Smartwatch

Garmin has announced a very significant change to its pricing model for satellite navigation, but it still comes with pitfalls. Even so, the move may not be enough to protect the manufacturer from a marketing disaster.

Ever since the first Apple Watch was shipped in 2015, Apple's smartwatch has had to make do with a battery life of just one day, while the competition sometimes measures battery life in weeks or even months. A new display technology could finally bring some improvement.

Garmin has released a new software update. Available on multiple smartwatches, the update promises to make some Instinct smartwatches usuable again. Currently in beta, the update will likely reach all Instinct E and Instinct 3 smartwatches soon by way of new stable software.

Garmin's satellite emergency calls will be free, at least for up to twelve months, before you have to pay for a subscription again for at least one month. This means that users of a Garmin Fenix 8 Pro or an inReach Mini 3 can access the satellite SOS features much more affordably than before.

A new smartwatch is available at a very low price, yet still comes with an AMOLED display, calling features and long battery life. However, users should not necessarily expect an especially extensive feature set.

The brand new Amazfit Balance 3 is said to offer great value for money with a 3,000 nits bright AMOLED touchscreen with a sapphire crystal cover, a battery life of 21 days, GPS, NFC, speakers, microphones and 64 GB storage.

The latest flagship smartwatch from Amazfit is here, combining a high-quality titanium and sapphire crystal body with a 3,000 nits bright AMOLED display and a battery life of up to one month.

Samsung's cheaper fitness- and health-tracking wearable line may be getting a new model in the near future. Expected to launch as the Galaxy Fit 4, the fitness tracker should arrive earlier than its predecessor did.

A BIS certification listing from India now reveals four model numbers of the Pixel Watch 5, pointing to 41mm and 45mm size options across Wi-Fi and cellular variants. Separately, an X user recently shared images of a Pixel Watch 5 prototype reportedly recovered from the Caribbean Sea near Saint Martin, showing IP68 ingress protection markings on the rear.

Garmin has announced a new Feature Update for multiple devices. Rolling out across Q2 2026, the new update adds numerous features to several devices, including Recovery Mode and Health Status History. Only recent smartwatch releases are covered, though.

Asus has launched a new smartwatch globally. Unveiled at Computex, the VivoWatch 6 Plus combines an AMOLED display with a titanium alloy case and continuous health monitoring. The new smartwatch offers sleep breathing movement analysis too, as well as ECG and blood pressure monitoring.

Garmin has finally delivered a new stable update to its latest high-end rugged smartwatch. Available for free globally, System Software 22.35 brings three dozen changes to the Tactix 8, including dozens of bug fixes.

It hardly gets any stranger than this: An almost pristine Pixel Watch 5 prototype was discovered during a dive in the Caribbean. This device appears to be genuine at first glance, potentially revealing the design of Google’s next Wear OS smartwatch.

Samsung's new "WindFree Wearable Good Sleep" feature allows Galaxy Watch models and the Galaxy Ring to detect when users fall asleep and automatically adjusts supported air conditioners through the night.

Amazfit smartwatch firmware version 3.8.0.1 is rolling out to some smartwatch users. This release brings two new BioCharge related tools to the recently launched Bip Max wearable, as well as improvements for maps.

Amazfit is rolling out firmware version 3.13.0.2 to one of its recently released running smartwatches. The update brings five new features, including a One-Tap Return to Start tool, to users of the Cheetah 2 Pro.

A new Garmin update, software version 17.33, is currently rolling out to one of the brand’s smartwatches. This update brings eight new features, including an extra glance and a quick access silent mode, to users of the Venu X1.

Garmin has issued a new stable update to two of its most recent mid-range smartwatches. Rolling out globally, the new update brings over two dozen improvements to the Venu 4, with nearly as many being offered to the cheaper Vivoactive 6, too.

Garmin is rolling out software version 17.33 to two of its running smartwatches. This stable update includes several new features, such as a quick access silent mode and support for more sensors.

Rogbid has launched the Apex HD smartwatch at $59.99, with dual-band six-satellite GPS, a 1.32-inch AMOLED display, 5 ATM water resistance, and a 7-day battery. A free stainless steel strap is included during the current promotional period.

Garmin has launched a new stable update for many of its high-end smartwatches. A major release, the new update brings dozens of new features, improvements and fixes within a single package. System Software 22.35 is rolling out globally as a free update.

Although there are likely to be some major question marks despite the enticing marketing claims, the Valdus VD40 Pro may be worth a look for some buyers due to its extremely low price and good looks. In any case, the financial risk is not particularly high.

Xiaomi has confirmed how much its new wearables will cost in Europe. Revealed before their official launches, the Smart Band 10 Pro and Smart Band 10 Pro NFC will be joined by the Watch S5 46 mm too, as part of a simultaneous release.

Xiaomi has started selling a new wearable outside China. A budget fitness tracker, the Smart Band 10 Pro combines a bright AMOLED display with long battery life and is even available in an optional Ceramic Edition.

Xiaomi has quietly confirmed that it will be releasing a new luxury smartwatch globally. Now listed on its global website, the Xiaomi Watch S5 combines a massive battery with a 2,500 nit AMOLED display within a 46 mm body.

Amazfit is one of 14 launch partners in Strava's biggest-ever strength training overhaul, enabling full workout sync from the Zepp App. The free update introduces auto-populated muscle maps, set and rep tracking, and five new shareables — rolling out globally to all Strava users in the coming weeks.

Amazfit is rolling out firmware version 3.28.8.1 for the Amazfit Balance smartwatch in a phased global rollout. The update replaces the older Readiness app with a new BioCharge tool designed to give more accurate readings of the body's daily energy and recovery levels. Physical controls have been updated, with digital crown twists from the watch face now providing quicker access to notifications and quick settings.

The latest smartwatch from Honor wants to convince customers with a 3,000 nits bright AMOLED display, NFC and GPS at a relatively affordable price. Above all, the smartwatch is supposed to achieve a long battery life of 35 days due to a gigantic battery.

With the update to Wear OS 7, smartwatches such as the Google Pixel Watch 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 will not only receive new AI features and a longer battery life, but also widgets. Google has now revealed more details about these widgets and has already shown the first widgets for apps including Spotify.

After rumors recently pointed to an Apple Watch Ultra 4 with a brand new design and improved sensors, Bloomberg reports that Apple is planning a sensor upgrade with watchOS 27, alongside a range of new features and minor improvements.

A new Xiaomi Smart Band has revealed itself across multiple leaks. Appearing in Singapore and Taiwan so far, the new wearable could well be the first Smart Band 11 series model.

Garmin just rolled out a new software update promising a long list of improvements. Specifically, it introduces several new features along with a host of bug fixes to significantly enhance the user experience across various Fenix 8 models.

The Realme Watch S5 is a new, affordable smartwatch with a battery life of up to 20 days, a bright 1,500-nit AMOLED display with always-on function and a GPS module in an unusually designed body.

The Honor Watch 6 Plus will be officially unveiled in a few days and is set to stand out from the competition, not least thanks to its gigantic battery. Honor is now revealing the watch's most important specifications in advance, from the 3,000 nits AMOLED display to the 120 sports modes.

Alongside the Xiaomi 17 Max, the company has released a new affordable smartwatch, the Smart Band 10 Pro. The starting price in China is CNY 399, around $59, and the fitness tracker features a bright AMOLED display and a 21-day battery life rating.

The new Rogbid GeoX2 is a new budget-friendly smartwatch promising a wide range of features, including dual-band GPS, offline navigation, water resistance, and a highly rugged design. It is equipped with an AMOLED display as well as an LED light for illumination in the dark.

Garmin has released a new software update for multiple smartwatches. Available globally, the new update promises to fix multiple bugs while making other improvements too.

The Amazfit Bip Max smartwatch has been released worldwide. It features several upgrades compared to the Bip 6, including more storage and a longer battery life estimate. Plus, it retails for less than $100.

Google today unveiled its next smartwatch operating system, which will not only offer longer battery life, but also introduce widgets and workout and AI improvements.

Not something you see every day: Garmin has rolled out a new software version to fix a fairly serious bug on several Garmin Instinct models. However, this update is delivered via sideloading rather than the more convenient over-the-air method.

The Garmin beta version 17.30 and 17.31 updates are rolling out to several of the brand’s smartwatches. Users of various Forerunner, Venu and vivoactive wearables gain improvements linked to volume adjustments, as well as a food logging-related change.

The Garmin beta version 28.xx testing cycle has begun for some of the brand’s mid-range smartwatches. The 28.03 release brings an audio prompt related change, as well as a series of bug fixes to users of these Forerunner wearables.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 could receive a complete redesign for the first time in the history of the flagship smartwatch, which should lead to significantly higher sales than last year. The latest rumors also point to a significant sensor upgrade.

Months without charging: A new smartwatch can be charged via solar power and offers extremely long battery life. Despite that, it still has several interesting features, some of which are not available in this form even on modern watches.

A new Garmin beta update is bringing five improvements and bug fixes to the Fenix 8 and related smartwatches. These are linked to the nutrition app, volume adjustments and issues which could cause the wearables to reset at random.

Xiaomi has shared new details about its next smartwatch before its full May launch. Featuring up to 21 days of battery life, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro also contains various health-focused upgrades like refined heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring when sleeping and a new dual-light PPD sensor.