All articles tagged with #smartwatch
Engadget’s review praises the Pebble Time 2 as a retro-styled, open-source smartwatch that functions as a focused second screen for your phone, delivering excellent battery life and snappy performance while sacrificing first-party features and polish in the app UI; priced at $225 and aimed at a niche audience seeking a minimal, customizable wearable.
Images reportedly show the Garmin Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro in AMOLED (43/47 mm) and a MiP solar (47 mm) variant, suggesting a titanium unibody and a design closely resembling the Fenix 8; official unveiling is expected around Aug 25, 2026.
A UC Davis study with 62 older adults used smartwatch prompts to rate moment-to-moment cognitive sharpness; these self-ratings tracked with brief on-device tests, suggesting real-time perceptions could help identify cognitive changes earlier and outside the clinic, though longer-term predictive value for dementia remains to be established.
A hands-on comparison by Dan Bracaglia has the Pixel Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 9 strapped to opposite wrists during a ~35-minute walk with a manual 4,000-step count as the control. The Pixel Watch 5 came closest to the actual steps (around 4,010–4,017), and also matched distance and climb more accurately than the Galaxy Watch 9, though its pace data was slower than Strava’s. Samsung’s heart-rate readings appeared notably low. Overall, the Pixel Watch 5 wins the round on key fitness-tracking metrics, marking a new Android champ in this head‑to‑head.
The Garmin Instinct 3 (AMOLED) is at its lowest price ever, about $150 off MSRP and available at major retailers (Amazon, Dick’s, Garmin, Best Buy, etc.). The rugged smartwatch packs a bright AMOLED display, built‑in flashlight, and up to 18 days of battery life, with multiple sizes and versions (AMOLED, solar, tactical) on sale, making it a strong deal ahead of marathon season and back-to-school shopping; several other Garmin watches are also discounted.
After the Pixel 11 series and Pixel Watch 5 launch, a mysterious wearable appears in promotional images, resembling a Fitbit Charge-like device; fans wonder if it's an unreleased Fitbit Charge 7 or a new Google wearable, but details remain unclear.
Rumors for the Apple Watch Series 12 point to a refined upgrade: a brighter display (up to 2000 nits), always-on Retina in a Liquid Glass design, and an energy-efficient S12 chip paired with watchOS 27 that boosts Siri, app navigation, and cross-device integration. Health tracking gets more precise heart rate, sleep analysis, and activity logging, while battery life remains around 24 hours, keeping it a premium but not multi-day smartwatch compared with Garmin or Huawei.
Google’s Pixel Watch 5 debuts with a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip, faster GPS, and a brighter domed display, plus Wear OS 7 and expanded Gemini AI that’s more proactive and usable offline. It introduces Health Guardian health-tracking (Blood Pressure Trends, Breathing Emergency Detection, and Insulin Resistance Trends) and a larger 465mAh battery on the 45mm model (332mAh on the 41mm), with estimated runtimes around 40 hours and 30 hours respectively. Pricing climbs to $399 for 41mm and $429 for 45mm, LTE adds $100, and a Stephen Curry Special Edition is $579.99; preorder now with in-store availability on Aug 20. It still resembles the Pixel Watch 4 but aims to rival Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 on performance and health features.
Google's Pixel Watch 5 launches with offline Gemini support, improved GPS, and a faster Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated chip, plus up to 64GB storage. New health features include Blood Pressure Trends, insulin resistance/metabolic health estimates, and Health Guardian, along with AI-enabled watch complications. It comes in a Canyon color and a Stephen Curry Special Edition, and starts at $399 (Curry edition from $579) with pre-orders beginning August 12.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a bulky flagship that finally pairs long battery life (up to about 60 hours with always-on display) and a dramatically brighter 1.52-inch AMOLED panel with rugged, dive-ready credentials (titanium case, IP69K, EN13319 to 40m). Running Wear OS 7 with One UI 9 Watch, it offers 2GB RAM, 64GB storage, LTE, and a comprehensive health suite (heart rate, ECG, BP, sleep, body composition) plus AI insights and athlete features like Trail Run. It’s pricey at $700, but for Android users who want top-tier fitness tracking and diving capability it’s Samsung’s best smartwatch yet; lighter or cheaper options may be better for casual users or smaller wrists.
Security researchers exposed how cheap GPS-enabled kids’ watches backed by YiQingTeng/SETracker, SinoTrack, and NewGPS2012 platforms can be hijacked to track users, take photos, or eavesdrop—often with little or no authentication. The flaws span dozens of brands sharing the same backends, meaning millions of devices are at risk. Presented at Black Hat, the researchers urge stronger security across GPS wearables and the supply chains that power them.
An FCC filing reveals a Garmin smartwatch (model A05170) featuring cellular LTE and 3GPP-standard satellite connectivity, plus Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth LE, ANT+/NFC and interchangeable bands, pointing to an imminent flagship launch—likely the Garmin Fenix 9.
Samsung is reportedly developing a smartwatch called Galaxy Aero that runs an RTOS instead of Wear OS, likely priced between the Galaxy Fit 4 and Galaxy Watch FE, with typical sensors and about a week of battery life; Galaxy Aero may be a codename and could launch under a different public name.
A Wilmington, NC couple was found dead in what investigators classify as a murder-suicide; one of their smartwatches reportedly detected a fall and automatically called 911 after the couple had just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Authorities say the wife fatally shot her husband before taking her own life, and the case remains under active investigation.
Leaked images from The Mac Observer show a circular Motorola smartwatch named Moto Watch Ultra with IP68 dust/water resistance, 50-meter water resistance, LTE, GPS, and a back-plate optical sensor for health tracking. The design and branding suggest a premium rival to the Apple Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch Ultra, signaling Motorola’s renewed push into wearables, though no official release date or full specs are confirmed.