All articles tagged with #wearable tech
watchOS 27’s Siri AI unifies the phone and wrist experience, enabling more on-wrist computing, seamless access to notes and reminders across devices, and a new App launcher with single-tap gestures; while latency remains and some requests are restricted (e.g., weather-based reminders), the update moves the Apple Watch closer to being a true wrist computer.
A CNET reviewer wore Hypershell’s X Ultra S robotic exoskeleton on a Grand Canyon climb and a two‑mile rim hike, reaching about 12,000 steps without his cane. The five‑pound, battery‑backed device attaches at the hips and is app‑controlled with Eco, Hyper, Transparent, and Fitness modes plus an auto-detect feature. It lightweightens leg movement and extends endurance but isn’t a miracle or cure, simply augmenting existing fitness. The reviewer noted no back pain the day after, though results vary by terrain and elevation. The X Ultra S costs about $1,999 (with other models priced differently), making it a tool for regular exercisers seeking incremental gains rather than a magic fix.
At Cannes Lions, a reporter tests Snap’s AR glasses, Snap Specs, which overlay AI-generated celebrity portraits onto paintings. The experience is heavy (132 grams, $2,195), clunky (it stops if you move your head), and largely mirrors long-standing museum-brand demos rather than a practical product. AI face replacements and overlaid visuals feel surface-level and imperfect, while privacy concerns loom. Investors are skeptical, and the overall takeaway is that the glasses are expensive, uncomfortable, and largely unconvincing as a real-world device.
Oura Ring 4 is discounted to $244.30 (Silver/Stealth) or $279.30 (Gold); with the Amex Platinum’s up-to-$200 annual statement credit for purchases at Ouraring.com (enroll), buyers can effectively pay about $44.30 before tax for the ring, plus the required Oura membership ($5.99/mo or $69.99/yr). The sale is live as of June 23, 2026, coinciding with the Oura Ring 5 launch; note Prime Day prices exist but credits apply only to Ouraring.com purchases.
watchOS 27 reportedly removes the Walkie-Talkie app from Apple Watch, a feature introduced with the Series 4 in 2018; in the beta the app is absent from the app list and Control Center, and Apple has not officially announced its removal, suggesting it will likely disappear in the fall with iOS 27. Fans note it was quirky but underused, with voice-note alternatives like iMessage or calls.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Apple plans to launch its first smart glasses in late 2027 (moved back from an earlier early-2027 target), featuring oval cameras, multiple frame styles, and color options, with built-in cameras, speakers, and mics for calls and Siri notifications. Apple reportedly views the glasses as a top priority for Tim Cook, with potential to evolve into a health device and add augmented-reality capabilities years down the line; no in-lens AR display is expected soon. The device will compete in the $200–$500 range and may include turn-by-turn directions.
Google unveils Gemini-powered smart glasses that prioritize audio-based AI over a visual display to keep the device lightweight; available in Gentle Monster and Warby Parker frames, the glasses offer hands-free productivity, contextual memory, and third-party app integration via Gemini AI, and work with both Android and iOS. Priced around $600–$900, the product emphasizes comfort and battery life while aiming for broad ecosystem adoption, with future plans including AR widgets, real-time translation, and visual overlays—though privacy and pricing remain key challenges.
Oura Ring 5 debuts a ~6mm-wide, 2.3mm-thick titanium ring that’s ~40% smaller than Ring 4, with upgraded sensors, stronger LEDs, and a new Health Radar system for continuous biometric monitoring. It adds sleep-time blood pressure signal monitoring (expanding in the US, India, and UAE from June) and GLP-1 insights for medication and weight tracking, plus 50+ metrics, 6–9 day battery life, and a separately sold charging case. Pricing consists of two finishes: base $399 and premium $499, with full features requiring an Oura membership.
Scientists have developed UPatch, a wearable abdominal ultrasound patch that can continuously monitor a fetus, autonomously image the womb, measure biometric parameters, and flag issues like preeclampsia; in tests with 62 pregnancies and 52 women over 1–6 hours, it performed on par with standard ultrasound and could broaden access to prenatal imaging, though it relies on a bulky backend and may be limited by movement; the study is published in Nature Biotechnology.
Oura Ring 5, a slimmer version of the popular health ring, is now on preorder with prices starting at $399 and $499 for finishes. Amex Platinum cardholders can receive up to a $200 annual statement credit toward eligible Oura Ring purchases on Oura's site, effectively cutting the price in half. Enrollment is required, and the credit cannot be used toward the ongoing Oura membership (which costs $5.99/month or $69.99/year). Preorder starts May 28, 2026, with shipping beginning June 4, 2026; first shipments include a sizing kit and a one-year purchase protection.
The piece argues smartwatches offer quick access to notifications and health data, but screenless wearables (Whoop, Oura Ring, Fitbit trackers) and analog watches provide similar fitness metrics with fewer distractions and more style. While smartwatches remain useful for sleep, steps, and workouts and can replace a phone for calls or music in some cases, many users may prefer lighter, less obtrusive devices that track health without the constant connectivity.
Sony unveils the Reon Pocket Pro Plus, a refined wearable personal air conditioner that sits around the neck and cools via a chilled metal plate pressed to the skin. The upgrade adds a 2°C cooler plate surface, an improved cooling algorithm yielding about 20% more cooling, a redesigned exhaust vent for adjustable airflow, and a smaller Reon Pocket Tag 2 sensor for more accurate temperature and humidity readings. It will launch in Europe and other markets for €229/£199 (about $270), with no announced US release.
Google is launching Fitbit Air, a $99.99 screenless fitness tracker focused on AI-powered health insights via Google Health Coach (Gemini). It has a seven‑day battery, no display or GPS, and passive tracking of metrics like heart rate, SpO2 and skin temperature, with data syncing to a Google Health-enabled app. The device rebrands the Fitbit app to Google Health, includes three months of Google Health Premium but remains usable without a subscription for core tracking, positioning itself as a simpler alternative to full smartwatches and WHOOP-like wearables.
Penn researchers developed CAMEL, an AI system that analyzes hours of in-hospital ECG telemetry to forecast dangerous heart rhythms minutes before they occur, framing ECG signals like language to look for patterns that precede events. The goal is to provide earlier warnings (10–15 minutes) to improve care while avoiding false alarms, with plans to test real-time data in clinical settings and explore extending the approach to consumer wearables for broader monitoring.
Store listings and app observations hint that Google Health Premium will replace Fitbit Premium for health tracking across Pixel watches and Fitbit devices, with pricing aligned to Fitbit Premium; it fuels speculation about a Google Health app replacing Fitbit’s software ecosystem and possibly leveraging a Google Health Coach.