS + Cellular smartwatch in a 46 mm Titanium Slate case with a Stone Grey S/M sport band its biggest discount ever just in time for college graduations.

Along with the charging speeds, the SoC will also remain unchanged for the new Galaxy Watch8 series. It seems like Samsung is sticking with the Exynos W1000 chip for its new smartwatches.

An Amazfit representative has suggested roughly when the new Balance 2 smartwatch could be launched in the US. It follows recent comments from C-level executives from parent company Zepp Health regarding upcoming product launches. The Balance 2 was released in China several days ago, offering several upgrades over the original Balance smartwatch.

New features that have arrived with the Garmin Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 smartwatches will be rolled out to other models. DC Rainmaker reports that Garmin has confirmed which wearables should see features like Evening Report and Running Tolerance in future updates. While many customers will be disappointed, it could make one 2024 model more appealing to buyers.

A new Evening Report tool has arrived with Garmin’s latest smartwatches, the Forerunner 570 and the Forerunner 970. It builds on the older Daily Summary tool, providing users with information that could help them prepare for the next day. It also mirrors the popular Morning Report feature and could be rolled out to other smartwatches in the future.

The Xiaomi Watch S4 15th Anniversary Edition has arrived only a few months after Xiaomi released the regular Watch S4 globally. Available in striking black and green colourways, the Watch S4 15th Anniversary Edition represents the first outing for Xiaomi's Xring T1 in-house chipset.

Garmin has announced that is rolling out May 2025 Feature Updates to numerous smartwatches to end this month. Available across the Fenix 8, Forerunner, Instinct 3, Lily 2 Active and Venu 3 series, the new updates should bring features like rucking activities while also introducing Breathing Variations and Stage Timer for competitive marksmen.

Facer boasts a massive catalog of free and paid watch faces for smartwatches and it is making a return with Wear OS 6. The company plans to bring most, if not all, of its catalog to Wear OS 6 compatible smartwatches.

Zepp Health has indicated that it will launch at least one more Amazfit smartwatch in 2025. In a recent call linked to the company's Q1 2025 financial results, Zepp Health's CEO and CFO both spoke about upcoming Amazfit releases. One of these appears to be the recently released Balance 2, and another high-end wearable was also mentioned.

Garmin has finally finished up v21.xx beta development for the Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Pro. Also rolling out from today globally for the Enduro 2, Epix 2, Tactix 7 and other smartwatches, System Software 21.19 introduces dozens of new features, bug fixes and other improvements, including support for breathing variation insights from the new Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970.

The Garmin Connect app will soon integrate with Health Connect by Android. This should enable users of the brand’s smartwatches to link health and workout metrics with data from other apps. Google has also announced new features for Health Connect, one of which is linked to Medical Records.

A reliable leaker has delivered the first look proper at what Samsung is expected to launch this summer as the Galaxy Watch8 Classic. Combining design elements of both the Galaxy Watch6 Classic and Galaxy Watch Ultra, the Galaxy Watch8 Classic marks the return of Samsung's infamous physical rotating bezel and one generation away.

The iQOO Watch 5 is a new smartwatch from Vivo. Replacing last year's iQOO Watch, the iQOO Watch 5 offers optional eSIM connectivity, built-in GPS, a 1,500-nit AMOLED display and up to 22 days of battery life, all for ~$111 at current exchange rates.

The Garmin software version 14.15 is now available for some smartwatches. This stable update brings a new overnight health measuring feature, as well as improvements for the device passcode tool. Plus, users of the Venu 3, Venu 3s and vivoactive 5 smartwatches also receive a range of bug fixes.

Garmin has signified that a new stable update will soon be arriving for the Fenix 7 and its peers like the Tactix 7. After what feels like an age, it appears that System Software 20.22 will soon be replaced by the culmination of v21.xx beta development.

Garmin has started selling the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 globally after last week's simultaneous launch. While over a 35% price difference exists between the pair, even the cheaper Forerunner 570 is 10% pricier than the older Forerunner 965.

Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic in July, and the latest leak suggests they will have a minor battery capacity upgrade compared to the previous generation. No official information has come from Samsung yet.

Motorola has revealed the pricing details for the Moto Watch Fit in North America. Compared to smartwatches with similar features, the new Motorola smartwatch costs double, making it practically impossible to recommend.

Garmin has finally introduced a new stable update for its latest flagship smartwatches. Available for free globally, the new firmware stretches to almost 100 changes with 20 new features and 75 bug fixes, among other improvements.

The "Xiaomi 16" series is all but confirmed to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC by Qualcomm itself. The chip designer has announced that the prominent electronics OEM will continue to release premium smartphones and smartwatches with its silicon "for years to come". Xiaomi's next-gen routers, earbuds and even its cars are also likely to have Snapdragon platforms.

The Galaxy Watch8 Classic is a supposedly upcoming smartwatch with the same design as Samsung's current top-end Watch Ultra. The OEM might have recycled another aspect of the Apple Watch Ultra alternative in its successor, according to a new leak. It is also apparently to be re-used in the vanilla Watch8.

Three new Garmin running features are on the way with the upcoming Forerunner 970 smartwatch. The company recently shared more details about these metrics, which are designed to help you improve your performance in various ways. However, two of them require you to wear a heart rate monitor when you work out.

Rogbid has introduced a well-equipped, rugged and hopefully long-lasting smartwatch. The Tank S3 Pro is able to make phone calls and can be used without touching the screen, with some limitations. This wearable also sports an AMOLED display.

Amazfit has finally released the Active 2 Premium smartwatch in various European countries. It arrives several months after the standard version, with upgrades like a leather strap and a contactless payment feature. It also offers a 10-day battery life, outdoor maps and a voice assistant.

Numerous variants of the Garmin smartwatch have received their biggest price cut to date on Amazon, which is where the 47mm and 51mm Fenix 8 AMOLED is now $200 cheaper than just a few days ago. The solar-powered SKUs are discounted as well.

Garmin has released a new update, beta version 21.18, bringing new bug fixes to some smartwatches. One of these tackles an issue linked to audio prompts, which was recently flagged by users. The company notes that the software will be shared OTA to eligible Fenix 7, Fenix 7x, Fenix 7s, Epix, Enduro 2, Quatix 7, and MARQ Gen 2 smartwatches.

The Garmin beta version 17.03 update is now available. This is the first release in 2025 for the Instinct 2, Instinct 2s, Instinct 2X and Instinct Crossover smartwatches. It brings a range of bug fixes to these wearables, tackling issues with the HRV chart and various activities.

iQOO has revealed more details about the Watch 5 smartwatch. Recent social media posts outline several new AI-related features for this wearable, an e-sports mode and a relatively long battery life estimate. Plus, the company has indicated that the smartwatch will launch later in May.

The Forerunner 970 is Garmin's long-awaited return for the Forerunner series. Joined by the cheaper Forerunner 570, the Forerunner 970 contains plenty of upgrades over the Forerunner 965, such as a brighter AMOLED display, an Elevate V5 heart rate sensor, and more. Unfortunately, it these improvements result in a $150 uplift from the Forerunner 965 too.

The Garmin Forerunner 570 comes in two sizes with a range of colour options at launch. Equipped with a host of features not available on the older Forerunner 265, the Forerunner 570 also contains various compromises on today's Forerunner 970 to hit a lower price point.