Health

Samsung has announced that its hearing aid feature for earbuds as been approved by the FDA. The feature will roll out to select models in its Galaxy Buds line, thus allowing them to double as over-the-counter hearing aids.

Amazfit is rolling out a major update to eight smartwatches, adding manual swim rests, touchscreen locking, FTMS rowing-machine support and device-specific workout presets. The release also improves route-map navigation and alarm setup, delivering more practical training controls for multisport athletes.

Xiaomi’s Mijia Mistless Humidifier 3 uses natural evaporation to deliver up to 1,500 mL/h, with a 6-liter tank and quiet sleep mode. Designed with hygiene and easy maintenance in mind, the fully modular unit includes antimicrobial filters and a humidity-tracking display.

A study found that Apple Vision Pro reduced average operating times for eye surgery by about 19%, while surgeons reported increase efficiency and better ergonomics.

iPhone users can now finally transfer Fitbit-recorded workouts, steps, sleep and other supported metrics between platforms. The update also adds Smart Health Links in the US, enabling users to share stored medical records with healthcare providers or family members.

Wearables researcher Rob ter Horst’s preliminary tests suggest Garmin’s CIRQA delivers accurate heart-rate tracking during cycling and steady-paced running, but struggles with rapid intervals and weightlifting. Sleep tracking is mixed, with further testing planned.

Wearable fitness trackers have steadily shifted from standalone hardware into subscription platforms. The Noop project aims to break that model, offering an open-source and offline companion app.

The Continuous Health Analyzing Ring Module (CHARM) demonstrates how smart rings could monitor glucose, lactate, and other biomarkers through sweat rather than optical sensors. However, significant limitations remain.

The FTC, alongside California and Utah, sued a major US telehealth provider Hims and hers on July 29. They alleged that it shared patients' sensitive health data with advertisers like Meta and Snap despite promising privacy, and made cancelling subscriptions difficult.

Garmin’s new smart band is facing shipping delays of up to eight weeks after demand exceeded expectations and depleted initial stock. On the other hand, the launch has helped lift Garmin’s fitness revenue by 25% boosting investor confidence as the company plans to expand manufacturing capacity.

Three years after the original model, Ozlo’s Sleepbuds 2 have finally launched. The earbuds have a few upgrades in store, including improved comfort, up to 14 hours of battery life, flexible sleep modes and expanded environmental tracking.

Garmin could soon take workout tracking to the next level with a new sensor technology. Concrete references within the Garmin Connect app now support this, moving the feature beyond mere trademark filings.

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health on July 23 for all users in the U.S. The feature links medical records and Apple Health data to the chatbot and answers questions based on the user’s own metrics. In Germany, the EU, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, the feature remains blocked. One day before the launch, a user sued OpenAI over dangerous health advice.

Xiaomi has unveiled the Mijia Purifying Humidifier 3 Pro, combining rapid humidification with integrated air purification. The smart appliance features a 2,000mL/h output, an 8-liter water tank, advanced sterilization, app controls and more.

The myFirst Fone S4 smartwatch for kids arrives with a 1.65-inch always-on OLED display, activity and location trackers, and group video call capability thanks to a 5 MP camera. Its built-in eSIM can be activated for worldwide use.

Even before Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch do it, a three year old California startup aims to revolutionize blood pressure monitoring with a new wearable called Signal Ring. They boldly claim that more than 150-years of cuff-based hypertension detection is over and regular calibration is unnecessary as well. What’s the story behind the new miracle ring that you can order already if you happen to live in the USA.

Withings has just launched the BodyFit smart scale. It is equipped with a comprehensive set of features and promises high-precision body-fat analysis with the help of multiple electrodes.

Xiaomi is launching a new smart home device globally, following a significant delay after its domestic release. The Mijia Body Composition Scale S400 Pro features an integrated display and measures both body weight and key health metrics like body fat and muscle mass.

With its smartwatches, Garmin clearly targets ambitious athletes who follow structured training plans. There's currently a lively discussion about the accuracy of race time predictions - with users sharing a wide range of experiences and practical tips.

Midjourney is moving beyond AI image generation with a planned full-body ultrasonic scanner that promises MRI-like 3D imaging in under 60 seconds. Developed with Butterfly Network, the project aims to debut in a San Francisco spa before seeking FDA approval.

The Poco X8 Pro Max features a modern AMOLED display with 12-bit color depth and a 120 Hz refresh rate. However, behind these specifications, temporal dithering—a color simulation technique—may be at play; for some users, this technique is associated with eye strain, headaches, or rapid fatigue.

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at a rumored July 22 event alongside new folding phones. Two smartwatches with model codes SM-L3550 and SM-L7150 have appeared in China's 3C certification database, both rated for 10W charging, unchanged from the Watch8 series.

Garmin’s latest running report analyzes activity data from its device users, showing weekly mileage patterns, age-based pace averages and country-level speed differences. The data also links higher running volume to lower resting heart rates and highlights a rising trend in hybrid training.

Google has published official design guidelines for the Fitbit Air, including exact dimensions, tolerance margins, and 2D CAD files to enable users to 3D print custom bands and accessories. This makes the Fitbit Air a more open, customizable wearable compared to rivals, with the tracker also standing out for offering core biometric tracking without a mandatory subscription.

An independent developer has released an open-source project called Goose that pulls health data from Whoop fitness trackers without an active subscription, using Bluetooth interception and a local-first architecture to keep data entirely on-device. The pre-alpha proof of concept, currently iOS-only and limited to Whoop 5.0, signals growing consumer pushback against biometric data being locked behind mandatory monthly paywalls.

Strava has paywalled its API, requiring a paid subscription for all developers starting June 1. Wearable integrations like Garmin and Amazfit are unaffected. However, free and open-source tools built on the API face quite an uncertain future.

Researchers are keeping the brains of deceased people partially functional using artificial support systems to test drugs. While Bexorg, the company behind the project, describes this as medical progress, Reddit is reacting with shock.

Hypershell has unveiled the X Ultra S, X Max S, and X Pro S exoskeletons, revised X-series exoskeletons with a faster HyperIntuition motion-control system providing up to 1000W of powered walking assistance. Free units are available to worldwide Search and Rescue (SAR) teams through the Hyperlift program.

Bambu Lab is offering a new filament that is also intended to meet higher health protection requirements. The corresponding tests are said to have been carried out on finished prints as well, though there are still several things to keep in mind.

A study examined the measurement quality of a specific Garmin smartwatch. The results are mixed. Although the study has certain limitations, it also allows some recommendations for use.

The Withings BodyScan 2 Insider Program is now open in Europe. The scheme will provide a limited number of customers with the ability to purchase this health tracking device ahead of its global launch, and to share feedback with the company.

As spring signals a season of renewal, personal wellness brand Bluvol is rolling out a new lineup of tech-driven grooming and recovery products designed for busy, on-the-go consumers. The April launch introduces three flagship devices—a neck massager, curling tool, and compact hair dryer—targeting urban professionals, travelers, and remote workers seeking spa-level performance at home or on the move.

It appears the FDA has cleared blood pressure monitoring on select Galaxy Watch models as Samsung has announced the feature is now available for users in the US. It will also add support for passive monitoring later this year.

Samsung has released a new app that it says helps with motion sickness. The free app, which is called Hearapy, plays a sound at a particular decibel and frequency, which then helps a user to improve balance.

The era of generic "Dr. Google" searches might be over. For the first time, Perplexity AI can analyze your actual bloodwork and heart rate to give personalized advice.

MIT engineers have developed a groundbreaking method to inject liver cells alongside protective gel particles, creating functional "satellite livers" that may one day eliminate the need for major transplant surgery.

The Fitbit personal health coach is receiving several upgrades. Google has announced that this app-based feature, currently only available for some users, is gaining improved sleep tracking accuracy and the ability to link medical records.

Researchers are developing comfortable, intelligent textiles that can track vital signs, fend off hospital bacteria, and harness the sun to charge everyday electronics.

A study suggests that at least one Garmin smartwatch cannot estimate a health metric with high accuracy when compared with professional equipment. Specifically, the Garmin Vivosmart 4 did not perform well in this recent test.

A new campaign has launched over on Kickstarter to bring the benefits of daily activity to the perpetually stationary. Known as the ARCH, this wearable uses an array of mini actuators to force blood-pumping action.

The Huawei Diabetes Risk Study smartwatch feature has been announced. On the way to the Watch GT 6 Pro, this tool uses the PPG sensor to assess your risk of diabetes or prediabetes. It is also expected to be pushed to other Huawei smartwatches in future updates.

A new wireless device harvests energy from body movement to stimulate healing in severe muscle injuries, then dissolves completely to avoid follow-up surgery.

A new self-powering, capsule-sized device harvests energy from heartbeats, potentially eliminating the need for battery replacement surgeries, slashing costs for patients and removing inconveniences.

A new robotic system developed in China has successfully performed delicate retinal injections in animal trials, demonstrating superior precision to human hands and paving the way for safer treatments of complex vision disorders.

A smart ring with blood glucose monitoring? One manufacturer at least indirectly promises this feature, even though there are several limitations. The blood sugar won’t be displayed as an exact value, but rather as a range. This also means that certain groups of users shouldn’t rely on this wearable.

A new study shows that the Apple Watch can warn of heart problems and thus potentially save lives. Using a wearable device even offers advantages over routine checkups with the doctor.

The Honor Magic8 Pro has already demonstrated in our review that it offers significant benefits for eye health in terms of display technology, but it goes one step further by offering flicker detection. We tested this feature.

Honor has long boasted that its smartphones offer a particularly wide range of features for protecting the eyes. The Magic8 Pro now goes one step further and offers its own settings menu for an optimal viewing experience. We provide you with an overview.