All articles tagged with #smartwatches
Garmin unveils the Fenix 9 family in five configurations (standard, Pro titanium, Pro Solar, and inReach variants) with 64GB storage, brighter AMOLED or transflective MIP displays, and optional LTE/satellite connectivity, plus new software features like Epic for bundling multi-day trips and expanded mapping enhancements.
Garmin teased an August 25 'Play Harder' livestream to unveil rugged, seawater-resistant smartwatches, signaling successors to the Fenix/Enduro lineup and a focus on enhanced water durability.
Bloomberg reports Apple is rethinking its wearable lineup with potential screenless devices and round-display options, planning iterative releases like a Series 12 and Ultra 4, possible ceramic variants, and a stronger AI emphasis—including an AI-powered health coach—while keeping the iPhone at the center of the ecosystem.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes Apple is considering a major smartwatch redesign with more display sizes, possibly a display-free model, the return of the ceramic case, new colors/bands, and better Siri, though the next-gen launch is likely a year or two away.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra2 starts at $700 with 64GB storage and two months of Strava/iFIT, delivering a strong Wear OS experience, brighter display, and a feature-rich One UI Watch 9, with around 5 days of heavy-use battery life and up to ~7 days possible by tweaking features. It remains pricey and uses proprietary strap attachments, and some ECG/BP features require Samsung phones. Competing devices include the Apple Watch Ultra 3, Huawei Watch Ultimate 2, and Xiaomi S5 Pro, but Ultra2 stands out for Android users seeking deep OS integration and advanced health tracking, even as a few ecosystem limitations persist.
Google releases a Pixel Watch 5 teaser ahead of its Made by Google event on August 12, showing a shadowy outline and hinting that the watch still has the decency to look like a traditional watch, while countdown clocks indicate pre-orders.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra2 refines the original with a thinner, tougher build, a larger brighter display, and a Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset along with a bigger 800mAh battery and new health features like raise-to-speak with Gemini, plus expanded diving modes and ECG. LTE connectivity and rugged MIL-STD-810H design make it a top-tier option for explorers, but the high launch price remains a barrier despite its strong hardware and software package.
Regulatory filings and FCC listings indicate Garmin is testing a Fenix 9 with LTE and satellite connectivity, speaker mode, and interchangeable bands, hinting at multiple variants (entry, Pro, Pro InReach) and a year-end launch, with pricing likely above the Fenix 8’s $1,000 starting point.
Purported marketing materials and a full spec sheet for the Pixel Watch 5 suggest only modest changes from Pixel Watch 4—64GB storage, Wear OS 7, and slightly larger batteries—before Google’s official reveal in New York next week, with prices reportedly higher than the last model.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 arrives with bigger batteries, a new Qualcomm processor, and enhanced health features, but at premium prices and with limited differences from the Watch 8; the article recommends five solid alternatives: Galaxy Watch 8 for value and similar health metrics, Google Pixel Watch 4 for a pure Wear OS experience and strong design/battery life, Galaxy Watch 7 for a budget-friendly Wear OS option, Garmin Venu 4 for elite health tracking and long battery life, and Amazfit Balance 2 for a feature-packed, budget-friendly package.
The Pixel Watch 5 appeared as a selectable device in the Google Health app with a ready-made setup flow, though Google appears to reuse Pixel Watch 4 artwork. Google is expected to officially unveil the watch on August 12 in 41mm and 45mm sizes, with leaks suggesting a RAM bump to 3GB while keeping the same core CPU/GPU.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 adds a bigger battery and a faster processor, delivering up to 30 hours with the always‑on display (about 40 hours with AOD off) and quick charging, plus cuff‑calibrated blood‑pressure monitoring. Apple’s Watch Series 11 runs about 24 hours (up to 38 hours in Low Power) with 30‑minute fast charging and includes on‑watch coaching (Workout Buddy) and hypertension alerts but cannot read blood pressure from the wrist. Both offer Bluetooth and cellular variants, with Galaxy using LTE and Apple’s model using a power‑efficient 5G radio; design and size options differ (Galaxy 40/44mm; Apple 42/46mm). Price ranges vary by size/configuration (Galaxy roughly $380–$460; Apple aluminum $399–$529). Ultimately, ecosystem determines the pick: Android fans likely prefer Galaxy; iPhone users tend toward Apple for its coaching features and seamless integration.
Pixel Watch 5 has surfaced in the Google Play Console, confirming the same Snapdragon W5 platform as previous Pixel Watches but with a RAM bump to 3GB to support Gemini-powered features. The listing doesn’t reveal a new co-processor, and CPU/GPU remain effectively unchanged; a launch is expected in August alongside the Pixel 11 series, with 41mm and 45mm variants and Wi‑Fi/LTE options, plus a rumored $50 price increase. The renders align with leaks, and Galaxy Watch 9 reportedly still ships with 2GB of RAM.
A fresh leak reveals the full specs for Samsung's Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2, including sizes, displays, memory/storage, battery, LTE options, and European pricing (Watch 9 from €409–€459; Watch 44mm from €439–€489; Ultra 2 at €749), ahead of Samsung's Unpacked event.
Leaks ahead of Samsung’s July Galaxy Unpacked 2026 point to three foldables (Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra) with Flex Titanium durability and reduced crease, plus two smartwatches (Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9) and expanded Galaxy AI features, with hints of smart glasses and a Galaxy Ring 2 for the July 22 event.