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Deal: Take $100 off the Samsung Smart Monitor M7, which can replace your TV

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority If you’re looking for a monitor, you’ll quickly realize the market is flooded with options. How do you find the right one? I am a big fan of options like the Samsung 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 (M70F). It’s large, capable, and even doubles as a TV! More importantly, it is also at a pretty nice price, thanks to today’s $100 discount. Buy the Samsung 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 M70F for just $399.99 ($100 off) This offer is available from Amazon as a “limited time d

Bankrupt Futurehome suddenly makes its smart home hub a subscription service

Smart home device maker Futurehome is forcing its customers’ hands by suddenly requiring a subscription for basic functionality of its products. Launched in 2016, Futurehome’s Smarthub is marketed as a central hub for controlling Internet-connected devices in smart homes. For years, the Norwegian company sold its products, which also include smart thermostats, smart lighting, and smart fire and carbon monoxide alarms, for a one-time fee that included access to its companion app and cloud platfo

Google breaks into the US top 4 for smartphone shipments, but don’t call it a comeback

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google has become the fourth-largest smartphone shipper in the US, according to Q2 data. Shipment figures are being skewed by manufacturers racing to stockpile amidst volatile US tariff policies. India now supplies 44% of US-bound phones as brands shift production away from China due to higher trade risks. Google has edged into the top four US smartphone vendors, which might normally suggest a surge in consumer interest. But these aren’t normal times, and

Are AR glasses for swimming legit? This pair I tested helped me 'hack' my workouts

Form Smart Swim 2 Pro ZDNET's key takeaways The Form Smart Swim 2 Pro is available for $329, with the premium subscription for $119/year or $15/month. The included solution keeps the goggles fog free, and the annual subscription provides extensive training and analysis features. Peripheral visibility is limited, the glasses are rather expensive, and the anti-fog spray needs to be applied before each swim. View now at Formswim I've been exercising since I was a young boy in the 80s, and never

Revived, canceled, and back again: Meta’s smartwatch ambitions may not be dead yet

Kris Carlon / Android Authority TL;DR Meta may have once again revived the smartwatch project it has been working on for the last several years. It’s reported that Meta has partnered with Huaqin to manufacture the device. The smartwatch may be publicly revealed in September during the Meta Connect conference. Meta has long been working on a smartwatch to add to its collection of hardware. However, that project has had a rough development cycle as it has been canceled and revived several time

Meta smartwatch with a camera may be announced in September

Apple at one time considered adding a camera to the Apple Watch, but it looks like Meta may get there first. A new report suggests the company may unveil the upcoming wearable at its September event. A Meta smartwatch with a camera was spotted in development back in 2021, but was said to have been put on pause the following year. However, a new supply-chain report says the project was revived and is now close to launch … Apple Watch with camera Apple has long been considering the idea of addi

My new favorite keychain holder can carry up to 14 keys (and is trackable by phone)

KeySmart's iPro Key Finder and Holder ZDNET's key takeaways KeySmart's iPro Key Finder and Holder is available at Best Buy for $40. It holds up to 14 keys, has a built in LED flashlight, and lasts about a month on one charge. It's one more thing you'll need to keep charged. View now at Best Buy Are you forever losing your keys? You're convinced you put them down on the coffee table, but now you're five minutes late leaving for work and you're pulling the couch to bits apart to find them. Sou

I compared the best smartwatches from Samsung, Google, and Apple - here's how Galaxy Watch 8 wins

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 ZDNET's key takeaways Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 is available for purchase now at a starting price of $349. It's a capable smartwatch with all the usual health metrics, along with Samsung's Running Coach, bedtime guidance, and recovery insights. Some features feel more experimental than scientific, like Antioxidant Index and BMI, which failed to work several times. View now at Samsung Samsung's latest smartwatches have arrived. The Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, which includes bo

Add smart touches your dorm room: Everything you need

If you or a loved one is prepping for college, it's easy to knock out the apparent dorm room essentials: twin XL sheets, a mini fridge, a laptop, and more. What's less likely to be obvious is the tech items you buy that will level up a dorm room from basic to smart. With so many tech products flooding the market, especially ones catered to college students, it can be hard to know which ones are worth it and which ones will sit unused for four years to come. Also: These 6 gadgets are the colleg

The Best Smart Rings, Tested and Reviewed (2025)

Honorable Mentions We have tested several other entrants to this nascent category, some good, some bad, and some in between. Here is the lowdown on some of your smart ring alternatives. Photograph: Adrienne So; Getty Images Movano Evie Ring for $269: When it first came out, the Movano Evie Ring (4/10, WIRED Review) was touted as the world's first fitness tracker designed specifically for women. I was very excited! It was recently updated to integrate with Apple Health (in the iOS version of t

Alibaba to launch AI-powered glasses creating a Chinese rival to Meta

Alibaba announced plans to release a pair of smart glasses powered by its AI models. The Quark AI Glasses are Alibaba's first foray into the smart glasses product category. Alibaba on Monday unveiled a pair of smart glasses powered by its artificial intelligence models, marking the Chinese firm's first foray into the product category. The e-commerce giant said the Quark AI Glasses will be launched in China by the end of 2025 with hardware powered by the firm's Qwen large language model and its

I replaced my Apple Watch with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 for a week - and didn't mind it

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 ZDNET's key takeaways Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 is available for purchase now at a starting price of $349. It's a capable smartwatch with all the usual health metrics, along with Samsung's Running Coach, bedtime guidance, and recovery insights. Some features feel more experimental than scientific, like Antioxidant Index and BMI, which failed to work several times. View now at Samsung Samsung's latest smartwatches have arrived. The Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, which includes bo

I Put 3 Popular Smart Rings to the Test. This One Improved My Wellness Habits the Most

The Oura ring was my favorite smart ring because its app was easy to understand and I liked some of the newer features from its latest software update. At the steep price of $299, this smart ring is made up of aerospace-grade titanium – one of the strongest materials on earth -- according to the site. Before I received my Oura ring, I was sent a ring sizer to figure out my ring size. Other smart rings did the same since sizing varies per brand. Once I received the Oura ring, I downloaded the Ou

China’s Smart Glasses Are Once Again Going All the Way Off

There are officially too many wild pairs of smart glasses coming out of China to keep track of. First, it was Xiaomi with its Ray-Ban-stomping pair of glasses that can record 45 minutes of consecutive video and boast an 8.5-hour battery life. Then, just last week, a company called Wigain announced a breakthrough in making mass-producible smart glasses with optical waveguide lenses. Those, I might add, also feel very Meta-killing. Now, it’s Alibaba’s turn, or it’s about to be if rumors are to be

CNET Survey: 64% of People Still Don't Want a Foldable Smartphone

Foldables have been a staple of the smartphone release cycle for years now, with products from companies like Samsung, Motorola and Google. Despite the refreshingly unique form factor in a sea of mobile uniformity, the vast majority of consumers still aren't sold. According to a CNET survey, 64% of respondents say they aren't willing or interested in buying a foldable smartphone in the next year, while just 13% say they are. An additional 20% aren't sure if they want a foldable and only 3% say

These AR swim goggles I tested have all the relevant metrics (and no subscription)

Form Smart Swim 2 Pro ZDNET's key takeaways The Form Smart Swim 2 Pro is available for $329, with the premium subscription for $119/year or $15/month. The included solution keeps the goggles fog free, and the annual subscription provides extensive training and analysis features. Peripheral visibility is limited, the glasses are rather expensive, and the anti-fog spray needs to be applied before each swim. View now at Formswim I've been exercising since I was a young boy in the 80s, and never

Going chain-free with the Priority Gemini gravel bike

In combining a belt drive with a gravel bike, Priority Bicycles has put a smart idea into action with the Priority Gemini. The execution is mostly there, although the Gemini is perhaps best described as a fantastic commuter bike with a solid gravel upside—as long as the road isn't too rough. The Priority Gemini comes in both aluminum and titanium frames. I tested the $3,499 aluminum model; the titanium version retails for $5,499. The aluminum version weighs in at 24 lb (10.9 kg), about a half-p

Forget Whoop: I found a worthy fitness tracker alternative with none of the subscription fees

ZDNET's key takeaways The Amazfit Helio Strap is available now for $99. As a smartwatch alternative, the strap offers virtually all the same health tracking features via the robust Zepp app, with over a week of battery life. The fabric strap isn't made of exceedingly high quality materials, but luckily can be easily replaced. View now at Amazon Amazfit, makers of such smartwatches as the Bip 5 and the new Balance 2, recently released its Helio Strap, a fitness tracker that has all the core fu

Finally, an Android smartwatch with extensive health tracking (and doesn't break the bank)

Amazfit BIP 5 ZDNET's key takeaways The Amazfit BIP 5 is typically sold on Amazon for $89. It's a solid budget smartwatch that integrates with the Zepp app, providing a breadth of health and fitness data. It's not the most precise health tracker on the market, and its competitive price is most evident in its physical design. $69.99 at Amazon On Amazon, the Amazfit BIP 5 in Pastel Pink and Cream White is on sale for $70. The Soft Black watch is a bit pricier at $75. In a crowded marketplace o

The 8 Pixel Watch 4 rumors I'm most curious about (and what they could mean for the smartwatch)

91Mobiles / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET We might be getting new Google smartwatches very soon. Also: The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is $100 off on Amazon - get it while the deal lasts Google recently confirmed its next Made by Google event, the tech giant's annual hardware launch, typically held in August. Made by Google's X account confirmed it will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. ET. What can we expect from the Pixel Watch 4? Google could debut new Pixel phones (including a foldable

I ditched Google Home years ago, so why are you still using it in 2025?

🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup. It wasn’t that long ago that Google Home seemed like the smart home platform to be invested in. Google Assistant had numerous advantages over Amazon Alexa, Google’s smart home hardware was among the best on the market, and unique third-party options from Lenovo and JBL kept things interesting. But fast forward to 2025, and Google

Survey: 7 in 10 Google Home users say their devices are no longer reliable

A few days ago, we highlighted a Reddit thread packed with complaints about Google Home speakers and hubs. A clear theme emerged: Google’s smart home devices are no longer working as they should. Users are increasingly frustrated as core features like controlling lights, running routines, and using speaker groups have become unreliable. Simple voice commands that once worked flawlessly now frequently fail. While the Reddit thread gave us a strong sense of the widespread frustration, Google even

I tested Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8, and it kickstarted my motivation to get running again

Samsung Galaxy 8 Smartwatch ZDNET's key takeaways Samsung's Galaxy 8 is available for preorder now, with shipping beginning on July 25. It's a capable smartwatch with all the usual health metrics, along with Samsung's Running Coach, bedtime guidance, and recovery insights. Some features feel more experimental than scientific, like Antioxidant Index and BMI, which failed to work several times. View now at Samsung Samsung's latest smartwatches have arrived. The Galaxy Watch 8 lineup, which incl

This smart humidifier has a handy feature I keep coming back to - and it's Alexa compatible

ZDNET's key takeaways The Dreo Smart 5L Humidifier is available for $70. This humidifier is easy to use, includes a demineralization filter, works with Alexa, allows you to add essential oils, adds both sleep and auto modes, and packs plenty of other features to help it rise above the rest. The only downside of the Dreo Smart 5L Humidifier is that it doesn't offer a warm mist option. $58.09 at Amazon The Dreo 5L smart humidifier is on sale for $58 (save $12) at Amazon. Along with being a wri

In defense of fake smartwatches

Here in the mobile tech world, we absolutely love slapping labels on products, breaking the market down into categories. Some of those are clearly defined: While they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, no one’s really debating what counts as a “foldable” smartphone. But others have been far more nebulous — remember 15 years ago when “phablets” suddenly descended upon us, but no one quite seemed to agree on where to draw the line between those and regular smartphones? Some of those ambiguiti

This Tiny Gadget Should Be at the Heart of Every Smart, Energy-Saving Home

We're now firmly in the summer months which means that we're in air conditioning territory. But whether you're keeping your home cool or looking to get toasty in the cooler months, one handy bit of tech could be the secret to keeping you comfortable and controling your energy bills. Getting the temperature just so is so easy in my smart home that I can do it using nothing more than my voice. "Hey Google, show me my thermostat," I say. "Got it," my Nest display responds. It brings up all my Nes

I continue to use Google Home and its speakers, but I hate everything about it

I’ve been in the Google Home camp since the first speaker launched in November of 2016, though you might even say that I started earlier, with the first Chromecast in 2013. Since then, I’ve had a couple of Lenovo Smart Displays, some JBL Link speakers, the JBL Link View, the Google Home Mini, Nest Audio, Nest Hub, and many others that are too esoteric to remember. Today, my home houses two Nest Audios, a Pixel Tablet, and a Nest Hub, scattered across three floors, and even though I’m at the end

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Finally, a smart ring I don't have to charge every night (and no subscription)

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

CNET Survey: 64% of People Say 'No Thanks' to Foldable Smartphones

Foldables have been a staple of the smartphone release cycle for years now, with offerings from companies like Samsung, Motorola and Google. But despite the refreshingly unique form factor in a sea of mobile uniformity, the vast majority of consumers still aren't interested. According to a CNET survey, 64% of respondents say they aren't willing or interested in buying a foldable smartphone in the next year, while just 13% say they are. Another 20% aren't sure if they want a foldable, and only 3

How to Build a Functional Smart Home When You’ll Never Own a House Yourself

Ah, yes, the American dream. A house with a white picket fence, a dog, and as many products as you can pile into a pickup truck that you paid for in cash, which I’m told is a type of green paper you can exchange for goods and services. Sounds nice; sounds normal; sounds totally and completely out of reach. The classic American dream may be dead, but at least we have the Internet of Things and the never-ending font of smart home products it’s given rise to, right? I say that with my tongue ready