From smartwatches to smart rings, it’s ramping up to be a busy product launch season. Ahead of some of the bigger events coming in the next few months, several rumors and leaks are swirling around the season’s hottest wearable tech. I’ve rounded up some of the top stories to watch (and read) this week.
What’s next for Galaxy Watches
One of the industry’s leading smartwatches is returning to its classic look this summer, according to Xpert Pick. The expected Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 could be getting its Classic look back with a physical rotating bezel, a fan-favorite feature that was met with controversy when the company removed it recently. This aligns with the biannual scheduling of Samsung’s “Classic” releases, following the Galaxy Watch 4 and 6 in recent years.
Also: New Asus smartwatch first to measure both blood pressure and ECG
On top of these Galaxy Watch 8 upgrades, we could also see a second-generation Galaxy Watch Ultra debut this summer during its Unpacked event. Rumors circulating by Greek news site Techmaniacs say that Samsung is prepping for a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 launch, and the smartwatch could be the same price with no design change.
Customize your Oura Ring with this hack
Oura Ring members are finding new ways to customize their smart ring. This popular post on Reddit shows members using washi tape to decorate the outside of their smart ring. I’ll be sitting out of this trend, as I’m very content with the discreet look of my rose gold Oura Ring (and fearful of the tape leaving a gnarly residue), but look forward to seeing how this trend plays out. It’s a cheap way to breath some new and decorative life into your smart ring.
Apple Watch SE 3 could offer new sizes
According to DSCC’s supply chain analyst, Ross Young, the Apple Watch SE 3 could get two new sizes and displays. The budget Apple Watch display sizes, per Young, are 1.6″ and 1.8″, bigger than previous SE Watch models but smaller than the Series 10 and Ultra 2.
Also: The next Apple Watch likely won’t include this popular health feature
In other Apple news, Bloomberg’s serial leaker Mark Gurman says we probably won’t be getting blood oxygen monitoring back on the Apple Watch Series 11 (or any other model) anytime soon. It seems unlikely the tech giant will resolve its patent dispute with Masimo, which caused the feature to be disabled on Apple Watches in the first place.
Live translation comes to Meta Ray-Bans
Take your Meta Ray-Bans to that foreign country on your spring break vacation, and they might start translating conversations for you. Live translation, a feature previously accessible only to certain countries, is now available to all smartglasses owners. The functionality works by enabling Live Translation on the glasses by voice command, and doesn’t require internet to properly function.
Also: Your Meta Ray-Bans just got a major feature upgrade for free – and it feels surreal
Once it’s turned on and someone begins speaking to you in a different language, the glasses will translate the words into English using the speakers in the glasses. Pretty cool, right?
A new health sensor is coming to Huawei’s Watch 5
Huawei is set to reveal its newest smartwatch on May 15, but this leak gives us an early glimpse of what it’ll look like. Ahead of its launch, Huawei is teasing a new kind of sensor on the Huawei Watch 5. It’ll come in several new colors, have a circular dial, and a rotating crown, according to 91mobiles.
Huawei’s teaser for the smartwatch implies that a new health sensor is coming to the watch, but we’ll have to wait until the launch day to gain more information on what this could be.
