Tech

Apple Watch Series 7 review: Time for a minor upgrade

Enlarge / The Apple Watch Series 7 is virtually indistinguishable from the Series 6 (less so with a light-colored watch face), and it doesn’t add much, but it’s still the best smartwatch you can buy. (credit: Corey Gaskin) Apple Watch Series 7 From $399 at Apple From $390 at Amazon (Ars Technica may earn compensation […]

Tech

iFixit’s Apple Watch teardown includes a theory about device’s delayed launch

iFixit’s full Apple Watch Series 7 teardown. [credit: iFixit ] As has become something of a ritual, tools-seller and repair-advocacy group iFixit has published a detailed teardown of the latest Apple product. This time, we get a look at the particular innards of the Apple Watch Series 7. This Watch model was announced in September—but […]

Tech

The Apple Watch Series 7 release date is October 15

Enlarge / The Apple Watch Series 7. The new Apple Watch Series 7 will be available starting October 15, Apple announced today. Online orders will begin this Friday, October 8. Specifically, those prerelease orders will start at 5 am PDT, one week before the watch hits Apple’s brick-and-mortar stores globally. In most cases, preordered Apple […]

Tech

Report: Big new health features are coming to the Apple Watch—just not this year

Enlarge / The Apple Watch Series 6. (credit: Corey Gaskin) Analysts and reporters have published conflicting reports about what to expect from the next Apple Watch. Some, like Nikkei, claimed it will have new health sensors, but others like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have said that this year’s model will offer no major new hardware features […]

Tech

Fitbit announces Charge 5, teases future Google collaboration

Enlarge (credit: Fitbit) The Fitbit Charge fitness tracker is the company’s best-selling product line, and the latest model, the Charge 5, was just announced. Up for preorder now, the Charge 5 adds ECG (electrocardiogram), EDA (electrodermal activity) stress sensors, an AMOLED display, and a stainless steel facelift for $50 more than its predecessor, the Charge […]

Health Tech

watchOS 8 brings new health and messaging features to the Apple Watch this year

Enlarge Today, Apple detailed its plans for watchOS 8, the next major software update for the Apple Watch. Apple introduced some smaller updates to health and fitness features, improved texting and photo sharing, and new Homekit integrations. The Apple Watch’s Breathe app has new animations and adds “Reflect,” which gives you mindfulness prompts to accompany […]

Tech

One week with Garmin’s newly announced Forerunner 945 LTE and Forerunner 55

Enlarge / The Garmin 945 LTE family. (credit: Garmin) Garmin just announced the new Forerunner 945 LTE and Forerunner 55 running smartwatches, and I know what you’re thinking: “Garmin finally caved and made a full-blown, cellular-connected smartwatch!” Not quite. The new device does have LTE connectivity, which requires a monthly subscription of either $5.99 (with […]

Tech

The best smartwatches for every type of user

Enlarge / Garmin’s Vivomove Luxe has premium materials like 24K gold and a hidden touch screen, achieving a high-tech, high fashion aesthetic. It’s indistinguishable from a traditional watch with the screen off. (credit: Corey Gaskin / Ars Technica) Believe it or not, there are smartwatches worth owning other than the Apple Watch. If getting important […]

Tech

Garmin’s 2 new smartwatches want to make the casual athlete more advanced

Enlarge (credit: Garmin) Garmin has just launched its latest pair of smartwatches, the Garmin Venu 2 and Venu 2S, aimed at those who feel Apple Watches and typical Android smartwatches just don’t give enough health and fitness data. Garmin has a seemingly bottomless roster of smartwatches, and most cater to those who train rather than […]

Tech

Apple Watch Series 6 Overview: Still the best smartwatch, However, Monitoring Is Currently lacking

Expand (charge: Corey Gaskin) Apple’s most recent smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 6, provides us nearly every feature one could ask for at an exercise tracker when reasserting Apple Watch’s standing as the most enjoyable, joined, and total smartwatch encounter. To be honest, the Apple Watch Series 5 additionally held these distinctions at its own […]