Wearable

Skagen has unveiled the Gen 6 Hybrid, a series of smartwatches available in 38 mm and 42 mm sizes. Siblings of the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid, the Skagen Gen 6 Hybrid series features a more stylish look with the same functionality, including Amazon Alexa, Android and iOS compatibility.

Qualcomm asserts that its latest radiofrequency front-end (or RFFE) solution is the ideal companion for an up-to-date mobile modem, as it confers the new spec of "5G/Wi-Fi coexistence" on a given device, as well as battery savings and improved performance. It is compatible with smartphones - as well as other use-cases such as IoT, VR headsets and in-car systems for the first time.

Fossil has just added a Hybrid variant to its Gen 6 series of Wear OS smartwatches. The new model comes in 2 sizes, both of which upgrade to blood-oxygen measurements as well as heart-rate monitoring for the first time. It is also rated for sleep tracking, step-counting and Amazon Alexa support.

TSMC has outlined its latest semiconductor technology during its 2022 North America Technology Symposium. N2 is in fact the next generation on from the "cutting-edge" N3 and N3E FINFLEX architecture, on which the highly-anticipated 3 nanometer (nm) processors rumored to dominate 2023 are to be based. However, TSMC claims that N2 will be even faster again with greater power efficiency.

Xiaomi has just released its global variant of the Smart Band 7, with buyers in the UK and Europe already snapping up the attractive fitness tracker at temporarily discounted prices. Fans in the US can also now purchase the wearable directly from Amazon, but this appears to be the Chinese Xiaomi Mi Band 7 variant. Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives to be found.

Huawei is now linked to the imminent launch of second-gen FreeBuds Pro that might improve on their forebears with improved active noise cancellation (ANC). Furthermore, they are projected to become the first of their line to debut with the OEM's new high-end audio partner's branding, as well as a new dual driver system and new color options.

Think Silicon's NEOX GPU is a scalable chip based on the RISC-V architecture that can integrate 4 to 64 cores and can be utilized in a wide array of devices including smartwatches, smart home IoT appliances, electric car dashboards, and even large data centers.

Xiaomi has started registering an unreleased smartwatch with regulatory bodies in China. Referred to by the codename M2134W1, the smartwatch could be the successor to the Watch Color 2, nominally called the Xiaomi Watch Color 3. Seemingly, the M2134W1 will debut in China before making its way to other countries.

Realme has unveiled the TechLife Watch R100 with a week of battery life. Also equipped with a 1.32-inch display and an aluminium case, the TechLife Watch R100 comes in two colours, both with two physical buttons. The Realme TechLife Watch R100 will be available in India on June 28 for INR 3,499 (~US$44).

According to a renowned leaker, the Galaxy Watch5 series will start at higher prices than the Galaxy Watch4 series did. Although an entry-level Galaxy Watch5 is expected to be available for less than €300, the Galaxy Watch5 Pro could arrive for nearly €550 if you opt for the LTE model.

Samsung continues to issue One UI Watch 4.5 beta builds, which it bases on Wear OS 3.5. Distributed as R8xxXXU1ZVF5, the beta build addresses power consumption and GPS issues, among other changes. One UI Watch 4.5 may make its stable debut in the Galaxy Watch5 series.

Fitbit has recognised that its Charge 5 fitness tracker has a connectivity issue, at least for several units. For some reason, affected units lose connection with paired Android or iOS devices, breaking data syncing with the Fitbit app. There are no obvious workarounds for all problematic units, either.

Xiaomi has started rolling out an update for the Smart Band 7, the same day that the fitness tracker launches globally. Software version 1.16.0.7 is available in China and features several changes. Xiaomi has included several fixes in the fitness tracker's latest update too.

Soundcore touts the new Sport X10 TWS earbuds as the latest, most ideal personal audio companions when getting through workout after workout. This is because they are rated for increased sweat resistance with additional in-house tech as well as IPX7 ingress-protection. They also have ear-hooks capable of swinging around on a hinge for a more compact case.

Xiaomi has unveiled the Smart Band 7 globally, with sales to start in Europe first. Launching for €59.99, the Smart Band 7 is significantly more expensive than its predecessor. Xiaomi has equipped the Smart Band 7 with a larger display than the Mi Smart Band 6 though, among other changes. Xiaomi has decided against releasing the Smart Band 7 with NFC outside China yet, for some reason.

Garmin has released system software 22.10 to the Fenix 6 series, including solar and sapphire editions. rolling out now, this month's update is available to download directly on your smartwatch and comes with various bug fixes.

New certifications have confirmed that Samsung will release versions of the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro with mobile connectivity. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Watch5 series will miss out on 5G connectivity, while also providing the same battery capacity for Bluetooth and LTE models.

Realme's TechLife smart-ecosystem spin-off has released smartwatches before; however, the new R100 will be its first wearable with a round face. It is also the first one with support for phonecalls as a selling point. It will launch via Realme and Flipkart in India soon.

According to reports, Google hopes to bring multiple types of watch straps to market for the Pixel Watch. Unfortunately, all of them will feature Google's proprietary locking mechanism that it debuted in May at I/O 2022.

Months before the pair's anticipated launch, colour options have leaked for the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro. While the Galaxy Watch5 Pro is expected to arrive with a titanium build, there will be two Galaxy Watch5 sizes, referred to internally as Heart_Small and Heart_Large.

Garmin is rolling out system software 8.37 to the Epix 2, a smartwatch series introduced in January. System software 8.37 brings some new features to the Epix 2 series, but Garmin has focussed on addressing various bugs, including an inability to remove Connect IQ apps via a paired smartphone.

Two FCC certifications suggest that Garmin is close to releasing Venu SQ and Venu SQ Music successors. While the pair will feature 205 mAh batteries, only the Venu SQ 2 Music will feature Wi-Fi connectivity.

Garmin is issuing software version 8.37 for the Fenix 7 series. Rolling out gradually to smartwatches globally, software version 8.37 contains various changes, including several bug fixes.

It seems that the Amazfit Band 7 is on the cards, potentially alongside the GTR 4 series. According to early leaks, the Amazfit Band 7 will look like the Redmi Smart Band Pro, albeit with a larger battery than Xiaomi's fitness tracker and even GPS support.

Amazfit has just officially announced the Bip 3 series as its latest new wearables. The 3 and 3 Pro have very similar specs, which include a 1.69-inch display, blood-oxygen measurements, 14 days of estimated battery life and ~60 workout modes. Then again, the Pro is the only one with GPS.

Sennheiser has offered a few hints about the Momentum 4 Wireless, a successor to the ageing Momentum 3 Wireless. The Momentum 4 Wireless will be available from August 2022 with up to 60 hours of battery life and 42 mm drivers. Sennheiser has overhauled the design of its premium headphones too, among other changes.

TAG Heuer has released a new Lens watch face feature that enables you to showcase your NFTs on a Connected Calibre E4 smartwatch. You can choose from various animated layouts and time displays. Plus, the company has partnered with Ledger to ensure the NFTs are accessed securely.

Huawei has started to distribute a new update for the Watch FIT 2, which carries the build number HarmonyOS 2.1.0.128. Available in multiple markets, including Europe, HarmonyOS 2.1.0.128 enables a few new features, such as the ability to respond to messages from third-party apps.

The FDA has cleared Rune Labs to collect Parkinson's symptom information from patients via its StrivePD Apple watch app. The software can detect tremors and other symptoms of the disease and can be used to log the benefits felt by medication. Rune Labs will use the data collected by the app in clinical trials for new Parkinson's therapeutics.

Not only does Samsung plan to launch the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro soon, but it is also working on another fitness tracker. Billed as a successor to the Galaxy Fit2, the Galaxy Fit3 should offer an AMOLED display and numerous sports modes at a budget price tag. Samsung has not confirmed anything yet, but a launch date and a price have been mooted.

Huawei has started distributing software updates for the Watch GT 3 Pro, its latest flagship smartwatch. So far, Huawei has released Harmony OS 2.1.0.316, Harmony OS 2.1.0.358 and HarmonyOS 2.1.0.359 in quick succession.

A renowned leaker is already recommending that people skip the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro, both rumoured to be carrying over the design of the Galaxy Watch4. Purportedly, the Galaxy Watch5 series is uglier than any other smartwatches produced by smartphone OEMs.

According to an accurate leaker, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 will cost a fair bit more than the Mi Smart Band 6. Anticipated to be released globally soon, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 has a 1.62-inch AMOLED display with over 120 exercise modes, among other features.

The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini smartwatch has been spotted in FCC filings, indicating that the forthcoming Amazfit GT 4 series from Zepp Health will feature at the very least three smartwatches. However, it is possible that number will be added to by the presence of a Pro model. The Amazfit GT 3 series featured only three SKUs but the GT 2 range had five watches to choose from.

Following months of leaks and rumors, the existence of the Galaxy Watch5 series might have been confirmed outright thanks to new FCC certifications. Their SKUs, model numbers and some specs are included in this new leak. Their charger also pops up again here, with a potentially interesting detail that may contradict a previous tip.

Realme has been spotted certifying a new wearable suspected of being the Watch 3 with various national regulators. Now, it has popped up again on the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) database. This might prove another good indication of the new health- and fitness-tracking accessory's launching soon.

Telegram's founding organization has long been suspected of switching to a paid model; now, its leader has released a post formally outlining this new "subscription plan". The app will still be available for free, although full use of its latest features will only be available to those who subscribe to this new Premium tier, which will launch soon.

HTC has begun to tease the debut of a new device on its Taiwanese Facebook page. The product is to become part of the Viverse virtual reality (VR) ecosystem, even though it is also projected to be a smartphone. This possibility may or may not be backed up by an initial launch poster.

Meta had been rumored to launch a (possibly Facebook-brand) first-gen wearable that looked somewhat like an Apple Watch, albeit with at least 1 camera. However, the project is now believed dead in the water. Subsequently, a device that might have been its prototype has leaked out, along with reports of what would have been specs for the final product.

DIZO has unveiled the Watch D, a large smartwatch with a 1.8-inch display. To be sold initially in India, the DIZO Watch D also has over 110 exercise modes, 150 watch faces and should last up to 14 days between charges. The DIZO Watch D will start at INR 1,999 (~US$26) but will rise to INR 2,999 (~US$39) after DIZO's pre-sale period.

Samsung has released the Galaxy Watch4 Black Yak Edition, another special edition of its first One UI Watch-powered smartwatch. Designed for outdoor use, the Galaxy Watch4 Black Yak Edition also contains an environmental protection reminder.

The global version of the Smart Band 7 is already shipping, albeit inadvertently in some cases. Xiaomi has also certified the fitness tracker with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore, underlining that it is preparing a release outside China.

Huawei has started distributing a new update for the Watch 3, one of its recent smartwatches. HarmonyOS 2.1.0.236 brings several new features and improvements, but is only rolling out in China for now.

Garmin has started issuing system software 21.80 to the Fenix 6 series, which is rolling out as an over-the-air (OTA) update. Also available through Garmin Express, system software 21.80 focuses on addressing various bugs, among other minor improvements.

Realme has unveiled the GT Neo 3 as Europe's first Android smartphone capable of charging at up to 150 watts (W), thanks to its new UltraDart technology. It has also brought its MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC with it to the region, as well as a check-patterned 3T sibling that is also to become available as a new Dragon Ball Z Edition.

Fossil has finally commented on Wear OS 3 availability for its smartwatches. Confusingly, the company suggests that the Snapdragon Wear 3100-powered Fossil Gen 5 series will receive Wear OS 3, as well as the newer Fossil Gen 6. It remains to be seen whether the likes of Fossil will receive the same version of Wear OS as Samsung is currently beta testing on One UI Watch, though.

Apple has been rumored to launch its first-gen mixed-reality device (in the form of glasses or a headset) shortly. However, should all the leaks concerning its release have proven accurate, it would be on the market already. Now, a leading market analyst claims that its announcement has been pushed back due to production issues.

The European Commission (EC) has now completed its deal to make USB type-C a "common charging port" across its jurisdiction. The decision is now set to ensure that new devices of a swathe of consumer electronics categories can use the same cables and power bricks anywhere in the European Union - laptops and iPhones included.

Apple has presented its latest potential Watch software updates during its WWDC 2022 keynote. The Cupertino giant has added a number of new apps and features that many users might find welcome and useful. They include a "next level of insight" into atrial fibrillation and sleep.

According to new reports, the next-generation pair of AirPods Pro will not feature substantial design changes. Purportedly, Apple will return to its much-loved stem design language, while swapping out IR sensors for skin-detect sensors from the AirPods 3. Apple Lossless support is also expected to make an appearance on the AirPods Pro 2, which Apple is rumoured to launch in the autumn.