I flew all the way from Seattle, Washington, to Stockholm, Sweden, to watch bike helmets get smashed into heavy metal anvils over and over again, all for science.

I was invited on behalf of MIPS, which stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System. MIPS isn’t a helmet manufacturer, but there’s a good chance your bike, ski, snowboard, motorcycle, or equine helmet contains MIPS technology.

MIPS-equipped helmets — which all carry a small yellow circular logo near the rear — are widely regarded as the safest and the best helmets in the biz. As an avid outdoor enthusiast and gear tester, nearly all of the helmets I own carry the yellow dot. But why exactly makes MIPS helmets so superior to the competition? I had to find out. So, I packed my bags and split for Scandinavia.

There, I got a behind-the-scenes tour of the MIPS helmet test lab, where I saw helmet testing first hand (it’s more violent than I expected!). I also got to ask tons of questions and document the whole process.

With no shortage of cranium-defending insights to share with you, below are the three biggest things I learned from my time with MIPS.

1. MIPS helmet tech mimics how your skull protects your brain

MIPS helmets reduce the risk of brain injury by minimizing rotational force when you hit your noggin. Researchers have known that rotational force is bad for the brain since the 1940s, but it wasn’t until MIPS debuted over a decade ago that the helmet industry seriously attempted to reduce it.

Similar to how your skull protects your brain, upon impact, MIPS creates relative motion between the inside of the helmet and your head by 10 to 15mm on average. The result is a notable reduction in the severity of brain-related injuries compared to non-MIPS helmets. More simply put, MIPS lets your helmet slide slightly when you fall, and that absorbs quite a lot of energy.

It’s worth noting that MIPS is an “ingredient” brand with 12 versions of the system for all sorts of different helmet styles and types. MIPS also works with over 150 different helmet brands, licensing their technology and performing testing to ensure the addition of MIPS measurably improves the performance of each and every helmet by a repeatable margin.

2. They smash a whole lot of helmets into anvils at the MIPS test lab

A lot of helmets get smashed in the MIPS test lab on a daily basis. As noted above, every single helmet that carries the MIPS yellow dot is extensively tested in the lab against an identical model without MIPS. Not only that, MIPS tests every size variation as well.

To test a helmet, it gets attached to a size and weight-accurate dummy head with nine accelerometers inside. That head then gets lifted in the air on a rig to a predetermined height before it’s dropped onto an angled 45-degree metal anvil, simulating a fall.

Each helmet receives four impact tests, including the front and rear, as well as a lateral and pitched impact. Between the accelerometers and several super-high-speed video cameras recording the commotion, the MIPS team learns a lot about how a helmet performs from these tests.

According to Marcus Seyffarth, the head of MIPS testing, the lab assesses roughly 1,000 helmets a month for performance. In my time there, I saw no fewer than three helmets get smashed. They even have a giant numeric tally board to keep track of the total helmets tested since MIPS founding.

3. Helmet testing also involves advanced digital models and even cadavers

Lab testing isn’t the only way MIPS assesses helmet performance. The MIPS Virtual Test Lab seeks to bring computerized helmet testing up to speed with the car industry, which has largely moved on from traditional crash tests.

Using the Finite Element Method, the virtual lab breaks down the different parts of a helmet into a matrix of components based on their material-specific properties. They then test and record how each component performs under stress. Those results get added to a database, which is referenced during virtual testing. This lets researchers simulate how a MIPS-equipped helmet will perform, without ever smashing a thing, with impressive accuracy.

Other forms of helmet testing involve reviewing real-world crashes where a MIPS helmet was involved. This includes analyzing camera footage of the crash from different angles, if available, as well as medical images of any resulting injuries, and of course, the helmet itself. Once all the data is collected, MIPS generates a computer model to mirror the accident.

Finally, a portion of the helmet testing performed by MIPS involves dropping actual cadavers. Researchers insert small markers into various areas of the brain tissue to monitor the severity of an impact. It’s worth noting that this testing doesn’t occur at the MIPS facility, but rather at the Technical University of Stockholm in conjunction with MIPS.

Ultimately, I’d never given much thought to all the testing and technology involved in designing a solid-performing helmet. However, now that I’ve seen it first-hand, I'll never look at the humble brain bucket the same again.

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• I tried to ride Trek’s new ebike up the steepest hill in Seattle — and it didn’t go as planned
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I always appreciate how well stocked my office keeps the candy jar but this CEO's gift has blown that out of the water — Factory employees each received one of the best smart beds from CEO Matan Grinberg in hopes of boosting productivity.

Speaking on 20VC, Grinberg explained that when his start up had 30 employees each one received a $3,000 Eight Sleep smart mattress cover to "[squeeze] out every ounce of brain power" through the power of good sleep.

And he might be on to something. Our sleep tech specialist Eve Davies told me that using the Eight Sleep smart bed took her sleep score from 59 to 91 and sleep experts agree that good sleep is essential for learning and memory. Not to mention, Factory has since grown to over 120 employees... So is a smart bed the secret behind better work?

• Read more: 4 sleep experts share how they fall asleep fast and skip waking up at 3 a.m. in hot weather — 4 steps to take tonight

What is the Eight Sleep Pod smart mattress cover?

The central benefit of the Eight Sleep system is its integrated liquid-based temperature control, which allows you to heat or cool the bed to suit your preferences. Larger sizes also include dual-temperature control, so both sides of the bed can sleep comfortably.

In addition, the Eight Sleep cover is woven with sensors to track your sleep during the night. This data is used to optimize the temperature control features, and you can access your info via the Eight Sleep app.

Newer models also include a smart alarm, while an optional adjustable bed base is also available with the Pod 5 (from our sleuthing, we think Factory employees received either the Pod 3 or 4.)

• Read more: I tried the 7:1 sleep rule and finally hit 90 on my sleep tracker — here's all the ways it's boosting my metrics

How a smart mattress can improve productivity

1. Temperature controls help prevent 3 a.m. wake ups

High temperatures don't just make you sticky and uncomfortable when you're trying to sleep — they work against your circadian rhythms, which prefer a cooler bedroom to drop off (65 to 70°F / 18 to 21 °C.)

Excess warmth can also disrupt the delicate movement between sleep cycles, meaning you're more likely to wake up when you shift into lighter or REM sleep around 3 a.m.

But the Eight Sleep uses integrated trackers to monitor your temperature and respond, ensuring you stay comfortably cool all night long.

As a result, you can enjoy higher quality sleep as your body is able to move smoothly through every sleep stage. (Eight Sleep notes the automatic temperature adjustments can improve deep sleep up to 34%.)

2. Sleep trackers help you identify problem areas

Sleep tech tester Eve noted that one of the big benefits of her smart bed is that it helped her take accountability for her sleep problems and in doing so finally take control of the hit-and-miss sleep schedule that was dragging her score down.

Of course, this isn't exclusive to the Eight Sleep — the best sleep trackers should all help you get to grips with your sleep by providing clear metrics. These allow you to wade through the murky hours you've spent dozing until you have a proper picture of your rest.

It's then down to you to make these changes (even the latest Eight Sleep Pod can't force you into bed.) But the big red warning signs of your sleep tracker often function as good motivation.

3. Waking up at the right moment beats sleep inertia

The latest models of the Eight Sleep come with built-in alarms that recognize when you're at a lighter stage of sleep and use either temperature, vibration or audio to wake you up.

Smart alarms ensure that rather than being jolted awake during a phase of deep sleep, you're gradually roused when your body is naturally poised to wake up. This helps prevent sleep inertia (the groggy feeling you get first thing in the morning.)

From a productivity stand point, a fresher wake up ensures those first few hours of the day are spent feeling alert and ready to go — not waiting for your coffee to kick in.

The best sunrise alarm clocks are another way to start the day better. By slowly flooding the room with light, they ease you into the day comfortably.

How does sleep help learning?

Your brain is busy while you're asleep. During deep sleep memories are strengthened and muscles are repaired, while REM sleep helps with problem solving. If you want to learn, the key isn't a late night cramming session — it's getting a good night's rest.

You also have more willpower and better decision making when you're well rested, alongside better mood control.

And during sleep your body also clears away adenosine, the hormone responsible for sleep pressure, allowing you to wake up fresh.

So if your employers have been looking for ways to boost production, maybe drop them a link to the Eight Sleep store?

As you may already be aware, it's EOFY sales season, meaning there are discounts aplenty across almost everything. I'm talking tech products, appliances, beauty buys and of course, activewear.

One of my favourite athleisure brands, Gymshark, has launched its "The Gymshark Sale" last night, kicking off at 6pm AEST, with 30% off discounts splattered across the site. There's an even sweeter deal in its Last Chance section, with an extra 50% off slapped on clearance items, totalling up to a mega 80% discount.

There are slashed prices on popular products, including Gymshark's beloved Whitney leggings, flare leggings, and Adapt sports bras. And there are price drops on the men's Arrival shorts, as well as oversized hoodies and gym accessories. As a doll-obsessed Zilliennial, I'm keeping a keen eye out for the hopeful restocking of the new Gymshark x Bratz collab.

I'll be updating this page with new deals as I find them, but for now, I've selected 30 of the best Gymshark deals available. Happy shopping!

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The wait is over as Android 17 officially rolls out today, hitting Pixel phones first with additional features that weren’t previously revealed at Google I/O 2026 or The Android Show: I/O Edition. Eligible Pixel devices will be the first to experience the upgrade, followed by a broader rollout to other compatible devices throughout the year.

Gemini Intelligence was one of the biggest reveals, though users will have to wait a smidge longer to access it, with a rollout slated for later this summer. Even without it, the Android 17 update is packed with plenty of new features to tide people over. Pixel owners are also getting a double dose of updates today, courtesy of the June 2026 Pixel Drop and new optimizations landing on Wear OS 7.

Here's everything you need to know about Google’s latest ecosystem upgrades.

More new features with Android 17

Android 17 is officially rolling out to Pixel devices first, with this update introducing massive productivity, gaming, and security overhauls. Here's all the new Android 17 features you can expect to tap into after installing the update.

• Bubbles: If you're a power multitasker, then you'll love the Bubbles feature in Android 17 that allows you to turn any app into a compact, floating window. It's the alternative to simply closing an app and going back to it because Bubbles on larger screen devices will show up as at the bottom of the screen for easier access.
• Screen Reactions: This one's really helpful for users who love to record themselves because Screen Reactions revamps the screen-recording toolbar to let you capture your device's display and your selfie camera simultaneously.
• Foldable Gaming Mode: Gamers who prefer on-screen controls can now opt for a virtual, on-screen gamepad they can use with the new foldable gaming mode specifically for devices like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. When enabled you get a dedicated 50/50 layout with the game on top and controls on the bottom.
• Biometric "Mark as Lost": It's nerve wrecking when you lose your phone, but the new "Mark as Lost" feature with Android 17 can let you lock it using your biometrics via the Find Hub. Even if a thief knows your passcode, they can't access your data or disable tracking.
• Granular Privacy & Anti-Theft: You can now grant apps temporary access to your precise location or share specific contacts rather than your whole book. Additional options like PIN guess limits and longer wait times have been added to stop brute-force entry.

June 2026 Pixel feature drop

Google's known for frequently releasing Pixel Feature Drops throughout the year, and its June 2026 one is no exception. The latest update is packed with new AI features, creation tools, and global expansions for supported Pixel phones, tablets, and watches. Here's just some of the most popular features coming out.

• Gemini Omni: For Gemini Pro users, you can now type a text prompt into the Gemini app to generate a custom, high-quality video by just telling it what you want.
• Lyria 3: Create original tracks from scratch. Just prompt Gemini with text or images, customize the vocals, style, and tempo, and share the track.
• Conversational Editing: Pixel users in Germany, the U.K., France, Spain, and Italy can now execute complex, multi-step photo edits simply by talking to their phones.
• AirDrop expanded support: Android Quick Share expands its cross-platform capabilities, allowing Pixel 8a and 9a users to easily share files globally with AirDrop-enabled devices.
• Ecosystem Emergency Detection: Select Pixel watches (from Pixel Watch 2 to 4) now integrate Emergency Sharing directly into Car Crash, Fall, and Loss of Pulse detection, automatically alerting emergency services and custom contacts if a severe event happens.

Refreshes your wrist with Wear OS 7

Rounding out the massive wave of updates is Wear OS 7, which officially begins its rollout to eligible Pixel Watch devices today. This latest wearable platform update prioritizes seamless cross-device utility and smarter, real-time tracking directly on your wrist. There's also new personalized help features with Gemini Intelligence, which will be coming later.

• Live Updates: Never miss a moment like the score of a World Cup game or waiting on an Uber ride with Live Updates that give you glanceable, real time details directly from your watch face.
• Cross-Device Control: Manage media playback across headphones or home speakers with a new media output switcher. For example, you can preview photos taken on a pair of smart glasses right from your wrist.
• Battery Boost: Deep, system-level power optimizations will give users upgrading from Wear OS 6 up to a 10% bump in battery life.
• Gemini Intelligence: Later this year, select Wear OS 7 devices will get a massive upgrade courtesy of Gemini Intelligence, transforming your smartwatch into a deeply personalized AI assistant. You'll be able to use natural language to build custom dashboards through Create My Widget.

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• iOS 27 beta has new and improved dictation software — I tested it by writing this whole article with my voice
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We asked Tom’s Guide readers which new fitness tracker they prefer, the screen-free Fitbit Air or the running-focused Garmin Forerunner 70, and your response was overwhelming.

With more than 800 total votes — 821 to be exact — one wearable proved far more popular than the other, receiving nods from 67% of respondents. So, which of these top-performing fitness trackers came out on top, the Fitbit Air or the Garmin Forerunner 70? Read on.

67% of TG readers prefer the Fitbit Air, but why?

We ran our “Which 2026 fitness tracker do you prefer, the latest Garmin or the newest Fitbit?” poll for two weeks, and the results speak for themselves. With all votes tallied, 67% of Tom’s Guide readers prefer the Fitbit Air to the Garmin Forerunner 70. But why?

For starters, the Fitbit Air is just $99, and the Garmin Forerunner 70 is $249, but that’s just one likely factor in the former’s popularity.

An even bigger reason folks prefer the Fitbit might come down to the target audiences. While the Garmin Forerunner 70 is designed with running enthusiasts in mind, the Fitbit Air is geared toward, well, anyone who’s looking for health and fitness insights from a no-fuss wearable.

Ultimately, the Forerunner 70 is a more niche product, while the Fitbit Air has more mass appeal.

Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70: Biggest differences

I’ve already covered the core differences between the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 in the intro to my 3,000-step walk test between the two (Spoiler alert: both performed with remarkable accuracy). But to summarize, the Garmin boasts more training and recovery tools, running features, and onboard GPS. It’s light on smart features but does offer mirrored notifications and media control.

The Fitbit Air, meanwhile, offers a well-rounded mix of holistic and fitness features with no screen, buttons, or ability to mirror notifications. It also requires a paired smartphone for location data when working out.

Ultimately, both the Fitbit Air and Garmin Forerunner 70 impressed me during testing, with each proving reliable, long-lasting, durable, and comfortable.

Haven’t voted in our Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 poll yet? Make your voice heard now, below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Forerunner 55: Here's how Garmin's new entry-level running watch stacks up against its predecessor
• I went for a run with the Fitbit Air and Garmin Forerunner 70 to see how the $99 tracker compared, and I’m impressed
• Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3 — which $99 fitness tracker wins?

Brushing your teeth before bed is a common part of nighttime routines. However, making it the very last thing you do before bed could be the reason why you can't fall asleep within a healthy time frame (around 10-20 minutes is average).

In fact, experts say you shouldn't brush your teeth within less than one hour of going to bed if you want to fall asleep quickly and easily. "It sends a signal to your body that it's not actually time to go to sleep, so we produce more wake-promoting hormones, such as cortisol, to stay awake," explain sleep researcher Hannah Shore, Head of Sleep at MattressOnline.

Here Shore explains what happens to your hormones and your energy levels when you brush your teeth right before bed, and how that impacts your ability to fall asleep. She also reveals the three other key activities to avoid right before bed to sleep better.

Key takeaways : At a glance

• According to sleep researcher Hannah Shore, brushing your teeth right before bed forces you to stay active when your body is naturally winding down. This in turn suppresses melatonin, the sleep regulating hormone.
• Bright LED bathroom lights and overstimulating mint-flavored toothpastes enhances alertness and can cause temporary insomnia.
• Other activities Shore recommends you avoid close to bedtime include eating heavy meals and exercising vigorously. These activities raise your body temperature, which in turn makes it biologically harder to fall asleep.

Why you shouldn't brush your teeth right before bed

Supressing melatonin and promoting cortisol

"Usually, we are sitting on the sofa, falling asleep thanks to our circadian rhythm being in a slower phase, our sleep pressure being high, and our body therefore producing the sleep chemical melatonin," says Shore.

However, then comes the journey up to bed, which involves actually getting ready for bed. The problem with brushing your teeth when your body wants to sleep, Shore warns, is that you're essentially trying to stay awake.

"It sends a signal to your body that it's not actually time to go to sleep, so we produce more wake-promoting hormones, such as cortisol, to stay awake," she explains.

"Now our circadian rhythm is trending upwards, providing us more energy. So when we finally get into bed, we're wide awake, staring at the ceiling."

Then there's the act of teeth brushing itself, which is a more energizing activity than you think.

Shore tells me that your evening bathroom routine involves using "fresh, overstimulating toothpaste and splashing your face with water".

In fact, a medical case study has found that there may be a possible association between menthol exposure from mint-flavored toothpaste and insomnia, while another study found that exposure to peppermint aroma right before bed significantly reduced subjective fatigue and enhanced alertness in participants.

And finally, Shore says that teeth brushing is "completed in the bathroom with very bright lights" — and this can have a big impact on sleep.

Research has shown that LED light bulbs (the kind found in bathrooms) emit blue light that can suppress twice as much melatonin than a yellow-green light.

Researchers also exposed participants to standard bathroom-style lighting for just 30 minutes (less than hour before their habitual bedtime) and discovered that modern bathroom vanity bulb significantly suppressed melatonin secretion and increased subjective alertness.

3 activities to avoid before bed

1. Vigorous exercise

Exercising before bedtime may feel like it's tiring you out, but a 2025 study discovered that a vigorous workout within fours of going to bed can make it harder to fall asleep and lower sleep quality.

“When we exercise, our body temperature increases. This can take an hour or so to cool down properly, so make sure you are leaving plenty of time between exercising and going to bed,” Shore advises.

2. Eating heavy meals

Research has shownthat eating a heavy meal too close to bed can prolong the time it takes to fall asleep, while the 10-3-2-10 sleep rule advises finishing your evening meal at least three hours before bedtime.

"Eating a large meal late at night not only leaves you feeling a little uncomfortable lying in bed but can also cause your core body temperature to rise at a point when we need it to be cooling down," explains Shore.

To void nighttime discomfort, the sleep researcher suggests eating a larger lunch and lighter evening meal.

3. Watching or reading engaging content

Putting your phone in grayscale mode or wearing blue light-blocking glasses may help to decrease the stimulating effects of screen lights, but that still doesn't mean you can partake in a bedtime binge-watch.

"If the content is too engaging, then we often use the term ‘just one more…’, meaning we are cutting out sleep short," Shore tells me. "Keep content simple, easy and non engaging which means it's easy to switch off from."

Shore says that the key to building a nighttime routine for better sleep is to focus on calming activities that help you to wind down — even if that's watching repeats of your favourite TV show.

"If breathing exercises and meditation work for you, then great!" she says" "If not, then find something that does, which can be any activity that helps switch off your brain and relax your body."

The products we rate for falling asleep fast

Ever experienced the sleep tracker miss-match? It's when your data suggests a good night's rest but your body feels like it's hardly slept a wink. DUSQ, a sleep intervention device now live on Kickstarter, wants to bridge the gap between the two.

Described as the "first wearable that reads your nervous system directly", the DUSQ detects even the tiniest changes in electrical activity to identify when your sleep is under threat from the micro-disruptions that ruin your sleep quality.

But enough about sleep tracking. The real focus of the DUSQ system isn't monitoring your sleep, it's improving it. Using non-invasive stimulation, the DUSQ activates your vagus and vestibular nerves to push you back into deep sleep.

In the morning, your sleep tracker should show a night of uninterrupted snooze. More importantly, you should feel every inch as refreshed as your sleep score indicates.

• Read more: 'I was exhausted after waking up at 3 a.m. each night — until I tried this 20-minute energy reset approved by doctors'

DUSQ: How it works

The DUSQ is a two part system: a patch that sticks to the skin beneath your ear and the connected DUSQ Device, which reads information relayed by the patch. In the hours before bed (yes, before bed, we'll dive into that below), you apply the patch and set up the device in your room.

Inside the DUSQ patch is a series of patented EDA (electrodermal activity) sensors. These essentially monitor your skin's electrical properties and through this can detect minor changes in your nervous system.

These tiny adjustments signal sleep disruptions, from 3 a.m. wake-ups to the micro disturbances you don't even realize are happening but can leave you exhausted in the morning.

This is where things step up a level. When the DUSQ notes a wake-up, it doesn't just add it to your tracking data — it sends you back to sleep.

DUSQ does this by delivering "non-invasive" stimulation to the vestibular and vagus nerve, helping calm your nervous system and push you into deeper sleep.

Think of it like being rocked back to sleep. And we mean that literally; it's the vestibular nerve that's stimulated when you rock a fussy baby.

'I sleep much faster and way deeper'

At Tom's Guide, we emphasize that good sleep starts hours before you go to bed, which is why you should put down that 3 p.m. coffee. DUSQ is on the same page, with sleep enhancing tech that starts before you're actually asleep.

So how does it work? By applying your DUSQ patch in the hours before bed, the sensors can start calming your nervous system, priming you to drop off when you climb beneath the covers.

And like all the best sleep tech, the DUSQ also tracks your sleep cycle on the connected app.

The device has been tested in DUSQ's Sleep Lab using polysomnography (the gold-standard in sleep tracking) and early customer feedback is positive: "I sleep much faster and way deeper" says one user, while another claims their life has "changed in ways like it was never before."

• Read more: I had no idea reading in bed could be causing my 3 a.m. wake-ups — an insomnia expert explains the simple switch for sleeping through

DUSQ: Price and availability

The DUSQ is now live and available on Kickstarter, with prices starting at $339 and VIP orders set to arrive in August (other devices are set for delivery in October.)

Each order includes the DUSQ patch, tracking device, charging case and cable, plus replacement patches. The price is set to rise at launch, with the retail MSRP estimated at $499.

Each DUSQ patch comes with seven adhesive layers, which are peeled and replaced each night, for a week's worth of use. Orders include a three month supply of patches, with additional three month packs priced at $25.

This is a price comparable to other sleep trackers that claim to improve your sleep, including the Muse S Athena ($479.99 MSRP at Muse) and the Pulsetto (MSRP $546 at Pulsetto.)

Wake up fresher and avoid late-night disruptions

DUSQ compares itself to your heating system. You probably don't sit by the thermostat making minor adjustments to keep the house just the right temperature (unless you're that type of dad.)

Instead, you let the thermostat read the air and make changes as necessary. The result? You stay the comfortable without having to lift a finger.

While traditional sleep trackers give us insight into our sleep, it's down to the user to take the information and do something with it.

But the DUSQ actively intervenes while you snooze the night away, helping cut out those brief wake ups that can destroy sleep quality without you even realizing.

And the results so far show an average of 28 minutes restorative sleep improvement per night — one user claims it makes their eight hours sleep feel like 10. That's like an extra long lie-in and all you need to do is spend a few seconds sticking a patch to your neck.

Next month, Samsung is expected to hold its annual summer edition of Galaxy Unpacked, where at least two new Galaxy Watches should launch alongside the Galaxy S27 Ultra smartphone.

Recently, SammyGuru discovered both the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Watch Ultra 2 in China's 3C certification database. However, there's something missing: Apparently, we won't be seeing a new version of the Classic model.

The 3C certification does appear to list at least one spec for the two watches. The listing confirms that both watches will support 10W charging, which is the same as the Ultra Watch and the Galaxy Watch 8.

No Classic model?

A lack of a Classic model isn't too surprising, since Samsung typically releases it on a two-year schedule. So after last year's Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, we likely won't see it again until the Galaxy Watch 10 Classic next year.

However, at the end of May, Android Authority did find development codenames including one, 'wise9', which seems to indicate that a Classic model is in the works. "Wise9" would seem to signify the Watch 10 Classic, as the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic was codenamed wise8.

Currently, we lean toward trusting the certification listing, but it's possible Samsung could surprise us on July 22, when the launch is rumored to occur.

Jam-packed event

Galaxy Unpacked 2026 is likely going to be a full event in July.

Not only are we expecting the next Galaxy Watches, but at least three foldable phones. The usual iterative Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 should be accompanied by a new Galaxy Z Fold Ultra, a wider version of the Z Fold that's meant to rival the rumored iPhone Fold.

We could also potentially get another look at Samsung's 'Intelligent Eyewear' Glasses, which were previewed at Google I/O in May, though Samsung has confirmed that they won't actually release until the Fall.

More from Tom's Guide

• Leaked Galaxy S27 Ultra specs reveal a long overdue major upgrade
• Inside the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: features designed for productivity and everyday life
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Apple’s overhauled, AI-powered Siri experience debuted at WWDC 2026, and best of all, it will be available on Apple Watch via the forthcoming watchOS 27 software. However, there’s a catch: Not all Apple Watch users will be able to access the latest release.

As a refresher, Apple teamed up with Google to help power its latest Apple Intelligence features, including Siri AI. The upgraded personal assistant promises a more conversational experience, with the ability to pull relevant information from compatible apps and a database of broad, timely world knowledge, to deliver a richer and more useful experience.

Here’s everything you need to know about support for Siri AI on Apple Watch via watchOS 27.

watchOS 27 support is limited to six models

Apple watches that will support WatchOS 27

• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch SE 3
• Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Ultra 2
• Apple Watch Series 9

While last year’s watchOS 26 software was supported by smartwatch models as old as 2020’s Apple Watch Series 6, watchOS 27 is compatible with a far smaller selection of models.

All of the 2025 Apple Watch models will be eligible to upgrade to watchOS 27, including the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. The Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 are additionally supported.

And… that’s it.

It's unclear whether AI features also require the latest iPhone

When Apple first announced watchOS 27, the marketing materials suggested that, in addition to owning one of the best Apple Watch models, you’ll also need to ensure your smartwatch is paired with an Apple Intelligent capable iPhone (15 Pro, Pro Max, or newer) to access the wrist-based AI features.

However, updates to the watchOS 27 page now suggest that Apple's latest smartwatch software will work with any paired iPhone running iOS 27, including models as old as the iPhone 11.

watchOS 27 also brings these AI enhancements

In addition to Siri AI, watchOS 27 also unlocks all sorts of other useful AI-powered features, like a new Dynamic App Grid that auto-populates with your most-used apps, Call Context to display relevant information when mentioned during a phone conversation, and a smarter Smart Stack that automatically populates the Stack with useful apps based on context.

Plus, a new single-tap gesture control makes it even easier to open an app or information via the Smart Stack.

watchOS 27: Outlook

While I’m genuinely excited to take Siri AI for a spin, I’m equally annoyed by the platform's super-limited compatibility with older Apple Watch models. After all, shouldn’t a smartwatch like the Apple Watch Series 8, which isn’t even four years old, be supported by the latest operating system? I sure think so.

Ultimately, I’m hopeful (though not optimistic) that Cupertino will eventually roll out a separate version of watchOS 27 without all the AI features for folks with slightly older, yet still relevant, Apple Watch models.

What are your thoughts on watchOS 27 and the new Apple Watch AI features? Let me know in the poll or comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch Ultra 4: All the design, health, and battery life rumors so far
• Apple Watch Series 12 rumors — everything we know so far
• I walked 4,500 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch SE 3 — and I'm surprised by the winner

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) just kicked off, and there's a lot to unpack, including all sorts of new Apple Watch features coming later this year via watchOS 27.

Many of these new features and enhancements are powered by Apple Intelligence, including a new Siri AI personal assistant. However, there are some noteworthy limitations to watchOS 27.

Here's everything you need to know about Apple's forthcoming Apple Watch operating system, watchOS 27, including all the upgrades, launch timeframe, and compatibility.

watchOS 27: Key upgrades

• Only six Apple Watch models will support watchOS 27: Apple Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3
• watchOS 27 delivers a more powerful Siri AI voice assistant
• A dedicated Siri AI app in watchOS 27 lets you access all conversations, even those started on another device
• A new single-tap gesture lets you open Smart Stack widgets
• Improved motivational guidance in Workout Buddy based on past and present fitness data
• Support for tracking perimenopause and menopause in the Health app
• New Dynamic App Grid for quick access to most-used apps
• Wallet app now supports custom passes for anything with a QR code; users can pin a pass to the Smart Stack for quick access

watchOS 27: Apple Watch compatibility and release date

While the latest iOS 27 software will be supported by a record number of iPhone models, going as far back as the iPhone 11, the newest watchOS 27 release is one of Apple's least compatible.

The following Apple Watch models will support watchOS 27: Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3.

While developers can access watchOS 27 starting this week, the rest of us will need to wait at least a month for the beta to drop. The full release, meanwhile, is set for the fall, when we'll likely see a new Apple Watch Series 12 and possibly an Apple Watch Ultra 4.

watchOS 27: Apple Intelligence updates

The most noteworthy new features introduced in watchOS 27 revolve around Apple Intelligence, which is now partially powered by Google's Gemini AI.

For starters, watchOS 27 will support a custom-tailored version of Siri AI designed for smaller screens. This long-awaited update to Apple's much-maligned voice assistant should prove far more useful than today's Siri.

Siri AI will use personal context from supported apps, along with broad world knowledge, to answer questions and take actions. Better yet, all your Siri AI chats are saved to iCloud and accessible on any supported device.

AI processing in watchOS 27 is handled by private cloud computing rather than on-device. Apple is emphasizing the fact that search queries are completely private, inaccessible even to Apple, and especially to third parties.

Users can call upon Siri AI via voice or access the feature via a new standalone app in the watch's redesigned app grid.

As noted above, you'll need one of the latest/best Apple Watch models to access all of these Apple Intelligence features in watchOS 27, but will you also need an Apple Intelligent-compatible iPhone?

When watchOS 27 was first announced, Apple's marketing materials suggested the answer was yes. However, it now appears that smartphones as old as the iPhone 11 will do.

watchOS 27: New health and fitness features

Not a whole lot has changed in terms of health and fitness features in watchOS 27. The two biggest improvements are related to women's health tracking and Workout Buddy.

First, the Apple Watch Health app's period tracking function now alerts users to potential signs of perimenopause and menopause. It can also be used to log symptoms and monitor trends.

When it comes to working out, Apple's personalized fitness coach, Workout Buddy, has been tuned to deliver more useful/data-backed motivational insights and messages based on insights from current and past workouts.

watchOS 27 also promises improved distance accuracy when tracking indoor workouts, along with better step count syncing between your Apple Watch and iPhone.

watchOS 27: Design improvements

For quicker access to your five most-used apps, watchOS 27 features a new Dynamic App Grid that automatically populates.

watchOS 27 additionally brings a smarter Smart Stack that automatically populates relevant apps based on context. Lastly, for those taking calls from the wrist, Apple's new Call Context feature for Apple Watch can automatically display relevant info when mentioned, like flight times for an upcoming trip.

Meanwhile, the Find My app has been refined visually for a more straightforward, map-centric user experience.

Finally, last year's Liquid Glass update didn't have that much impact on the look and feel of the Apple Watch. Nevertheless, watchOS 27 delivers some tweaks, including better separation between current apps or content and the background.

watchOS 27: Other upgrades

In addition to all of the above, watchOS 27 unlocks faster open times for the Music app, quicker step count syncing between Apple Watch and iPhone, new battery optimization suggestions, and a promising new single-tap gesture control to open items saved to the Smart Stack.

What do you think of the watchOS 27 announcements? Are you excited to upgrade, assuming you have a supported device? How do you feel about its limited compatibility? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch Ultra 4: All the design, health, and battery life rumors so far
• I walked 4,500 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch SE 3 — and I'm surprised by the winner
• I tested the $79 Amazfit Bip 6 vs the $249 Apple Watch SE 3 — and the cheaper smartwatch is a lot better than I thought

Samsung just announced a major update to the Samsung Health app for Galaxy Watch that launches on June 8. The announcement says the update will highlight "key health features" that will be included in the forthcoming Galaxy Watch 9.

“Samsung Health is evolving to connect health data measured by Galaxy Watch with AI-based insights, enabling users to understand their physical and mental condition more easily and intuitively,” said Hon Pak, Samsung's Senior VP and head of Digital Health Team for Mobile eXperience said in the announcement. Here's what's coming and they do.

Vitals

The biggest updates appear to be features that combine multiple data points for a more holistic look at your health. That starts with the new Vitals feature.

According to Samsung, Vitals analyzes five "key overnight bio-signals": blood oxygen, heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate and skin temperature. These are measured against your resting baseline and the app will only send notifications if it detects "meaningful deviations," which could indicate that you need more rest or are fighting an illness.

There are supposed to be fewer notifications so that you're not overwhelmed.

Heart Health Score

Like Vitals, the new Heart Health Score tracks multiple data points and combines the information into a single daily metric. The data comes from the Vascular Load tracking introduced with the Galaxy Watch 8 last yaer.

Vascular Load monitors vascular stress via insights found in sleep, stress and activity monitoring. It's not combined with body composition data to create the Heart Health Score. This should give you a better idea of your heart health.

Samsung does stress that these features are for wellness and not for diagnosis or treatment.

Daily Cardio Load and Fitness Index

The next two features are fitness focused. Daily Cardio Load is supposed to help you understand accumulated cardiovascular strains. It can recommend training targets and rest times to help you train without risking burnout or injury.

Fitness Index "ensures exercise routines are working." It analyzes heart rate, V02 max, and daily steps against your peers. This is supposed to deliver personalized content and goals so that you can make targeted improvements.

Updated Interface and capabilities

To make these new features easier to understand Samsung says that the Health app introducing a streamlined layout that focuses on five "core pillars": Sleep, Activity, Nutrition, Mindfulness and Vitals. The update is supposed to let you quickly access daily wellness tips and your Energy Score from the home screen.

Additionally, Samsung is introducing a new "Hearing Health" feature that lets the Galaxy Watch monitor surrounding ambient noise to help protect your ears by determining if it's too loud.

Availability

Several times the Samsung announcement seems to indicate that these features will be a major part of the next generation of Galaxy Watches.

"The newly announced health features will first be available on the upcoming Galaxy Watch."

Confusingly, that seems to indicate that people using older Galaxy Watches won't be able to use anything in this update yet. We reached out to Samsung for clarity on this.

“The features announced today are part of an upcoming Samsung Health update. Availability of specific features may vary by device and market," a Samsung spokesperson told us in a statement.

I'm not sure that clears things up, especially in regard to what's coming to currently available Galaxy Watches.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Health app update starts rolling out on June 8. You do need have Android 11 or higher and Samsung Health app version 6.30.2 or higher to access these new features.

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I'm sorry to report that I'm one of the victims in the Ultrahuman data breach, which includes wellness data. Yesterday, certain Ultrahuman users got an email from Mohit Kumar, the company's founder and CEO, alerting them of a “security incident” that occurred on 27 March 2026.

Kumar said: “The most important facts first: no passwords, card details, or payment data were involved, and we have found no evidence of misuse.” As a health and fitness editor, I'm constantly testing the latest wearables, and it turns out I've been compromised and, according to Ultrahuman, my data is now at risk.

The company, best known for its smart rings, reportedly has up to 700,000 users globally. The breach targeted an internal analytics system, rather than Ultrahuman’s core user database, so it’s thought that only around 1,000 users are affected. Let’s look at what’s been taken and the steps Ultrahuman has taken to reassure users like me.

What have the hackers stolen?

According to the email that landed in my inbox last night, the “affected dataset” contained just one single piece of personal information: my email address. In the grand scheme of things, that's not too bad.

A statement on the Ultrahuman website confirms that for other users, this won’t be the only data accessed by hackers.

“The information visible to the unauthorised individual varied by account. The dataset that was accessed contained, depending on the user, contact and account details, order and transaction history, and for a smaller group of users, some fitness related data associated with their product usage and purchases.”

Kumar goes on to write: “No passwords, payment or credit card information, account details, transaction history or wellness data were accessible or affected by this incident. Your Ultrahuman Ring continues to operate normally and to record accurate wellness information.”

What has Ultrahuman advised?

The email goes on to advise me to “be alert to phishing attempts. If you receive any unexpected email, SMS, or telephone call referencing Ultrahuman, your orders, or your personal data, please treat it with caution, particularly where it conveys urgency or requests that you click a link.”

In a week that’s seen Oura launch the Oura Ring 5, and reports building about a new Samsung Galaxy Ring, what this data breach will do to Ultrahuman’s reputation remains to be seen.

I reached out to Ultrahuman, and they responded with the following statement:

"On March 27 2026, the wellness data of 0.1% of users was accessed via unauthorized access to an internal tool. No passwords or payment data were accessed, and the Ultrahuman Ring and production system weren’t compromised.

"We’ve taken our time to properly comply with the process of informing regulators and auditing the full scope of what was and wasn't affected. We wanted to inform users precisely what data was involved rather than guessing, and have taken steps to ensure this never happens again."

Have you had your personal details stolen through a data breach? Let me know what happened in the comments below.

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• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
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WWDC 2026 is just a few days away, and this year's Apple event is almost certainly going to be a busy one. It's rare that Apple's developer conference doesn't involve a smorgasbord of software news and reveals, but this should be the year Apple finally starts catching up to the competition — and fulfills promises it made two whole years ago.

That's right, after it felt like Apple's AI took a year off in 2025, we're expecting Apple Intelligence to be at the forefront of WWDC 2026. Siri's long-delayed AI upgrade is likely at the forefront of this, and if all goes well, it could even be the star of the show. But that's not the only big announcement we expect to see at WWDC 2026. Here are 9 of the biggest announcements we expect to hear about during the keynote address.

Gemini-powered Siri

The project designed to upgrade Siri with AI smarts has easily been one of Apple's biggest blunders of the last several years. What started as a way to try to upgrade Siri quickly and catch up with existing AI-powered rivals turned into a two-year quest that only ended after Google Gemini (reportedly) rode in to save the day.

The new AI-infused Siri is expected to be powered by Google Gemini, and should come with all the features you'd expect from a bona fide AI chatbot. That includes contextual awareness, conversational abilities, improved natural language support, and so on. Given Google's push towards multimodality and agentic AI, it's likely we'll see those same capabilities come to Siri as well.

So expect a Siri that is altogether smarter and more understanding, with the ability to do more and control different areas of your phone without constant intervention from you.

Siri is also expected to power Apple's long-gestating smart home platform, which has been codenamed "charismatic." The platform was reportedly delayed specifically because it was so reliant on Siri, meaning the AI-Siri release can come with some bonuses.

More chatbot support in iOS 17

ChatGPT has been built into iOS for the last two years, as part of Apple Intelligence. But, word has it that iOS 27 will free iPhones from that pseudo-monopoly and give you the ability to choose which AI chatbot you want to utilize.

Unlike the Gemini-powered Siri upgrade, this would be a way to access other AI features via Siri and Apple Intelligence. So if you want to generate images or get writing assistance from Claude or Gemini without having to switch to the official app, then iOS 27's new "Extension" tool will reportedly make it happen.

The best part is that this doesn't sound like something Apple is restricting to specific regions, as a result of local legislation. This means more choice for users, and that's something we can all get on board with.

Improved AI features

With the Siri-shaped elephant firmly out of the room, WWDC 2026 is the perfect opportunity for Apple to unveil some much-needed upgrades to Apple Intelligence. We don't know the full extent of Apple's plans at this point, but we have heard rumors of some helpful-sounding upgrades that are apparently coming to Apple devices later this year.

The big one that we're expecting to see is the long-rumored AI health coach. That was originally rumored to arrive last year with iOS 26, as part of a feature that had been dubbed "Health Plus." The original plans to offer some sort of AI doctor have apparently been watered down, and the focus is now on general health and fitness rather than anything that could be construed as medical advice.

This is said to include health reports and assessments, which will be used to offer new recommendations about training plans and wellness routines. Information about medical conditions is also said to be included, though I suspect it will feature prominent disclaimers that AI is not a substitute for talking to a qualified medical professional.

It's also been rumored that Apple will offer more AI-powered image editing features in iOS 27. Reports suggest this will include features called Extend, Enhance and Reframe. The first two are fairly self-explanatory, while Reframe is designed to change the perspective in spatial photos seen in 3D.

It's not clear whether we'll get more features, but considering how prominent a role Gemini will have in the new software, it would be surprising if we didn't get something similar to Google's conversational editing. This lets you tell an AI what kind of edits you'd like to see, either with voice or text prompts, and it will do everything for you.

Clues about iPhone Fold & MacBook Ultra

The next 12 months are going to be huge for the iPhone and Mac lineups, with new kinds of products that we've never seen before. I am talking about the foldable iPhone Ultra and the touchscreen MacBook Ultra.

We're not expecting any hardware announcements at WWDC 2026, because it's not that kind of event. We're not even expecting any teasers, especially since the MacBook Ultra may not be arriving until early 2027. That said, both iOS 27 and macOS 27 are going to have to accommodate both devices, and that means there may be hints at what Apple is planning in both updates.

Apple isn't likely to make a point of mentioning them, but eagle-eyed nerds might be able to pick up some of those hints during the keynote address — or after installing the beta versions that are typically released during WWDC.

Customizable options for Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass is not going anywhere, despite how much people might like to complain about it. However, reports have suggested that Apple will offer more customization options as part of the iOS 27 update. Specifically, it's been claimed that Apple will add a system-wide slider for adjusting Liquid Glass effects across the entirety of iOS 27.

It's said that this feature was originally planned for iOS 26, but various technical challenges meant it would only ever work on the lock screen clock — which is far from ideal. This time it will apply to app folders, home screen elements, navigation bars and more. However, this new feature should offer more fine-tuning beyond the existing "clear" and "opaque" options that are hidden in iOS's accessibility settings.

So if you've been frustrated with Liquid Glass, and the effect it has on your iPhone's interface, this could be the feature that solves most of your problems.

Upgrades for major apps

WWDC covers more than just the operating systems, and we've Apple routinely reveal big updates to its essential apps and services. In this instance, we've heard rumors about both the Camera and Wallet apps, and how they might change with iOS 27.

The iPhone camera app is set to get a big overhaul thanks to a customizable interface and new professional controls that let you tinker with different camera settings like depth-of-field and exposure. This means that, not only will you be able to make all your favorite settings more accessible, you should gain better control over the photos you take — and without having to pay for a third-party camera app.

Apple Wallet is also expected to get a new bill-splitting feature, which scans receipts and generates payment requests for everyone at the table. That's on top of a new digital pass system, which lets you convert physical passes into digital ones — whether they be membership cards, event tickets or something else entirely.

Major software performance improvements

iOS 27 is not expected to be a very meaty update, in terms of features and design changes, but that doesn't mean Apple isn't going all in on the software. A Bloomberg report from last year claimed that Apple is pushing to improve the "software quality and underlying performance." The report specifically named iOS 27, but other operating systems like macOS and watchOS will likely receive similar treatment.

This move has been likened to the release of Mac OS X Snow Leopard back in 2009, which saw Apple engineers work to refine the features and experience that launched two years prior. So Apple has apparently tasked its engineering teams to cut bloat, eliminate bugs and make sure they explore every opportunity to "meaningfully boost performance and overall quality."

Why does this matter? Cleaner, more efficient software will enhance the user experience across the board. A less cumbersome OS should be able to run faster and more efficiently, which will in turn improve overall performance and (hopefully) reduce power consumption in the process. At the very least, cleaning junk out of the software should reduce the amount of storage space system files require and offer a little bit more space for your files and photos.

Speedier macOS

There's a minor redesign expected with macOS 27, and it looks like Apple is aiming to fix the Liquid Glass shadow and transparency quirks that plagued macOS 26 Tahoe. In certain situations, those visual elements made text incredibly difficult to read — so this cleanup is a welcome change.

Overall, this update is shaping up to be a spiritual successor to Snow Leopard. Instead of piling on flashy new features, macOS 27 is focusing heavily on under-the-hood performance improvements to make Macs running Apple Silicon feel even faster.

Simpler Ultra-style look in watchOS 27

The watchOS 27 update that Apple's rumored to intrude is a new Modular watch face, which features a large clock centered right at the top with three complications tucked neatly below it. It’s essentially a stripped-back, simpler version of the Modular Ultra face that we've seen on the Apple Watch Ultra — making it perfect if you want that functionality without the clutter.

Beyond the new face, the updated software also brings several under-the-hood improvements to heart-rate monitoring and fitness tracking to help keep your workouts even more accurate.

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• How to watch the Apple WWDC 2026 keynote live
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It's June, and that only means one thing in my brain — it's officially Euro Summer! With thousands of Aussies and Kiwis off to the northern continent to enjoy some seriously good sunshine and escape the depressing winter months, you may be wondering what to pack on your mid-year vacay.

Stress less, my friends — as a serial traveller (and sometimes chronic over-packer), I've got you covered with these 24 travel essentials, just in time for Euro Summer. From travel tech to luggage and carry-on accessories, to stellar walking shoes (or running shoes if you prefer), sun-safe gear and, of course, hands-free cameras so you can truly enjoy the moment, there's a lot to consider below.

Better yet, a vast majority of these products are currently discounted for EOFY sales and Amazon's Mid-Year event, making them an even sweeter deal. That said, not all have received a discount quite yet, but if you've got time to curate your carry-on, these products might give you some inspiration.

Is it time to say goodbye to the 'eight hour' sleep myth? Regularly clocking up over eight hours of shut-eye a night might actually have a negative impact on your health, as a new study published in Nature finds it can accelerate markers of biological aging.

Researchers instead place the sleep duration sweet spot for healthy aging between 6.4 and 7.8 hours a night. Both under- and over-sleeping can contribute to health risks including brain, heart, and muscular aging.

Sticking to this sleep-time sweet spot might help "promote healthy aging, reduce disease risk and extend lifespan," researchers note. So we asked the experts what simple changes you can make to start sleeping more (or less, as the case might be.)

Key takeaways: At a glance

• Getting under six hours of sleep is linked to broad health issues including cardiovascular disease and poor immune response
• Over eight hours of sleep is associated with chemical imbalances in the brain, including depression and ADHD
• Scientists identify the sweet spot as between 6.4 to 7.8 hours sleep a night
• As sleep duration is a modifiable metric, improving sleep hygiene can potentially lead to slower biological aging
• A set sleep time and wake time are expert back ways to create a regular sleep schedule

• Read more: Science says my poor sleep habits mean I'm at risk of developing cancer and I'm terrified — 5 experts share their top tips for getting more rest, starting tonight

What is the sleep sweet spot?

Researchers analyzed the data of roughly 500,000 participants in the UK BioBank to measure the correlation between sleep duration and biological age markers.

The results showed a "U-shaped" pattern, with spikes occurring at either end of the sleep duration spectrum. Sleeping under six hours or over eight hours were both linked to faster biological aging.

So how much sleep do you need? Using this data, researchers narrowed down a sleep duration sweet spot between 6.4 and 7.8 hours (with fluctuations based on organ and sex.)

Hitting this sweet spot doesn't mean you're necessarily going to wake up feeling refreshed every morning — this study focused less on the immediate impact of a good night's sleep and more on the long-term effects of consistently sub-par sleep.

However, sticking to this perfect duration might help you feel fresher later in life, as it's been linked to slower biological aging.

How does sleep impact longevity?

"How old are you?' is a fairly simple question (albeit a bit impolite in many circumstances.)

Now, how old are your organs?

That's a trickier one to answer, but researchers have developed a series of "aging clocks" to measure how your organs age compared to your chronological age — and how your sleep duration impacts this aging process.

They noted that shorter sleep duration shows "broader systemic associations" with disease, including increased risk of cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis and soft tissue disorder.

Long sleep duration, on the other hand, is linked to "brain-related traits" such as major depressive disorder, ADHD and alcohol dependence.

Sleep duration alone isn't responsible for poor health and the study notes further research is needed to explore how much sub-optimal sleep duration increases disease risk versus existing conditions negatively impacting sleep. But there's growing evidence that your sleep plays a key role in your longevity.

There is good news. As the researchers note, sleep duration is "modifiable", and by focusing on your sleep hygiene you can potentially promote healthier biological aging — and maybe even extend your lifespan.

3 expert-tips for getting the right amount of quality sleep

Better sleep health is a matter of consistent good habits and once you've found your routine, you'll hardly notice you're doing it at all...

1. Anchor your bedtime

Following the 7:1 sleep rule can potentially add four years to your lifespan and it's based on two simple principles: roughly seven hours sleep a night and falling asleep within a one hour window every night.

To set your sleep window, begin by picking an anchor time. This is your ideal bedtime — when you want to fall asleep. Your sleep window then extends 30 minutes either side of your anchor point.

For example, if your ideal bedtime is 10.30 p.m., then your sleep window is between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Setting a bedtime and sticking to it helps train your body to sleep, as your internal clock recognizes that it's time to wind-down. As a result, when you climb into bed, you're primed to drop off.

2. Create a simple wind-down routine

Consistent timing isn't the only way to teach your body to sleep.

"I recommend creating a small, consistent wind-down cue in the evening that can help signal to your body and mind that it’s time for bed," advises Dr. Shelby Harris, sleep specialist at BetterSleep (not involved with the study.) "It doesn’t need to be perfect, just repeatable."

Your circadian rhythm recognizes this pre-bed routine as a cue that you're ready to sleep, like putting your pajamas on and turning off the light. It's an important part of good sleep hygiene and it doesn't have to be complex.

"It could be as simple as dimming the lights or stepping away from your phone 15–20 minutes before bed," says Dr. Harris.

3. Set a wake up time

A good night's sleep starts when you wake up in the morning.

"Getting up at roughly the same time every day – even if your bedtime varies – helps regulate your internal clock and improves sleep quality over time," explains Dr. Harris.

She recommends you "anchor" your wake up and while it might feel like a drag when your alarm first chimes, in time your body will anticipate this wake up and start preparing for the day.

And it's important to stick to your anchor time — yes, even over the weekend. Weekend lie-ins might seem like a chance to catch up on lost sleep but they could be the cause of your poor kip. When you wake up late, you struggle to drift off at bedtime, leaving you more tired when your alarm goes off.

By following these tips, your body can form a sleep schedule and you'll find it easier to naturally hit that sleep duration sweet spot.

There are many reasons you should choose one of the best smart rings over a conventional fitness tracker. And when it comes to smart rings, Oura is the undisputed leader of the pack for me. I've been wearing an Oura Ring 3 for the last couple of years, and it sounds like my natural next upgrade could be right around the corner.

According to a leaked internal document, posted on Reddit, the upcoming Oura Ring 5 could break cover as soon as this week. While Oura itself hasn't commented on the leak, it shows a "launch timeline" that claims the Oura Ring 5 will be announced tomorrow, May 28, 2026.

The leak also says that pre-orders will begin the same day, and the new smart ring will get an official launch and start shipping on June 5, 2026.

What can we expect from the Oura Ring 5? Well, the leaked documentation states that the Oura Ring 5 will be, "Oura's newest, smaller, and more comfortable ring, designed to keep the same health-tracking capabilities and membership features members know from the Oura Ring 4."

Oura gen 5 from r/ouraring

The Oura Ring 4 was a real step-up over the Oura Ring 3, offering an all-titanium design, recessed sensors, more size options, and an extra full day of battery life. If you've never used an Oura Ring before, it tracks all the necessary metrics: steps, calories, sleep, and can also provide you with advanced features like stress measurement and cardiovascular age. The Oura Ring 4 is up to 120% more accurate in certain respects than the Oura Ring 3 as well.

We'll seemingly need to wait until later this week to find out if there are more improvements to come with the Oura Ring 5. But it seems like the company is focusing on getting its wearable to be smaller and less obtrusive — trying to lighten the (size-dependent) 3.3 to 5.2 grams of the Oura Ring 4.

Battery is my big concern

After using an Oura Ring myself for roughly two years, and while I love the wearable, there's one major concern I have with it. It's not the $5.99 / £5.99 per month (or $72 / £72 per year membership), it's the battery life.

Screenless fitness trackers like the Oura Ring (and the recently-launched Fitbit Air) can offer up several days' worth of battery life compared to something like the Apple Watch Series 11. Apple's smartwatch is infinitely more capable, but it's likely to be dead within 70 hours. In my first year with the Oura Ring, it would easily go for five or six days without needing a charge. Sadly, that's no longer the case.

After two years, the tiny battery in my Oura Ring 3 now can't manage a full 24 hours without needing to be charged. And, honestly, after the third or fourth time of waking up to find the ring had died on me overnight, I stopped wearing it.

I appreciate that it's very hard to battle battery degradation on a device this small, but for a $299 starting price plus the monthly membership, I had hoped for a wearable that would last me longer than two years.

With the Oura Ring 5 supposedly smaller and thinner, I'm concerned about the impact on long-term battery life. My sincere hope is that Oura has made efficiency savings inside the Ring 5 that mean anyone buying one in 2026 can still expect reasonable performance and longevity from it in 2028 and 2029.

Here's what my colleague Kate Kozuch thought after wearing an Oura Ring 4 for an entire year.

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What happened to the Fitbit app? After an epic 14-year run, the Fitbit app is officially dead. But don't shed a tear just yet, because the new Google Health app that replaces it is better in just about every way.

That's right, the Fitbit app is now the Google Health app, and Fitbit Premium is now Google Health Premium. Pricing for the Premium subscription remains the same: $9.99 a month or $99 annually.

New name, same basic app, better design

The new app was built based on feedback from longtime Fitbit wearers, and organizes everything into four cour tabs: Today, Fitness, Sleep, and Health. Rather than inundating users with numbers and graphs, the most relevant wellness metrics are presented front and center.

Of course, users can customize the dashboards on each page to their heart's content. Available for both Android and iOS, the new Google Health app plays nicely with a ton of other popular health and fitness apps, like Run Club, AllTrails, MyFitnessPal, and the Oura app.

A new 'Leaderboard' feature lets users compete in fitness challenges head-to-head with friends and family, which is somewhat ironic, given the fact that Google nixed a similar community challenges feature from the Fitbit app back in 2023.

What does this mean for Premium subscribers?

As noted above, Fitbit Premium is now Google Health Premium. The price is the same, but your subscription now unlocks a whole lot more.

With the launch of Google Health Premium, Google's AI-powered, personalized health and fitness concierge officially moves out of beta and becomes a full-blown part of the Premium experience.

When I tried Google's AI fitness coach back in November — which started with a casual conversation about my health and fitness goals — I was impressed. And the Coach has only gotten better over time. What exactly does it do? The Coach can generate custom workout plans, suggest daily exercises, help you eat and sleep better, generate all sorts of trend reports with actionable insights, and much more.

Other new features for Premium users include the ability to upload medical records, giving the Google Health app an even more complete understanding of your wellness. Google says that this data is encrypted end-to-end and that users have complete control over their data privacy.

How to update from the Fitbit app to Google Health

Google started rolling out the new app last week, on May 19th.

If you search for the Fitbit app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you'll likely be redirected to the 'Google Health (Fitbit)' app instead.

For folks who already have the Fitbit app downloaded, simply update your app to the latest version to unlock the newer Google Health layout and expanded features.

The Fitbit name lives on elsewhere

As noted in the intro, there's no need to pour one out for the Fitbit brand just yet. While the Fitbit app may be dead, the brand lives on via the outstanding and affordable ($99) new Fitbit Air, a screen-free, long-lasting wearable that's nothing but a pleasure to use.

Read my complete Fitbit Air review, and stay tuned for a full review on the new Google Health app, including the premium features.

More from Tom's Guide

• Garmin’s screen-less Whoop competitor could cost five times as much as the Fitbit Air
• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
• Forget the Whoop 5.0 — The new Fitbit Air is a screen-less, subscription-free fitness tracker for the masses

Garmin is rumored to be working on a diminutive, screen-less, potentially subscription-free fitness tracker to rival the popular Whoop 5.0. Sound familiar? Google just launched a similar product in the form of the Fitbit Air.

However, unlike the $99 Fitbit Air, the forthcoming Garmin Cirqa could be anything but wallet-friendly, if recently leaked pricing information turns out to be true. Here’s everything we think we know about the Garmin Cirqa so far.

Garmin Cirqa could be 5x the cost of the Fitbit Air

According to a recent leak from a Ukrainian retailer and first reported on by Notebookcheck, the forthcoming Garmin Cirqa will cost 22,399 Ukrainian hryvnia, or roughly $500 USD when it debuts.

That’s five times the cost of the Fitbit Air for a device that’s rumored to offer a similar set of health and fitness tracking features. That’s also pricier than the Whoop 5.0, which costs between $199 and $239 per year, depending on your membership tier. Those prices include the device itself.

Garmin Cirqa potential features and specs

Rumors of a new Garmin fitness tracker called the Cirqa began popping off when the device briefly appeared on one of the brand’s regional websites. Initially spotted by the5krunner, concrete details are frustratingly limited. Even still, a recent filing for the ‘CIRQA’ by Garmin with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seems to confirm the wearable’s existence.

That filing suggests that the rumored Cirqa, if that even is its name, could come in two sizes and feature a heart rate sensor. However, we don’t know what other onboard tech it may offer. Given its likely small/lightweight design, an onboard GPS seems unlikely. Then again, for $500, perhaps Garmin will manage to squeeze one in.

Other potential onboard tech could include a blood oxygen and/or body temp sensor. I also expect battery life to be good for at least a week or more per charge, given the Fitbit Air is rated for seven days of battery life and the Whoop 5.0 lasts for 14 days per charge.

Garmin Cirqa launch date prediction

With no credible launch date rumors to go off of, the best we can do is guess when the Garmin Cirqa might debut. Given the brand just launched two new devices this week, the entry-level Forerunner 70 and mid-tier Forerunner 170 running watches, we may have to wait a little while for another new Garmin.

With that in mind, a summer or fall debut for the Garmin Cirqa screen-less fitness tracker seems entirely possible. Here’s hoping that Garmin manages to knock the launch price down by a few hundred dollars before then.

More from Tom's Guide

• I ran a 5K with the Garmin Forerunner 570 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3 and although the pace data matched up perfectly, the Garmin’s exercise load metric and detailed vertical ratio analysis made it the clear winner
• Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Garmin Forerunner 170 — what are the main differences between Garmin’s two new running watches
• I tested the $79 Amazfit Bip 6 vs the $249 Apple Watch SE 3 — and the cheaper smartwatch is a lot better than I thought

Coros is firing on all cylinders right now. Not only has it released some eye-catching new designs of the Coros Pace 4, including a gold and black model inspired by Jakob Ingebritsen, it’s also pushing out regular software updates to improve its watches.

The May software update contains several upgrades for Coros’ latest watches, with the most exciting of them being a voice control feature that I think looks genuinely useful for runners in particular.

I’ve been testing the update out in beta on the Coros Pace 4, one of the best running watches available from any brand, and I’ve outlined the new features below in order of how excited I am by them.

Which Coros models get the update?

Some new features are available to all Coros users, but only the latest Coros watches get every update, because some require both the microphone and action button added to the most recent launches from the brand:

• Coros Pace 4
• Coros Apex 4
• Coros Nomad

The update will roll out automatically through the Coros app, so keep checking in there to download it to your watch via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

You can get more info on all the updates coming on the Coros website, but here are the six updates I'm most excited by.

Voice control

You can now hold the action button on compatible Coros watches to bring up a voice control feature. This is nothing new with smartwatches, but the variety of commands you can give your Coros watch is impressive.

Outside of workouts you can use it to start timers, set reminders, open widgets and start a training session, but what I’m more excited about is the commands you can give it during workouts.

Coros watches have a handy feature that allows you to set the speed and grade of your treadmill during indoor runs so the data on your watch matches the machine, and you can now change the speed and incline using the voice feature rather than having to fiddle in the settings.

When running on a track you can also use the voice control feature to change the lane you’re using, once again saving the bother of fiddling with buttons while trying to run.

I use these settings on indoor and track runs regularly and once you get the hang of using the voice control, it’s much easier to change them with spoken commands.

Custom photo sharing

This feature is available for all Coros users through the app, and allows you to share your workout details superimposed on a photo you took during the session, as an overlay on a video, or on top of template image.

The feature is easy to use and creates content quickly to share on social media or elsewhere.

Coros official MCP

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a tool that allows AI platforms to read your Coros workout data securely so you can then ask the AI questions about your training and get advice on how to optimize it.

The Coros MCP requires a subscription to ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro, but if you have one you can now get easy insights into your training, like how travel affects your recovery stats, or what kind of training you should do in the coming week.

A watch face that shows your weekly mileage

This is a small update, but one I’ve wanted from Coros for a long time. The new multidata watch face shows your weekly mileage for running or cycling, something that I always show when using a Garmin or Apple Watch.

It would be even better if weekly mileage became a stat you could show on any Coros watch face through a customizable data field, but I’ll take this for now.

Improved auto laps for running

This is a small update but one I value highly and it allows you to set a recurring distance alert for your runs alongside your manual laps.

This is handy for me as a runner because I regularly do running workouts with long sections that I break up with manual laps, and during those long reps I can now get distance alerts to help keep my pacing on track.

Strength workout tracking improvements

You can set up strength workouts in the Coros app including the details on the exercises and sets and reps you plan to do, and your reps will be automatically counted by your watch.

With the updates you can now edit the reps and intensity of your sets on your watch or in the Coros app afterwards, re-order your exercises (in the event the gym is crowded and you can’t do them in the order you set beforehand), and create custom exercises with info on the muscles worked.

Follow Tom's Guide fitness on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.

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• Coros Pace 4 vs Coros Pace 3 vs Coros Pace Pro: Which is the best Coros watch for you?
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Take a look at our best Garmin watches guide and you'll probably find exactly the kind of sports watch or fitness tracker you're looking for. Unless, of course, you want one without a screen.

Screenless fitness trackers like the Whoop 5.0 and Oura Ring 4 seem to quietly be on the rise — Fitbit has just unveiled the Fitbit Air, and now it seems Garmin isn't far behind.

A Ukrainian retailer appears to have accidentally leaked the upcoming "Garmin Cirqa" screenless tracker. Spotted by Notebookcheck, this leak suggests the black tracker will be a low-key screenless fabric band available in two sizes: S/M and L/XL.

As expected, the Garmin Cirqa will monitor heart rate and passively document metrics like steps and calories, as well as sleep quality. So far, so good. But let's talk about that price.

A high price for minimalism

According to the listing (which, at time of writing, is still live), the most eye-catching thing about this minimalist piece of fitness tech is the price. It states the Garmin Cirqa will be available for 22,399 Ukrainian hryvnia, which roughly translates to $507 / £379. That's already more expensive than either the Oura Ring 4 ($349) or the Fitbit Air ($99). And if you throw in a $6.99 per month Garmin Connect+ membership, it gets even more pricey.

Whoop, which arguably started the screenless trend, doesn't charge up front for the band, but users still need to pay between $199 and $359 a year for an active subscription. So if this listing does prove to be true — and the pricing is carried across — Garmin is planning to release the most expensive screenless tracker on the market.

The natural caveats are all in place: this is an unconfirmed leak, and pricing could easily change in different regions. But at a time when many of us are trying to save as much as possible when it comes to our tech, it would be a bold move for Garmin to launch with a price so much higher than market rivals.

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• Upgrade your run with these 12 best running apparel picks on Amazon under $100
• Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Garmin Forerunner 170 — what are the main differences between Garmin’s two new running watches
• Forget the Whoop 5.0 — The new Fitbit Air is a screen-less, subscription-free fitness tracker for the masses

Running shoes don’t reach 18 generations if they’re not beloved, and the Brooks Ghost line has been one of the most popular options with runners for almost two decades at this point.

The reason for this isn’t that it’s the fastest or flashiest among the best running shoes; it’s because it’s extremely dependable. It’s cushioned and comfortable, very durable, good value, and works well for a wide range of runners.

It’s a shoe that runners of all levels turn to for their daily training as a result, and Brooks doesn’t make major changes to each new version of the Ghost so returning runners get the familiar ride feel they’re expecting.

The Brooks Ghost 18 has just launched, and it’s an evolution of the Brooks Ghost 17, with updates to the upper creating a more comfortable fit.

What’s new with the Brooks Ghost 18?

The main updates to the Ghost 18 are found in the upper, which is made with a new two-color air mesh material to improve both the comfort and security of the fit.

Brooks shoes are renowned for their step-in comfort and the padding around the collar and on the tongue of the shoe will give a plush feel, while the updated mesh ensures the Ghost 18 is still breathable.

Underfoot there’s a new Ortholite X-60 sockliner sitting on top of the nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 midsole, the same midsole foam used on the Ghost 17.

DNA Loft v3 is a foam used on many Brooks shoes that I’ve tested and it provides a well-balanced ride that’s comfortable but still responsive at faster paces.

It’s also a very consistent and durable material, in that it feels just as good at the end of a long run as it did at the start, and can stand up to hundreds of miles of running.

The outsole of the shoe sticks to the same long-lasting rubber as the Ghost 17 and the drop stays at 10mm, so runners who are long-term fans of the line should get a familiar underfoot feel from the Ghost 18 while enjoying the improved fit of the upper.

Join the Brooks Run Club for the chance to win a $30 gift code

The Brooks Run Club is free to join and brings with it regular rewards like early access to limited edition shoes and a free set of socks on your birthday when you spend $50.

Right now there’s also a promotion running that gives you the chance to win a $30 gift card if you sync your Brooks Run Club membership with your fitness tracker or Strava account.

The promotion runs through June 2026 and every month 100 members who have synced their accounts will win the $30 gift card, which you could use to knock the price of the Ghost 18 down to $120 if you’re keen to pick up the new shoe.

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• Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Garmin Fenix 8 Pro: should you upgrade?

Garmin just announced a refresh of the brand’s entry-level running watch lineup. Replacing the Garmin Forerunner 55 and Forerunner 165, meet the new Garmin Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170.

The former is designed to help newbie runners get into the sport, while the latter is for runners looking to take their training to the next level. Both sport bright, colorful AMOLED screens and identical case designs, available in an alluring range of colors.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170: price and availability

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is $249 and expected to ship by the end of May or early April. The Forerunner 170 comes in two varieties, one with onboard storage for music, priced at $349, and one without, for $299; it's also expected to ship around the same time.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170: Design

The Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 look identical. They share the same manageable 43mm diameter case design, with five physical buttons on the side, paired with the same 1.2-inch bright and well-saturated AMOLED touchscreen.

Lightweight and comfortable on the wrist, based on my hands-on experience, the case is built from fiber-reinforced polymer (i.e., plastic) and boasts a respectable water resistance rating of 50 meters.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170: Health and fitness

Both devices support over 80 exercise types, including individual workouts and team sports, and offer useful metrics like a Training Readiness score, Body Battery Score, Sleep Score, and Heart Rate Variability insights. You also get 24/7 health monitoring, daily sleep reports, and a cool, new “Quick Workout” feature.

For Quick Workouts, users select an intensity level on a scale from one to four, along with the amount of time they have for their workout. The watch then generates several exercise options to choose from.

The Forerunner 70 and 170 also support Adaptive Training Plans via Garmin Coach, along with daily workout suggestions, and useful training and recovery insights.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170: Battery

The more entry-level Forerunner 70 promises up to 13 days of battery per charge, while the Forerunner 170 offers up to 10 days per charge.

Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Forerunner 170: Key differences

Despite looking identical, there are a handful of notable differences between the Garmin Forerunner 70 and the Forerunner 170. For starters, the Forerunner 70 doesn’t have any onboard storage for music, while the Forerunner 170 Music edition does. The higher-end model additionally has NFC for mobile payments via Garmin Pay, something that’s absent on the more affordable Forerunner 70.

You also don’t get an onboard altimeter inside the Forerunner 70 for precise elevation tracking, but you do on the Forerunner 170. Both watches, however, have onboard GPS, so you don’t need to carry a paired smartphone for location tracking.

Finally, the Forerunner 170 offers several training tools that are absent on the Forerunner 70, including Garmin’s Cycling Coach feature for bikers and the cycling VO2 Max metric for tracking cardiovascular fitness. However, the Forerunner 70 does have VO2 Max for runners.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170: Outlook

Sporting bright displays, lightweight cases, ample buttons, solid battery performance, and plenty of training tools, the new Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 just might be the best entry-level running watches on the market in 2026. Of course, I’ll hold off making any concrete claims until I’ve had the chance to thoroughly test both (full reviews coming in the next few weeks).

However, I do have one concern: the price. Ignoring the new models for a moment, Garmin’s most entry-level running watch, the still-excellent Forerunner 55, can be picked up for well under $200, while the higher-end Forerunner 165 starts at $249.

With the Forerunner 70 and 170, Garmin has upped the starting cost for the brand’s entry-level and entry/mid-level running watches by $50 across the board. The question is, will this price hike dissuade potential buyers, especially when you can pick up a decent, budget-minded alternative from a lesser-known brand — like the Amazfit Active Max — at close to half the cost? Time will tell.

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• Apple Watch Series 12 rumors — everything we know so far
• Garmin’s rumored screen-less wearable just might be the subscription-free Whoop rival I’ve been waiting for

Despite previous rumors don't expect Touch ID on any of the best Apple Watch models anytime soon. The latest rumor suggests Apple isn't even considering it as an option in favor of other features.

The leak comes from regular Apple tipster Instant Digital on Weibo where they claim that rumors about Apple adding "biometric authentication" on Watches and other wearables devices are "completely false" (machine translated).

"Apple's focus is on packing larger batteries and developing more advanced health sensors," Instant Digital wrote.

Touch ID would apparently take up too much space and would both increase costs and reduce the space available for the battery. This directly contradicts a rumor from last August.

At the time, code found by Macworld suggested that Touch ID was in the works for the Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4. The fingerprint sensor would be underneath the display or integrated into a side button, ala the iPad mini or iPad Air.

At the moment, it's rumored that Apple won't introduce a big redesign for the Series 12. Instead, many of the latest rumors hint at a new suite of holistic sensor tech.

The big new feature may be a massive overhaul of the Health app. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple is developing an AI-powered, personalized wellness concierge. It would presumably bring all of your health, fitness and medical data under a single app.

We won't know for sure until the Apple Watch Series 12 launches, likely in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. However, new AI features might be announced at WWDC 2026 which kicks off in June.

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Ever since I first tried a LAB Golf putter, I've been sold on the concept of zero torque, lie-angle balance, and all the other terms the company uses to describe its putters designed to stay square through the entire putting stroke.

Since then, I've tried most of the company's putters, from the original DF 2.1 in all its massive glory to the compact, newly-released Link 2.2 (my current favorite). So when I had the opportunity to chat with the LAB's Co-Founder, Sam Hahn, about all things golf and putting, I jumped at the chance.

'Co-opting our marketing language for their benefit'

"Anybody that's ever golfed before has pulled their putter back off the ball, and just kind of felt it kind of fighting them and being a little wiggly," said Hahn. "We put the shaft in the center or very near the center of mass. We then do some fine-tuning with all of our fancy weights to make it so that the putter helps to square itself."

Hahn is a self-proclaimed golf nerd, so I knew he'd have some interesting thoughts on the golf world, especially after his company (which he recently sold) made a huge splash in the putting space. The usual suspects that dominated putting, like Callaway-owned Odyssey, Titleist-owned Scotty Cameron, and TaylorMade Spiders, had to take notice of this new player.

And when you're the leader and a new player starts to take over, what do you do? You take their idea and do it yourself.

But that's where Hahn's issue comes up: he feels these other companies "water down 10-plus years of hard work and development." Hahn event said competitors are "co-opting our marketing language for their benefit without really any concern for the consumer."

It's not that Hahn is against competition. LAB had existed almost uncontested in the zero-torque space for many years, and he knew competition would come. "We were in a totally competition-free environment for the first 5 years of our existence," he said. "The competition has definitely helped inspire and push us to keep developing the technology."

But for Hahn, the issue is about consumers getting putters that aren't up to par (pun intended). According to Hahn, some competitors "are just so comfortable putting less-than-stellar product out there."

The low/zero torque putting trend

When I asked whether Hahn thought the other putter makers saw low/zero torque or Lie Angle Balanced as a gimmick they could capitalize on for cash, he quickly shot down the idea that anyone would view the design as such.

"I don't know that they necessarily think it's a gimmick," he said. "I think that they believe in the tech, and at this point, how could you not? It works, and everybody has a friend who's putting better since they got into this technology."

I reached out to a top-ranked PGA teacher to ask for his thoughts on the zero-torque putting trend. Heath Wassem, PGA Director of Golf at the Golf Performance Academy in Ridgefield, CT, didn't shoot down the idea of these putters. "I think the engineering in zero-torque putters is solid and the trend will extend over time and more people will be comfortable with it," he said.

However, he did point out that the torque in a putter actually allows more feel for distance, which is why, according to his research, "less than 10 percent of players on the Tour have adopted this type of putter."

"It can increase the make rate on shorter puts, but distance control may suffer," he said. "With zero-torque putters, you can’t feel as much distance control because they have taken the torque out of the centric part of feel."

Like anything, there's a tradeoff. For me, as a higher handicap golfer, making more putts inside 10 feet is a huge benefit and worth the loss of distance control. For a PGA player who expects to make most of their putts inside 10 feet (the current PGA tour lead belongs to Vince Whaley, who made 91.65% if his putts from this distance), this is less of a concern. "The average golfer should focus on putting from 10 feet and in and work on increasing their make rate," explained Wassem.

And zero torque isn't going anywhere. "Callaway has the Zero-Torque Square, TaylorMade has the Spider, Titleist and Scotty Cameron have the OC (onset center) line. They are all capitalizing on sales," notes Wassem. With all the big putter brands on board and LAB growing fast, it's obvious that we'll see these putters continue to evolve and perhaps even negate the issue with distance control.

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• You haven't used a golf launch monitor until you've tried Foresight GC3 — here's my thoughts after 6 months of testing
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It’s been nearly three years since we got a new Fitbit model (excluding the kid-centric Fitbit Ace LTE). That all changes today with the introduction of the Fitbit Air, a $99 screenless and subscription-free tracker with a simple-to-use disposition, a week of battery, and basic sleep, workout, and holistic insights.

While the popular, screen-less Whoop 5.0 tracker is targeted toward hardcore athletes, the Fitbit Air is designed to appeal to just about anyone.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new Fitbit Air, including availability, onboard tech, features, and outlook.

Fitbit Air: price and availability

The Fitbit Air is available for preorder starting today for $99, with units expected to ship by the end of May. That price includes the tracker itself and one swappable band. Additional bands — they come in a huge range of styles — start at $34.99.

Google is also offering a special edition Stephen Curry strap for the Fitbit Air that’s designed for “increased airflow,” and looks pretty darn snazzy.

The $99 Fitbit Air additionally includes a 3-month trial to Google Health Premium (previously called Fitbit Premium).

It’s also worth noting that the Fitbit Inspire 3 and Fitbit Charge 6 will remain in the Fitbit catalog for now.

Fitbit Air: Design

The Fitbit Air has no screens or buttons, but an onboard motor provides haptic feedback for alerts; it can also be used to gently and silently wake you up via Fitbit’s Smart Wake feature. The polycarbonate housing sports only a status lamp, which illuminates when the device is charging.

With dimensions of 1.4 x 0.7 x 0.3 inches and a weight of just 12 g (sans strap), the Fitbit Air truly lives up to its name. Google says it’s the brand's smallest tracker ever, with a footprint that's 25% smaller than the Fitbit Luxe. Despite the plastic housing, water resistance is a respectable 50 meters.

Designed so that you can easily swap one band for another, the selection of strap options at launch is seriously vast, with a wide range of both silicone and textile options to choose from.

Fitbit Air: Health and fitness features

The diminutive Fitbit Air sports an optical heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, SpO2 sensor, and skin temperature sensor. It’s worth noting, however, that the latter is less sophisticated than the skin temperature sensor found in the latest Pixel Watch 4.

The Air can detect several potentially deadly conditions, including atrial fibrillation (AFib). It also monitors heart rate variability and can autodetect a small selection of common workout types, like walking, running, cycling, and swimming.

In addition to the auto-tracked workouts, the Fitbit Air supports a wide range of other exercises. You’ll just need to manually select those prior to your workout using the companion app.

There’s no onboard GPS in the Fitbit Air, so you’ll need to bring along a paired smartphone for location and elevation data when working out outdoors.

When it comes to sleep tracking, the Fitbit Air provides all the insights you’d expect, like how much time you spent in each sleep stage, your total sleep time, any signs of restlessness, and a numerical sleep score out of 100. It can also autodetect naps as brief as 20 minutes.

Fitbit Air: Battery life

Google says that the Fitbit Air battery should last for up to seven days per charge, which is impressive. Charging the device from 0% to 100% takes just 90 minutes, and users can get a full day of juice from just a five-minute charge.

Similar to other Fitbit models, a magnetic charger with metal contacts attaches to the underside of the device.

Fitbit Air: Outlook

I predict the Fitbit Air appealing to lots of folks, given its $99 price tag and the fact that the core features are completely subscription-free. While it lacks some of the higher-end sensor tech found in the Whoop 5.0, namely onboard GPS and an altimeter, I don’t think that will be a dealbreaker for most users.

I also love the fact that Google is prioritizing the ability to quickly and painlessly swap out one strap for another to match your mood or outfit. While $34.99 is a tad pricey for a watch strap, I’m confident that cheaper third-party options will become available sooner or later.

Google is also making it easy for Pixel Watch owners to seamlessly swap back and forth between their smartwatch and a Fitbit Air for tracking purposes. So, if you’re like me and hate wearing a smartwatch to bed, the Fitbit Air could be an excellent nighttime tracking alternative to the chunkier Pixel Watch 4.

One more thing: The Fitbit app is now the Google Health app

One more thing! In addition to debuting the Fitbit Air, Google is now officially changing the name of the Fitbit app to the Google Health app. Similarly, Fitbit Premium is now Google Health Premium, which still costs $9.99 a month or $99 for the year.

This change will begin rolling out on May 19th via an app update. Current Fitbit app users won’t need to download a new app; rather, the update will automatically change the name of the app, import all of your data, and present everything in a new, slicker format.

Available for both Android and iOS, the new app is built around four core tabs: Today, Fitness, Sleep, and Health, with a major emphasis on user customization. It also plays nicely with tons of other popular fitness apps, including Nike Run Club, AllTrails, MyFitnessPal, and the Oura app.

A new feature lets users securely upload medical records to the app for an even more complete view of health. For peace of mind, all health data is encrypted end-to-end.

Additionally, a new “Leaderboard” feature in the app lets you compete with friends and family in fitness challenges, like who can get the most steps in a given timeframe.

Finally, Google is bringing its AI-powered, personalized fitness training tool, the "Coach," out of beta and making it available to all premium users. The Coach can help you set fitness goals, generate workout plans, improve sleep quality, and even custom-tailor daily workouts based on the weather.

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Samsung has reportedly been developing a Galaxy Ring sequel since last year, but a new article claims it's "virtually impossible" for the Korean tech giant to release the Galaxy Ring 2 this year.

Instead, according to the Korean publication ETNews, Samsung is aiming to debut the Ring 2 in early 2027. Apparently, the release schedule is being reevaluated around the growth of the smart ring market and the launch of other flagship devices.

The Galaxy Ring is already one of the best smart rings available, and the next iteration will reportedly focus on longer battery life, better comfort and new sensors.

Rumored Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 improvements

Starting with comfort, the Galaxy Ring 2 is supposed to be thinner and weigh less thanks to optimized component placement. It was not reported by how much or how the components will be laid out.

When it comes to longevity, the Galaxy Ring is rated at seven days for its battery life, though we found it closer to six. According to ETNews though, the next iteration should improve this to 9-10 days.

Sensor functions are supposed to be enhanced including improved sleep analysis and advanced body temperature sensors. There will also likely be "expanded insights related to cardiovascular health."

Allegedly, Samsung is working on integrating blood glucose measurement technology, but it may not debut on the Galaxy Ring. The struggle centers around accuracy, regulatory approval and the implementation of "ultra-small sensors."

We may see this appear on the Galaxy Watch first, though we've seen rumors regarding that feature as far back as 2021.

Interestingly, ETNews suggests that Samsung is considering dividing functions in the Ring and Galaxy Watch. The Ring would focus on sleep and daily health data in combination with Galaxy AI and Samsung Health. The Galaxy Watch would handle exercise, notifications and app functions.

If the schedule holds, we could see the Galaxy Ring 2 launch alongside the Galaxy S27 lineup in early 2027, likely around January.

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Running a marathon — or even say, a half-marathon or 5km fun run — is a pretty great accomplishment, seeing as jogging long distances is no easy feat for the average person, let alone someone who actually enjoys running.

Many of the major world marathons have come and gone this year, but some Aussies are already prepping for local marathon events, like the Sydney Half Marathon this weekend or the Sydney Marathon in August. And IMO, there's no better motivation to start hitting those running goals than a nice pair of sneakers, especially if you're planning on ticking off a marathon on your fitness bucket list.

While I am no marathon runner, I can appreciate a comfortable yet vibrant pair of sneakers (or joggers, as we Aussies affectionately call them). From Hokas, Asics, to Adidas and everything in between, there's a supportive pair of sneakers for every kind of runner (or walker) below. I've gathered 18 top-rated pairs found on Amazon, including some of the favourites as rated by Tom's Guide's fitness team — the Hoka Bondi 9s, the Nike Vaporfly 4s and the Asics Megablast.

Better yet, the majority of these sneakers can be shipped to most metro cities in Australia within the next two days, thanks to Amazon's expedited delivery. That said, most running experts don't suggest opting for a new pair before a big race weekend (especially if you are competing in the Half Marathon this Sunday, May 3). FWIW, you could view this purchase as a consolation prize for, well, running a marathon.

So scroll on to find the best running shoes worth stepping into, below.

There are a lot of different ways to achieve your fitness aims, and while classic core workouts with lots of floor moves like sit-ups, planks and crunches are certainly effective, they’re not the only way to strengthen your abs and deep core muscles.

Standing workouts can be just as good a way to work your core, and they’re more accessible thanks to the fact that you don’t have to hit the floor.

This 10-minute standing Pilates workout from fitness trainer Monika Larssen, who goes by MonikaFit on YouTube, is a great way to build a stronger core without classic floor exercises, and it’s also good for strengthening the lower body and improving your balance.

It’s suitable for all fitness levels and you don’t need any equipment to do the workout either, though if you’re more experienced and want to make the session harder, you could use one of the best kettlebells to increase the difficulty.

Watch MonikaFit’s 10-minute standing Pilates workout

There are 12 moves in the workout, and you do each for 40 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. Monika does the workout with you so you can copy her form, and there are demonstrations of the upcoming move on the screen during your rest breaks.

There are no spoken instructions, though, so make sure you can see your screen throughout so you know what to do and what’s coming up. The workout challenges the core through moves like hip circles and toe touches, and the legs through a variety of squats.

To challenge and improve your balance, a lot of the moves are done on one leg or in a split stance, so you’ll do the exercise twice, once on each side of the body.

This kind of workout is great for building strength and stability in the deep core muscles, and because it’s all done standing at a slow pace, it’s an approachable session that people of all fitness levels can do.

Monika suggests this would be a great workout to start the day with, and I wholeheartedly agree, because you can do it slowly to gently wake up the mind and body while ticking off a strength session in just 10 minutes.

If you can’t add it to your morning routine, it’s still a fantastic option for later in the day, as well. As always, the key is consistency if you’re looking to strengthen your core, so try to fit this workout or similar ones in two or three times a week, and in time, you’ll notice the benefits.

Once you’re comfortable with the workout, it’s important to increase the difficulty of your training to keep progressing and building strength and fitness. You can do it in many ways, like increasing the length of your workouts, adding weight, or pushing harder to increase the intensity.

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Your Garmin watch may have a new trick up its sleeve. While pretty much every current Garmin watch supports mirrored messages and notifications from your smartphone, the ability to actually reply to messages is quite limited.

Some Garmin models support message replies if paired with an Android phone, but iPhone users are entirely out of luck. That is, until now: Garmin just added WhatsApp integration with message replies to an enormous number of devices.

Here’s everything you need to know about Garmin smartwatch WhatsApp support.

WhatsApp-compatible Garmin models

The following Garmin smartwatch models now support WhatsApp, accessible via Garmin’s Connect IQ Store.

• Garmin D2
• Garmin Enduro 3
• Garmin Fenix 8 series
• Garmin Fenix E
• Garmin Forerunner 570 series
• Garmin Forerunner 970
• Garmin Tactix 8 series
• Garmin Venu 4 series
• Garmin Venu X1
• Garmin Vivoactive 6

These are all relatively recent models, with many of them bordering on the pricey side. However, the $399 Garmin Vivoactive 6 — a device with “nearly everything I want in a smartwatch,” as noted in our Vivoactive 6 review — also makes the cut, which is nice to see.

How to get WhatsApp on your Garmin smartwatch

Installing and logging into your WhatsApp account via your Garmin watch is a fairly straightforward affair that took me roughly five minutes on my Garmin Forerunner 570. Start by downloading the Garmin Connect IQ Store app to your paired smartphone. Then search for WhatsApp, confirm installation, and permissions.

After a few minutes, your watch should display a confirmation of successful installation. Next, open WhatsApp on your watch and follow the account login instructions. They consist of scanning a QR code on the watch's screen with your smartphone camera, confirming the linked device, and that’s basically it.

You can now view your recent WhatsApp chats on your Garmin and even reply using either an on-screen keyboard with predictive word and phrase completion or via one of Garmin’s basic smart replies, which include phrases like “thanks” and “See you later.”

Oh, and the integration also supports emojis.

WhatsApp limitations

You can only view your ten most recent conversations using WhatsApp on a Garmin watch. The tiny keyboard is also a little clunky to use; however, the predictive text and phrase suggestions are darn helpful.

One other notable limitation of WhatsApp integration on Garmin watches: you can’t start a new message from scratch. To do that, you’ll need to pull out your smartphone.

Garmin WhatsApp Integration Outlook

While support for iMessages would be the bee’s knees, integration of WhatsApp into a whole bunch of popular Garmin models is definitely a big step forward in Garmin’s quest to match the smart features of the best Apple Watch models and the best Android smartwatches.

That said, I’d like to see the brand bring this functionality to more modestly-priced models, not just the best Garmins, including the entry-level Garmin Forerunner 165, the Forerunner 265, and even the rugged Garmin Instinct 3.

What are your thoughts? Will you be using WhatsApp on your Garmin going forward, assuming your watch is supported? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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The London Marathon has taken over the U.K. capital every year since 1981 and has become one of the biggest events on the runners' calendar. Nearly 60,000 people are set to take part this year, and New Balance, the official apparel and footwear partner, is opening up its London Run House community space for the duration of marathon weekend.

If you’re not familiar with London Run House, you’ll find it located inside Somerset House overlooking the River Thames on the closing mile of the marathon route. Across the weekend, New Balance will use the space to bring together athletes, run crews, marathon runners, spectators, and London’s wider creative community to celebrate all aspects of running.

The brand will be putting on a huge amount of activities and showcases throughout the weekend that are open to the public and runners alike. You can find the full list over at New Balance’s official site, but the centerpiece of the community hub is a documentary and portrait series created with London’s running communities.

The documentary, shot across London boroughs like Greenwich, Battersea and Tower Hamlets, shows how a city and its people come together with routines and rituals as marathon day approaches. The documentary will sit alongside a portrait series from photographer Vivek Vadoliya, celebrating members of various running clubs.

Some of the activities open to attendees include race day nails and hair styling, and medal engraving for those who complete the marathon itself. For anyone interested in getting into running, there will also be treadmill stations to try out New Balance’s latest footwear, like the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 and 1080v15.

“At New Balance, our running vision is shaped by the athletes and communities who move the sport forward every day. London represents one of the most diverse and creative running communities in the world, and London Run House is designed as a space where everyone who runs can feel part of that energy, bringing together performance, culture and connection during marathon weekend,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, New Balance Global Vice President of Running.

The London Run House is open from today, Friday 24th April, starting at 2pm through until 5pm. It will then open again on Saturday from 10am to 6pm and again on race day itself, Sunday, 26th April, from 9am to 5pm.

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• I’ve run 15 marathons, and I still get pre-race jitters — here are the 5 things that actually help

The original Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo broke new ground for carbon plate super-shoes, being impossibly light and ludicrously expensive — it set you back $500 if you were lucky enough to get hold of one of the limited pairs put on sale.

It sparked an arms race among running shoe brands as rivals aimed to make their own hyper-light racing shoe, with models like the Asics Metaspeed Ray and Mizuno Hyperwarp Pure coming in under 5oz.

With the third model of the shoe, Adidas just changed the game again — the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 weighs just 3.4oz/97g in a US size 9, making it the first racing shoe to dip under 3.5oz/100g.

A uniquely lightweight design

The lightweight design of the Pro Evo 3 is particularly amazing given that it has a high midsole stack height of 39mm at the heel and 36mm at the forefoot.

That midsole is made from a new version of Adidas’s Lightstrike Pro Evo foam, which is designed to be as springy as it is lightweight.

Key to the 30% drop in weight from the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 is the new stiffening element in the midsole. Instead of using Adidas’s EnergyRods system, the Pro Evo 3 has a carbon-fibre infused frame that runs around the outside of the midsole, called ENERGYRIM.

This stabilizes the soft foam and adds extra propulsion to your stride to deliver the running economy benefits expected from the best carbon plate running shoes, while being lighter than a full plate or the rods Adidas has used in the past.

A lightweight upper and a minimal rubber outsole help to keep the weight down. Crucially, Adidas is using Continental rubber on the Pro Evo 3, rather than the rubber used on the Pro Evo 2, which I found failed to provide reliable grip in wet conditions.

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 will be available in limited quantities on April 23 before a wider release in the fall marathon season, and it sticks with the $500 price of its predecessors.

What’s it like to run in the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3?

I wasn’t able to test the original Pro Evo, and found the Pro Evo 2 a little disappointing when I used it — it was undeniably fast, but didn’t feel like a big step up on other carbon racers that cost a lot less, and the grip was dangerously bad in wet conditions.

That didn’t stop me being incredibly excited to try the Pro Evo 3 at the launch of the shoe. My testing was limited to the treadmill for now, and given that I tried the shoe three days before a PR attempt at the London Marathon, I didn’t risk going all-out for long.

From the moment you hold the shoe it feels almost eerily light, even compared with the hyperlight Pro Evo 2, and the foam is a lot softer than on past Adidas racing shoes I’ve tested.

You sink deep into into the foam throughout the length of the shoe and then it springs back rapidly. It reminded me of the feel of the Asics Metaspeed Ray which is also very soft, light and springy, but the Pro Evo 3 is softer under the forefoot where there isn't a full plate thanks to the ENERGYRIM design.

My short stint in the shoe left me itching to do more running in it, and to give it a go at a race as soon as possible. We’ll have a full review of the Adidas Pro Evo 3 up as soon as I’m able to put its through its paces properly on the roads.

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If you’re a committed collector of Apple Watch badges, then you’ll know that there’s always a special award available on Earth Day, which you can only earn on the day itself.

Earth Day falls on Wednesday, 22 April this year, so if you want to get hold of the limited edition badge, you need to get moving today, or you’ll miss out.

The first Earth Day badge was made available in 2017, so if you’ve been diligently collecting them each year since then, you definitely don’t want to miss out on 2026’s award.

My own record with the badge is disappointingly spotty — I’ve earned 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023’s badges, but missed out on the others.

How to get the Apple Watch Earth Day 2026 badge

Earning the Earth Day badge is simple — you just have to get active for 30 minutes on the day and record it with your Apple Watch.

You can do this either in the native Workout app or using any app that syncs the workout over to Apple Health — my favorite Apple Watch running app is WorkOutDoors, for example.

Once you’ve recorded the workout, you’ll be rewarded with the Earth Day 2026 badge in the Fitness app, and you’ll also receive some special edition stickers to use in the iMessage app.

If you don’t see the badge and stickers after completing your workout, make sure you synced the info with your iPhone, then try restarting your watch and phone.

Dance your way to another limited edition badge on 29 April

Seven days after you get active on Earth Day, you have the chance to earn another limited edition Apple Watch badge, and this time you’ll have to dance to get it.

You can earn the International Dance Day 2026 award by recording a dance workout with your Apple Watch.

The workout must be 20 minutes long and can be recorded with any app that syncs with Apple Health. Just make sure you record it all in one workout – you can pause and resume, but don’t end the session before 20 minutes is up.

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The US International Trade Commission has ended the long-running dispute over blood oxygen monitoring on the Apple Watch. Apple has been in legal hot water with rival Masimo, which claimed to own the patents behind the tech, since it added blood oxygen monitoring to the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020. The smaller company accused Apple of stealing trade secrets to build the health feature.

Apple managed to have all but two of the 17 patents invalidated in September 2023, but despite that, in December 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) upheld a ruling stating that Apple violated Masimo’s patent, which partially halted sales of the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

In January 2024, Apple began selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 without the blood oxygen sensor, a policy that remained the norm until August 2025. Apple’s next workaround bypassed the ban by using devices sold in the US to track blood oxygen levels to collect raw data, but all calculations and reporting would be shifted to the iPhone. This meant devices sold in the US worked a little different to models sold in other countries, where the SpO2 readings can be displayed on the watch itself.

Masimo then sued US Customs for clearing the Apple Watch blood oxygen feature. In a ruling dated April 17, 2026, the ITC formally said that it will not review any further petitions from Masimo.

What does this mean for Apple Watch wearers?

The ruling terminates the case, which means Apple can now sell models with a redesigned blood oxygen sensor in the United States. It’s not clear whether Apple will roll out an update to allow existing Apple Watch wearers to see SpO2 readings on their devices themselves, or whether this ruling will only change future devices on sale in the US.

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If you're a Google Fi customer, you might want to check your email inbox. Various users on the Google Pixel and Google Fi subreddits have spotted that Google is offering subscribers a free Pixel Watch 3. From the looks of things, most users are receiving this offer via email, but others claim to have seen it on the Google Fi Store or via a push notification from the Fi app.

Sadly, this offer doesn't seem to be open to everyone. Some users say they've only seen the option to purchase a discounted Pixel Watch 3, while others aren't seeing any special deals at all.

Nothing in life comes free, though, and the catch here is that anyone who redeems the offer will be locked into using Google Fi for at least two more years. Likewise, the Pixel Watch 3 is hardly the most cutting-edge smartwatch. It was replaced by the Pixel Watch 4 last year, and we'll likely see a Pixel Watch 5 in the near future.

My guess is that Google is clearing stock with a mixture of giveaways and discounts, so that it's not holding onto two-year-old smartwatches when the Pixel Watch 5 arrives. But free is free, and if you don't own any kind of Pixel Watch, then a complimentary Pixel Watch 3 is a pretty good deal. Especially if you were planning on staying with Google Fi for the foreseeable future anyway.

It's not like the Pixel Watch 3 doesn't have a great selection of features either. It has a brighter screen than the Pixel Watch 2, while also offering all the best health, wellness and fitness features that Google (and Fitbit) has to offer. Better still, the larger 45mm model has a two-day battery life, which will save you from having to recharge every single day.

Of course, it lacks the even bigger and brighter display of the Pixel Watch 4, which also packs in satellite SOS messaging, improved charging, gesture controls and other upgrades. But that will cost you $349, which is a lot bigger ask when free stuff is available. Assuming you were lucky enough to get this offer.

So be sure to check your emails, check the Google Fi store, and check your phone's notification history to see if you missed that crucial update.

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Fitbit has been a Google brand for roughly five years, and in that time, the big ‘G’ has shuttered the Fitbit smartwatch range, killed some of the best Fitbit community features, and even removed useful apps, like Google Assistant, from still-support devices.

Outside of the Fitbit Ace LTE — a wearable designed with kids in mind — there hasn’t been a new Fitbit since 2023’s Fitbit Charge 6. That could all change in the next few months, as rumors of a new Fitbit model reach a fevered pitch. There is, however, a slight catch.

Here’s everything we know so far about the rumored Fitbit Air, including possible features and design, a potential launch date, price, and more.

Fitbit Air — Biggest rumors

• First teased in early April 2026 by U.S. basketball star Steph Curry
• Rumored to be a screen-less wearable similar to the Whoop 5.0
• Images suggest a lightweight design, possibly available in a range of colors and strap types, including a woven material
• Likely to offer basic workout, movement, and sleep tracking features
• Battery life could exceed two weeks
• Tipped for a mid-May 2026 debut
• Possible $99 launch price; likely subscription-free for core features

Fitbit Air — Possible price and release date

According to an insider report from 9to5Google, the Fitbit Air could debut as soon as May 16th with a launch price of $99. That's the same cost as the entry-level Fitbit Inspire 3.

More importantly, unlike the biggest player in the screenless, wrist-based tracker market, Whoop, Google will likely offer most of the Fitbit Air's core features without a subscription fee.

By comparison, the Whoop 5.0 is either $199 to $349 annually, depending on how extensive you want your training insights. That said, the device itself is technically free with a subscription commitment.

Fitbit Air — Rumored design

Based on the images shared on Steph Curry's Instagram, the Fitbit Air appears to be a diminutive tracker on a woven cloth strap, and a somewhat similar design to the Whoop 5.0.

According to retail info first reported on by DroidLife, the Fitbit Air could be available in a wide range of strap types and styles, including both cloth, silicone, and mesh metal options, with colors like 'Obsidian,' 'Lavender,' and 'Berry' on offer.

Fitbit Air — Possible features

Given the rumored $99 price tag, the Fitbit Air will probably offer fairly basic fitness and health tracking insights, including a range of workout tracking modes, sleep and recovery insights, daily movement tracking with reminders, heart health insights, and women's health tracking.

That said, given the fact that it's being backed by a famous pro athlete, it's entirely possible that the device is capable of more advanced fitness training tools, advice, and metrics. Those, perhaps, will be locked behind some sort of monthly Google Health subscription.

No word on battery life, but the lack of a screen should result in solid longevity. The Whoop 5.0, for example, lasts for two weeks per charge. I reckon Google will aim to match or beat this rating with the Fitbit Air.

Fitbit Air vs Garmin ‘Cirqa’ vs Whoop

Google isn't the only major consumer tech brand evidently hungry for a piece of the Whoop pie. Reports suggest that Garmin is also working on a subscription-free fitness tracker to rival the Whoop 5.0, possibly named the Garmin Cirqa.

Like the Fitbit Air, the Garmin Cirqa is also tipped for a summer 2026 debut. The question is, will these likely budget-friendly wearables be direct competitors to the seemingly pro athlete-level Whoop? Or, will they be more targeted to the traditional fitness tracker crowd?

My money is on the latter. However, the fact that Google is clearly going to launch the Fitbit Air with the endorsement of a world-class athlete throws a bit of a monkey wrench into that prediction.

Ultimately, I can't quite get over the fact that in 2026, the biggest innovation we're talking about in wearable technology is the lack of a screen. It's almost as if 2015 called and wants its fitness trackers back.

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Move over, Garmin Forerunner 970, there’s a new premium smartwatch for marathon runners nipping at your heels. The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro offers many of the same pro-level design specs, training tools, and holistic features found on Garmin’s $750 flagship running watch, for $300 less.

The list includes dual-band GPS, a titanium alloy case, a sapphire crystal glass, an ultra-bright AMOLED screen, a built-in LED flashlight, support for 170+ workout modes, personalized training plans, advanced recovery metrics, and more.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro smartwatch.

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Key features

• Titanium alloy case and sapphire crystal glass screen
• 2.32-inch AMOLED touchscreen with 3,000 nits max brightness (same as Apple Watch Ultra 3)
• Dual-band GPS antenna
• 20 days of battery in smartwatch mode; 31 hours with full GPS tracking
• Support for offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation
• Custom training plans with advanced workout and recovery metrics, including VO2 Max, Training Load, and Training Effect
• Onboard speaker and microphone for Bluetooth calls
• 32GB onboard storage for music, podcasts, and maps
• $449 and available now

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Price and availability

The Cheetah 2 Pro is available now directly through Amazfit for $449. It ships on a perforated rubber strap that kind of reminds me of an old-school skin diver watch strap.

Additionally, according to the Amazfit site, a snazzy-looking green nylon strap will be offered separately for the Cheetah 2 Pro at a later date.

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Design and build quality

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro is roughly the same size as the Garmin Forerunner 970; however, it weighs nearly 8 grams less than the pricier competition. Both devices sport sapphire glass, which is tougher than hardened mineral glass found on more affordable smartwatches.

Unlike the Forerunner 970, the Cheetah 2 Pro features a comparably tougher-built titanium alloy case design versus reinforced polymer (plastic). You get an LED flashlight tucked into the top of the case on either model, both of which also boast a red light mode.

The Cheetah 2 Pro combines touchscreen functionality with four physical buttons, which look extra grippy and easy to access, even while, say, running.

Max screen brightness is 3,000 nits, which is brighter than the screen on the Forerunner 970, and should make it even easier to view in direct sunlight.

Water resistance is 50 meters, the same as the flagship Forerunner. This is enough for short surf-level swims but not high-impact water sports or diving.

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Fitness and training tools

Arguably Amazfit's most advanced running watch to date, the Cheetah 2 Pro offers nearly all the same heady training and recovery metrics you'll find on the best Garmin watches, including VO2 Max, Training Load, and Training Effect.

It also provides structured workout guides, personalized training plans to help you prep for an upcoming running-based event, and workout recovery recommendations.

Despite being a hardcore running-centric watch, the Cheetah 2 Pro supports over 170 workout types, including some darn nuanced options like tug-of-war and snow shoveling.

Dual-band GPS promises accurate location tracking even under obstructed skies, while Amazfit's latest-greatest health sensor array should provide precise heart rate data, sleep tracking reports, women's health insights, and more.

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Smart features

Like the Forerunner 970, the Cheetah 2 Pro boasts an onboard microphone and speaker, allowing you to take calls from the wrist via a Bluetooth-paired smartphone.

You also get 32GB of onboard storage to store music and/or podcasts for offline listening without a paired phone. That storage can also be used to download and save free navigational maps, also for offline use.

These maps feature turn-by-turn directions; however, the overall usability lags behind Garmin, based on my experience testing the maps' functionality on the also-new (ish) Amazfit Active Max.

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Battery

When it comes to battery life, on paper, at least, the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro has the Garmin Forerunner 970 beat. When using full GPS to track an outdoor workout, the Cheetah 2 Pro promises up to 31 hours of use per charge (69 hours in GPS power save mode). The Forerunner 970, meanwhile, lasts for 26 hours with full GPS tracking.

In standard smartwatch mode, Amazfit says the Cheetah 2 Pro should be good for up to 20 days per charge, compared to 15 days for the Forerunner 970.

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Outlook

On paper, the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro has an awful lot going for it. Simply put, it offers the specs, tech, and build quality of far pricier flagship models, at a cost that, while far from cheap, is going to potentially tempt a lot of folks away from the Garmin Forerunner series.

Ultimately, the question is, will the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro perform with as rock-solid reliability across the board as the best Garmin watches of 2026? We plan to get one in for thorough testing to find out. Stay tuned.

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As a daily Apple Watch wearer, I’m forever on the hunt for the perfect watch strap. While the Nike Sports Loop has been my go-to on the Apple Watch SE 3, and before that, the Series 10, over the past few weeks, a new strap has climbed the ranks, knocking the Sports Loop out of the top spot.

And for good reason. The Solace Imperium Adapt strap for Apple Watch has a lot going for it, including a comfortable, PFA-free design made of stretchy, sweat-wicking nylon. It’s also available in a huge selection of stylish colors and patterns, and costs less than the Nike Sports Loop.

But that's not all! Below are the five biggest reasons I recommend the Solace Adapt as your next Apple Watch strap.

1. Comfortable and adjustable

Few things bother me more than an itchy or abrasive watch band, which is to say, I have zero tolerance for crappy, low-grade silicon or rubber straps. Fortunately, this strap is anything but scratchy.

That said, right out of the box, the Solance Imperium Adapt is a tad stiff, but things start softening up after a day or two of wear. Made from stretchy nylon knitted in a Chevron-style pattern, the Adapt is plush without feeling thick.

It can also fit wrists as large as ~9 inches or as slender as ~4 inches. The magnetic clasp slides up and down the strap, letting you dial in just the right fit for maximum comfort, whether you like to wear your smartwatch loosey-goosy or nice and tight.

2. Breathable, sweat-wicking, and fast drying

The knitted nylon is highly breathable. I get pretty sweaty when I work out, and I found the Solace strap just as comfortable, if not more so, than the Nike Sports Loop.

The thick knitted pattern also allows the straps to dry really quickly. I ran my Apple Watch SE 3 + Solace strap on the sink for about thirty seconds to see how long it would retain moisture for. Afterwards, I gave the strap a quick blot with a paper towel and put it back on my wrist. Less than an hour later, there was no dampness to speak of.

3. Machine washable

With so much contact time with the body, your smartwatch and strap are probably filthy. While it’s recommended that you wash your Nike Sports Loop by hand, the Solace Imperium Adapt strap for Apple Watch is machine washable.

Better yet, it comes with a lifetime warranty, so feel free to toss it in with your other stinky workout gear.

4. Tons of stylish designs to choose from

As of publishing, the Solace Imperium Adapt strap for Apple Watch is available in no fewer than 24 styles, including my favorite, ‘Calypso,’ shown here. They should also accommodate nearly any Apple Watch model ever made, with one size for 38, 40, 41, and 42mm watches and another for 44, 45, 46, and 49mm models.

I opted for the larger, which means that my Calypso Solace strap not only fits my 44mm Apple Watch SE 3, but also the Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm) and Apple Watch Ultra 3 review units I have in for testing.

5. Nifty magnetic clasp closure

Last but not least, I’m a huge fan of the magnetic buckle system on the Solace Imperium Adapt strap. As noted above, the receiving half of the buckle can be slid up and down, allowing the strap to accommodate an enormous range of wrist sizes.

When the top of the buckle, with the logo, is placed over the bottom, the two lock together with a satisfyingly audible ‘click.’ More importantly, the magnets are strong enough to ensure a secure closure

Priced at $39.99 via Amazon— $10 less than the Nike Sports Loop — the Solance Imperium Adapt strap is my new go-to for the Apple Watch for the foreseeable future. Stay tuned for a long-term review.

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The fitness industry is ever evolving, and at Tom's Guide, we’re putting the spotlight on the products that'll truly help our readers reach their goals, whether that's running a marathon or getting more sleep.

The Tom's Guide Fitness Awards 2026 are officially open for nominations. If your product is helping people get healthier, now's the time to enter.

From running to golf, hiking to high-performance recovery products, we're looking for the best of the best.

Award categories

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to fitness, so we're going to be giving out awards across several categories. Everything from rangefinders to smartwatches, we want to recognize those companies that make a difference. Below are the categories for which you can enter; we reserve the right to modify these categories based on the submissions.

Home training 

All the gear you need for getting fit without the gym — from resistance bands and dumbbells, to smart scales, treadmills, and exercise equipment.

Golf

From rangefinders to game trackers, AI-powered launch monitors, simulators, and apparel, these are the products every golfer needs to know about. These are the brands making the ‘perfect round’ more attainable.

Running

Runners come in all shapes and sizes, and our running awards appeal to everyone from beginner to athlete. We’re celebrating the best running shoes, watches, headphones, and apparel.

Winter sports 

The best gear is the kind you don’t notice — it’s the kind that disappears, so you can focus on the sport. Our winter sports awards celebrate the smart goggles, apparel, and gloves of the season.

Hiking

The best hiking equipment earns its weight in your pack. We’re celebrating the smartwatches that double as safety tools, as well as the smartest boots, most intuitive mapping apps, and wearable tech.

Recovery

Every athlete will know performance is only as good as the recovery that follows it. From compression boots and wearable sensors to sliders every runner will reach for post-marathon, this is how to recover in 2026.

How to enter

Brands can submit products via our online entry form by selecting the appropriate category and following the “Enter Now” buttons on the awards site.

Entry fee: $250 per product, per category

No limit on submissions and products can be entered into multiple categories (additional $250 per category).

Deadline: April 30, 2026

Category winners will be announced at the end of the month.

Blackout curtains can create an environment proven to help you fall asleep fast, but science warns they could also be the reason why you're waking up tired. However, the good news is that a simple habit could help give you a morning energy boost, and it only takes seconds.

While blackout curtains are commonly used for blocking sleep disrupting light, with 270 million blackout curtains installed in the US in 2023, physician Dr. Fábio Luiz Vieira, founder of My Brazilian Doctor, warns they may disrupt our circadian rhythm and cause morning fatigue

"Sleep quality is largely determined by darkness at night and light in the morning." says Dr. Vieira. "Waking in darkness can delay circadian signaling and reduce morning alertness."

• Read more: I have more energy and better moods since making this simple change to my sleep routine — but there’s a catch

Key take-aways: At a glance

• Studies show that blackout curtains create a dark environment to boost melatonin, a hormone which helps us fall asleep.
• However, blackout curtains block out morning light, which the body uses as a signal to produce cortisol, a hormone that help us feel awake and alert upon waking.
• When cortisol is reduced due to a lack of daylight in the morning, this can lead to morning fatigue, plus a delayed wake-up time and bedtime.
• To increase alertness in the morning, aim to open your blackout curtains immediately upon waking, urge experts.
• Using a sunrise alarm clock has been proven to increase cortisol and serotonin production, a get-up-and-go hormone combination.

How blackout curtains can cause morning tiredness

Research has shown that those who sleep in a room affected by light pollution are more likely to experience sleep deprivation and anxiety. Meanwhile, a 2021 study found that being exposed to even a small amount of light while sleeping can lead to more nighttime awakenings.

That's where blackout curtains and blinds can step in. Blackout curtains have become a popular sleep tool to reduce the affects of light pollution, creating a dark environment free of sleep-disrupting light.

"Blackout blinds can be beneficial, particularly if you live in environments with lots of light exposure," says James Wilson of Bensons for Beds.

"If we’re woken in the night for whatever reason, the complete darkness helps us to settle back into to sleep more easily than if we were exposed to light," the sleep practitioner adds.

However, while blackout curtains create a sleep-inducing environment at night, they can also create an environment that decreases energy levels in the morning.

Research has found that the addition of blackout curtains can disrupt our natural circadian rhythm, which is our body's internal clock. Study participants reported feeling more alert at night and sluggish in the morning when sleeping in a room with blackout curtains.

This lead to an out-of-sync sleep schedule, characterized by delayed wake-up times and bedtimes.

But why does waking up in darkness cause morning tiredness? Dr. Vieira explains that it's all to do with how darkness increases the production of sleep-promoting hormone melatonin.

"Light is the primary cue for suppressing melatonin and activating the brain’s wake systems," the doctor explains.

Studies have even highlighted how our biological clock relies on light to know that it's daytime, with sunlight boosting cortisol, a hormone that promotes energy and alertness.

According to Wilson, blackout curtains remove a natural (and crucial) wake-up cue.

"Waking up in the dark means our bodies aren’t given the signal to stop producing sleep hormones and to start producing cortisol, which helps us start the day," he warns.

3 quick and easy ways to boost morning energy

While blackout curtains can play havoc with your sleep schedule, Hannah Shore, Head of Sleep Science at MattressOnline, highlights how they're still important — especially during the summer months.

"If we don’t have these, we would be waking up when the sun rises, which can be as early as 4:30am in peak summer," she warns.

Luckily, sleep experts say that there are quick and easy ways to enjoy the sleep-promoting benefits of blackout curtains at night and in the early hours of the morning, without skipping the energy-boosting sunlight when you need to get up.

1. Open your curtains as soon as you wake up

The quickest and easiest way to feel energized in the morning is to head over to your window as soon as you wake up and draw back the curtains.

"Blackout curtains are best combined with intentional morning light exposure, such as opening curtains immediately upon waking, to maintain circadian alignment," advises Dr. Vieira.

In fact, Ruth Jones, a Senior Sleep Writer here at Tom's Guide, swears by this five-second morning habit.

"I needed blackout curtains to fall asleep in a room plagued by streetlights, but the lack of morning sunlight left me groggy and fatigued," says the sleep writer.

To remedy her morning fatigue, Jones says she would open her curtains as soon as her alarm beeped.

"At the first chime, I'd fling my curtains back before hitting snooze, allowing the natural daylight to slowly rouse me; I was awake and alert before the second alarm could start," she tells me.

2. Invest in a sunrise alarm

After testing my first wake-up light for my Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FM sunrise alarm clock review, I am now someone who preaches about how refreshing it is to wake up to a gentle, gradually-brightening light instead of a harsh iPhone alarm.

Sunrise alarms work by mimicking a sunrise, and this dawn simulation has been shown to increase cortisol.

"If you're using blackout blinds, I always reccomend coupling them with one of the best sunrise alarm clocks to wake up by light as well as an audible alarm," advises Wilson.

3. Go for a walk in the first hour of the day

Another morning habit I swear by is a quick walk in the morning light. Not only is a morning stroll a great way to get a boost of Vitamin D, it's also proven to be a great way to boost sleep quality and increase energy levels.

To feel more refreshed in the morning, all you need to do is head out the door between 30 and 60 minutes after your alarm.

"Getting access within the first hour of waking every day, so long as it is the same time, will help to set your body clock, which in turn can make it easier to fall asleep and wake up in the future," says Shore.

3 products that boost morning energy

Skoda, mostly known for its cars, has developed the DuoBell, a mechanical bicycle bell designed specifically to be heard by those using noise cancelling headphones. The bell hits a frequency "gap" between 750Hz and 780Hz where active noise cancelling algorithms are the least effective.

For bicyclists in urban areas, it can be dangerous to avoid headphone wearing pedestrians, as most of the best headphones feature some kind of ANC. This leads to collisions and injuries.

The DuoBell is designed to bypass ANC so that walkers can hear bicyclists coming up to "22 meters" away.

DuoBell is fully mechanical bike bell featuring two bells. The first half can hit the narrow band between 750Hz and 780Hz where ANC appears to be least effective. The "ANC blind spot" was discovered by Skoda and scientists at the University of Salford.

The other half features an additional resonator that is tuned to a frequency. It also has a specially designed hammer that strikes the bell in a rapid, irregular manner. Combined, the two halves generate sound waves that break through ANC algorithms.

This project is an excellent example of how a simple, yet clever idea can help make exploration safer for everyone,” said Meredith Kelly, Global Head of Marketing at Škoda Auto in a post.

Skoda tested the bell in London with bike couriers in the city. Impressively, the company documented the process and the research and posted it for everyone to see. If you're interested you can download the research from Skoda's website.

For now, it appears the DuoBell is only a Skoda prototype in London, but I'm personally hoping it actually makes it out of the company's labs. It'll be interesting to see if headphone makers try to improve ANC to the point that the gap is filled or if it'll be left open as a safety precaution

As someone who lives and irregularly bikes in a large city, this is the kind of device that would make me more comfortable dealing with pedestrians, especially those wearing headphones.

More from Tom's Guide

• 6 essential checks to prepare your bike for a summer of cycling
• Best GPS bike computers: tested and reviewed
• This exercise is believed to be four times more efficient than walking and can improve your cardiovascular health

As a fitness team, our editors can frequently be heard raving about pilates workouts that strengthen and stabilize your core, and work muscle groups you may not have even known you had. Not ones to gate-keep, they love nothing more than sharing expert advice to target specific concerns. So, how much have you been paying attention?

Take our multiple choice pilates moves picture quiz below,to pair the correct movement name with the illustration. Even if you don't get all six right, you'll discover some new pilates tips to try this evening.

How did you do? Let us know what you think in the comments below. Too hard? Too easy? I love to hear from you and welcome all constructive feedback.

If you enjoyed this quiz, then check out our other puzzles and quizzes. And don't forget to register to save your score, reveal hints for any clues you're not sure of and secure your spot on the competitive Tom's Guide leaderboard.

If you haven't practised pilates for a while or haven't tried it at home, all you need is one of the best yoga mats, a bit of space, and a willingness to slow things down and move with intention.

Pilates essentials we love

More from Tom's Guide

• 'I’m a Pilates instructor, and I recommend these 5 core exercises to help older clients build strength and improve posture'
• How many of these Garmin Connect badges can you name? Number 4 may fool you
• Forget Wordle, you need to play Tom's Guide games right now

Samsung usually kicks off what I refer to as 'Smartwatch Launch Season Palooza', in late July, with the competition — including favorites from our best smartwatch list — following suit in the weeks following.

If 2026 is anything like the past several years, you can probably expect the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 — and possibly the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 — to make a mid-summer appearance, likely followed by the debut of a Google Pixel Watch 5 in late August and an Apple Watch Series 12 in mid-September.

So, what can we expect from Samsung's 2026 Galaxy Watch class? I've been following all the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 leaks since the last generation debuted. Here's everything we think we know.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Price and release date predictions

While no official Samsung launch event has been announced for summer 2026, one will almost certainly take place in July or early August. I expect the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and maybe the Ultra 2 to debut alongside the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 handhelds.

Samsung upped the starting price of last year's model, the Galaxy Watch 8, to $349, for an increase of $50 versus the Galaxy Watch 7. This puts it in line with the starting cost of the Google Pixel Watch 4. However, it's still $50 cheaper than the lowest-cost Apple Watch Series 11.

For 2026, I don't anticipate any further price increases for the Galaxy Watch 9 series. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, however, might end up costing a bit more than 2024's model, which debuted at $649. Keep in mind, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, its nearest competitor, starts at $799.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Possible tech upgrades

While Google is rumored to be ditching Qualcomm chips for the next-gen Pixel Watch 5 in favor of an in-house designed Google Tensor chip, Samsung is allegedly doing the exact opposite.

The Galaxy Watch 8 series uses Samsung's Exynos W1000 chipset. However, an insider report, first covered by SamMobile, claims that the Galaxy Watch 9 and/or Ultra 2 might instead sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset, which, in theory, might support headier on-device AI tasks — rather than handing them off to a paired phone — with better power efficiency than the prior generation of Galaxy Watches.

There are also reports that the Galaxy Watch 9 and/or Ultra 2 might support 5G connectivity. Apple surprised last year by bringing 5G to the entire lineup of watches, including the entry-level Apple Watch SE 3, so it seems plausible that Samsung will follow suit.

Another insider report, this time from Smartprix, suggests that the onboard 3-in-1 BioActive health sensor array will see some sort of update, which could result in better accuracy for metrics like heart rate, tracking sleep stages, and detecting chronic conditions like sleep apnea and AFib.

There have also been murmurs of non-invasive blood glucose monitoring — a smartwatch holy grail feature — launching on the next-gen Galaxy Watch series, but with little concrete evidence to go by, I suspect that the tech is not quite ready for prime time.

Speaking of wellness, expect AI to play an even bigger role in interpreting your holistic data and making recommendations.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Design, display and battery rumors

Samsung shifted the core Galaxy Watch series over to its circle-ish-square case design format, first introduced on 2024's Galaxy Watch Ultra, and I don't expect the Galaxy Watch 9 or the Ultra 2 (if it exists) to look much different than their predecessors.

But what about a Galaxy Watch 9 Classic? I'm disappointed to report, dear reader, that as of writing, it doesn't appear that a clicky bezel-sporting variant of the Galaxy Watch 9 is in the cards, but, hey, I could be wrong!

Maximum screen brightness has been steadily increasing over the past several generations of Galaxy Watch, and while there's a chance we'll see the Galaxy Watch 9 top out at 4,000 nits — a 1,000-nit increase over the prior generation — I suspect that any brightness increases will be exclusive to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. For reference, the current-gen Galaxy Watch Ultra also boasts 3,000 nits of max brightness.

Insiders suggest that battery capacity, at least for the larger 44mm Galaxy Watch 9 model, will be about the same as the 44mm Galaxy Watch 8, 435 mAh. However, improved processing efficiency might make the newer model a little longer lasting than the previous-gen, which averages roughly 30 hours per charge (non Classic).

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Outlook

Ultimately, the Galaxy Watch 9 will likely look just like the Galaxy Watch 8, but an updated processor might unlock new AI-powered features and holistic tools. We also may see a slight battery life increase, along with improved onboard health-tracking tech.

No leaks or reports hint at a Galaxy Watch 9 Classic model, but a replacement to the tough-built, oversized Galaxy Watch Ultra is quite possible. Similar to the Galaxy Watch 9, an Ultra 2 will likely look similar to its predecessor, but potentially offer new, advanced wellness, fitness, and AI features.

What possible new features or specs are you hoping for most when the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 debut? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Your Samsung Galaxy Watch now supports blood pressure tracking — but it’s not the same as Apple’s Hypertension Alerts
• 5 reasons why I sometimes still wear a 'dumb' watch
• Garmin’s rumored screen-less wearable just might be the subscription-free Whoop rival I’ve been waiting for

The Google Pixel Watch 4 may be the best smartwatch for Android users right now, but a Pixel Watch 5 is due for release later this year, and it could be a doozy of an update.

We're still a bunch of months out from a possible announcement, but based on all the leaks, rumors, and insider reports so far, here's what I think we know about the Google Pixel Watch 5, including potential feature and tech upgrades, design changes, and AI advancements.

Google Pixel Watch 5: Price and release date predictions

Google tends to make smartwatch product announcements annually in August, and I suspect that this year will be more of the same. Last year, the Pixel Watch 4 debuted alongside the Pixel 10 smartphone series on August 20th, with units shipping later in October.

No word yet on a scheduled Made by Google summer launch event, but we'll update this story as soon as one gets announced. Either way, there's a high likelihood that the Pixel Watch 5 will be announced alongside the Google Pixel 11 smartphone series. In terms of price, I'm hoping the Pixel Watch 5 maintains its $349 starting price for the smaller, non-cellular model.

Google Pixel Watch 5: Possible new features

An insider report, first covered by Android Authority, suggests that Google is moving away from Qualcomm chips for the next-gen Pixel Watch 5, in favor of an in-house-built Google Tensor chip. There are also rumors of a new multicore processor. Combined, these two potential upgrades will likely result in support for even more advanced on-device AI features.

The Pixel Watch 4 is already my favorite smartwatch for AI features, thanks to Google's Gemini AI assistant, which can be called upon using the brand's excellent Raise to Talk gesture control.

Increased processing power and efficiency could also mean new health tracking tools within the Fitbit app. More specifically, according to a patent filed by Google and first spotted by Gadgetsandwearables, advanced heart health tracking tools, including arterial stiffness monitoring, and potentially even blood pressure monitoring, could make an appearance in the Pixel Watch 5.

When it comes to the latter, the question is, will this potentially groundbreaking tool require calibration via an old-school blood pressure cuff prior to use, like the best Samsung Galaxy Watches, or will it be a standalone tool?

Alternatively, perhaps blood pressure monitoring will act more like Apple's Hypertension Alerts, and instead of providing readings, it will be designed to simply alert you if/when signs of high blood pressure are observed.

Meanwhile, arterial stiffness monitoring could provide important insights into how well a user's cardiovascular system is functioning. In short, increased stiffness is a known indicator of cardiovascular dysfunction and a potential sign of chronic issues later in life.

Google Pixel Watch 5: Design and display rumors

At this point, rumors about the design of the Pixel Watch 5 are limited. However, it seems highly likely that Google will stick with the same circular design as its predecessor, with two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, available.

One upgrade I'd love to see is a move away from Gorilla Glass in favor of sapphire crystal glass for increased scratch and shatter resistance.

Google has steadily increased the maximum brightness of the past several generations of Pixel Watch by 1,000 nits at a time. The current Pixel Watch 4 maxes out at an impressive 3,000 nits, the same as the Galaxy Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. However, if the tradition continues, we might see that spec increased to an eyeball-melting 4,000 nits.

Finally, similar to the Pixel Watch 4, there's a decent probability that Google will slim down the bezel even further on the Pixel Watch 5, leading to an ever-so-slight increase in screen real estate.

Google Pixel Watch 5: Outlook

As of right now, it seems likely that the Google Pixel Watch 5 will look and cost about the same as the Pixel Watch 4. However, under the hood, major upgrades, from increased processing power, new AI tools, more advanced heart health-tracking tech, and better power efficiency, all could be on offer.

What possible new features or specs are you hoping for most when the Pixel Watch 5 debuts? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch Series 12 rumors — everything we know so far
• Interview: This new, hidden feature inside your Pixel Watch could predict the next ‘Big One’
• Garmin’s rumored screen-less wearable just might be the subscription-free Whoop rival I’ve been waiting for

Samsung first announced plans to bring blood pressure monitoring to the brand’s lineup of Galaxy smartwatches all the way back in 2019. Now, the feature is available for U.S. watch users with the Galaxy Watch 4 or newer.

This is a major milestone for Samsung, which is in an epic arms race with the competition, including not just Apple and Google but Oura, Ultrahuman, and Whoop, too, to see which brand can add real-time blood pressure monitoring to a wearable device first.

Here’s everything you need to know about blood pressure tracking on the best Samsung Galaxy Watches, including the one notable drawback of the feature.

Samsung brings blood pressure tracking to Galaxy Watch in the U.S.

It’s worth mentioning that blood pressure tracking has been available on Samsung Galaxy Watch models in markets outside of the U.S. for some time now. However, this is officially the first time that the feature has been approved for use in the U.S.

However, before you can turn your Galaxy Watch 4 or newer into an on-wrist blood pressure monitor, you’ll first need to calibrate it. This requires a traditional blood pressure cuff.

The calibration process, required every 28 days, is pretty straightforward, though. You take a reading with the old-school cuff while wearing your Galaxy Watch on the opposite wrist. The Samsung Health app provides a simple set of instructions to ensure you’re recording an accurate reading.

Once you’ve completed the steps in the app, your Galaxy Watch is ready to roll; you can now take blood pressure readings. The resulting data includes everything you’d get from a traditional blood pressure monitor, including Systolic blood pressure, Diastolic blood pressure, and pulse (heart rate).

How Samsung’s blood pressure tracking differs from Apple’s Hypertension Alerts

While Samsung’s blood pressure monitoring tech might sound similar to Apple’s Hypertension Alerts, the two function quite differently. The Apple Watch feature, for example, doesn’t require an additional device for calibration, though there is a 30-day calibration period where you’re expected to wear the device most of the time.

Hypertension Alerts on the Apple Watch also don’t result in an actual blood pressure reading; rather, an alert is only triggered if/when signs of possible hypertension are detected.

Ultimately, a combination of Apple and Samsung’s approaches to blood pressure tracking and alerts would be the best of both worlds. That said, I’m hopeful that in the near future, wearables will be able to provide accurate blood pressure readings right out of the box, without the need for calibration, along with automatic alerts if consistently high blood pressure is detected.

More from Tom's Guide

• I review smartwatches for a living, but these are 5 reasons why I sometimes still wear a 'dumb' watch
• Apple Watch Series 12 rumors — everything we know so far
• Garmin’s rumored screen-less wearable just might be the subscription-free Whoop rival I’ve been waiting for

Sleeping enough is vital for staying healthy and alert but the latest research from the UK shows that most people just aren't getting the snooze they need.

One new study from Premier Inn has found that people in the UK are getting an average of around 6.5 hours sleep a night — significantly under the recommended amount — while another survey uncovered that on a work night, the amount of sleep for the average Brit dips even lower.

Here, we're exploring why the experts say that’s not enough sleep, and what you can do to improve your rest if you aren't clocking as many hours as you should be.

Key takeaways

• One UK survey showed that British adults get an average of 6 hours 27 minutes sleep a night
• Another found that on a typical work night, British people get an average of just 6.16 hours sleep
• This is well below the recommended guidelines for the amount of sleep an adult should get each night
• The AASM and Sleep Research Society recommend 7+ hours of sleep a night, while the NHS and The National Sleep Foundation recommend 7-9 hours a night
• If you're not getting the recommended amount of sleep, there are ways to help improve your rest
• These include optimizing your sleep environment, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, having a nighttime routine and being mindful of the food and drinks you consume

How much sleep are adults getting?

According to two new surveys, British adults are, on average, clocking significantly less snooze than is recommended.

One survey, conducted by hotel chain Premier Inn, found people are getting roughly 6 hours and 27 minutes sleep a night, while research from home brand Hillary's found that on a work night, British adults typically got only 6 hours and 10 minutes sleep — that'll leave you groggy in the office.

And it's not just a UK issue. A national survey in the US, results of which were published earlier in 2026, found that 38% of Americans sleep less than 7 hours a night.

"6.5 hours of sleep is slightly below the evidence-based recommendation for optimal sleep duration," explains Ashley Curtis, PhD Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of South Florida and Director of the Cognition, Aging, Sleep, and Health (CASH) Lab. "Research shows that 7-9 hours of sleep is the sweet spot for adults for optimizing the full benefits of sleep."

She notes that age impacts optimal sleep duration, as those over 65 should aim for between "7 and 8 hours of sleep."

This is backed up by the National Sleep Foundation and NHS, which recommend that adults between 18-65 get 7-9 hours of sleep each night, while the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society jointly advise 7+ hours of sleep a night.

In fact, recent research found that among adverse health behaviors, sleeping for less than 7 hours nightly is strongly associated with lower life expectancy across the US, with only smoking ranking more highly.

Curtis points out that it is "critical to note that it is not just about how long you are sleeping, but the quality of that sleep."

Sleep quality refers to how well your body moves through the vital sleep stages, including spending enough time in REM and deep sleep.

"If you are waking up a bunch during the night and not getting enough of that restorative deep, you are probably going to feel groggy the next day," she notes. "Deep restorative sleep benefits our mental functioning, and other areas of functioning such as cardiovascular health."

Training the right 'sleep muscles' can help you enjoy better quality sleep, even if the duration is lacking.

However, while length isn't everything, with 22% of survey respondents indicating "stress or anxiety" keeps them up and 32% spending money on caffeine and energy drinks to fight fatigue, it seems sleep quality is also lacking.

4 tips to help you sleep for longer

If you're not getting enough sleep, these simple steps can help improve your rest and most of them can be implemented from tonight!

Optimize your sleep environment 

Getting enough sleep relies on practicing good sleep hygiene, and a key part of this is optimizing your sleep environment.

That might sound like you need to keep your bedroom ultra clean — and that is great, particularly for avoiding allergens that can interfere with sleep — an ideal sleep environment is actually about more than cleanliness.

Good sleep hygiene involves creating a space that's conducive to sleep; having the best mattress for your sleeping style and the best pillow to work alongside it; maintaining an optimum temperature for sleep (65 to 70 F is ideal); and ensuring that your rest isn't disrupted by noise and light.

Curtis recommends blackout curtains in particular, saying that "light is a circadian cue and disrupter. At night, light can delay your natural circadian rhythm and make falling asleep more difficult. Blocking out the light at bedtime will help facilitate going and staying asleep."

She also advises removing disruptive electronics, such as the TV, from your bedroom, and reserving the space for sleep alone.

"You want to associate the bedroom with sleeping," she explains.T"his is based on traditional psychological concepts such as classical conditioning. You want to basically train your mind and body to associate the bed with sleep, not these other potentially stimulating activities like watching TV."

And if cleanliness is a concern, we've got tips for keeping your mattress fresh including when to vacuum your bed and how a mattress encasement can be your frontline against bed bugs.

Stick to a consistent sleep schedule

Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, the system responsible for releasing hormones that help us fall and stay asleep.

It's something Tom's Guide Managing Editor of Sleep and Certified Sleep Science Coach Claire Davies swears by, aiming to be in bed at 10 p.m. with lights out so she can hit her ideal sleep time of 10.30pm.

"Sticking to this bedtime anchor as much as I can helps my brain to ‘learn’ when to increase melatonin production (the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle)," she explains.

"Higher levels of melatonin make it easier for me to fall asleep fast, and to sleep through the night because I have sufficient melatonin to override any wakeful cortisol spikes or blood sugar fluctuations that might otherwise cause me to wake up at 3 a.m."

Create a calming nighttime routine

Hannah Shore, Head of Sleep Science at Mattress Online, has explained to us that one of the key reasons you may be struggling to get enough sleep is "that you haven’t got your brain and body ready for sleep before getting into bed."

A calming nighttime routine helps, and Shore suggests getting ready for bed earlier in the evening, so you have your pajamas donned and any teeth brushing and beauty regimen completed well before bedtime.

Curtis also explains that it's important to put your phone down when engaging in your nighttime routine.

"We all scroll on our phones, but it’s important to really unwind before bed and get your body ready for sleep. The mental stimulation from the scrolling and the blue light from your phone can make it more difficult to fall asleep," she says.

Opt for low low level lighting to signal to your body that it's time to produce melatonin during your wind-down and make sure you choose activities that are relaxing for you. For example, meditation.

Perhaps most importantly, when you get to the point in your routine where you start to feel tired, go straight to bed.

Be careful what you consume (especially later in the day!)

If you're struggling to get 7+ hours of sleep a night, it's worth interrogating what you eat and drink during the day.

Caffeine typically has a half-life of 5-6 hours — it takes this long for your body to clear half of the caffeine you've consumed. Since caffeine is a stimulant and it blocks the chemical that makes us feel sleepy (known as adenosine), consuming it too late in the day can impact your rest at night.

In general, experts suggest cutting off your caffeine intake at least 8 hours before bed, but be warned that there are a number of drinks and foods that are surprising sources of caffeine. So it's not just about coffee.

While there are foods that are great for sleep, such as complex carbs, peppers, legumes, eggs, fatty fish and nuts, the likes of sugar and citrus fruits can negatively impact your rest.

Curtis also recommends avoiding heavy meals and alcohol three hours before you go to bed.

"A heavy meal will trigger digestion and can keep you awake," she says, adding that "while alcohol may initially help you fall asleep, it can lead to more awakenings in the later half of the night and less restorative sleep, leaving you feeling very unrefreshed in the morning."

The drone of snoring is a common sound in many households, with an estimated 45% of the population snoring occasionally. However, disordered breathing at night carries more risk than you might realize.

Research published in npj Digital Medicine found that those who regularly snored or experienced sleep apnea had overall comparatively high levels of pulse wave velocity; a recognized signifier of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Here's what the study found about sleep apnea, snoring and heart health, as well as tips on how you can reduce your snoring.

Key take-aways: At a glance

• Sleep apnea, snoring and disordered breathing at night all impact vascular health.
• Sometimes known as "heart age". vascular aging places extra burden on the heart and is linked to heart failure.
• Severe sleep apnea is associated with higher pulse wave velocity (PWV) and arterial stiffness, independent of age, sex, and BMI.
• Variability in sleep apnea events each night — some nights worse, some nights better — was associated with arterial stiffness, particularly in those with mild OSA.
• High snoring (without OSA) also shows a similar impact on arterial stiffness as severe apnea with minimal snoring.
• These results are particularly pronounced in younger people.

How snoring and apnea impact your heart health

The study analyzed data from 29,653 adults, collected over an average of four years, from two digital health devices: a Withings Sleep Analyzer tracked breathing and snoring, while a Withings Body Cardio Scale measured aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV.)

The study observed that nighttime disordered breathing often resulted in higher PWV, a signifier of arterial stiffness and vascular aging (sometimes referred to as heart aging.)

What's more, while severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to arterial stiffness regardless of age, sex or BMI, the researchers also found similar results among those with variable sleep apnea.

They found that apnea events (or breathing disruptions) that fluctuate between mild and severe (higher night-to-night variability) are associated with arterial stiffening, and noted that this was more pronounced among those with mild OSA.

In fact, the study showed that those with mild OSA but high night-to-night variability had comparable predicted PWV values to those with as overall severe apnea but low variability.

When it comes to snoring, the researchers found that "habitual snoring was associated with increased arterial stiffness independent of the presence and severity of OSA."

The researchers defined snoring burden as "the percentage of total sleep time spent snoring" and their results showed that those without OSA but with a high snoring burden showed a comparably high PWV to those with severe OSA but minimal snoring.

While vascular aging occurs naturally during your lifespan, a high PWV among those with a severe snoring burden regardless of age indicates this form of disordered breathing can speed up the process — and that this common sleep problem is one you shouldn't ignore.

"[Sleep apnea] repeatedly interrupts breathing, lowering oxygen, raising blood pressure, and breaking the deep sleep cycles that restore the brain and body," warns Dr. John La Puma, Board-Certified Internist. "It accelerates cardiovascular aging."

How to stop snoring and help reduce sleep apnea

Snoring is often harmless but it can be a frustrating sleep disruptor, so minimizing the habit can help you (and your partner) enjoy a better night's kip.

We previously spoke to Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, for expert advice on how to stop snoring — here are some of his top tips.

1. Lifestyle changes

If you place yourself among those who 'occasionally snore', you might have noticed certain habits are linked to your disrupted nights. Alcohol, in particular — you're more likely to snore if you've had a drink or two before bed.

Cutting out alcohol and smoking are two big lifestyle changes that can help you breathe easier during the night.

Weight is also linked to snoring, as those in higher weight categories are more likely to experience disordered breathing. While losing weight isn't an easy fix for apnea, it's a lifestyle change that can help reduce snoring.

2. Positional therapy

Snoring and sleep apnea events most commonly occur when you're back sleeping, as the throat tissue is more liable to block the airway if you lie supine.

For this reason positional therapy — encouraging you to sleep on your side — is a popular and non-invasive sleep apnea treatment.

Body pillows are a good way to start side sleeping, while sewing tennis balls into the back of your pajamas can prevent you from rolling over in the night.

Alternatively, consider upgrading to an adjustable bed base. These allow you to lift the head so you sleep in a sitting position, opening the airways.

3. Open your nasal passages

Open nasal passages allow you to breathe more freely through your nose, rather than relying on your mouth. Over the counter nose strips are one way to open up your nasal passages.

Alternatively, try a warm shower or bath before bed. And make sure to keep your bed clean, to avoid snuggling up with allergens that might be causing your blocked nose.

For those with sleep apnea, stronger intervention might be needed. Mouth guards can help reduce apnea events, while CPAP machines are still considered the 'gold standard' treatment — and the study suggests using a CPAP machine might lower PWV among those experiencing increased vascular aging.

When to speak to a doctor about snoring

Not sure if your snoring warrants a trip to the doctor? If you share a bed, the best way to get to grips with your snoring is to speak to your co-sleeper. They're best placed to assess the frequency and severity.

For those who don't share a bed, many of the best sleep trackers assess breathing quality and detect indicators of snoring. While not as accurate as another person, this can help you identify the likelihood you're experiencing breathing disruptions.

Common signs that your snoring is actually sleep apnea include frequently waking up in the night, waking up tired after what seems like eight hours sleep, and waking up with a dry mouth or headache.

"Sleep apnea affects 26 percent of U.S. adults aged 30 to 70, yet only about 5 percent are diagnosed," notes Dr. La Puma. As the study notes even mild apnea is linked to arterial stiffness, we recommend speaking to a healthcare professional if you're concerned about disordered breathing.

While it remains unlikely that 2026 will deliver a replacement for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or SE 3, a flagship Apple Watch Series 12 debut is all but certain. Apple has added a new model to the lineup every year ever since the very first Apple Watch launched.

With plenty of leaks and rumors to go off of, we already have a general idea of what the Series 12 could deliver, from health and fitness tech upgrades to design tweaks and display improvements. Read on for everything we know about the Apple Watch Series 12 so far.

Apple Watch 12: Price and release date predictions

Apple tends to hold an annual launch event in the second week of September, and this year is likely no exception. The Apple Watch Series 12 will likely debut alongside the new iPhone 18 lineup, with a starting price of $399, the same starting cost as the Series 11.

Apple usually opens up preorders on the Friday following a Tuesday product announcement, with units hitting store shelves in the weeks that follow. Again, I suspect this will be the case for the Series 12.

Apple Watch 12: Health and fitness tech rumors

One of the juiciest Apple Watch 12 rumors hints at a new holistic sensor tech on the bottom of the device. According to DigiTimes (via Wccftech), the Series 12 could feature a brand-new eight-sensor array arranged in a ring pattern (similar to the Series 11). This might mean that new health metrics are coming to the Series 12, or, at the very least, improved accuracy for existing metrics.

We may additionally see an expansion of Apple’s groundbreaking Hypertension Alerts feature. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s most prolific insider for hints at murmurs about future products, Cupertino is hard at work on a wrist-based blood pressure monitor. However, there seems to be considerable doubt that the technology is ready for a primetime debut this year.

On-wrist blood glucose monitoring is another focus for the Apple Watch team, but according to Gurman, that tech is even further out than blood pressure monitoring.

Apple is additionally working on a massive overhaul of the Health app, according to Bloomberg's Gurman, featuring an AI-powered, personalized wellness concierge. The concept is apparently code-named Project Mulberry, and in theory, could bring all of a user’s health, fitness, and medical data under the roof of a singular app.

That said, like blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, we have no confirmation that an overhauled Health app will be launch-ready by September.

Apple Watch 12: Design and display rumors

The Apple Watch 12 will almost certainly be more power-efficient than its predecessor thanks to an upgraded S12 chip. It could also deliver a less power-hungry LTPO display. I’d personally like to see Apple increase the screen brightness on the Series 12 to 3,000 nits (from 2,000 nits) to better match competition from Samsung and Google.

While some rumors hint at a massive design overhaul for the case, that seems somewhat unlikely, given that 2024’s Series 10 ushered in an updated design and Apple only tends to switch things up every four-ish launch cycles. Moreover, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says a major design shift is unlikely for the Series 12.

One of the more interesting rumors that has been around for a while is the addition of a front-facing camera to the Apple Watch Series 12. This likely wouldn’t be for taking pictures, but rather for unlocking the screen with Face ID or for AI-backed visual scene and object recognition. The best iPhone models already have a similar Visual Search tool that uses the camera. Perhaps Cupertino is bringing the tech to the Apple Watch next.

Finally, according to a report from Macworld, the Apple Watch Series 12 could introduce a long-retired iPhone feature to the Apple Watch: Touch ID. Of course, it makes little sense for the device to offer both Touch ID and Face ID to unlock the watch, so probably only one of these rumors is true.

Apple Watch 12: Outlook

Last year’s Apple Watch Series 11 represented a fairly minor upgrade over the Series 10, with the primary benefit being better battery performance. This makes me hopeful that the Series 12 will be an even bigger jump in performance and features.

A redesigned holistic sensor array would definitely be a big deal, especially if it unlocks new wellness insights. The same can be said for blood pressure monitoring. I’m additionally intrigued by the concept of an onboard camera as a real-world visual search tool.

What do you think? Is the Apple Watch Series 12 something you're excited for, and if so, what features are you hoping for the most? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• 10 Apple Watch innovations that changed the game — from Fall Detection to Hypertension Alerts
• I walked 5,000 steps with the Garmin Forerunner 570 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3 — and the winner was nearly too close to call
• Garmin’s rumored screen-less wearable just might be the subscription-free Whoop rival I’ve been waiting for

Garmin hasn’t launched a new fitness tracking band since 2022, but that could change soon if recent rumors and leaks pan out. In fact, the Garmin ‘Cirqa’ could prove to be a Whoop killer for one major reason.

It’s also worth noting that Garmin has yet to launch any new wearables in 2026, so a Garmin Cirqa, or even a replacement for the beloved entry-level Forerunner 55 running watch (also launched in 2022), could also be right around the corner.

Garmin and Google want a piece of the Whoop pie

Garmin’s new, rumored screen-less fitness tracker first showed up on one of the brand's own regional websites earlier this year, initially spotted by the5Krunner. While details are limited, the listing for the Cirqa said it will be available in ‘four to five months,’ making an April launch date entirely possible.

A separate filing by Garmin for a product called ‘CIRQA’ with the U.S. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), also initially uncovered by the5Krunner, only adds fuel to the fire for a spring/summer 2026 launch.

Of course, Garmin isn’t the only wearables giant hungry for a piece of the Whoop pie. Google is also rumored to be launching a screen-less Fitbit-branded wearable to take on the latest Whoop 5.0.

Garmin Cirqa rumored features and specs

According to details gleaned from the FFC filing, the new Garmin Cirqa fitness tracker might come in two sizes and feature at least an optical heart rate sensor. However, it could also sport body temperature, sweat, and SpO2 sensors, and track everything from heart rate variability to sleep quality.

It also seems possible that the Cirqa won’t have an onboard GPS, likely to keep costs down. This would mean that users will need to carry a paired phone for location data while working out.

Beyond that, we know little about what the rumored wearable will look like, cost, or how long it will last.

Garmin is overdue for a new fitness band

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 — the last Garmin fitness band to debut — might as well be a vampire; it’s so long in the tooth. Launched all the way back in 2022, the model is still technically current (Garmin lists it on the U.S. site), but retirement seems likely soon.

Garmin isn’t alone in neglecting its most entry-level wearables, and there’s no denying the fact that traditional fitness trackers have somewhat fallen out of style over the past four years. Google has similarly largely neglected its Fitbit portfolio, choosing to instead focus on the flagship Pixel Watch series.

Might screen-less fitness trackers be the next wave for both of these wearable tech powerhouses? It sure seems that way.

A subscription-free approach could whoop the competition

While Whoop may be the market leader in screen-less wrist-based fitness trackers, the brand suffers from the same complaints as Oura, maker of the best smart rings in 2026. Simply put, lots of folks aren’t keen on choosing a device that comes with recurring subscription costs.

The Oura Ring 4 subscription is $69.99 a year, and a Whoop subscription ranges from $199 to $349 annually. This could prove a liability for Whoop if Garmin or Google launch competing products without subscription costs.

Garmin presently offers the vast majority of fitness and wellness tracking metrics and insight for free. That said, the brand also has a paid subscription tier, Garmin Connect+, for $6.99 a month. The plan unlocks premium features like nutrition tracking and a personalized AI training coach.

Ultimately, if/when the Garmin Cirqa debuts, I’m guessing that most of the features will be free of charge, just like they are on the best Garmin watches of 2026.

Of course, even if Garmin and Google drop subscription-free Whoop alternatives, they'll still have to compete with the likes of the wallet-friendly Amazfit Helio Strap and the Polar Loop band, both of which also lack recurring costs.

More from Tom's Guide

• 10 Apple Watch innovations that changed the game — from Fall Detection to Hypertension Alerts
• Your Google Pixel Watch now has earthquake alerts — here’s why that's a big deal
• Exclusive: Ultrahuman CEO says smart rings will 'become a computer on the body' with the ability 'to at least micro-think'

Google has trailed the launch of a new screenless fitness tracker, with Steph Curry giving us a sneak peek of the new device on his Instagram account.

In the video, Curry is seen wearing the screenless grey and orange band, which he describes as the ‘first of its kind’ before saying he won’t spoil it.

Bloomberg reports that the band will come with basic features and that you’ll need a Fitbit Premium subscription to unlock its full capabilities.

That the new tracker will be launched under the Fitbit brand is interesting because Google has seemingly been winding down Fitbit products over the past couple of years.

This would be a major new launch that leans on Fitbit’s background in fitness tracking, and it could be the first screenless band to really rival Whoop, which has been dominant in this area of the market.

Why Fitbit can take on Whoop

Several screenless bands have hit the market over the past year, with the most notable Whoop rivals being the Amazfit Helio Strap and the Polar Loop band.

Neither has really dented Whoop’s popularity as yet. The Helio Strap is a good budget alternative but lacks the name recognition of Whoop, while the Polar Loop is undermined by poor software and hasn’t proved to be that accurate in my testing either.

Whoop has also been successful in blocking the sale of some rivals, like the Lexqi band, and has sued Polar for ‘copying’ its design, something Polar firmly denied when we asked them for comment.

A Google/Fitbit band wouldn’t have any problems with name recognition or its app. Fitbit remains one of the biggest names in fitness tracking tech, and the Fitbit app is easy and enjoyable to use, which is vital with a screenless band when you rely on the app to see all your data.

Showcasing the band on the wrist of Steph Curry is also a notable move because Whoop has always benefited from having a lot of partnerships with elite athletes across a range of sports.

Athletes don’t get much bigger and more recognizable than Curry, and if Google is smart, they’ll have other pros lined up to show off wearing the band.

It promises to be a big year for screenless trackers, with rumors of a Garmin band continuing to swirl as well. We’ll test any new bands as soon as we can to see if they really are a compelling Whoop alternative.

More from Tom's Guide

• Not the Fenix 9 — this is the new Garmin watch I want to see in 2026
• Coros Pace 4 vs Coros Pace 3 vs Coros Pace Pro: Which is the best Coros watch for you?
• Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Garmin Fenix 8 Pro: should you upgrade?

Since launching its first sports watch in 2018, Coros has quickly closed the gap on the biggest brands in the space with regards to hardware, making some of the lightest and most durable devices available.

When it comes to software, however, Coros still lags behind the best Garmin watches in terms of both the amount and depth of sports tracking, navigation and training analysis features.

Regular software updates are helping Coros to step up though, and this Spring its watches are getting several great new features including their own version of two top Garmin features that I use regularly.

These are Pace Strategy and Hill Alerts, which I think are the pick of the nine new Coros features coming, but there’s also a new weekly mileage widget and hybrid fitness workout mode that looks ideal for Hyrox events.

Pace Strategy

The new Pace Strategy feature on Coros watches is similar to Garmin’s PacePro tool and can help you to pace races in particular using a strategy that accounts for hills on the route, or an overall approach like a negative split, where you get faster over the course of the race.

You can set up a strategy for a distance, or pick a route from your library. In the former case, the tool is quite simple — you pick a distance, set a target time, and then whether you want to run an even pace, speed up throughout, or start fast to take into account slowing down near the end.

Your strategy will be given split times to aim for based on these settings, which will show on your watch throughout the race along with an estimate of how far/ahead of your target time you are.

Using a route means that the tool will give target times for each split that take into account the elevation involved, so it’s handy for trail runs in particular where you might want to hit an overall time, but take uphills slowly and speed up on flatter and downhill segments.

The Pace Strategy tool is quick and easy to use, and I can see it being very handy for an event like the Boston Marathon, where you have to get a little ahead of your overall target pace on early downhills to account for the uphill sections late on the course.

Hill Alerts

Garmin’s ClimbPro tool has always been one of my favorite sports watch features, so I’m delighted to see something similar come to Coros watches via the Hill Alerts update.

This will analyze the route you’re following on your watch and break out all the significant uphill and downhill sections individually, so you can preview them and then get alerts when you arrive at them during your run.

These will show the climb or descent on your watch, color-coding the steepness of your route and how far through the hill you are, so you can judge your effort accordingly.

I find this feature very useful during long climbs in particular, because with switchbacks and/or tree cover it’s rare you can actually see the top of the climb ahead of you, so knowing how much more uphill there is to come means you can pace yourself so you don’t run out of steam.

Other New Features

Another feature I’m looking forward to using from the update is a weekly distance widget, which just shows your mileage for running, cycling and swimming. I like to keep tabs on my running distance each week, especially when marathon training.

For Hyrox enthusiasts, the new hybrid fitness sports mode looks perfect, since it can track the various exercises you do during an event, and even automatically switch between stations, so you can track your time and performance on each station to look at afterwards.

Other updates include the option to put a passcode on your watch, and the ability to increase the font size on notifications.

All of these updates will be rolling out automatically within the Coros app in the near future, so it’s worth checking in occasionally to see if your watch is ready to update.

More from Tom's Guide

• Not the Fenix 9 — this is the new Garmin watch I want to see in 2026
• Coros Pace 4 vs Coros Pace 3 vs Coros Pace Pro: Which is the best Coros watch for you?
• Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Garmin Fenix 8 Pro: should you upgrade?