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Finally, a smart ring that rivals my Oura 4 with no subscription fee

ZDNET's key takeaways The RingConn Gen 2 is a subscription-free smart ring that monitors sleep, exercise, and stress. It monitors your sleep, activity, stress, and vitals, and it's got a marathon battery life. The only downside is the user interface feels underdeveloped. View now at Amazon View now at Ringconn more buying choices Most smart rings these days claim to offer marathon battery lives, but often fall short of their promise. Many smart rings claim to last a week's worth of battery, b

This Spendy Thermostat Is Paying for Itself by Cutting My Energy Bills and It's Still 14% Off

Amazon Prime Day sale: The Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 4 is available for $240 -- a discount of 14% or $40 -- as a deal that's still live post Amazon's July Prime Day sale. Since price is the biggest drawback of this thermostat, this deal makes snapping one up much more compelling. CNET's key takeaways $240 for a smart thermostat may sound like a tough deal, but mine is set to pay for itself this summer thanks to lower heating and cooling payments. Automated Eco Modes make energy saving easy

I tested a palm recognition lock that doubles as a video doorbell - and it's stylish and smart

ZDNET's key takeaways The Eufy FamiLock S3 Max is a new video smart lock available for $400. This smart lock also features a camera and doorbell button, and an indoor screen shows you who is at the door. I just wish the FamiLock S3 Max could unlock with human recognition using the Eufy HomeBase BionicMind, and the smart lock isn't convenient for some users, like those with a screen or storm door. $399.99 at Amazon That viral phrase, 'I don't have a favorite kid, but there is one we try really

I replaced my Apple Watch with the Oura Ring 4 for sleep tracking (and it did some things better)

ZDNET's key takeaways The Oura Ring 4 is Oura's latest generation smart ring, with a starting price of $350 The ring emphasizes a comfortable build with flatter and smarter sensors, more sizes, upgraded software, and an alleged eight-day battery life. The eight-day battery life is actually more like five and a half days. $395.01 at Amazon $399 at Best Buy more buying choices While Oura was quiet these past few years, in between the release of its Ring 3 in 2021 and the development of its Ring

10 tiny tools I carry with me everywhere - how they work

My keychain essentials. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET I've collected my fair share of multitools and gadgets, but I've lost track of how often I've needed one -- only to realize it's sitting at home or in the car. Carrying a full toolbox everywhere just isn't practical. What I do have with me almost all the time, though, is my keychain -- and it turns out, it's the perfect way to keep essential tools within reach. Also: Are Amazon Basics tools worth it? My verdict after testing the top-sellers

Form’s Smart Swim 2 goggles add heart rate tracking

is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. Nearly six years after introducing its original smart swim googles, Form has announced an upgraded version called the Smart Swim 2. The goggles carry forward the same features as the original, including a built-in 72 x 40-pixel display showing a swimmer’s various performance metrics. However, they’re now smaller and lighter, and while battery lif

Topics: form heart new smart swim

The best Alexa smart speaker I've tested isn't an Echo

ZDNET's key takeaways The Sonos Era 100 is a $249 smart speaker that I recommend to most people, audiophile or not. In addition to a full, booming sound, the Sonos speaker produces crystal-clear vocals that enhance any song and has hands-free Alexa for voice control. Since the Era 100 is built for smaller spaces, it doesn't support spatial audio or Dolby Atmos like its larger sibling, the Era 300. View now at Amazon When Sonos reached out to me to discuss the launch of a new line of smart spe

EcoFlow says its new Ocean Pro is better than Tesla’s Powerwall

is a smart home reporter who’s been testing connected gadgets since 2013. Previously a contributor to Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, and US News. EcoFlow is powering up its first permanently installed whole-home energy solution for the US. The Ocean Pro system launches this week, featuring the new Ocean Pro Battery with 10kWh of storage expandable to 80kWh, and the Ocean Pro Inverter, which supports solar arrays of up to 40kWh. EcoFlow claims the system delivers 24kW of continuous power, enough to

How the low-vision community embraced AI smart glasses

is a senior reporter focusing on wearables, health tech, and more with 13 years of experience. Before coming to The Verge, she worked for Gizmodo and PC Magazine. It’s easy to scoff at AI and ask, “Who is actually asking for this?” You might also think that smart glasses “aren’t worth it yet.” But to the blind and low-vision community, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and their AI features have been an absolute life-altering game-changer. And we need to talk about it. On this episode of The Verg

Martin (YC S23) Is Hiring Founding Engineers to Build a Better Siri

Why you should join Martin Martin is real-life JARVIS. You can text, call or email Martin. He manages your inbox, calendar, to-dos, notes, phone calls, reminders, and more. It is the most advanced AI personal assistant on the market, light years ahead of Siri and Alexa. 5 months since launch, Martin has completed over 500,000 tasks for 30,000 users, and our user base is growing 10% every week. We are funded by top investors like Y-Combinator and Pioneer Fund, and notable angels like the co-fou

Sony phones are disappearing across key markets: Is the Xperia era coming to an end?

Alex Walker-Todd / Android Authority TL;DR Sony may be on the verge of completely exiting the European market. The company has already confirmed a full retreat from Finland, but its devices are no longer available through official channels in multiple European countries. Sony’s smartphone presence looks just as weak outside of Europe, with the mobile phone category completely wiped off from its US website. Sony may be heading toward a full retreat from the smartphone market, with clear signs

I've tested dozens of smart locks, but I keep this one for its handy keycard feature

ZDNET's key takeaways The Aqara U100 smart lock was originally priced at $230, but it is currently discounted to $135. This smart lock is the most versatile I've tested; it offers a variety of unlocking options, a user-friendly app, and easy integration with Apple Home. The Aqara U100 drains the battery quickly, and the app doesn't always alert users, resulting in reduced performance within four months of use. $189.99 at Amazon $179.99 at Best Buy more buying choices The Aqara U100 Smart Lock

Topics: app aqara lock smart u100

This countertop ice maker makes the 'good ice' you only get in restaurants

ZDNET's key takeaways The GE Profile Opal 2.0 nugget ice maker is a smart kitchen appliance that sells for $599. This machine will do the trick if you want those satisfyingly munchable ice pellets often served at fast food restaurants It's also operable via a mobile app. It's pricey, especially given what it is, but I've found the machine well worth the investment. View now at Amazon Whether you call it the good ice, Sonic ice, nugget ice, or pellet ice, there's no denying that the small, mu

The Oura Ring 3 is still discounted to a great price

Nina Raemont/ZDNETLink Text: Oura Ring 3URL: https://www.amazon.com/Oura-Ring-Gen3-Horizon-Tracking/dp/B0CSRF3Y2F/Merchant: Offer Type: MONETIZATION PENDING please save and reload Edit UnlinkOura Ring 3 Wanna know a secret? Besides one more day of battery life and a slimmer build, there really isn't much of a difference between the Oura Ring 3 and the Oura Ring 4. That's because they both have nearly the exact same software and app user experience. So if you've been eyeing an Oura Ring but are

Report: Apple’s all-new smart home hub is no longer likely to launch this year

The all-new smart home hub was supposed to be Apple’s star of the show this year. There was just one problem: Siri. After a multitude of Siri hiccups and delays, it begun to look more and more unlikely that the product would launch in 2025. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is reporting that a 2026 launch is almost a guarantee. Originally, it seemed all but confirmed that we’d see the Apple smart home hub around March or so. The product was well rumored throughout 2024, and we essentially know every

Topics: apple home new siri smart

A new Martian climate model suggest a mostly cold, harsh environment

The Curiosity rover was sent up the Mount Sharp, the biggest sediments stack on Mars. On the way, it collected samples that indicated a portion of carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere might have been sequestered in the sedimentary rocks, just as it happens with limestone on Earth. This would have drawn carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, reducing the greenhouse effect that warmed the planet. Based on these findings, a team of scientists led by Benjamin Tutolo, a researcher at the Universi

I’ve tested all the best smart rings in 2025, and these are the only ones I would buy

While fitness trackers and smartwatches are the better-known devices in the wearable tech world, there is a third, less popular option. Smart rings are slowly becoming more attractive alternatives. I’ve tested more than a dozen of these minimalist devices, and below are the best smart rings you can buy. Oura Ring 4: The best smart ring overall Oura Ring 4 Thinner design • Refreshed app experience • Smarter health sensing MSRP: $399.00 The top smart ring gets an upgrade. The Oura Ring 4 is the b

24 hours with Alexa Plus: we cooked, we chatted, and it kinda lied to me

I’ve waited two years to try out the new Alexa, which was first announced way back in 2023, and this week I finally got access to Alexa Plus. I’ve now spent 24 hours with Amazon’s generative AI-powered voice assistant, and it’s not just an improvement on the original; it’s an entirely new assistant. Alexa Plus knows more, can do more, and is easier to interact with because it understands more. I can ramble, pause, sigh, cough, change my request mid-sentence, and it can adapt and respond appropr

These Prime Day smartwatch and fitness tracker deals likely won't apply tomorrow

When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon Prime Day takes place from July 8 through July 11 this year. This is when the retailer cuts deals on thousands of products, mostly ones it owns (think Kindle, Ring, and Alexa). To get in on the deals hype, other brands will discount their products during Prime Day to boost overall sales. Are health trackers really cheaper on Prime Day? I've seen some sweet discounts on health trackers during my time as an editor covering these events. We've seen record sa

Google’s latest Nest Learning Thermostat is more than $60 off for Prime Day

Google’s fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat (the latest model) is one of the few smart home accessories I rely on every day, and it’s at an all-time low price of $218.99 ($61 off) at Amazon for Prime Day. Prime Day is almost over, but Best Buy and Google are also offering a $40 discount. This generation introduced greater compatibility with HVAC and smart home platforms, improvements to its Smart Scheduling feature, and a significant hardware redesign. Verge reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tu

Your Wemo smart devices are about to get dumb as Belkin pulls the plug

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images If you have any Wemo smart devices in your home, you should start planning an upgrade -- because you only have about six months left to use them. In an email to users today, Wemo announced that it was ending support for nearly all of its smart devices sold over the last 10 years on Jan. 31, 2026, including light switches, plugs, and more. Also: The $13 Amazon Smart Plug deal is the best Prime Day deal available right now "After careful consideration," the

Belkin shows tech firms getting too comfortable with bricking customers' stuff

In a somewhat anticipated move, Belkin is killing most of its smart home products. On January 31, the company will stop supporting the majority of its Wemo devices, leaving users without core functionality and future updates. In an announcement emailed to customers and posted on Belkin’s website, Belkin said: After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to end technical support for older Wemo products, effective January 31, 2026. After this date, several Wemo products will

My favorite smart scale tracks 16 different measurements - and right now it's 50% off

Kayla Solino/ZDNET Amazon Prime Day ends at midnight today, but you don't have to wait to scoop up one of my favorite smart wellness products. The Eufy P2 Pro smart scale is currently on sale for $40 at Amazon. You can save 50% (that's $40) on this scale, but you'll want to hurry because this deal will likely end soon. Also: The best Prime Day tech deals After years of swearing off using a scale, I finally went back to having one only a few months ago after swiping up this scale 50% off duri

Belkin shows tech firms getting too comfortable with bricking customers’ stuff

In a somewhat anticipated move, Belkin is killing most of its smart home products. On January 31, the company will stop supporting the majority of its Wemo devices, leaving users without core functionality and future updates. In an announcement emailed to customers and posted on Belkin’s website, Belkin said: After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to end technical support for older Wemo products, effective January 31, 2026. After this date, several Wemo products will

Meta's new Oakley smart glasses beat its Ray-Bans - and you can preorder them starting today

Mark Zuckerberg Several months ago, reports emerged that Meta was looking to expand beyond its current smart glasses lineup into sportier versions. Now the glasses are officially here -- and the preorder starts today. In June, Meta launched limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN model glasses. Staying true to the brand, the Meta version of the glasses keeps the form factor Oakley is known for, with a more flexible and rugged design that still allows athletes to take advantage of the smart glasses' c

Get the Oura Ring 4 on sale before the deal ends tonight

ZDNET's key takeaways The Oura Ring 4, the newest generation of the popular smart ring is now available at a discount for the first time ever. The Oura Ring 4 emphasizes a comfortable build with flatter and smarter sensors, more sizes, upgraded software, and an alleged eight-day battery life. The eight-day battery life is actually more like five and a half days. $339.15 at Amazon $399 at Best Buy more buying choices The Oura Ring 4 is discounted by up to $75 right now, on the last day of Amaz

Meta’s Obsession With AI Will Make Smart Glasses Finally Click

Meta made some pretty major moves in AI this week, and some of them were supremely expensive. According to Bloomberg, Meta spent a whopping $200 million trying to poach just one person from Apple (Ruoming Pang, the former lead in charge of developing the large language models behind Apple Intelligence), and that’s just one person it scooped up in its flurry of AI talent acquisitions—there are several others from OpenAI that also jumped ship just this week. It’s to be expected in one way. AI is

Best Prime Day smartwatch and fitness tracker deals: Last day to shop deals

When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon Prime Day takes place from July 8 through July 11 this year. This is when the retailer cuts deals on thousands of products, mostly ones it owns (think Kindle, Ring, and Alexa). To get in on the deals hype, other brands will discount their products during Prime Day to boost overall sales. Are health trackers really cheaper on Prime Day? I've seen some sweet discounts on health trackers during my time as an editor covering these events. We've seen record sa

Pick up the Amazon Smart Plug on sale for $13 before Prime Day ends

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . If you're looking for an ultra-affordable away to make a part of your home a little smarter, look no further than the Amazon Smart Plug. Prime Day deals have brought the IoT device down to just $13, which is 48 percent off its regular price, and it's the last day you can get it at this

Apple Has Big Vision Pro Plans for 2027, Including Smart Glasses, Analyst Says

Apple will release multiple head-mounted AR and VR products in 2027, according to respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities. An upgraded Vision Pro headset will also drop later this year, the report last week said. There are three Vision series products currently in development, along with four pairs of smart glasses. A Ray-Ban Meta-style smart glasses product will see 3 million to 5 million shipments in 2027. Apple expects to ship more than 10 million AR/VR products in 2027