Wearable

Amazfit's allegedly upcoming premium smartwatch will launch as the first-gen Falcon, according to a new leak. A tech blog claims to have laid hands on a promotional video, as well as an unboxing clip, for the new wearable said to aim at the high-end market on its launch - which is, apparently, imminent.

The Pixel Watch is almost upon us after months of teasing. Ahead of tomorrow's launch event, a leaker has shared the smartwatch's specifications, including the presence of 2 GB of RAM but the lowly Exynos 9110 SoC.

Apple touts its new AirPods Pro (or AirPods Pro 2) as having prolonged use between charges compared to the previous generation. Now, their registration with the 3C regulator has reportedly revealed the batteries behind these claims. Their case is nearly comparable to the new Watch Ultra in these terms.

Carl Pei's new tech OEM Nothing has announced that its long-hyped Ear (stick) TWS earbuds later in October 2022. The brand patently aims for style with this new product, although it asserts that they will deliver its "most advanced sound experience yet". They are also backed to support prolonged wear times and to have a more portable case than their ear (1) predecessors.

Xiaomi has introduced the Smart Band 7 Pro in Europe, where it comes in two case colours with eight watch strap types. Available from today, the Smart Band 7 Pro will cost €89.99 until October 11, after which it will rise to €99.99.

Huawei has finally confirmed when it will launch the Watch D in Europe. Starting in Germany, the Watch D will be the first commercially-available smartwatch with a built-in blood pressure cuff, among other advanced health tracking features.

Samsung has rolled out new updates for its older flagship smartwatches. Available on the Galaxy Watch Active2 and the Galaxy Watch3, the update brings a few new features to both smartwatches, such as two watch faces.

OnePlus has unveiled the Nord Watch in India, where it starts at INR 4,999 (~US$60). Available in two colours, the OnePlus Nord Watch has a 1.78-inch AMOLED display, impressive battery life and IP68 certification, among other features.

iFixit has disassembled the AirPods Pro 2, Apple's latest flagship earbuds. Sadly, the AirPods Pro 2 is basically unrepairable and is at odds with Apple's apparent embrace of right to repair. As iFixit found out, destroying the AirPods Pro 2 is the only way to access some components.

Skullcandy has just expanded its line of headphones with new sets specifically aimed at gamers. They include the new wireless PLYR headset and the wired SLYR PRO, with battery power that partially acts to power a feature rated to test the user's hearing to optimize their output. The accessories are joined by the more affordable new SLYR option with a core selection of its series' specs.

Google's retail packaging for the Pixel Watch has leaked ahead of the smartwatch's impending release. Seemingly set to be available sooner than other rumours claimed, the leaked packaging confirms Google's plans to push Fitbit as part of the Pixel Watch experience too.

Apple Watch Ultra starts at US$799. For the price, you get a smartwatch that is designed for and can, supposedly, survive the harsh outdoors. Tech reviewer TechRax decided to test whether it is actually so and put the Watch Ultra through a series of brutal durability tests, including hammering Apple’s premier smartwatch to death.

The household wearables brand Fitbit has updated its support pages with new information that might point to greater integration with its new owner. The company now advises customers that some functions and uses of its devices will start to require that they are linked to a Google account. However, it assures users that this will result in no loss of privacy or control over how their data is used.

Nothing has officially announced that its second-gen audio accessories will go live as the Ear (stick) buds soon. They have been unveiled in a charging case very different to that of their ear (1) predecessors, presented in partnership with the clothes designer Chet Lo at London Fashion Week 2023. The TWS products are already being touted as the ideal companion to the OEM's inaugural Phone (1).

OnePlus has now officially announced that the Nord Watch will launch imminently in September 2022. The OEM's second non-band wearable's Apple Watch-like design with a single physical button is currently being hyped via its new Indian-market website. These teasers hint at just 1 color option; however, according to its latest leak, there is another.

Huawei has started rolling out Harmony OS 2.1.0.415 for the Watch GT 3 Pro. Available globally, the update follows the company's announcement that ECG functionality is now available on the smartwatch in multiple markets. With a few optimisations, Harmony OS 2.1.0.415 is approximately a 95 MB download via the Huawei Health app.

Garmin has announced Alpha version 9.35 for Epix 2, Fenix 7 and Quatix 7 series smartwatches. Available to download now, the new Beta Program update seeks to fix several issues across the three smartwatch series, including one that cause the Golf activity not automatically to advance to the next hole.

Garmin has rolled out Public Beta 10.22 for the Venu 2 series, following just a few days after Public Beta 10.21 arrived. Seemingly the Venu 2 series' next stable build too, Public Beta 10.22 contains a few bug fixes aimed but no new features.

Garmin has started rolling out new beta updates for the Instinct 2 and the Instinct 2s. While Beta version 9.25 has only just arrived, Garmin sought to release Beta version 9.27 a few days later. Both lack any new features, but they should address bugs on the Instinct 2 series.

Nothing has teased the launch of something 'sublime', with CEO Carl Pei adding 'sometimes the answer is sitting right in front of you'. While the company and its CEO remain tight-lipped about what is planned, various leaks provide some insight into what could be on the horizon for Nothing.

VOLTA has jumped into the multi-pad, multi-use wireless charging accessory space with the Anchor, a 3-in-1 "station"-style product that could also act as a display stand or holder for pretty much all of a user's mobile Apple or Android ecosystem at the same time. It supports up to 15W of wireless power, which is still compatible with the new iPhone 14 series.

It's September 17, 2022, which means that the mobile consumer tech company OPPO has been around for 18 years to the day today. Carl Pei's former employer has marked this occasion with a debut for its new international Community website, which is also to act as a hub for initiatives such as its global Product Ambassadors Program.

Realme is now selling the Watch 3 in Europe, a budget smartwatch with a 1.8-inch display. Available in its grey colourway, the Realme Watch 3 offers 24/7 heart rate and blood oxygen level monitoring, along with over 100 watch faces and exercise modes.

The Vwar GT4 smartwatch is now available globally via AliExpress with a larger 1.91-in (~48 mm) screen. It can be connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to receive calls on the wearable. Health-related features on the device are listed as blood pressure, heart rate and SpO2 monitors.

The COLMI P8 GT smartwatch is now available via AliExpress. The device is listed as having SpO2 and heart rate monitors, as well as sleep health tracking and Bluetooth calling functionality. The wearable has a 1.69-in touchscreen and weighs 51 g (~1.8 oz), including the silicone strap.

1MORE touts its latest audio product as a world first, thanks to its combination of active noise cancellation and "LDAC Hi-Res Audio" in a wireless over-ear build. The SonoFlow headphones are rated for up to 70 hours of battery life (with their QuietMax noise-isolating mode turned off) and have debuted with early-bird and discount offers via platforms such as Amazon.

The OneOdio Monitor 60s have been announced at a price of well under US$100; nevertheless, the OEM asserts that they are ideal for work such as DJing and even recording songs. They have a "professional monitor" build with faux-leather "memory" ear-cushions for noise isolation and comfort, and is compatible with the 1/4-inch and 3.5mm interfaces.

The Garmin Forerunner 735XT is currently discounted as part of the company’s birthday sale. The running smartwatch is available in the US with a US$200 discount, selling for US$139.99. Features of the device include a wrist-based heart rate monitor and support for Strava Live Segments.

The Mibro T1 smartwatch has been unveiled and will launch on September 26. The device has a 1.6-in (~41 mm) display and Bluetooth calling functionality, as well as reported heart rate and SpO2 monitors. According to Mibro, the wearable can last up to 45 days in standby mode or seven days with typical use.

Huawei has started distributing two updates for the Band 7, one of its latest fitness trackers. Rolling out as HarmonyOS 2.0.0.26 and HarmonyOS 2.0.0.32, the pair bring new features and improvements for the Band 7.

The Gainbang K55 is a new outdoor smartwatch available globally via AliExpress. The wearable has Bluetooth calling and exercise logging tools, with over 20 sports modes available. Reported health features of the device include blood pressure, blood oxygen and heart rate monitors.

Apple has made some pretty powerful claims for the battery life of its new Watch Ultra, as indeed it has for the Series 8. Now, actual independent measurements for these wearables have emerged. They show that the Ultra may indeed have a significantly larger battery compared to its more traditional counterpart, although whether that really translates to longer screen-on times remains to be seen.

Amazfit has announced that it now supports trade-ins via the web-store it operates for US consumers. The new program may thus offer a way to sort out what to do with their old smartwatch (not necessarily from the same brand) while getting the GTR 4 or GTS 4 of their dreams at the same time. Then again, the initiative comes with caveats, not the least of which is the time-limit on its availability.

Huawei has finally started enabling ECG functionality on the Watch GT 3 Pro in Europe and in other markets, a smartwatch that it released in May. The Huawei ECG App has also arrived for the Huawei Watch D in Europe, as has the device's much-anticipated on-wrist blood pressure monitoring.

Bose has broken its lengthy silence on the subject of new TWS accessories with the reveal of the second-gen QuietComfort Buds. They are rated for class-leading ANC with an Aware Mode, delivered via 4 mics in an earphone design refreshed to support prolonged wear in comfort. However, their high-end new specs come with a high-end new price.

While the Apple Watch Series 8 comes with an Always-On Retina display, temperature sensing, and innovative features such as fall detection, emergency SOS, and crash detection. The Watch SE is 20 percent faster than the first generation and its list of features includes sleep tracking, new ways to train with the enhanced Workout app, and more.

Realme has unveiled the Watch 3 Pro in India, where it starts at INR 4,499 (~US$56) during its pre-sale period. Eventually rising to INR 4,999 (~US$63), the Watch 3 Pro features a 1.78-inch AMOLED display, over 110 sports modes and a SpO2 sensor, among other things.

A new Fitbit Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications feature has been rolled out to over 20 countries. The tool is designed to help spot signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which could increase your risk of heart problems. The feature launched in the US earlier this year following FDA approval and is available on various smartwatch models.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro seems to be headed to Europe and possibly a wider global market thanks to two recent appearances for the wearable. The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro (known as the Mi Band 7 Pro or just Band 7 Pro in China) offers attractive upgrades over its non-Pro counterpart, including GPS, NFC, and a more traditional watch-style design.

Flipkart has listed the Realme Watch 3 Pro ahead of the smartwatch's official release. Due just a day before the arrival of the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch Pro, the Realme Watch 3 Pro will be available in India first, where it will retail for INR 5,499 (~US$69).

Rumors of a first-gen "Apple Watch Pro" have emerged again in what might be the device's last leaks ahead of its imminent debut. They purport to outline the differences between this allegedly inaugural variant and the more predictable vanilla Series 8. The new tips also hint that the Pro might get even bigger than previously thought.

A well-known Apple tech correspondent has backed a second-gen Watch SE to launch alongside its vanilla Series 8 counterpart during the OEM's imminent and major September 2022 product event. The accessible variant is believed to launch in the absence of any significant design updates; then again, it is now thought to have the same new processor as the 'main' Series 8 variant.

The Tour ONE M2s are JBL's latest headphones, and as such feature large drivers enhanced with the brand's "PRO" and "Spatial" Sound features. They have an up-to-date wireless standard and are rated for lengthy battery life, although it is at its best when their new, "true" adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) is turned off.

JBL touts its latest Tour-series wireless earbuds as the world's first to come with their own touchscreen. The case-mounted LED panel is capable of displaying music controls as well as those for the PRO 2's advanced active noise-cancelling (ANC) functions. The case is also rated for up to 30 hours of additional play-time, while the earbuds pack "true adaptive" "immersive" JBL Spatial Sound.

A new update for the Huawei Watch GT 3 and Watch GT Runner has arrived in China promising several new features. Included in the changelog is smart door support, as well as improved emoji integration. The new update is rolling out to both smartwatches as HarmonyOS 2.1.0.399.

Garmin has unveiled a new edition of the vívofit jr. 3, a smartwatch intended for children. Available in multiple markets, the Black Panther-themed model joins the corresponding Iron Man edition and comes in two subtly different versions. Like the rest of the vívofit jr. 3 series, the Black Panther edition costs US$89.99.

It seems that the Galaxy Watch5 Pro can cause problems with certain laptops. Surprisingly, Samsung's latest flagship smartwatch ships with a watch band that has a magnet so strong that it will trigger some laptops to sleep if you have the Galaxy Watch5 Pro on your wrist.

Huawei has announced at IFA 2022 that its most exciting smartwatch will be available in Europe. Announced earlier this year, the Huawei Watch D features advanced health monitoring sensors for on-wrist blood pressure measurement, taking an ECG and monitoring skin temperature or blood oxygen levels.