Latest news with #wearables
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
I Tried This $40 Smartwatch: It Was Meh, but Not a Complete Waste of Time
I wasn't expecting much when I first strapped the WITHit Giga Smartwatch onto my wrist, and at least it delivered on that. This $40 smartwatch does the basics: shows notifications, counts your steps, tracks your heart rate (sort of) and lets you take calls from your wrist. But the execution of all these features is where it all starts to fall apart, and I found myself getting exactly what I paid for. After spending a week testing it, I came away with this: If you just want a basic smartwatch that works with both Android and iPhone, tells the time, tracks your steps and surfaces notifications, this will get the job done, just don't expect accuracy. But if you can stretch your budget even a little, something like the $75 Amazfit Bip 6 offers more accurate tracking, a more refined design and more reliable performance. The $40 WITHit Giga looks like an Apple Watch Ultra knock-off. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET Design and UI: big, bulky, and basic The WITHit Giga is about as no-frills as smartwatches come. It looks like an Apple Watch Ultra impersonator: metallic frame around a rectangular screen, rounded edges and even Apple Watch-like icons inside. But that's where the similarities end. If your wrist is on the smaller side like mine (I have a 6-inch wrist), brace yourself because this is going to look huge. The Giga's 48.5mm case is overpowering, and there's no smaller size option. On my wrist, it felt bulky and out of place, and the thick, textured silicone bands definitely didn't help matters. The 2.04-inch AMOLED display is decent with a 386x448 resolution, but the screen brightness isn't adaptive. You'll need to manually adjust it, which means it's almost too bright at night and borderline unreadable in direct sunlight unless you increase the brightness manually. This watch runs its own proprietary system, syncs to the WITHit app and works with both Android and iOS. You'll get notifications, basic fitness tracking, an always-on display (which in my testing drained the battery fast) and a speaker/mic combo for answering calls. The UI is straightforward but lacks polish. Swiping right opens your favorites and the side button lets you quickly launch a workout. Animations feel slow and longer text scrolls in awkwardly to fit the screen. The non-adaptive screen on the WITHit Giga is nearly unreadable outdoors unless you manually crank it to full brightness. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET Battery life: Not bad but there's a catch Battery life is one of the few things that holds up well here. I got about three days of use with the raise-to-wake option, and roughly a day and a half with the always on display enabled. That's not bad for the price, and it's actually better than even some flagship smartwatches. But the manual comes with a big red flag: "Avoid fast chargers" and don't overcharge. That's not something you want to see in 2025, especially because at this point in my smartwatch charger collection I don't know which one is fast, and which one is not, and the vague warning makes me think it's going to explode if I make the wrong choice. Charging from an empty battery to full takes about two hours with the included magnetic charger. But once I left it charging overnight and I approached it with terror the next morning thinking I'd broken the "don't overcharge" rule. Luckily, I came out unscathed. Health and fitness tracking: lower your expectations Workout tracking and wellness is where the cracks really show. Yes, the Giga technically tracks heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), sleep, stress and menstrual cycles. But the accuracy is questionable at best. During workouts, heart rate measurements were consistently off when compared to a chest strap and even other wrist-based trackers. The post workout HR average was close enough, but the metrics during the workout were noticeably off. For example, as I was sitting on my Pilates reformer (completely sedentary) starting a workout on the watch, the screen already read "100bpm", while the chest strap and Apple Watch had me at 65 bpm. This made me skeptical of even the resting heart rate readings. Sleep tracking only works between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., meaning night shift workers or anyone with an irregular schedule (like this late-night writer) is out of luck. Sleep stats are also confusing; instead of clear sleep stages or hours of sleep, you get odd comparisons like "fewer than 26% of people in your age group go to sleep this late." Not exactly sure what I should do with this information. Menstrual tracking is purely manual, based on averages, with no biological marker detection like temperature tracking. You can't even log a period directly from the watch and have to do it from the app. Other smartwatch features Calls: As long as your phone is within range, you can answer and make phone calls from the watch with its speaker and mic, but clarity is an issue. Texting: You can see texts from messaging apps, but you can't reply or even send a prewritten response (when paired to an iPhone). Voice Assistant: Technically available, but is basically just a shortcut to activate your own phone's assistant. You tap, and Siri or Google Assistant opens on your phone, not the watch. Not helpful. Quick settings: Save your recently used apps in quick settings, which actually made flipping between features like workouts and music controls more convenient — this is a win. Should you buy it? The WITHit Giga does the bare minimum you'd expect from a smartwatch, but at the expense of accuracy and attention to detail. For $40, it's a functional notification mirror with step tracking, call support and a splash of health features (if you're looking for a general overview at best). But if you can stretch your budget, something like the $80 Amazfit Bip 6 offers far better value, accurate health tracking, cleaner UI and better battery life. Bottom line: If you keep your expectations low, and you're just dipping your toes in the smartwatch waters for the first time, this might suffice. Otherwise, it's worth paying more for something that feels less like a toy and more like a tool.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Health
- Bloomberg
How Wearable Technology Is Shaping the Wellness Industry
The world of wellness wearables is gaining traction with the advent of tech devices that promise everything from better athletic performance to lifesaving features. Companies like WHOOP are using sophisticated sensors and AI to offer continuous health monitoring, aiming to go beyond fitness tracking to real health intervention. While the market is growing rapidly, experts caution that true longevity still boils down to a few age-old principles: diet, exercise, and sleep. (Source: Bloomberg)
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Sport
- Al Bawaba
Elite Sports Performance for the Active with HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro
As the demand for advanced-level tracking continues to grow, sports enthusiasts are seeking more from their wearables. They require devices that can provide in-depth data, real-time performance metrics, and precise insights to optimise their training and enhance their performance. HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Series answers this need with the launch of HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 and HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro. A new generation of smart wearables that bring together cutting-edge fitness technology and elevated design to complement your dynamic HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 brings Huawei's first-ever water sports route tracking, a barometer for elevation monitoring and HUAWEI Sunflower Location Positioning System for seamless navigation. HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro offers a game-changing combination of advanced metrics and specialised features for pro-level sports like golf, diving and trail running, as well as an ultra-slim, lightweight design that fits seamlessly into any active lifestyle. The HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Series is your ideal companion, delivering the insights and precision needed to push your limits, achieve your goals and perform like a true Every Swing, Perfect Every PuttThere is more to a great round of golf than just a good swing. It is about precision, awareness, and knowing the course like the back of your hand. With HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro, golfers can ensure that they are always one step ahead with data that elevates their game right from their for both passionate amateurs and serious players, this powerful golfing companion offers access to over 15,000+ global courses maps, giving users the ability to preview fairways in stunning 3D aerial view, giving them the time to by Dual-Frequency Five-System GNSS technology, the Real-Time Distance Based Measurement feature gives you precise, live distance readings from the front, center, and back of the green, as well as from any obstacles you might encounter. Leave the guesswork behind and embrace the accuracy of knowing the exact distance, every time you take a track of your performance has never been with easier. The Half Scoring Report provides a mid-game snapshot of your performance, where you can identify areas that need improvement before you progress further. At the end of your game, the Scorecard Operations feature provides a comprehensive breakdown of your score, showing you where you excelled and where you can refine your you are navigating a tricky hole or facing a new course on the fairway, with HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro, your best round is just round the Smarter, Safer and BetterEvery dive offers a new world to explore, and the right gear helps you embrace it safely. That is why HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is engineered to support your underwater adventures with confidence, control, and to perform at depths of up to 40-meters, this smartwatch delivers real-time dive metrics like depth, speed and time, empowering you to make every dive count. But it does not stop there. Post-dive, you can view detailed depth and speed curves, enabling you to assess your performance and experience with precision and is paramount when exploring the depths, and HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro takes it seriously, ensuring you are always protected with its built-in safety alerts. The depth safety warning reminds you to stay with the diving limit while the hover timer detects when you are in a hovering state and helps you to maintain your target hover control is vital for every diver, and the smartwatch improves it with a dedicated apnea training feature, which tracks metrics like blood oxygen levels, while training your stamina. From honing your diving technique, pushing your apnea limits to monitoring your overall performance, HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro gives you the insights you need to dive safely and confidently, with accurate real-time the Trails with Smarter Support at Every StepTrail running pushes you in ways the track never will through unpredictable elevation, rugged terrain, and constantly shifting pace. HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is designed to guide you through every twist and turn of the can easily import personalized routes, ensuring precise navigation even in the wildest environments. The backtracking function provides a safety net, allowing you to retrace your steps if you need to backtrack on unfamiliar tackling a new trail or pushing through a tough stretch, checkpoint navigation lets you set key waypoints along your journey, offering real-time route guidance to ensure you stay on the best path. For long-distance runners, the segmentation navigation function shines, allowing you to preview the entire course with a panoramic view. Plus, with navigation alerts, you will be notified instantly if you have strayed from your planned route, making it easy to get back on WATCH FIT 4 Pro takes your outdoor adventures to the next level, combining precision, ease of use, and smart technology to keep you on track, no matter the for the Pros, Ready for You These standout pro-level sport features are just a glimpse of what HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro can do. With its combination of lightweight comfort, exceptional craftsmanship, and groundbreaking health features, HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro is built to fit into your active lifestyle.
GSM Arena
a day ago
- GSM Arena
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review
It's been eleven years since Xiaomi launched its original Mi Band and the series has now entered its tenth generation. The Mi Band was the catalyst to Xiaomi's rise in the wearables market, managing to maintain its position as one of the best bang for your buck devices out there. With the Smart Band 10 now official, Xiaomi tried to refine its best-selling wearable with a few hardware upgrades and an ever-so-slightly higher starting price. Xiaomi Smart Band 10 specifications Display: 1.72' AMOLED touchscreen, 212 x 520 px resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 1,500 nits HBM brightness 1.72' AMOLED touchscreen, 212 x 520 px resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 1,500 nits HBM brightness Straps: Detachable proprietary straps, 135-210mm adjustable length Detachable proprietary straps, 135-210mm adjustable length Features: 5ATM rating, Real-time heart rate monitor, 24/7 Blood Oxygen level monitor, Sleep tracking, Stress monitoring, Sports tracking, Step Counter, Meditation, Notifications, Idle Alert, Phone Finder, Weather Forecast, Music and Camera Control, Alarm, Stopwatch, linear Vibration Motor, Flashlight. 5ATM rating, Real-time heart rate monitor, 24/7 Blood Oxygen level monitor, Sleep tracking, Stress monitoring, Sports tracking, Step Counter, Meditation, Notifications, Idle Alert, Phone Finder, Weather Forecast, Music and Camera Control, Alarm, Stopwatch, linear Vibration Motor, Flashlight. Sports Modes: Outdoor Run, Indoor Run, Outdoor Walk, Cycling, Hiking, Pool Swimming, Jump rope, Freestyle (150+ more in Mi Fitness app) Outdoor Run, Indoor Run, Outdoor Walk, Cycling, Hiking, Pool Swimming, Jump rope, Freestyle (150+ more in Mi Fitness app) Sensors: PPG optical heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, electronic compass PPG optical heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, electronic compass Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, Compatible with Android 8.0 and iOS 12+ Bluetooth 5.4, Compatible with Android 8.0 and iOS 12+ Battery: 233mAh 233mAh Colors: Black, Silver, Rose, White Black, Silver, Rose, White Dimensions: 46.57 × 22.54 × 10.95mm (Metal), 47.74 × 23.94 × 10.95mm (Ceramic) 46.57 × 22.54 × 10.95mm (Metal), 47.74 × 23.94 × 10.95mm (Ceramic) Weight (without strap): 16g (Aluminium), 26g (Ceramic Edition) The main additions to this year's Band 10 are the slightly larger and brighter screen alongside claims of more accurate health and activity tracking. You're also getting an updated vibration motor in the same basic design that's practically unchanged since the Band 7 days. So, are the new additions worth the higher asking price? Design Xiaomi didn't change much with the Smart Band 10's design. It's still the same pebble-shaped puck with its long and narrow AMOLED display. The new model features a larger screen diagonal, measuring 1.72 inches, compared to 1.62 inches on its predecessor. The bezels are slimmer this time around at 2mm on each side and they are perfectly symmetrical. The other big addition is the updated max brightness. Band 10 now cranks out 1,500 nits HBM brightness, which tops the 1,200 nits on its predecessor. That's a nice upgrade that helps when using the Band 10 outdoors in these sunny summer days. You still get auto brightness, which is what we used during our review process, and Always-on display (AOD) when you just want to glance over at the time. Our review unit is the Ceramic Edition. This is not the first ceramic Xiaomi Smart Band, but it is the first one making its way to global markets. The side frame is made from ceramic, while the bottom, where we have the sensors, is still made from plastic. Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Ceramic Edition The Ceramic Edition Band 10 sports a sleek white color that gives off Stormtrooper armor vibes. The other immediately noticeable fact is how much heavier it feels compared to past Smart Bands. Our review unit weighs 26 grams on its own and 44 grams with its fluororubber strap. For context, the regular version of the Band 10, which features a metal shell, should weigh in at around 16 grams sans its strap. Despite the added heft, Band 10 feels that bit more premium in its ceramic finish. We'd like to go off on a tangent here as the lack of physical buttons on the last four generations of Xiaomi Smart Bands has been a recurring annoyance for this reviewer in particular. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: bring back the physical buttons! Or at least a capacitive back button? There's no way to turn the band on apart from attaching it to the magnetic charger. If you need to restart the band and you don't have the charger with you, you're out of luck. We're still not convinced that the all-swipe gesture navigation model is the best way to go on a wearable, especially when your hands are wet, so we'd urge Xiaomi to at least consider bringing back buttons for the Smart Band 11. The box contents are the usual Xiaomi Smart Band affair – a proprietary two-pin magnetic charging cable, a quick start guide and a warranty leaflet. Xiaomi Smart Band 10 pearl-chain pendant Xiaomi also sent out its new pearl-chain pendant, which transforms the Band 10 into a fashion accessory if you're into that. Features Smart bands made their mark as inexpensive activity trackers, and in recent years, they have been getting closer in feature parity to smartwatches. But a band always comes with its limitations when compared to fully-fledged smartwatches, and the Smart Band 10 is no exception. For one, it does not feature a speaker, so you can only receive notifications for incoming calls without the ability to answer them. For obvious (size) reasons, there's no on-screen keyboard, so you can't reply to incoming messages. Our global version does not feature NFC connectivity and Xiaomi has yet again omitted a GPS receiver so you need to bring your phone if you want to track runs and other aerobic exercises. Band 10 pairs over Bluetooth 5.4 and features a multitude of sensors. These include an accelerometer, gyroscope, optical heart rate sensor, pulse oximeter and ambient light sensor. The new addition this year is the electronic compass, which is a nice feature to have, but in our opinion, a dedicated GPS receiver would have been a more useful addition. Another new addition is the ability to broadcast heart rate data during workouts to third-party devices like a cycle speedometer. Band 10 also gets guided running courses and deeper integration with Xiaomi's AIoT device ecosystem, allowing you to control compatible Xiaomi devices and smart appliances. Smart Band 10 comes with a new linear motor with an upgraded algorithm and custom vibrations. You can assign different vibration patterns for incoming notifications, calls, and alarms. Xiaomi also added an option to buzz your wrist when you swipe to go back in the menus, which is a nice addition, but as we said previously, a physical or even a capacitive back button would have been a better option. Band 10 gets an upgraded vibration motor Band 10 is 5ATM waterproof, which lets you take it to the pool and it can survive dives in fresh water up to 50 meters. Xiaomi is also advertising an upgraded activity tracking sensor with an enhanced sports tracking algorithm. For more details, refer to the health and activity tracking section. Software and performance Band 10 boots Xiaomi HyperOS 2.0, which looks and feels just like previous generations of Xiaomi Smart Bands. It's a real-time operating system (RTOS) operated via swipes with a handful of first-party apps and card-based widgets. We'd again like to emphasize the lack of physical buttons here, which makes navigating the UI on this small and narrow screen challenging in more ways than one. The 60Hz screen leaves little to be desired in terms of smoothness, everything works as you'd expect without any delays or hiccups. Band 10 now offers a total of 26 pre-installed apps, including the new running course app, a compass app, tasks and focus mode. One notable addition on the Band 10 is the ability to add widgets directly from the Band itself without going into the Mi Fitness app. Another positive is that Xiaomi made text on the Band 10's display slightly larger compared to the Band 9 which makes it easier to read incoming messages and system UI elements. As with any Xiaomi wearable, you'll need to install the Mi Fitness app on your phone to get started. This is your one-stop shop for accessing your health and activity data as well as tweaking, managing watch faces, and installing updates. Mi Fitness app on iOS The Mi Fitness companion app stores a month's worth of health-tracking and also brings access to a seemingly endless list of watch faces. There are numerous options that are bound to suit your style. From classical analog to minimalist electronic modes and even animated versions with animals and simple games, Band 10 brings arguably the best selection of watch faces to date. A few of the watch faces available inside the Mi Fitness app Nearly all watch faces bring an AOD option with varying degrees of additional information displayed at all times. Some AOD options also add glanceable details like battery status, weather info, and steps counter. Xiaomi allows you to store up to a month's worth of health and workout data, and you can sync it to Apple Health, Google Fit as well as Strava and Suunto. Some irks we had with the software include the lack of emoji support and the inability to use the band for anything else after you start a timer. For some odd reason Xiaomi is still using the US date format (mm/dd) which is not particularly useful for users in other regions. Connectivity was great during our review period with the Band 10 paired to an iPhone 15 Pro. We did not experience missed notifications or connection interruptions. Health and activity tracking With the Band 10, Xiaomi is also offering its most up-to-date optical heart rate sensor alongside blood oxygen saturation, sleep, stress metrics. In our testing, we found heart rate readings from the Band 10 to be much more accurate than previous Smart Band models in both resting mode and during workouts. We compared results with a Huawei Watch Fit 3, and both devices showed similar values. Previous Xiaomi Smart Bands had a tendency to overreport heart rate data, especially early on in workouts but that seems to be fixed with the Band 10. SpO2 readings were generally accurate with a minor deviation from what we measured with a dedicated pulse oximeter. Sleep tracking is still not as accurate as offerings from other brands. Band 10 consistently reported inaccurate sleep times, randomized rapid eye movement (REM) sleep readings and deep sleep readings which were not true. Sleep tracking: Xiaomi Band 10 (left) vs Huawei Watch Fit 3 (right) On the activity tracking side, Band 10 performed just as well as our reference Huawei Watch Fit 3. The two showed nearly identical heart rate readings during our sample workouts, which included a combination of treadmill running and weightlifting. This is a great improvement over past Xiaomi Smart Bands, which had a tendency to overreport heart rate data. Fitness tracking: Xiaomi Band 10 (left) vs Huawei Watch Fit 3 (right) Band 10 also gets on-device guided running courses with basic and advanced options with interval breakdowns. These are also adapted for walking, jogging and sprint running with beginner and advanced options. These training sessions can help you reach specific goals like improving running endurance, sprint times and lung capacity. Battery Life Band 10 features a 233mAh battery – just like the Band 9 and Xiaomi claims can deliver up to 21 days in typical usage, or 9 days with AOD. In our testing, we found the Band 10 to last for 10 days on a single charge with all of the health tracking features turned on alongside AOD mode and notifications. Truly impressive endurance from such a small activity tracker. When you do need to recharge, it takes around 50 minutes to get back to 100%. Verdict Smart Band 10 is Xiaomi's best entry in the series. The updated AMOLED touchscreen gets noticeably brighter than its predecessors, and text is easier on the eyes thanks to its larger display diagonal. The improved vibration motor is another nice addition, and we're finally seeing accurate heart rate readings, which deserves praise. The build quality is top-notch, and the new Ceramic Edition is absolutely stunning. Battery life comfortably lasts for over a week and the endless options of watch faces coupled with the large pool of fitness tracking options should be enough for most users. Sleep tracking accuracy leaves a lot to be desired and we'd like to see better management of notifications with the ability to reply to incoming messages. Xiaomi Smart Band 10 €49.99 at Amazon DE £39.99 at Amazon UK There are several great smartband alternatives from Huawei and Honor that offer nearly identical specs and the ability to take calls for around the same price as the Band 10. But if you're looking for a more compact device that gives you accurate heart rate readings, a bright AMOLED display and a week's plus battery life, then the Band 10 should be on your shortlist. Pros Bright AMOLED display with excellent outdoor legibility Great build, especially on the Ceramic Edition Improved heart rate accuracy Stellar battery life Cons Lacks GPS receiver Inaccurate REM and deep sleep readings Doesn't do voice calls No physical buttons We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
Digital Trends
5 days ago
- Digital Trends
Your next smartwatch could be more powerful than you were expecting
Qualcomm is tipped to be creating a new, dedicated smartwatch chip to create more powerful and longer lasting wearables, codenamed SW6100 or 'Aspena', highlighting a renewed interest in the space. The chips will reportedly use a 1x Arm Cortex-A78 + 4x Arm Cortex-A55 CPU configuration for the CPU, a huge increase in power from previous versions. Why this matters: The news, revealed by Android Authority, means we're set to get faster and longer-lasting user experience as smartwatches pack in more sensors and greater ability to be used independently from your phone. Recommended Videos It could also entice more brands to enter the smartwatch space, bringing competition for your wrist. What you need to know Smartwatches have traditionally had converted chips made for smartphones, but this sees Qualcomm making a dedicated chip for the first time. The new chipset, set to be launched in 2026, will use a far more powerful CPU configuration than the Arm Cortex A53 structure used on the previous model from 2022. Support for a better RAM controller (LLDDR5X) will help enable improved battery efficiency, leading to longer time between charges. The new chipset will be created using a TMSC process node – using production from the Taiwanese brand signals the new Aspena chip will be one of the most powerful on the market. Why should I care? The main takeaway here is that it's proof that wearables are set to grow in popularity – the launch of new devices (such as the Samsung Galaxy 8 series) shows that brands see this as a key battleground. As more sensors get packed into smartwatches, to enable things like deeper health tracking, offline maps use or media streaming or more impressive user interfaces, greater levels of power are needed to keep up. The promise of longer battery life, although not huge, will also be beneficial to users looking to wear the device longer to gain more accurate health insight, and the increased speed under the finger will allow more impressive and intuitive animations.
