Wearable

Huawei has provided the Watch GT 2 and Watch GT 2 Pro with new software updates. Rolling out as firmware versions 11.0.17.6 and 11.0.11.6, respectively, the updates are said to improve system security but no new features to speak of.

DIZO is now selling two new Watch D smartwatches, building on the Watch D Plus. Billed as the Watch D Pro and the Watch D Ultra, the pair are available in the same colourways but with different feature sets.

JLab is an accessory OEM that tends to equip its TWS earbud cases with in-built USB type-A cables for potentially increased convenience. This feature is found in the ANC and Sport ANC variants of the brand's Epic Air line, all of which mark the start of 2023 with discounts via a major retailer to help with those activity- or productivity-focused new year goals.

RedMagic has sent out a survey to gauge the interest of its fans in its hardware, its growing line of PC gaming hardware as well as its flagship Android smartphones included. The Nubia subsidiary may have let a clue as to a new addition to the former slip in the process: a first-gen TV. It may or may not be joined by new peripherals from the brand.

Citizen has introduced a new generation of CZ Smart smartwatches. Now running Wear OS 3, the CZ Smart relies on the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipset and a 1.29-inch AMOLED display, among other features. The new series of CZ Smart smartwatches will be available in March from US$350.

Fossil has launched the Gen 6 Wellness Edition Hybrid smartwatch. The wearable has an E-ink display allowing up to two weeks of battery life. Built-in lights help you to read the screen in low lighting, and analogue hands indicate the time. Health features of the gadget include SpO2, heart rate zone and VO2 Max tracking.

OnePlus has debuted its second-gen Buds Pro today (January 4, 2023) as TWS earbuds that step up to spatial audio and Dynaudio co-branding for the first time. They also have active noise cancellation (ANC) touted as significantly improved compared to that of their predecessors, not to mention Bluetooth 5.3 and up to 39 hours of battery life. However, it is possible that one might need to pair them with a new 11 flagship smartphone to get the best out of the new TWS earbuds.

Garmin has filed three new multisport watches with the IMDA, a regulatory body in Singapore. The listings suggest that the wearables will have GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity. It is unclear whether these are three separate models or several versions of one watch. The gadgets are unlikely to be the Vivomove Trend, which leaked last year.

IWO PRO is now selling the DT8 Ultra+, or DT8 Ultra Pro, smartwatch worldwide. The gadget is similar in appearance to the Apple Watch Ultra, with a 2.13-in (~54 mm) larger display. Features of the device include GPS tracking, NFC and Bluetooth calling. Plus, the listing suggests that you can use the watch to monitor your heart rate and blood pressure.

Apple has unveiled a new limited edition of the second-generation AirPods Pro in China, themed after the transition from the Year of the Tiger (2022) to that of the Rabbit (2023). The TWS earbuds' case come with an appropriately-themed engraving, which is also picked out on their retail box. They are available on the OEM's Store from now.

The Movano Evie smart ring has been announced, a health wearable which could compete with the likes of the Oura ring. The gadget has various biometric tracking tools, such as skin temperature and SpO2 sensors. Plus, the company has revealed plans to apply for FDA approval for the device to make it the first medical-grade smart ring on the market.

The Redmi Watch 3 and Redmi Band 2 wearables are now available in China. The Watch 3 has a larger 1.75-in (~44 mm) AMOLED display, with GPS and Bluetooth calling support. The smaller Band 2 weighs just 14.9 g (~0.5 oz), and both smartwatches have SpO2 monitors and the ability to make payments via NFC.

The Honor Band 7 smartwatch is now available to pre-order in China. The slim wearable has a 1.47-in (~37 mm) display and is available in various colors. The smartwatch has health features such as SpO2 and heart rate sensors, and 96 sports modes to log your exercise. Plus, you can use Bluetooth 5.2 to enable tools like contactless payments and music playback.

Rockley Photonics is forging ahead with its work on clinic-on-the-wrist wearable tech. It is anticipated that a device, possibly the company’s Bioptx band, with hydration measurement could launch in the second half of 2023. A glucose indicator is penciled in for a Q1 2025 launch, with a potential Bioptx Pro or future Apple Watch eventually sporting the vital sensor.

The Zeblaze Vibe 7 Pro smartwatch has been listed as “coming soon” on AliExpress. The wearable has a larger 1.43-in (~36 mm) AMOLED display and a range of health features. Plus, you can use the watch to make Bluetooth calls, and the device lasts up to 30 days when in standby mode.

Sporting both active noise cancelation and an audio transparency mode like most competing products, the OnePlus Buds Z2 wireless earbuds come with a superior battery life of up to 38 hours (24 hours with ANC turned on). With a list price of US$99.99, the OnePlus Buds Z2 can be acquired now from Amazon for half the price.

Garmin has announced that software Alpha version 11.15 is now available to download for various smartwatches such as the Fenix 7 and Epix (Gen 2). The update brings new features like Jet Lag Adviser, which can help you reduce the impact of travel on your body. Plus, the software brings support for Connect IQ System 6.

Released less than three months ago, the Fitbit Versa 4 is slightly thinner than its predecessor and sports an improved multi-path optical heart rate tracker. It comes with Google Wallet & Maps, automatic exercise tracking, and challenges. Amazon's ongoing 30% discount takes the US$229.95 list price down to US$159.95.

Xiaomi has started selling the Watch S2 in China, a smartwatch series that consists of 42 mm and 46 mm sizes. Only available in China for now, the Xiaomi Watch S2 features bright AMOLED displays, advanced health features and long battery life, regardless of the model chosen.

The TicWatch GTH 2 is a fitness-tracking smartwatch rated to track the user's skin temperature as well as their heart rate and blood-oxygen levels. It has a display 10% larger than its predecessor, yet is rated for up to 10 days of battery life. The GTH 2 is now available at a price of under US$100.

OPPO has unveiled new foldable Android smartphones as the acme of its market-ready mobile tech. However, it has also indicated that its successors might go beyond that in terms of design. They include a new kind of smartphone made completely of glass, a potential next-gen smartwatch and the OEM's latest edge-to-edge display tech.

KOSPET has launched a global pre-sale campaign for its TANK M2 smartwatch on AliExpress. The gadget is said to last for up to 60 days in standby mode or 15 days with typical use. The wearable allegedly has health features such as heart rate and blood oxygen level monitors, and you can receive Bluetooth calls on the watch.

OPPO has announced some new special editions of existing products as well as its latest foldable Android smartphones today (December 15, 2022). They include the Watch 3 Pro Glacier Gray, a new SKU of the OEM's highest-end smartwatch optimized for skiing; the Golden Years Edition of the Enco X2 flagship TWS earbuds and a new artist's rendition of the OPPO Pad.

ASUS has started selling the VivoWatch 5 Aero, a fitness tracker that debuted in September at IFA 2022. While the device's core feature set remains, it seems that ASUS has reverted to a clunkier design, eschewing the slim look of the original VivoWatch 5 Aero.

Masimo has announced that all W1 smartwatches will now receive a Hydration Index (Hi) tool. The feature lets you view your hydration level and observe how this affects your body. Plus, the wearable has other health monitoring tools, such as a pulse oximeter, heart rate and respiratory sensors.

OPPO's already action-packed Inno Day event has also introduced the OEM's latest augmented reality (AR) device. The second-gen Air Glass is touted as durable yet super-lightweight, and to come in various styles and support corrective lenses if necessary. They are rated for AR applications such as real-time captions and translation, head-mounted navigation and conferencing.

OPPO has revealed that its line of in-house chipsets has a new member as part of its ongoing Inno Day 2022 event. The MariSilicon Y is also its maker's first ever custom SoC for sound, designed with "industry-first" technology to achieve "ultra-high" transmission rates over Bluetooth. It is also rated to support lossless audio and integrates its own neural processing unit (NPU) for hundreds of billions of calculations per second.

North Edge is now selling its ECG smartwatch globally for US$39. Supposed health features of the wearable include the ability to measure your heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen level. Plus, you can connect the gadget to your smartphone to enable Bluetooth calling and remote camera controls.

Released as a cheaper alternative to the AirPods Pro, the US$150 Beats Studio Buds TWS ANC earbuds are now down to less than US$90 thanks to a 40% Amazon discount. Unfortunately for those who would like to get them in black, red, white, or gray, the only discounted color choice is Ocean Blue.

Dyson has confirmed the price and approximate launch date of its first over-ear headphones. While the company originally showcased the Dyson Zone's air purification qualities, it now appears to be an audio-first device instead.

Huawei has released the Watch GT 3 Pro Collector's Edition. The special edition model is available in China for now and has a more premium design than the regular Watch GT 3 Pro while retaining the same advanced health features, such as the ability to take ECGs.

The Phantom Black and white Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro TWS earbuds are now discounted on Amazon by no less than 50%. Thanks to this discount, the US$199.99 list price of this popular audio accessory is now down to just US$99.99. Sadly, the purple color choice is only 18% off, so its discounted price tag reads US$163.71.

Carl Pei's company Nothing has indicated that it is "in talks" with carriers in the US to sell new smartphones through their stores. Meanwhile, it has also opened its own shop-front in London this weekend. It will sell accessories such as its TWS earphones as well as its inaugural Android-powered phone (1) seven days a week.

Xiaomi has laid claim to a debut for the advanced LHDC 5.0 codec in TWS earphones with its new Buds 4. They are also rated for "intelligent" active noise cancellation (ANC), Independent Spatial Audio and up to 30 hours of battery life. They are available to order from now, albeit in China only, at a lower starting price than their Pro counterparts.

Featuring 12 mm drivers tuned by AKG, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live TWS earbuds also come with active noise canceling, long battery life, and always-on voice assistance via Bixby. Currently discounted by up to 35% on Amazon (depending on the color), these earbuds can be acquired for less than US$100.

Today, Huawei unveiled the Watch Buds, a smartwatch with an innovative design. As it name suggests, the Watch Buds also contain a pair of earbuds, which recharge beneath the device’s round AMOLED display. According to Huawei, the Watch Buds should last up to 3 days between charges too, despite the inclusion of a pair of earbuds.

696 is now selling the WL21 smartwatch worldwide via AliExpress. The wearable is listed as having heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen level sensors. Plus, you can connect the gadget to your smartphone for features such as Bluetooth calling and remote camera and music controls.

PINE64 is now selling the PineBuds Pro, its open-source and custom firmware-supporting TWS earbuds. Currently available for US$69.99, the PineBuds Pro features 6 mm drivers, six microphones and ANC technology that is said to outperform the equivalent in the Apple AirPods Pro 2.

The MK66 smartwatch, with features such as Bluetooth calling, has arrived on Banggood, allowing purchases from customers globally. The product listing claims that the wearable has heart rate, blood oxygen level and blood pressure monitors. Plus, the gadget is said to last for up to seven days on a single charge.

Pricing for the forthcoming Xiaomi Buds 4 and Watch S2 has leaked online. While the Buds 4 will cost more than even the Buds 3 Pro at launch, the Watch S2 is expected to arrive for a little less than the Watch S1 did at launch. Both devices will debut during Xiaomi’s next hardware event, which is rumoured to have been rescheduled for later this week.

Pantone has announced its choice for 2023's Color of the Year, and has partnered with Motorola to celebrate this decision with a new SKU of the Edge 30 Fusion finished in the "fearless" hue. Its unveiling also coincides with the launch of the Moto Buds 600 ANC, a new pair of TWS earbuds that will be bundled with the new special edition, albeit in a different Pantone color.

Although a few models still sell for the list price and others have single-digit price drops, there are some Garmin Fenix 6 deals worth checking out. The most tempting ones are the 50% discounted Fenix 6s Pro Solar, the 48% off Fenix 6 Pro Solar, and the 46% discount that applies to the Fenix 6S Sapphire.

Apple has been thought to unveil Reality OS (or, possibly, realityOS) as the new "mixed reality" dimension for its software ecosystem in 2023. Now, according to a knowledgeable Bloomberg blogger, the Cupertino giant has decided to make a practically last-minute change to this branding. The volte-face apparently involves a whole new trademark for a very different naming scheme.

Huawei has shared its first teaser for the Watch Buds, a smartwatch that also contains a pair of TWS earbuds. Originally slated for a December 2 release, Huawei has now postponed the launch date as a mark of respect to former CCP General Secretary Jiang Zemin.

Amazfit introduced the Falcon as its first-gen smartwatch with a titanium-enhanced build and 20ATM water resistance earlier in 2022. Now, it is expanding its availability to the Indian market. The 'precision GPS' wearable is slated to go to pre-order in its new market without delay.

Xiaomi continues to tease the Watch S2 on social media. Now arriving sometime in December, the Watch S2 will be available in multiple styles, two sizes and with a design reminiscent of the Watch S1. The Watch S2 will contain a few tricks though, one of which is already available in the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5 series.