All articles tagged with #wearable tech
Google is rolling out major software updates for the Fitbit Air, Fitbit Edge, and Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5 later this month. The updates include a massive expansion of automatic workout detection, the arrival of Health Guardian features for Premium subscribers, and new app integrations. Additionally, a new stainless steel Metal Mesh band for the Fitbit Air is available for pre-order.
Tom's Guide reports that the Apple Watch Vitals app detected early signs of illness in its editor before physical symptoms emerged. The article highlights how the feature can alert users to potential health issues, offering tips to improve the accuracy of these readings.
Apple has released the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, featuring a new S11 chip, a significantly upgraded heart rate sensor, and a new Readiness Score. While the external design remains unchanged, internal improvements in battery life, HRV tracking, and on-device Audio Intelligence mark a major shift. These new features are exclusive to the latest models, creating a software barrier for older users.
Speedo has released new smart goggles priced at $190, designed to provide swimmers with real-time performance data that traditional smartwatches cannot capture. According to Tom's Guide, this device addresses a long-standing gap in swim technology, where runners and cyclists have extensive tracking options but swimmers have been largely left behind. The goggles aim to help users swim smarter by offering metrics that are difficult to measure while submerged.
Meta has launched the Muse Charm, a keychain-sized AI device designed to mitigate privacy concerns from its previous smart glasses. Featuring a 2-inch screen with a cute avatar, the device allows users to interact with Meta's Muse AI assistant for tasks like email and travel booking without a smartphone. While the device aims to shift the 'agency' of recording away from the user's face, experts debate whether this 'cuteness' strategy effectively builds trust or merely masks surveillance capabilities. The device is set for a December release, with no price announced yet.
Apple’s new Series 12 and Ultra 4 feature a redesigned optical heart rate sensor that closes the accuracy gap with Garmin. Independent testing shows the new sensor is significantly better than previous Apple models but still trails chest straps. The update also introduces a new Readiness score and more frequent health data sampling.
Meta revealed the Muse Charm, an AI-enabled keychain wearable, as a surprise finale at its Connect 2026 keynote. The device features a small screen, microphones, and a lanyard for wrist or neck wear, integrating Meta's latest Muse AI model. No price or exact release date was announced, though Meta aims for a holiday launch.
The Apple Watch Series 12 introduces significantly improved health tracking, including heart rate monitoring every five seconds and a new Readiness app. Combined with the redesigned Apple Health app in iOS 27, these updates address previous user complaints about data frequency and interface clarity, potentially making the device a viable alternative to competitors like WHOOP.
Bose has expanded its open-ear audio lineup with the release of the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) and the new Sport Open Earbuds. Both models, which feature a distinctive cuff-clip design, are available for preorder starting September 19, 2026, with general availability on October 1, 2026. The Ultra Open model costs $299, while the Sport Open model is priced at $199.
Meta has rolled out a firmware update that prevents its smart glasses from obscuring the capture LED once recording begins, closing a loophole that allowed discreet recording; however, the LED defense may still be imperfect since bystanders may not notice the light and earlier sticker workarounds showed it wasn't foolproof.
Luffu, led by Fitbit founders, unveils the Luffu Link—a wearable that tracks sleep and steps, adds voice memos, location tracking and cellular connectivity. Priced at $299 (preorder $249) with a $20/month family plan for up to four people, it lets users record voice notes to an AI health service that can flag missed medications or vital changes, while sharing is user-controlled. The band can summon help, and two quick presses can send an “all good” status; a home device with a screen is teased for the lineup.
Noware's Puff necklace fuses jewelry with a 128GB USB drive, featuring a customizable center screen and animated effects, with no internal battery; priced at $179 and expected to fall for future iterations, set for an October release aimed at photographers, DJs, and fashion-focused users.
The Pixel Watch 5 appears in a new batch of photos confirming two sizes (41mm and 45mm) and a side-docking charging system carried over from the Pixel Watch 4, with newly shown angles; pricing leaks place Wi‑Fi models at $399 (41mm) and $429 (45mm) and LTE models at $499 (41mm) and $529 (45mm).
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.