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Smartwatches

6 GoKawiil briefs on this topic

Study finds Apple, Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit watches misjudge workout calories

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.

Chinese Parents Favor Kids' Smartwatches Over Phones for Tracking Preteens

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.

Wearables and AI poised to reshape clinical trial design, researchers say

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.

Apple keeps Watch Series 12 at $400 and Ultra 4 at $800 despite iPhone price hikes

Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 at its Sept. 9 event, both running WatchOS 27 with features that work independently of a paired iPhone. Unlike this year's iPhones, which saw price increases, both watches kept their previous starting prices—$400 for the Series 12 and $800 for the Ultra 4—with preorders open now and shipping Sept. 18.

Garmin launches Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro smartwatches with new Epix multi-activity tracking

Garmin has unveiled its Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro smartwatches, featuring refreshed hardware and a new capability called Garmin Epic. This feature links together separate workouts or outdoor activities to give users a combined, more complete view of their overall physical exertion over a day or trip.

Costco rolls out early Labor Day 2026 discounts on TVs, smartwatches and Apple gear

Costco has launched an early round of Labor Day 2026 promotions covering televisions, smartwatches, Apple devices and other electronics. The deals are being aggregated and vetted by outlets like ZDNET, which test and compare pricing across retailers before recommending items to shoppers.