The Apple Watch Series 7 was a modest update when compared to Series 6. It featured the same processor, features, and design as the previous variant, though our reviewer, Andy Boxall, was a huge fan regardless, giving it five stars for the refinements it made. However, Apple seems to be making more significant changes for next year’s model, adding two new smartwatches to its wearable lineup in 2022. According to the latest report, the company could announce a “rugged” Apple Watch and Watch SE 2 alongside the Series 8 next year.
The latest development comes from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, who revealed that an Apple Watch with a rugged design aimed at sports athletes is coming in 2022. Additionally, Apple is planning to update the Watch SE, which makes sense, since it didn’t get an update this year. To recall, the first-generation Apple Watch SE was released in September 2020. It still serves as the best smartwatch to get if you are looking to get into Apple’s wearable segment for around $250.
The original Apple Watch SE features the same design as the Apple Watch Series 6. However, it doesn’t sport features like an always-on display, blood oxygen sensor, and ECG functionality. Gurman also didn’t get into the details, and we don’t know what to expect from the next-gen Apple Watch SE. At a minimum, we expect it to have an updated design and get more health features.
Apple is also planning an entirely new Apple Watch in the form of a rugged wearable said to be aimed at athletes. As per Gurman, the new Apple Watch will have a “ruggedized” design that may feature a case that’s more resistant to scratches, dents, falls, and more.
We expect the new wearables to be announced sometime in the second half of 2022 and should have more details in the lead-up to that.
The OnePlus Buds Clip are a new pair of open-ear earbuds built around a simple convenience. They join Sony’s LinkBuds Clip in the growing ear-cuff category, but either OnePlus bud can go on either ear.
Sensors recognize how the earbuds are being worn and route the audio channels accordingly. There’s no label to check before putting them on, and the feature also works when only one bud is used.
We buy fitness bands and activity trackers to keep tabs on our exercise, but it is easy to forget to start tracking or switch modes when moving between different activities. For Fitbit and Pixel Watch users, that could soon become a lot less annoying, as Google is rolling out a major upgrade to automatic activity tracking that can recognize more than 100 types of exercise, up from just 10 before.
Google first showed off the improved tracking earlier this month alongside the Fitbit Edge. It is now coming to Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5, and Google claims the added context behind the system makes workout detection nearly twice as accurate while cutting missed activities by more than half. Fitbit Edge will support it too.