GoKawiil
Tech News
A review roundup examines Zepp Health's Amazfit smartwatch lineup, noting models like the Amazfit Bip 6 start at around $80. The watches offer long battery life, up to 25 days on some models, and AI-driven features through Zepp Coach, but run a proprietary OS with limited app access, restricted storage on some models, and a companion app described as not very intuitive.
CNET is running a two-minute survey throughout November asking readers to rate wearable devices—fitness trackers, smartwatches and smart glasses—on battery life, accuracy, comfort, app experience and overall satisfaction. Responses will be tallied and the top-rated devices will be featured in an upcoming People's Picks roundup.
A new feature examines how consumers are increasingly using wearable devices such as sleep trackers, smartwatches, and over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors to monitor personal health metrics. The piece notes these devices not only collect health data but also provide guidance on how users can act on it.
An Android Authority columnist, who reviews gadgets professionally, lists seven products he continues to use despite regular access to newer alternatives. The first highlighted is the Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-canceling headphones, which he says still meet his needs even after three newer Sony generations were released.
Several entry-level Garmin smartwatches are currently discounted, with the Vivoactive 5 priced at $198 (down $102), the Forerunner 165 at $197 (down $53), and the Venu 3 at $299 (down $151). These models retain core Garmin features like Body Battery energy tracking, sleep coaching, stress tracking, and running metrics despite being older releases from 2023.
Garmin has unveiled the third generation of its Marq smartwatch series, offered in multiple styles that all feature titanium cases and sapphire crystal displays. The new models retain Garmin's existing suite of health and fitness tracking tools alongside the upgraded premium materials.
A review of consumer wearables that claim to monitor blood pressure without a traditional cuff found the devices can flag changes users don't feel. Physicians interviewed cautioned that the readings may not match clinical accuracy, raising concerns about how users interpret the data.
Users across Garmin, Galaxy, and Apple devices report persistent errors when attempting to connect their smartwatches to Strava, disrupting automatic workout data uploads. The issue affects multiple platforms, including Samsung Health and Health Connect, with no clear cause identified yet. Strava has been contacted for comment, and updates are pending.
WIRED's 2026 smartwatch guide picks the Apple Watch Series 12, priced at $399, as the best option for iPhone owners, and Google's $400 Pixel Watch 5 as the top choice for Android users. The review highlights the Series 12's new Health Sensing System, S11 chip, more frequent heart rate and HRV tracking, a new Readiness score, and faster charging, while noting battery life remains largely unchanged.
A study covered by The Conversation had 58 adults cycle while wearing devices from Apple, Samsung, Garmin, and Fitbit alongside a metabolic analyzer that measures actual gas exchange to determine calorie burn. Comparing the watches' estimates to that gold-standard measurement, researchers found substantial inaccuracies, with errors reaching 100% or more in some cases, particularly among people with higher body fat percentages.
In China, smartwatches designed for children have become a preferred device for parents managing preteens, offering location tracking and communication features without giving kids full smartphone access. These wearables let parents keep tabs on their children's whereabouts while limiting exposure to broader internet content and social apps.
Researchers are increasingly using wearable devices—smartwatches, wristbands, patches and rings—to collect real-time physiological data such as heart rate, blood pressure and activity in clinical trials. Specialists say advances in sensor technology and AI could enable decentralized trials where participants are monitored remotely, with dosing personalized to individual data rather than fixed protocols. Current devices already track metrics via accelerometers, gyroscopes and photoplethysmography, with future versions potentially measuring biomarkers like glutamate and cortisol.