If you're looking for one of the best smartwatches with industry-leading GPS accuracy, ECG capabilities, and a super-long battery life, then it has to be the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2).

Better still, right now you can snap up the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) at Best Buy for $549.99 (was $799.99). That's a huge $250 saving on a 4.5-star smartwatch that is a worthy contender to be amongst the best running watches.

Despite previously dropping to $500, the latest sale price still represents fantastic value for money, and there are no guarantees it'll return to its record-low price any time soon. For the money, you get a high-performance smartwatch from one of the best brands out there.

Today's best Garmin Epix Pro deal

When our Senior Fitness and Wearables Editor, Matt Evans, carried out our Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) review, he gave it a solid 4.5 stars, praising its outstanding Garmin Fenix 7 base and new torch that works well during night runs, as well as hill and endurance scores that are more accurate than much of the competition's.

Matt described it as "an undoubtedly high-performing endurance watch that operates wonderfully, and the new widgets that debuted with the Pro work very well and got me thinking about my training in new ways."

If you've done your research, then one factor might be putting you off: its age. But we'd urge you not to let that deter you. The Epix Pro (Gen 2) boasts up-to-date parts delivering accurate metrics, making its hardware as reliable as the day it was released. Matt is also quick to point out that "it also features Garmin's most powerful heart rate sensor, the Elevate V5, which is also used on the current-gen Fenix 8."

This deal is part of Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale, which means it will only last until Sunday. So, if you're tempted, I recommend moving fast.

Despite the fact that it's not been officially announced, there's a lot of information (albeit all unverified) going around about the Google Pixel Watch 5.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 has become the best Android smartwatch for most people, getting better with each iteration. That model was announced last August, and it's very likely a sequel is on the horizon. Here's everything we know so far, including the most recent leaks.

When is the Google Pixel Watch 5 coming out?

August 12. Last year's 'Made by Google' event took place on August 20, and Google looks set to stick to that annual timeframe.

Google has officially confirmed that pre-orders will open for new Google Pixel phones on August 12, and it makes sense to assume that the Google Pixel Watch 5 will be released alongside its companion Pixel devices.

What will the Google Pixel Watch 5 look like?

It'll be very similar to the Google Pixel Watch 4. We actually have what's purported to be leaked renders of the device, coming from noted leaker OnLeaks via The Tide Chart, a website with a single post to its name (so treat this rumor as unverified).

Despite this solitary post and lack of credible history, The Tide Chart (TTC) did correctly call the August 12 event date before Google announced it, so there is a claim of legitimacy there. The renders look extremely similar to the Google Pixel Watch 4, with the now-classic teardrop shape in its new-last-year dome, in four new colors and two sizes.

Those colors are Dark Anthracite (above) with a black band, Natural Silver with a pale gray band, Pyrite with an olive band, and Warm Gold with a pink coral band. The larger size reportedly remains the same at 45mm, but the smaller size is now 42mm instead of 41mm.

Will the price remain the same?

Not according to TTC. The blog says the watch's list price will start at $399 (around £295 / AU$570) for the Wi-Fi-only 42mm version, a $50 increase over the smallest Wi-Fi-only Pixel Watch 4 in the US.

The price will go up with each model, and the LTE-enabled 45mm Pixel Watch 5 is said to cost a hefty $529 (around £395 / AU$755).

The equivalent Pixel Watch 4 costs $499, a $30 increase over the model in the US. We don't yet know the equivalent prices for the Pixel Watch 5 in the UK or Australia.

Any new features?

This we're not yet sure about. We can expect Wear OS 7 to include yet more AI capabilities, especially for Pixel phone users, similar to the way watchOS 27 uses Siri AI to work across multiple devices.

Repairability — a standout feature for the Pixel Watch 4, allowing users to take apart the smartwatch and replace the display and battery — and limited satellite connectivity to send SOS messages without signal are both expected to make a welcome return.

A bizarre story earlier this year had a reported prototype of the Google Pixel Watch 5 discovered on the ocean floor, near the island of St Martin. It's said to have had labels including ‘SpO2’ (Blood Oxygen Level), ‘EDA’ (Electrodermal Activity), ‘Skin Temperature’, ‘Heart Rate Sensor’, ‘Pulse Sensor’, and ‘UWB’ (Ultra-Wideband) — all features present in earlier iterations of the watch.

We can expect Google's new AI Health Coach and the revamped Google Health app to play a role. These debuted earlier this year in tandem with the Google Fitbit Air.

It goes without saying that it takes a lot to win the Tour de France, as those who conquer cycling's greatest race have scarified so much in their quest for glory, with every single second counting.

The 2026 race has already started strongly for Tadej Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG team, with the Slovenian building a seemingly unsurpassable lead as he bids for his fifth triumph.

But asides from his incredsible physiology and stamina, Pogačar is also boasting another major advance for the 2026 Tour - a customized 3D-printed fizik One-to-One saddle, possibly the most detailed ever made - I spoke to the company to find out more.

Marginal gains

"Small details in the technology might make the difference," Alex Locatelli, Head of Brand at Fizik says, "the marginal gains in this case - comfort is strictly related to performance, as if you are able to forget about this, it's less thought you need to give while you have to focus on another part of training and racing."

3D-printed and adaptive saddles have been around for some time, but Fizik's one-to-one product goes beyond a standard mould, using the company's proprietary pressure-mapping sensor technology (pictured below) to create a hyper-customized product designed specifically for an individual rider's anatomy and riding style.

Locatelli notes each saddle takes around two to three weeks to produce, but certain VIPs (such as a multi-Tour winner) can get their products rushed through.

"We have a very good relationship with Tadej," he says, "that's something that's not easy to achieve...as a matter of fact, the team principal told me it's very rare that Tadej is so enthusiastic about a product - sometimes he's not even happy after winning the Tour de France, he's so demanding to the team and to himself."

"We are offering thr top of the pyramid when it comes to the technology," Locatelli says, noting that the saddle may be the next in a series of upgrades used by Pogačar that his rivals may soon look to copy.

But even the standard saddles Fizik produces in the future will benefit from the pressure-mapping data the company is collecting now, as it all goes in to future production and product development.

The technology is so precise and advanced right now that it may be a while before we see such innovations trickle down to us everyday cyclists, but I have to ask Locatelli if there's a future for park cyclists like myself ever getting hyper-personalized 3D-printed components.

He notes that it may take a few years, but adds, "general customization in cycling is expanding," highlighting how some smaller manufacturers are offering more options in terms of custom frames and saddles.

So you never know - the next bike you buy could be the most personal ever - but it might not let you ride quite as fast as Tadej Pogačar.

And an AI-designed helmet for good measure

However Pogačar won't just have fizik's individually-sculpted saddle to help him try and win this year's Tour. For stage 5 of the 2026 race, UAE Team Emirates-XRG also revealed a new helmet designed by AI.

Specifically designed by Helmetverse, the AI-powered design platform of tech group and team sponsor G42, and built by MET Helmets, the helmet was created in collaboration with AI artist Gizem Akdag, who says they were, "inspired by the transition from city to signal and from data to light", as the kit's "visual language captures the speed, energy and flow of professional cycling, translating movement and performance".

“The reaction to Helmetverse last year showed how passionate cycling fans are about engaging with our sport in new ways. As a team, we are always looking to push boundaries, whether that's through performance, innovation or fan engagement," said Mauro Gianetti, Team Principal and CEO of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. "Helmetverse reflects that mindset and gives cycling fans an opportunity to leave their mark on the team.”

Fans of the team can also now submit their own helmet designs, including creating their own using Helmetverse AI, with the winning design worn by UAE Team Emirates-XRG at the UAE Tour in February 2027.

Head on over to our best vacuum cleaner guide and you'll spot that Shark makes a couple of appearances. It's easily one of the top manufacturers if you want a powerful, reliable and affordable vacuum for your home. And now, one of its most advanced and convenient models just dropped to a great low price.

I've spotted the Shark Clean & Empty at Amazon for £199 (was £349.99), which is one of the lowest prices outside of Black Friday and only around £30 more than the previous record-low.

I've had a Shark vacuum for several years now, and no exaggeration, it was one of the best purchases I've made. With good battery life, time-saving anti-hair wrap tech and powerful cordless suction, it's made keeping my home tidier so much easier.

With all these features, and now an auto-empty charging base on the Clean & Empty, I can only imagine it'll be even more useful to prevent dust from flying everywhere when it's tipped into the bin.

Buy the Shark Clean & Empty at Amazon

We've not tested this specific model at TechRadar, but we have tried the slightly more advanced Shark Detect Clean & Empty, which scored an impressive four stars.

Many of the key features are available in this cheaper version. However, you do miss out on the Detect mode, which automatically adapts suction and power to suit different surfaces and needs for better efficiency. It's not an enormous loss, in my eyes, especially as the anti-hair wrap tech and auto-empty charging base are still included in the standard Clean & Empty that's currently on sale.

• The Garmin Cirqa is a rumored screenless smart band, like a Whoop or Google Fitbit Air
• It's been the subject of a few unofficial leaks, and has been posted on Garmin's site in error before
• Another recent now-deleted post on Garmin's Romanian website has added fuel to the rumors

The Garmin Cirqa smart band is all but confirmed at this point. For months now, we've seen leak after leak about Garmin's Cirqa fitness tracker, and while we don't know too many details, it's seemingly a screenless smart band designed to compete with the likes of Whoop and the Google Fitbit Air.

Now it's reportedly leaked yet again. As spotted by Gadgets and Wearables, a recent update to Garmin's Romanian website, on the page explaining a feature called Health Status, mentions the Garmin Cirqa smart band (styled 'CIRQA') as a compatible device.

Health Status is a feature that combines five core metrics — heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration, skin temperature and pulse ox — to give an overview of your general health. It's a feature on most of the best Garmin watches now, so it's unsurprising that the Cirqa would be getting it.

The reference to Cirqa was reportedly swiftly deleted, but not before a screenshot was captured.

In January, Garmin posted the Cirqa on its own website, including color options (black and French Gray), before swiftly deleting it. It seems this has happened again. Add in other recent leaks, and you can see why it's basically confirmed at this stage.

The screenless 'focus wearables' category is having a moment. We've already seen the launches of the Oura Ring 5, Whoop competitors such as the Polar Loop (as seen in the image above, alongside the Whoop MG and Amazfit Helio Strap), and most recently the Google Fitbit Air. It makes sense that Garmin, one of the leading names in fitness tracking, wants in on the action while the category is still on the up.

I don't think a launch can be far away at this point, and I'll be keeping my ear to the ground for more Cirqa news as it breaks.

Blood pressure has long been considered the "holy grail" of PPG-powered wearable tech. Because (up until now) you really need an inflatable cuff to measure, or at least to calibrate, blood pressure readings, and that's been difficult to do with a smartwatch alone.

The Huawei Watch D series incorporated a cuff into the smartwatch itself, while Apple has introduced its Hypertension Detection feature, which earmarks possible hypertension after 30 days of using an Apple Watch, but doesn't actually provide blood pressure readings. No LED-based device has really been able to crack it. Until now, apparently.

The Signal Ring is the brainchild of Tom Moss, an ex-head of Android at Google who's founded several companies since leaving Google and co-founded several other companies, including drone business Skydio, which eventually ended up being bought by Razr.

Signal is a smart ring with a difference: rather than provide lots of different metrics such as the Oura Ring 5 or the Samsung Galaxy Ring, or use AI assistants like the Google Fitbit Air, it's designed by "a very smart group of multidisciplined people focused on a single problem" — and that problem is blood pressure, which Moss was inspired to tackle after a cardiac event, a 'hypertensive emergency',

"My blood pressure was 250. If you can imagine, for blood pressure, 120 [over 80] is healthy and fine," Moss told me. "So 250 is just like an insane amount of pressure."

After his event, Moss attempted to track his blood pressure, but had difficulty with incorrectly-sized cuffs and sought a more technical solution. "I went online, I bought every kind of device that told me it could track my blood pressure, wearable or otherwise, and they're all garbage."

Some watches, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch series, use an initial blood pressure cuff reading to calibrate, then estimate your blood pressure by looking at other vital signs in between calibrations. But Moss found this approach frustrating and inaccurate. "We needed a way to measure blood pressure from a wearable, not just measure changes from a baseline."

Working with scientists and engineers from Masimo (the company that sued Apple over infringement of LED-based heart rate sensing technology) Moss developed the Signal Ring over three years, which can take on-the-spot blood pressure readings and use a single number — a metric called 'mean arterial pressure' — to passively track blood pressure throughout the day, broadcasting the information to its companion app over Bluetooth like any other wearable.

I asked him how a startup could do something that Apple, Oura, Samsung, Google, and others had failed to do, and his response was one of specialism.

"This is our sole focus as a company," said Moss. "My co-founders have decades of knowledge on PPG, state-of-the-art processing... we have a very smart group of multidisciplinary people focused on a single problem."

Without needing to cram in sensors required for other features, such as accelerometers for counting steps, the team was reportedly able to crack the blood pressure mystery. "It's not AI or anything, it's not that we use some sort of new, magic technology. We put the best people, the most equipped, to work on it."

Exciting stuff in the wearables space, but only real testing will confirm its accuracy compared to conventional blood pressure measurements. Pre-orders for the Signal Ring are available now, priced at $399 (around £295 / AU$770) with no subscription (thank goodness!) and are likely to ship in October.

Going by leaks and what Samsung has teased so far, we're pretty confident that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is about to be announced. Seeing that this is coming, Amazon is attempting to shift its remaining stock of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 by slashing the price to an incredible low of £154.79 (was £319).

With less than a dozen devices available at the time of writing, though, there's no way this offer is going to last very long. So, I'd move fast if you want to get the wearable we called "the best mainline Galaxy Watch in ages" in our 4.5-star review.

Clearance deal on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

Is the Galaxy Watch 8 worth it?

At this clearance price, it's very hard to argue against. Sure, the new Galaxy Watch 9 is almost certainly about to be announced next week at Samsung Unpacked, but it will cost at least twice as much as this model at its discounted price.

Previous offers on the Galaxy Watch 8 haven't come anywhere near to this low, so chances are it will never be beaten and never be seen again once stock runs out.

For such an advanced and well-rated smartwatch, it's easily one of the best deals of the year. If you're happy picking up some slightly older but still incredibly capable tech, especially if you're a fitness and health tracking enthusiast, I geninuely don't think you'll find a better bargain than this all year.

Festival season is well and truly upon us, and it's also turned into the summer of the heatwave. If you haven't got a tent sorted yet, or if you were planning on digging out that old, slightly musty bag of fabric that's been festering in your loft, might I suggest that now is a good time to invest in a blackout tent?

Over the years, I've camped in all kinds of conditions and in all kinds of tents — both for fun and in a previous role as an Outdoors editor — and the one thing I prioritize above all others is blackout fabric in the sleeping area. It makes such a difference, not just to the amount of light that gets in, but to the temperature inside too.

A few years ago some friends and I volunteered at Glastonbury, and part of the deal was that we'd work a night shift. Afterwards, those of us in blackout tents slept happily (okay, semi-happily) past midday; the one friend who came in a non-blackout teepee did not sleep at all. His tent was bright as the sun, and just as hot, from about 8am. Even if you're not required to stay up all night, good sleep is hard to come by at a festival, so don't make things even more difficult for yourself.

I've scouted around for the best blackout tents you can find right now, and you'll find my top picks below. I've focused on easy-to-pitch and not-too-pricey options, from brands I've personally tested and would happily buy from. Happy camping!

Snooze time

One of the biggest talking points around this year's World Cup has been the heat. Players from countries with very temperate, cool climates, like Norway and England, have had to play back-to-back games in hot and humid conditions, placing enormous stress on their bodies as they struggle to keep their core temperature down.

When core temperatures rise, fatigue isn't far behind. Research has shown that elevated internal body temperatures cause fatigue during prolonged exercise in hot environments, even for trained athletes. Staving off exhaustion by staying cool is therefore crucial.

Enter Therabody, maker of some of the best massage guns, which has supplied Thomas Tuchel's England squad with a novel new device: the Therabody CryoTherm Palm. It looks a little like a dumbbell, but it's not for lifting; instead, you simply place your hands on the nodes, and the CryoTherm Palm, Therabody says, uses these contact points to cool down your whole body using the company's 'Cryothermal technology'.

It sounds too good to be true — but the England players are reportedly making the most of it. We asked Therabody's Chief Science Officer, Tim Roberts, exactly how the technology works.

"Your palms are natural radiators — hairless skin packed with special vessels that bring a lot of blood right to the surface," says Roberts. "It’s why gloves keep your whole body warm in winter.

"CryoTherm Palm cools that surface, pulls heat out of the blood passing through, and that cooled blood circulates back to lower your core temperature faster than cooling almost anywhere else."

So, in theory, the cold blood passing through your hands works to regulate the rest of your body's internal temperature. Clever. According to Roberts, there's a psychological effect too, as "it also dampens the thermal signals your brain uses to judge effort", so exercising feels easier.

Roberts points to a study conducted at the IMG Academy in Florida, in which footballers using the device between sprints saw positive results.

"In our IMG Academy soccer study, players using CryoTherm Palm between sprints felt 60% cooler, held 2.45% higher top speed and preserved sprint velocity 4.7% better across repeated efforts," says Roberts. While he does concede that "none of this replaces basic heat sense — hydrate, respect genuinely dangerous conditions, and back off when you need to," those numbers suggest it can make a difference.

I wouldn't be doing my due diligence if I didn't point out that in a Therabody press release, the IMG Academy was referred to as a Therabody partner. However, the science seems sound, and the CryoTherm Palm might just be your secret weapon to keep cool during your next workout, especially in very hot weather.

The device is available now, priced at $399.99 / £349 / around AU$600. I'm looking forward to testing, especially if the heatwaves we're experiencing here in the UK continue.

There’s a reason why some of the most effective exercises tend to mirror movements in real life. It’s not because personal trainers and coaches lack imagination, but because the body doesn't care how creative your programming is — it cares whether you can climb a flight of stairs without grabbing the banister, for example, or if you can catch yourself from a stumble.

These are just a few of the benchmarks that matter in later life, and for elite performance coach David Higgins — who has trained everyone from Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson to Samuel L. Jackson, David Harbour, Game of Thrones' Richard Madden and the entire cast of The Batman, among many others — one exercise sits at the top of the list for anyone over 50: the step-up. Here’s why.

Lower-body power matters so much after 50

Most people understand that strength declines with age. What they underestimate, however, is how quickly it begins to matter in practical terms, despite not being able to be measured on the best smartwatches' fitness age metrics.

“Lower body power becomes critical after 50 because we naturally lose muscle mass, reaction speed and balance as we age,” says Higgins. “The glutes, quads and calves are what keep you upright, stable and independent.”

If you can't generate force through the floor, he says, “everyday movements like climbing stairs, getting out of a chair or catching yourself from a fall become harder.” The step-up addresses all of this in a single movement: “it trains strength, balance and coordination all at once and mirrors real life better than most gym exercises.” It's slightly similar to the farmer's carry, an application of a real-life movement.

It’s also the reason Higgins places it above more popular alternatives. Walking is excellent, of course, but doesn't load the body enough to preserve muscle. Squats are bilateral — they share the work equally between both legs, which means they don't expose or address the kind of side-to-side imbalances that tend to develop quietly over decades. Step-ups, however, are unilateral, as each leg works independently, building the stability and gait mechanics that bilateral training misses.

“If I could only choose one lower-body movement after 50,” says Higgins, “step-ups would be near the top because they combine strength, stability, balance, gait mechanics and unilateral control in one movement; they bridge the gap between rehab and performance.”

Watch the tutorial video below for advice on how to do a step up:

The mistake most older adults make

Before thinking about adding height, load or additional reps, Higgins is more concerned with something more fundamental: the quality of the movement itself. “The biggest mistake older adults make is chasing fatigue instead of quality movement,” he says. “Rushing through reps, leaning through the hips, or pushing through the stronger side of the body.” Your nervous system, he says, “has to trust the movement before your body can own it.”

Rushing through step-ups doesn't just reduce the benefit — it reinforces the compensations you're trying to correct. If you're relying on the trailing leg to push you up, or leaning forward as you step, you're not actually building the unilateral strength and hip control the exercise is there to develop.

Instead, Higgins’ coaching cue is worth memorising: “push the floor away and finish tall through the glutes.” Most people pull themselves up through the knee, instead of driving through the hip. It's a subtle distinction, but makes an enormous difference to where the effort is actually made.

How to get started — and when to progress

To perform the step-up, stand facing a sturdy bench, box, or step. Place one foot fully on the platform, then drive through that heel to lift your body up until both feet are on the step. Step back down with control and repeat for the desired reps before switching legs. Keep your chest up and avoid pushing off excessively with the trailing leg.

For step height, beginners should start with a low box, roughly ankle to mid-shin height. "You want control, not compensation," he says. Fitter adults with solid mobility, balance and hip control can work up to knee height.

As for volume, Higgins prescribes 2–3 sets of 8–12 controlled reps per leg. "Tempo matters more than volume," he says. Drive through the whole foot, stand tall at the top and lower slowly under control.

Higgins confirms that just your bodyweight is sufficient resistance to begin with and, for many people over 50, it's exactly where they should stay — probably for longer than they'd expect. “Most people over 50 need to relearn movement patterns before adding load,” he says. “Once control, balance and posture improve, adding dumbbells or a weighted vest is a brilliant progression.” The dumbbells can wait. As for frequency? Two to three sessions a week is enough to see real benefit, Higgins says. “Consistency beats intensity every time.”

Precautions

Step-ups are accessible to most people, but Higgins flags a few situations worth considering. Anyone with severe knee osteoarthritis, significant balance issues or acute hip pain should approach the exercise carefully and ideally with professional guidance. “Often it's not that the exercise is wrong,” he says, “it's that the height is too ambitious or the body isn't controlling the movement properly yet.” Low and slow is always the right answer.

What leg-day moves are your go-tos in the gym? Have you tried the step-up yet? Let us know below.

I covered a best-ever deal on the Shokz OpenRun Pro earlier this week, but now, the unique bone conduction headphones just got even cheaper. There's now a chance to bag the Shokz OpenRun Pro at Amazon for $99.95 (was $124.95) — that's $10 less than I spotted them for just a few days ago.

Shokz is a big name in running and fitness headphones, so if you've been intrigued by its bone conduction headphones but put off by the cost, now's a great time to buy.

Yes, these may be the older first-generation model, but they remain an excellent pair of headphones to this day. They boast excellent audio quality, a slim and comfortable design, and solid battery life of up to 10 hours.

While the OpenRun Pro 2 do offer better sound, a slightly larger battery, and more convenient charging options, I'd say these upgrades are not super-important to more casual users — and certainly aren't worth paying up to $70 more for.

Shokz OpenRun Pro — record-low price

When we originally reviewed the Shokz OpenRun Pro, we called them "the best bone conduction headphones you can buy.' New models have been released now that improve the unique tech and add quality-of-life features, such as USB-C charging and longer battery life, but these are still a good buy at this low price.

If you are set on the tech but would prefer a newer model, though, do check out our guide to all of the best bone conduction headphones for several other options from top brands including Shokz, H2O, and Nank.

• The Garmin Cirqa, Garmin's long-rumored screenless smart band, is breaking cover
• Trademark filings have been spotted with governing bodies for the US, Canada, and EU, suggesting an imminent launch
• Google launched its screenless band with a redesigned, AI-powered app — but I hope Garmin doesn't follow suit

Garmin's long-rumored screenless smart band, designed to compete with the rising trend of 'focus wearables' such as the Google Fitbit Air and Whoop bands, is on the way. We initially thought it was the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor (pictured above), but that turned out to be a different product entirely.

The screenless fitness band is instead likely to be named the Garmin Cirqa, according to leaks; it's going to be a cool new deviation from Garmin's existing fitness watches list, and we now have more evidence that it's going to be launching soon.

Garmin has been filing trademarks for the name 'CIRQA' (styled in all caps, but we'll refer to it as Cirqa in text the same way we do Whoop, which is styled on its official branding as 'WHOOP'), with an entry to the US Patent and Trademark Office database spotted earlier this year.

However, Gadgets & Wearables have also found trademark filings for relevant governing bodies in Canada and the EU, adding fuel to the rumors that a launch may be imminent.

All the filings connote a body-worn sensor rather than a communication device, suggesting the Cirqa isn't just a new smartwatch: it's exclusively for health and fitness.

This is quite exciting: at the moment, people looking for screenless, discreet wearables have no shortage of options, from the Oura Ring 5 to the Fitbit Air to last year's Polar Loop strap. Clearly, the category and people's interest are growing, and a top-quality device from Garmin would sell like hot cakes.

However, I hope Garmin doesn't repeat one aspect of Google's Fitbit Air launch. At the same time as the Fitbit Air came out, Google transformed the Fitbit app into Google Health, eliminating the last of its community features like shareable badges and challenges, controversially redesigning the app, and turning the Premium tier into an AI 'Health Coach' chatbot.

Garmin's user base would revolt if such dramatic changes came to the Garmin Connect app. There was widespread outrage last year when Garmin introduced a Premium tier with AI-powered features — the community is a passionate and outspoken one that loves its technology, and any hint that features are being scrapped or the app transforming to better conform to the AI-first nature of most screenless trackers would be met with an enormous outcry.

Garmin will have to make its Cirqa band work within its existing watch-focused ecosystem, unless it wants to launch a separate app or risk losing some frustrated customers.

Your smartwatch is probably not the first bit of festival kit you pack. Tent, charger, waterproof jacket, earplugs, decanted booze, possibly a slightly optimistic number of outfits – all of those usually come first.

Still, the right watch and some tweaked settings can make a big difference once you’re through the gates.

A smartwatch can help you pay for food without digging out your phone, find your way back to your tent, track down a missing device, contact help in an emergency, and keep basic features running long after your phone is dead.

The slight catch is that most of this needs setting up before you arrive. Patchy signal, crowded fields, low battery, and tiny on-watch menus are a poor combination when you’re trying to fix something in the moment.

So before you head to your next festival, spend a few minutes getting your watch ready. These are the five settings and features I’d check first.

Download offline maps and save locations

A festival map in the official app is useful, but it won’t help much if your phone battery is limping along or the signal has vanished at exactly the wrong moment. Your smartwatch can give you a small but handy backup.

On Apple Watch, you can sync offline Apple Maps from your iPhone to your watch, so saved areas are still available when your phone isn’t nearby. Wear OS watches, including Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch models, can also use offline Google Maps, provided you download the relevant area before you leave. Some Garmin users may have a proper mapping setup, depending whether your model has full-color maps such as the Garmin Fenix 8.

The best move is to save more than just the festival site. Download the surrounding town, the route to your accommodation, the nearest station, and any pick-up or drop-off points you might use at the end of the night.

If your watch lets you save favorite locations, mark your tent, your car, or a meeting spot with friends as soon as you arrive. For example, you could set your tent up as a Waypoint if you're using an Apple Watch, and always know the direction via the Compass complication.

Yes, this sounds a bit boring, but you'll be glad of the simple directions when you're stumbling back in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Set up contactless payments and travel cards

Festival bars and food stalls are not the place to discover your watch wallet is still half set up. Add your usual payment card before you leave, then test it somewhere first, like your local coffee shop.

Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, and Garmin Pay can all turn a compatible smartwatch into a wrist-based payment card, though support varies by watch, bank, country, and card provider.

Add a backup card if you can, especially if you’re travelling abroad, and check whether your watch can handle transport cards, IDs, or passes for the journey to and from the site. This is still a backup, rather than a reason to leave everything else behind. A physical card and a bit of cash are worth keeping somewhere safe, because small vendors, patchy terminals, and dead batteries still exist.

But once your watch payments are ready, you’ve got one fewer reason to pull your phone out in a crowd. In the UK, most festivals are now completely cash-less, so you could feasibly do a whole weekend paying only with your wrist.

Turn on Find My and other alerts

A festival is basically a stress test for your phone, earbuds, keys, and bag.

You’re moving between stages, sitting on the grass, squeezing through crowds, and handing things between friends, so it’s very easy for something to end up in the wrong pocket or under a camping chair.

Before you go, make sure Apple’s Find My, Google’s Find Hub, or Samsung’s SmartThings Find is properly enabled for the devices you’re taking.

On an Apple Watch, for example, you can ping your iPhone from your wrist, check the location of devices, and use left-behind alerts for some items.

Android users can get similar help through Google or Samsung’s tracking tools, depending on their phone and watch setup.

This is also where trackers earn their keep. An AirTag or similar tracker on your keys, bag, or tent pouch can be a lot less annoying than retracing your steps through a field at midnight.

It still pays to be realistic – location tools can struggle in dense crowds or low-signal areas – but switching them on before the chaos starts gives you a much better chance of finding things quickly.

Configure SOS, Medical ID, and satellite safety features carefully

Smartwatch safety features are easy to ignore until you need them, so take a few minutes to set them up before you leave. Add your emergency contacts, fill in your Medical ID or health information, and learn the shortcut for Emergency SOS on your watch.

If you’re using a newer Apple Watch Ultra or Pixel Watch with satellite SOS support, it’s also worth checking how the feature works before you’re somewhere with no signal.

The slightly awkward festival wrinkle is that watches can sometimes get a bit overexcited. Fall detection, crash detection, or collision alerts are useful in the right situation, but a mosh pit, packed crowd, or particularly enthusiastic dance tent can look dramatic to a wrist sensor. For most people, the sensible setup is: keep Emergency SOS, Medical ID, and emergency contacts ready, then learn how to cancel a false alert if one starts.

If you know you’re heading into a big crowd, consider temporarily switching off crash or collision detection. Your watch should be a safety net, not the reason you accidentally phone the emergency services during a guitar solo.

Learn to enable a battery-saving festival mode

A smartwatch is only useful if it still has charge when you need it, so give yourself a battery setup before the day gets going. Turn on Low Power Mode or Battery Saver earlier than you think you need to, especially if you’re using GPS and mobile data.

The display is usually the easiest win. Always-On Display looks great, but it’s not essential when you’re trying to stretch a watch through a long festival day. Auto-brightness can help outdoors, while Theater Mode, Sleep Mode, or a low manual brightness setting can stop the screen lighting up constantly at night.

For multi-day festivals, pack the smallest charger or power bank that works with your watch, then make charging part of the routine rather than a panic job.

A quick top-up while you shower can keep the useful stuff running without turning your watch into another thing to worry about.

Samsung has officially confirmed that the Galaxy Ring 2 is in development. Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung’s Digital Health Team, recently told Forbes that the company is “working on the next generation” of its smart ring.

Beyond confirming that a successor ring is on the way, Pak offered only a few hints about what we might expect. But the smart ring market looks different than it did when the original Galaxy Ring launched in 2024.

Competition is growing rapidly, with new smart rings appearing almost every month. While many still struggle to match the devices in our best smart rings guide, the bar has been raised considerably. The original Samsung Galaxy Ring remains our top overall pick, while the newly launched Oura Ring 5 is one of its strongest rivals.

I’ve tested many of the latest smart rings, and if Samsung wants its next ring to remain at the top, these are the upgrades I’d most like to see.

1. Resist the temptation to add a subscription

Even though interest in smart rings has surged over the past few years, I think we can still say they’re a relatively niche category. And I think one of the biggest barriers to entry is the ongoing subscription fee some brands charge.

For example, Oura requires a monthly membership of $5.99/£5.99 per month to unlock its full experience, and subscriptions — optional or otherwise — are on the up with fitness apps. Meanwhile, rivals like Ringconn have built some of their appeal around offering a similar health tracking experience without that additional fee.

Samsung certainly got this right with the original Galaxy Ring. And there are currently no signs a subscription is coming. But maintaining that approach feels increasingly important. We’ve already seen some companies introduce subscription-free products only to later place some features behind a paywall.

If Samsung wants to keep the Galaxy Ring truly competitive, it must make core health insights available without a monthly fee.

2. A slimmer and lighter design

Designing a smart ring has always been a challenge. Manufacturers need to pack in sensors, batteries and processing power all while making the ring feel as comfortable and jewellery-like as possible.

That’s one reason the new Oura Ring 5 has generated so much attention. It’s managed to become smaller and lighter while still adding some new capabilities.

Now, the Galaxy Ring 2 doesn’t necessarily need to be the smallest ring on the market. But even a slight reduction in size and weight would demonstrate that Samsung understands just how important comfort is when you’re asking people to wear something 24 hours a day.

3. Better battery life

Battery life is such an important part of the smart ring experience. The more I take off a ring, the less likely wearing it everyday will become a habit. And the more likely I become to forget about it. It also makes monitoring for trends and average vitals more tricky and less accurate.

As I write this, I’m testing the RingConn Gen 3, which promises significantly longer battery life than many of its rivals at 12 days on average. Other manufacturers are also exploring new battery technologies and the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 is rumored to be getting a powerful solid-state battery upgrade

The original Galaxy Ring already offers a good battery life, but expectations are rising fast. And again, Samsung doesn’t necessary need to beat every rival. But if competing rings continue pushing to longer runtimes, the Ring 2 will need to remain competitive.

4. iOS support

I think we can safely say this one feels less like something I’d like to see in the next generation of Samsung Galaxy Ring and more like something that must be a necessity.

The Samsung Galaxy Ring was only for Android users. Now, reports already suggest Samsung is working towards iPhone compatibility. If that’s true it could dramatically increase the Galaxy Ring’s appeal.

Because at the moment, limiting the ring to Samsung’s ecosystem excludes loads of potential buyers. Sure, Samsung users will continue to benefit from deeper integrated and additional features. But core functionality across both Android and iOS feels like a necessity.

However, we know Apple's already filed a patent for ring technology — see the above diagram — so even if it never comes to fruition, it's certainly a form factor Apple is mulling over.

5. Add a compelling new health feature

Most smart rings track the same core metrics, like sleep, heart rate, activity, stress and recovery. That means Samsung may need to offer something genuinely distinctive to stand out.

I say that because I’ve been testing the RingConn Gen 3 over the past few weeks, which adds features like vascular health insights and sleep apnea monitoring. Now, whether those features prove valuable to most users over the long term remains to be seen. But, they give the ring a clear point of differentiation.

I don’t think Samsung needs to copy those exact features. But offering something beyond the standard collection of health metrics could help the Galaxy Ring 2 feel like a meaningful upgrade over the original and a solid choice in a sea of similar offerings.

6. AI that isn’t annoying

I’m generally sceptical about AI chatbots in wearables because most implementations I’ve tested simply repeat the same information that’s visible in the app or provide really generic recommendations.

That said, some of Pak’s comments to Forbes do suggest Samsung is thinking beyond a basic execution of AI. Explaining that people have different motivational styles, so the approach needs to be tailored accordingly: “Over the next two to three years, the AI will be able to say, based on this person's characteristics, I'm going to nudge them this way, and 70 or 80 per cent of the time I can predict that person is going to exercise more or sleep more.”

I’m still cautious, especially as Samsung has already added some AI features to Samsung Health. But many wearable brands underestimate how much language matters when it comes to behavior change. The best implementation isn’t just telling users to sleep more, it might identify useful patterns, changes or spot warning signs and deliver advice in a way that’s genuinely personalized.

If Samsung can achieve that, AI could become one of the Galaxy Ring 2’s most compelling features rather than another box-ticking exercise.

There’s a good chance we’ll learn more at Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event, which is scheduled to take place in London on July 22, 2026.

• Strava's got a new feature: the Events tab
• The Events tab can help users find races using its database of events imported from Runna
• It can also help find group activities and communities

Strava's leaning back into the 'social network' aspect of its app by taking more steps to help its massive community of athletes get connected. The app has launched a new Events tab, available as a sub-tab within Groups, designed to surface local group activities — and make use of the massive library of running events posted regularly on its sibling app Runna.

In a statement, Strava says its new Events tab 'surfaces upcoming events — group runs, rides, and races — tailored to an athlete’s activity and location, making it easier to find ways to move and connect with others'.

The key aspect there is using the athlete's activity and location. While you don't have to be a Londoner to enter the London Marathon, there might be races, group rides, and other activities in your local area you didn't know about. Using your location and activity data, Strava could surface relevant activities and groups you may be interested in.

As many of these events will be drawn from the Runna app's library of races — Runna is now, of course, owned by Strava — we expect many of the early recommendations to be focused on runners. But Strava specifically mentions you can filter events by sport, and highlights Group Rides as an example. So if you prefer cycling to running, you won't be left out of the loop.

The available filters include distance, date, location, sport, elevation, and temperature, so you can do a fair bit of tinkering to find a local event suited to your needs.

Thankfully, the Events tab is available for both Free and Premium users. If you're an event leader looking to get your event in front of more people, Strava has also updated its Club Organizer Hub, branding it 'a rebuilt home for club leaders'. You can access it at strava.com/club-organisers.

Strava's been rolling out new features at an increased pace lately, including, most recently, revamping its hiking offerings to match rivals such as Komoot and AllTrails.

When I was searching for a massage gun, I found there were a lot of off-brand and poorly made options littering the digital shelves. But after a bit of research and input from our fitness experts at TechRadar, I settled on this Renpho model — and I have zero regrets.

So, if you're looking for a straightforward and affordable massage gun with all the essential accessories, I can comfortably recommend the Renpho Reach Massage Gun on Amazon for £29.99 (was £39.99).

What I like most is that, quite simply, it does the job. There are five speed options and several attachments to target specific areas or muscles, some of which are better for more general use, or others that are really good to focus on, say, my arms, after a bouldering session. If you've been there, you know the ache is real.

Meanwhile, if you want to target hard-to-reach areas like your shoulders and back, there's also an arm attachment that extends the grip, which makes it so much easier to hit those spots without asking for help or needing to contort yourself at weird angles.

Battery life and performance are solid, too, with a clear LED indicator showing you how much charge is left so you know when to plug it in, so it's ready to go for next time. There's also an automatic timer which switches off the massage gun after a period of continuous use for safety and to preserve the motor.

At just £30, I really have no complaints. And while there might be more advanced options out there with loads more attachments and clever features, for fairly irregular use just to provide a bit of muscle relief now and then, it's extremely hard to beat.

Buy the Renpho Massage Gun at Amazon

Garmin Forerunner 170: One minute review

The Garmin Forerunner 170 and 170 Music sit nicely between the cheaper Garmin Forerunner 70 and more expensive 570 and 970 duo, the latter of which features on our best Garmin watches guide. As such, both Music and non-Music versions are a bit of a halfway house; not quite cheap enough to be picked up on a whim by budget-conscious consumers, nor expensive enough to be stuffed with top-quality premium features.

However, it is stuffed with plenty of robust fitness features that will suit any active exerciser, especially runners. Sebastian Sawe, who who broke the world record by running a marathon under two hours in London, was toting a Garmin Forerunner 55 — Garmin’s cheapest, most stripped-back running watch.

What you’re paying for here is the Garmin Forerunner 70 — an excellent smartwatch on the cheaper end, and the successor to the popular Garmin Forerunner 55 — with additional smartwatch features attached. These include Garmin Pay, a virtual wallet which lets you pay with cards held on-watch, and the Smart Notifications feature, which allows you to view and manage alerts from a paired smartphone. The Forerunner 170 Music adds an extra 4GB of music storage.

If you’re largely uninterested in these features and you just want an excellent training tool, I’d get the Garmin Forerunner 70 instead, as it’s the best value of the three newcomers overall. But the Garmin Forerunner 170 Music does allow you to hit that Saturday morning parkrun, pay for your coffee, and jog home with headphones in — all without using your phone at all. It’s incredibly convenient, but not a package everyone will need or want.

Still, during my testing I found the watch good to use, comfortable to sleep in, and accurate against testing units like my Polar H10 heart rate monitor. Our writer Michael Sawh found the same with the Garmin Forerunner 70. You can read my full thoughts on the 170 Music below, but whichever watch you choose, you’ll be in good hands.

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Specifications

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Price and availability

• Garmin Forerunner 170: $299 / £259.99 / AU$479
• Garmin Forerunner 170 Music: $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549
• Garmin Forerunner 70: $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$399

The Garmin Forerunner 170 without music storage costs $299 / £259.99 / AU$479.

The Garmin Forerunner 170 Music, the upgrade with 4GB internal memory for music storage, costs $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549. The Forerunner 70, which doesn’t have the 170’s smartwatch features such as Garmin Pay and Smart Notifications, is cheaper at $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$399.

We’re zeroing in on the Garmin Forerunner 170 today, and I think the watch is generally good value for money compared to some of the seriously expensive premium Garmins in the lineup, but perhaps not compared to the 70, which is $100 / £80 / AU$150 cheaper for a very similar watch. If you don’t want Garmin Pay or notifications, you’re better off saving your cash and getting the 70.

None of the Garmins have a particularly wide feature set compared to watches from Apple and Samsung at a similar price point, but their batteries last far longer — up to 10 days for the 170 — and their workout credentials are fantastic. This ensures you can get multiple battery-sucking GPS workouts in each week while still retaining enough smartwatch functionality to matter, all without needing a charge for ages. Each Garmin watch is durable too.

I’d say it’s generally a good value prospect, even if it does edge into the expensive end with the 170 Music.

• Score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Design

• Iterates on existing Forerunner design
• Surprisingly dull AMOLED screen
• Elevate V4 heart rate sensor

The Garmin Forerunner 170 looks very much like every other Forerunner, but if this is your first Garmin that won’t mean much. It’s got a five-button configuration — up, down, light, start, stop or select, and back (or lap). You can use these, a touchscreen, or a combination of the two to navigate the watch, which is ideal if you’re wearing gloves.

It comes in a single size, with a 42.6mm screen, and its packing an AMOLED display rather than the duller digital-watch-style memory-in-pixel screen of older watches, but it’s not particularly bright even at full power. It comes with a silicon two-tone strap, and on the back it has one of Garmin’s older heart rate sensors, the Elevate V4. More expensive watches get the more accurate V5, but the V4 has been included here presumably to keep the cost down.

It’s very light, with a listed weight of 41g, and feels like less than that in the hand. A light watch is great for running and collecting wellness info as it’s easy to wear, and this checks the boxes.

Those familiar with Garmin products will be happy to know no liberties have been taken with the design of Garmin’s established software, either on-watch or in the Garmin Connect app. I think it’s the perfect mix of stripped-down and information-heavy, although there are a lot of menus to lose yourself in. The buttons make it fairly intuitive to navigate around for old hands. It’s a tried and tested design, that doesn’t break the mold in any significant way.

• Design score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Features

• Advanced running dynamics
• Limited smart notifications functionality
• 170 Music offers mp3 and streaming downloads

Plenty of running features abound here. As the name suggests, Garmin’s included its advanced running dynamics tools such as running power (a measure of your total running effort using motion data as well as heart rate), along with advanced statistics such as stride and cadence data after your run. During workouts, you can set up routes in Garmin Connect with virtual pacers to keep you on time.

You also get the usual health stuff, such as heart rate and sleep score, 80 workout modes (although not all have dedicated metrics or GPS enabled) and reports in the morning and evening that provide information about your training along with the weather and a motivational quote. The Garmin Forerunner 170 gets Smart Notifications, which allow you to answer some tests with simple replies and the Garmin Pay functionality which acts as a virtual wallet like Apple Pay.

The 170 Music’s 4GB of storage allows you to upload tunes directly onto the watch, including by saving playlists from the likes of Spotify. Even without the dedicated Music model, you can listen on apps like Spotify, Deezer, YouTube Music and so on through your phone, and control music on the watch there. The Garmin Connect IQ store has dedicated widgets for these services, along with thousands of other apps from a mixture of big-name brands and enthusiastic amateurs.

Otherwise, what’s missing? I wasn’t expecting full-color maps at this price, just the breadcrumb navigation and route direction common on most Garmin watches without maps, so I don’t feel like the feature is missing, as such.

However, to justify the price increase from the 70 to the 170 Music, I think it needs more hardware features. A microphone like the Garmin Forerunner 570, and the ability to take calls on watch and use Garmin’s simple voice assistant, would better separate it. As is, most people who want dedicated smartwatch features will just get one of the best Apple Watches or best Samsung watches instead.

• Features score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Performance

• Accurate against a heart rate monitor
• GPS works well against an Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Comfortable and easy to wear day-to-day

I checked the Garmin’s heart rate accuracy against an electrical chest-mounted Polar H10 heart rate monitor — the gold standard of heart rate accuracy — during a 25-minute treadmill test, and was very pleased to report that despite the older sensor, both average and maximum heart rate were within 1-4bpm of the heart rate monitor; a very acceptable margin for error and not a statistically significant one.

GPS was accurate compared to my Apple Watch Ultra 3, and battery life was representative of its claims, with total drain taking just over a week with multiple GPS workouts completed. I feel as though the ‘up to 10 days’ listed battery life is reflective of reality.

Being lighter and smaller than many Garmins I’ve tested, it’s comfortable to wear every day and fine to sleep in.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Scorecard

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I wore the Garmin Forerunner 170 Music for over a week, draining the battery down and using as many of its features as possible. I ran and used it for strength and yoga sessions, tested its smart features, and pitted it against multiple competitor devices, including a chest strap heart rate monitor.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: One minute review

Amazfit has been a company I’ve been keeping an eye on since their Bip 3 ‘budget’ smartwatch blew through all my expectations (and then some), followed by a slew of other watches across a range of price points, aiming to undercut the likes of Garmin — but most notably the $99 / £99 Amazfit Active 2, which earned five stars in our review. So when they put the word “Premium” on a product, it piques my curiosity.

Not only does the Amazfit Active 3 Premium have a bunch of excellent features that rival some of the biggest in the business, like excellent sleep and fitness tracking, but it’s also a fantastic-looking smartwatch.

The ‘Premium’ moniker signifies the addition of the super-tough sapphire glass coating, and the inclusion of the NFC payment feature. This was the distinction that the Amazfit Active 2 Premium used to separate itself from the base Active 2: however, there is no base Active 3, so even though this watch uses the ‘Premium’ model distinction, it’s the only watch in its range.

Despite this, it’s not an expensive buy. Sure, it’s pricier than the older Active 2, but it’s still undercutting the cheapest Apple and Garmin watches while delivering performance that belies its price. Another excellent example of a fitness tracker from Amazfit, a company which has by now shown itself to be a serious contender in the fitness tech space.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Specifications

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Price and availability

• Starts at $169 / £169 / AU$239
• Not Amazfit’s cheapest, but still cheaper than many rivals
• Available in three color options

It’s hard not to look at the Amazfit Active 3 Premium and not feel as though there’s a catch somewhere when it comes to its price, but it really is a sub-$170 / £170 / AU$250 fitness watch with the kinds of features and accuracy you’d have spent double that for not long ago. Our review unit is the Atlas Blue model, but it’s also available in Apex Silver and Aero White.

• Value score: 5/5

Amazfit Active 3 Premium review: Design

• Heavier than some alternatives
• AMOLED display

Regardless of your color choice, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a looker. It has a circular body with a metallic finish, with the underside color-matched to the bands for Atlas Blue and Aero White (Apex Silver would be my pick, but the whole body is silver with a black strap).

The strap itself is the standard polymer-style you’ll have felt on just about any other smartwatch, but the fact that the Amazfit Active 3 Premium uses a pin system like a more traditional watch adds a touch of class (and some minor fiddliness). It’s got a 1.32-inch display, which isn’t large —but it’s the same size as the Amazfit Active 2. I didn’t feel like I was losing much in terms of screen space compared to some of Amazfit’s larger watches, but I was surprised to find it’s slightly heavier than the Coros Nomad I tested recently.

With that said, I’m not sure I’d consider it rugged. I wasn’t prepared to hurl my review unit to the ground to test its durability, despite its sapphire glass and scratch-resistant coating. It might not be the watch you’ll want to take on an ultramarathon, but it’ll stand up to runs, rides and gym workouts with ease.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Features

• Full-color maps
• HybridCharge is great
• 170 sports modes

Ok, so the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a looker, but does it have the smarts to back it up? Despite the relatively low price, the answer is a resounding yes. You’ll need to use the Zepp app, and while I’ve tested it before and found it to be a little cumbersome, I am pleased to report that (at least in the time I’ve been away), it’s much slicker these days.

You can use it as a dashboard, and there are badges to collect that include step goals, monthly targets, and much more.

Fitbit Premium’s Daily Readiness Score has led the charge to distill a bunch of complex metrics into an easy-to-read number that calculates how hard you can push your workout on any given day, and Amazfit’s version is called “HybridCharge”.

It takes into account sleep, heart rate, activity, and recovery, as well as subjective inputs like stress, health, and more, to help you make a judgment on whether today is a workout day or a rest day, and it does so pretty well.

One day during testing, I’d struggled to sleep and had an early start at work, and the app and watch understood that maybe I needed to take it easy and recover that day. It’s something you used to need a premium subscription for with other manufacturers, but I’m glad to see it’s included in the price of the product here.

PAI is also back, so those looking for a quick look at a glance to see how their natural fitness is holding up can check it out by testing their heart rate zones. The watch supports basic notification features, and of course offers that NFC payment digital wallet feature for convenience. A barnstorming inclusion is full-color maps, offering turn-by-turn navigation. This is a premium feature crammed into a value package, offering turn-by-turn navigation during runs, rides and walks.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Performance

• AMOLED display
• 12 days of battery life
• Excellent accuracy

Performance is uniformly excellent across the board with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium. Fitness tracking offers a deep suite of metrics, including running ones like stride length, ground contact, and just about anything else you could possibly ask for as a runner. And, if you’re just learning what all of these measurements are, fear not: Everything is handily explained within the Zepp app.

When you’re done, the app also does a great job at showcasing your fatigue level, which then feeds into the aforementioned HybridCharge metrics.

I very rarely check my sleep outside of Apple’s Sleep Score number, but the Amazfit Active 3 Premium does make me want to dig deeper — and offers plenty of data to do so. I was surprised at how often I was getting up in the night without realising it, and the Aura section of the Zepp app even includes relaxing music to help you settle back down.

Battery-wise, Amazfit claims you can get 12 days from a single charge. In my experience, it’s been closer to 10 days, but it’s still very respectable given the amount of data it’s collecting day in, day out. The AMOLED display is plenty bright for just about everything, even direct sunlight.

The only minor gripe I have with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is that it doesn’t automatically offer to track a workout if you start walking/running/doing anything. As someone who still forgets to hit the button before setting out, it’s nice when devices like the Apple Watch give a nudge.

• Performance Score: 4.5 / 5

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Scorecard

Amazfit Active 3: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Amazfit Active 3 Premium

I’ve been testing the Amazfit Active 3 Premium while walking, hitting the gym for weights and cardio (primarily using the cross trainer), and wearing it for just about everything in life.

I tested the GPS across various areas of London and more remote areas like the countryside where I live, and wore it to bed, too. I tested many of its measurements by pairing it with my Apple Watch Series 11 on the opposite wrist.

The next major smartphone launch is just weeks away: Samsung has set the date for its next Unpacked event as July 22.

The invite doesn’t say exactly what to expect at the London-based showcase, but it does tease that we’ll see a foldable phone with a new form factor, thanks to the tagline “a new shape unfolds”, and that lines up neatly with leaks and rumors.

In this article, we've detailed exactly what that “new shape” might be below, along with details of the other phones, watches, and even glasses that we might see at Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

1. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is likely to be the most affordable of Samsung’s upcoming phones — and the only one with a clamshell design.

Leaks suggest that this device could use a new Exynos 2600 chipset — though the US might instead get a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Either way, that would be an upgrade on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, which uses the Exynos 2500 chipset in every region.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 could also have a smaller crease and a slimmer build, but might otherwise be similar to the Galaxy Z Flip 7, coming equipped with a familiar 6.9-inch foldable display, a 4.1-inch cover screen, a 4,300mAh battery, a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP selfie snapper.

2. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be that foldable with a “new shape” that Samsung hinted at, with reports suggesting that the company is planning a new book-style foldable that’s shorter and wider than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

This device is rumored to have a 7.6-inch 120Hz foldable screen, a 5.5-inch cover display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, two 50MP cameras on the back, and a 4,800mAh battery.

This could be one of the more interesting devices at the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, since it’s a form factor that Samsung hasn’t tried before. But aside from the size and shape of the screen, it will probably be quite a conventional foldable.

3. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Along with the wider model detailed above, Samsung will almost certainly launch a standard successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 at Unpacked, and this device is rumored to be called the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — though it’s unclear whether it will do anything to earn that name.

Leaks suggest the phone might have an 8-inch foldable screen, a 6.5-inch cover screen, a 50MP wide camera, a 50MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom.

As with the phone above, it’s likely to have a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and 12GB of RAM, but its battery could be of a higher capacity, with leaks pointing to a 5,000mAh cell.

So in all, the Ultra could have bigger screens, a higher capacity battery, and an extra camera over the wider model — along with an almost certainly higher price.

4. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2

We’re also expecting new smartwatches from Samsung, specifically the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and probably also the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. There’s an outside chance we’ll get a new Samsung Galaxy Watch Classic, but this is looking less likely.

The Galaxy Watch 9 will probably have a circular display again, with leaks pointing to an Exynos W1000 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and two screen sizes: a 1.34-inch (438 x 438) one and a 1.47-inch (480 x 480) one.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might instead have a Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset, and could be the first Samsung watch to support 5G.

It could also have a massive — by smartwatch standards — 800mAh battery, 64GB of storage, and a high 5,000-nit peak brightness for its screen. The display, however, might otherwise be similar to the original Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra’s, and it will reportedly come in the same 47mm size.

5. The Samsung Galaxy Glasses

Finally, we might also see the Samsung Galaxy Glasses at Unpacked. These would be Samsung’s first smart glasses, and they reportedly run Android XR with access to Gemini.

They might also have a 12MP camera, a 155mAh battery, directional speakers, and weigh just 50g. But they’re not expected to have a screen, so they could be direct rivals to products like the Ray-Ban Meta.

• Ultrahuman hits Ring Pro production problems
• Kickstarter backers are left wondering when they'll get their ring
• August 10 is the new expected date but it's far from guaranteed

Ultrahuman is no stranger to producing some of the best smart rings, but not even that could protect them from the outpouring of disappointment and frustration that came its way after informing Ring Pro Kickstarter backers that shipments were being delayed yet again.

Customers took to Reddit to share their annoyance after u/enzolecorbeau started a thread by sharing a screenshot of the official Ultrahuman message. In it, Ultrahuman states that shipments were now "expected to begin from August 10 onwards".

Kickstarter backers were expecting to receive their orders in June, and this latest delay isn't the first. A single delay is one thing, but now it has happened several times, backers are starting to get vocal about the continued delays to the fitness tracker.

One Reddit user was annoyed that the unit had been sent to "influencers" and not to "people who paid money". Others report that they've requested cancelations but without success.

It's not all negative, though, with one Reddit user hoping the delay is down to the battery "because that would mean they may actually be looking to improve it."

Ultrahuman doesn't mention the battery but instead attributes the delays to issues experienced during the scaling of production. Ultrahuman says they are "taking extra care to ensure every Ring PRO meets the quality and experience standards we've set for it."

Their commitment to quality is no bad thing. They go on: "Each ring is individually crafted with a high level of precision and care – from the finishing to the final quality checks – and this process is taking slightly longer than originally anticipated."

Ultrahuman has always delivered before

Ultrahuman ran Kickstarter campaigns for both their Ring and Ring Air devices and faithfully fulfilled orders of both.

In reality, crowdfunded projects are often subject to delays. For Ultrahuman, the challenge of manufacturing a titanium unibody with a cutaway safety feature en masse is no doubt contributing to the delays — the last thing Ultrahuman will want is to ship a ring with issues, especially as smart ring problems can prove dangerous.

Customers are more likely to forgive the brand for a delayed shipment than they are for receiving a device with issues. A botched product release could damage customer trust and mean the end of the wearables brand.

None of this will appease the community of people who were expecting to receive their ring back in June and are still left waiting. Only time will tell when Ultrahuman will start fulfilling these orders.

After publishing the original article, Ultrahuman CEO, Mohit Kumar, replied with the following statement:

"The Ultrahuman Ring PRO pushes boundaries with a 15-day battery life and a titanium unibody with ProRelease, which lets the ring be cut apart safely if a finger ever swells. As with anything novel, scaling it has proven harder than anticipated. Production is running, but not yet fast enough; however, the path to full capacity is clear for 10 August.”

• Oura is bringing key features from its Ring 5 wearable to older models
• The features include Health Radar, live activity tracking, and more
• They’re now available on the Oura Ring 4 and Ring 3

Oura has just released its Ring 5 wearable, and we were pretty impressed with what was on show when we reviewed it. But if you haven’t been tempted to upgrade and are instead rocking an Oura Ring 4 or Ring 3, you might wonder if you’ll miss out on the new features packed into the latest model.

Well, the good news is that plenty of the new features have just been rolled out to those older products. Specifically, Oura is bringing Health Radar, live activity tracking, numerous Oura Labs tools, lost device locating, and a lot more.

Live activity tracking is a notable addition, as it adds real-time workout metrics to the Oura app, allowing you to monitor your progress as you’re keeping fit and active. It turns the Oura Ring into much more of a workout partner than before.

Health Radar, too, is a sizable update. With it on board, your Oura Ring can assess your long-term health signals in the background, including changes to your heart and breathing rates, to spot any emerging patterns in your health and wellbeing.

You’ll be able to find the full list of updates in Oura’s blog post. If you’ve been mulling over whether to upgrade, it could prove to be an insightful read.

A welcome change

Changes like this are very welcome, especially since the Oura Ring 4 is less than two years old at this point. It’s never nice to see relatively recent tech missing out on key software features that could feasibly be backported to it, so the fact that this has happened will be great news for owners of the Oura Ring 4 and Oura Ring 3.

The update seems to have gone down well with customers, too. Posting on Reddit, user beanizzle noted that their Oura Ring can now recognize long-haul travel without any status needing to be manually entered. Speaking of the change, the user said: “This is definitely a great new feature as I sometimes struggle to remember to give my body more grace after traveling through time zones.”

They weren’t alone. Further down the thread, other commenters remarked how their readiness scores went haywire after taking red-eye flights, while another Redditor declared that the feature is “long overdue but so glad to have it!”

If these are the sorts of features you’re looking for in a wearable, Oura’s latest update means you might not need to upgrade to an Oura Ring 5 if you already have a Ring 4 or Ring 3. And anything that can eke extra life out of your existing wearables is good with us.

I’ve been writing about fitness tech for years, and we’re finally at a point where more affordable fitness trackers are now every bit as capable as models that would have cost hundreds of dollars or pounds, little more just a few years ago. That’s not to say premium options don’t have their place too, but many of the standouts this year have certainly been on the cheaper end.

Whether it’s screenless devices showing less can be more, the latest iteration of the popular Oura Ring, or a pair of Amazfit options that can cut it with much more expensive models, here are the best fitness trackers in 2026 so far, in no particular order.

1. Google Fitbit Air

• Release date: May 26
• Rating: 4/5

Whoop bands are growing in popularity for their distraction-free, sensor-packed, highly comfortable nature, and Google didn’t want to be outdone.

The tech giant’s answer to Whoop’s popularity, the Google Fitbit Air’s companion app boasts an effective but controversial AI-powered premium tier for additional insights, courtesy of Google’s new AI Health Coach. However, even on the free tier, this comfortable tracker weighing just 12 grams and reasonably priced at $99.99 / £84.99 / AU$199 is well worth a look.

Its real strength is heart rate metrics, which are consistently impressive for a cheap device, and it includes FDA-certified background AFib detection for additional peace of mind.

Our main gripe (outside of the two-tier app offering) is that it lacks GPS, and therefore run data feels less accurate than we’d have liked – even at this price.

Watch our YouTube review of the Google Fitbit Air here:

2. Oura Ring 5

• Release date: June 4
• Rating: 4/5

From the low-priced end of the spectrum to the expensive, the Oura Ring 5 is the latest offering from the company that, if they’re not the only game in town, more or less popularised the smart ring form factor.

Starting at $399 / £399 / AU$649, it’s hardly cheap, but it does a great job of offering a less intrusive way of tracking your wellness and fitness. In fact, despite its size, the fact that it could easily be mistaken for a piece of jewellery, and how comfortable it is, it’s remarkably accurate, too.

With a week of tracking between charges (including sleep), it offers more color options and better connectivity (Bluetooth 6.0 vs 5.4) at the same price as the Samsung Galaxy Ring. It’s also somehow 40% smaller than the last generation of Oura Ring, while still matching up with a dedicated chest strap for heart tracking.

Watch our YouTube review of the Oura Ring 5 here:

3. Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro:

• Release date: April 16
• Rating: 4/5

When a company like Amazfit (one of the best budget tracker manufacturers) takes aim at the premium market, it’s wise to take notice. The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro offers a Garmin-like experience with a bunch of runner-focused tools like training plans and detailed metrics, all with marathon-tackling 31 hours of dual-band GPS tracking.

Using it day-to-day can get you 20 days of battery life, and while it is a fairly bulky watch on the wrist, it’s a much cheaper rival to Garmin offerings.

GPS tracking is solid, but offline maps could use some work. Still, if you’re a runner, this is one of the models to beat this year.

4. Amazfit Active 3 Premium

• Release date: February 26
• Rating: 5/5

Another Amazfit, sure, but if the Cheetah 2 Pro is too much for you, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is well worth a look. Despite the name, it’s priced very reasonably at $169 / £169 / around AU$325), while still offering an AMOLED display, built-in GPS, and a fairly weighty (but comfortable) 54.6g chassis.

Battery life can run you for up to 12 days according to Amazfit (but I hit around 11 in testing), and the Zepp app has improved massively in recent years so it’s a very solid running companion with some bona fide coaching options.

You’ll likely want something a little more durable if you’re going off-trail, but what it lacks in ruggedness, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium makes up for by being a great-looking budget option.

5. Garmin Forerunner 70

• Release date: May 15
• Rating: 4/5

Reviewer Mike Sawh wasn’t kidding — the Garmin Forerunner 70 really might be better value than its more premium cousin, the Garmin Forerunner 170.

High praise indeed, but even without Garmin’s latest, more expensive sensors, it packs accurate metrics alongside an easy-to-read AMOLED display and physical buttons that make it easy to use, excellent sports tracking, and impressive training insights.

It does lose the affordability of the Garmin Forerunner 55, and doesn’t have smartwatch features like NFC payments, but for a runner it’s a great option that’s one of the year’s strongest.

I'm not sure what tipped me off first, but as someone who writes about wearable technology for a living, I can definitely see the signs. Wearables are, frankly, uncool, and manufacturers have to work to make them cool again by earning back their customers' trust and embracing the sense of fun we used to have.

Maybe it was the celebrities that clued me in — millennials, Gen Z and Gen X alike — when they were sparking trends for wired headphones and digital Casio watches, a conscious symbol of Big Tech rejection that's carried over from the resurgence of vinyl and cassettes. I'm now seeing plenty of people around my local town opting for wired headphones over earbuds and AirPods. While there are still plenty of smartwatches on wrists every day, I'm noticing stylish people are returning to rotary, analog, and digital.

Perhaps it was the backlash to the Diary of a CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett, when a clip resurfaced in May, that he could tell how a couple of glasses of wine "ruined three days of his life" by relying on the information collected by his Whoop band. While giving up alcohol is universally considered an admirable thing to do, he was also resoundingly mocked online for his slavish adherence to hustle culture, sparking further questions and a wider conversation about whether we're over-optimizing with biohacking technology.

Discourse online is shifting away from gamifying health and fitness and prioritizing higher physical statistics, and returning to the now-nostalgic idea of living in the moment — of dancing the night away at a wedding without worrying about the impact on your sleep score.

Maybe it was the one-two punch to Meta recently. First came the announcements that some features of its AI glasses will be locked behind a soft paywall, joining Whoop, Garmin, Oura, and almost every other wearable introducing subscription-based features over owning and accessing your data. While I understand data centers need to cover running costs in perpetuity, subscriptions aren't cool. Not owning your own data isn't cool, which is again partly why physical media is enjoying a welcome resurgence — and why companies ranging from Spotify to Sony are determined to stamp it out. And Meta, after all its privacy controversies, definitely isn't cool.

These problems join the growing backlash to Meta's AI-powered specs being used to covertly film people — especially women — in public and private spaces alike, with the recording notification LED easily covered, drilled out or disabled. Being considered a creep is definitely not cool, even though plenty of people wear Meta glasses for a whole vista of non-creepy reasons.

The Meta Glasses controversies above coincided with the Kylie Jenner-designed debut of the Meta Starfire model, a collaboration with EssilorLuxottica attempting to make the Metas cool by association. She's even the voice of the onboard AI.

Kylie Jenner was, of course, declared the youngest-ever 'self-made' billionaire in 2019, who got there by standing on the shoulders of a family of multi-millionaires and being heir to another fortune. While Jenner is undoubtedly an ultra-famous influencer, this collaboration between two billionaires — Jenner and Zuckerberg — isn't going to be the move that makes the smart glasses format finally cool.

So what is 'cool'?

Coolness and counterculture have always run concurrent to each other. The Conquest of Cool, a book by cultural critic Thomas Frank about how youth culture in the 1960s was co-opted by capitalism to sell more stuff, argues that "hip and square are now permanently locked together", each dependent on the other for meaning, culture, and profit. This revolution, Frank argues, turned coolness into a product you can buy to separate yourself from the herd and express individuality. Now, cool is defined by products that are new and shiny, something everyone desires, but not everyone has.

Of course, once enough people have it, the counterculture that made it cool becomes the mainstream culture, and a different counterculture evolves in its place. 15 years ago, the original Fitbit, a digital pedometer, was a novel idea to help tech geeks get active, using the newfound power of Bluetooth and the internet. By contrast, the Google Fitbit Air is now a screenless Whoop clone made by data-hungry Google, in which all community features have been axed and the device is beholden to an AI chatbot requiring a monthly subscription. It's eminently more useful, but definitely not cool.

I believe this is why we're starting to reject the culture of endless subscriptions, the rise of AI, and the expectation to contribute to surveillance capitalism, and are expressing a nostalgic wish to return to a more analog era. Wearable tech, while very useful for athletes and those who need to monitor their health, isn't cool anymore because of its widespread adoption, its associations with dreary, dull, optimization-led behaviors, and its implied contribution of your data to ultra-capitalist Big Tech, which dominates every facet of our lives.

The prospect of Apple putting cameras in AirPods, or Samsung adding a premium subscription element to its watches, is now profoundly uncool. Digital watches and wired headphones show that the wearer is choosing not to participate in surveillance capitalism (up to a point — we've all got smartphones) and being a rebel has always been cool.

How can wearables become cool again?

Wearables will always have a place in health, wellness, and athletic situations, and people are now more conscious of their health and wellness than ever. The best smartwatches and their ilk aren't going away any time soon: they're useful devices for monitoring all sorts of athletic and recovery metrics. I'll still be seeing smart devices in the gym, on the start line, and on the wrists of everyday people for a long time yet. But they'll no longer be considered neat, fun gadgets.

My main thesis on 'how to make wearables cool again' is twofold. One is to dial back on the monetization of health, earning user trust by prioritizing privacy and user ownership, and reducing the need for subscription models where possible. We should own a product once we buy it.

The other is to make devices fun and joyful to wear, rather than functional. Forget Kylie Jenner pouting into the camera lens while wearing spyware specs: instead, let's embrace the dorkiness of strapping an advanced calculator watch to your wrist and get back to hacking our way to health.

My Garmin watch is incredibly useful. It helps me track my runs, gym sessions, and recovery. However, the most fun I had with it in years was when I downloaded the Walk With Frodo app and got to see the milestones from my favorite book linked to my step count. Walk With Frodo was created by RoboleoApps, which appears to be a single-person team that released it for free on the ConnectIQ store. While it's incredibly nerdy, when showing a couple of my (equally nerdy) friends, they both squealed, 'That's really cool!' To quote Marie Kondo, it sparked joy.

The upcoming Pebble Core 2 and Time 2 smartwatches share similarities with these DIY apps — Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky has made the watch and app's operating systems completely open-source, allowing users to create widgets themselves using the source code and share them freely online. They're sporting digital watch-style MIP screens, so they look delightfully retro, and you can tell where any information they collect is going by virtue of the source code being freely available. It's antithetical to Big Tech's approach by design, but still fundamentally a useful smartwatch.

The internet used to be a place of infinite possibilities, where people shared ideas, code, widgets, and worked together to create cool stuff. If 'cool' is about both having what others don't and bucking trends, making fun, lower-tech, consumer-friendly wearables that lean into this customizable approach might be the way to harness this countercultural movement.

Existing app stores from Apple and Google are great places to start looking beyond the big brands for widgets and apps made by enthusiasts, but that DIY ethos should extend to hardware too.

Wearable tech needs to change if it wants to avoid being seen as square, rather than hip. Boutique watch straps and designer smart glasses won't make tech cool if the principles the devices are rooted in don't prioritize the user, rather than the producer. Let's get back to the consumer-first, joy-first, DIY approach of early wearables, turn our backs on anti-consumer practices, and embrace the build-it-yourself geek chic of it all.

Want to get some rewards for getting active? NHS England has partnered with former Olympic medallist Sir Brendan Foster to create the 'Movement 26.2' scheme, designed to incentivize people to get active and log walks digitally to achieve rewards.

By logging 20-30 minutes of walking each day, the idea is that participants will have walked around 26.2 miles at the end of each month — equivalent to a marathon.

Details around the scheme are thin on the ground at the moment, but here's everything we know so far — including the technology you'll need.

What is the 'Movement 26.2' scheme?

Announced this morning (July 3) by Foster, who founded the Great North Run, the scheme is designed to incentivize and reward people to get active by encouraging people to complete daily walking targets, logged via their smart tech.

We know the UK Government is talking to high-street brands to help add 'discounts and shopping vouchers' into the mix, as well as digital rewards like streaks and badges, presumably delivered via an app.

You can probably expect longer streaks to earn freebies and special offers at high-street coffee chains and restaurants (although that might rather defeat the purpose) or vouchers to be spent at retailers.

When does the scheme start?

According to the BBC, the scheme is set to start 'early next year', although dates are to be confirmed at this stage.

What equipment do you need to track your steps?

The BBC article linked above states that 'users will be able to log their walks online, or through their phone or smartwatch.' Users will reportedly also be able to log walks online via browser.

While the best smartwatches and best fitness trackers are great for counting steps, you will be able to do it with the phone in your pocket too, as all modern smartphones have built-in pedometer functionalities. One advantage of smartwatches is that some models, such as the best Garmin watches, now have wheelchair modes that translate distances covered by wheelchairs from steps into an equivalent number of daily pushes. So in theory, wheelchair users can take part too.

Details of how exactly the logging is going to work are currently scarce, but 'will be revealed in the coming months'. I assume there will be a dedicated Movement 26.2 app, perhaps with the ability to piggyback onto apps like Apple Health, Samsung Health or Google Health to share your step count. But this is just conjecture at this stage.

Otherwise, you'll just need some comfortable clothes and shoes. If you plan to run instead of walk, you can check out our best running shoes guide.

• The Withings BodyFit scale finally lands in the UK and Europe after its US launch
• Its body composition scanning feature is said to be 'DEXA-level' implying pinpoint accuracy
• The scale is also allegedly ideal at GLP-1 drug users who are prioritising keeping muscle while losing fat

Health technology company Withings announced it will be launching the Withings BodyFit smart scale in the UK and Europe, priced at £229.95. Said to be a "segmental body composition scale", the smart scale will calculate your ratio of fat, muscle and bone using a technique called Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy (BIS).

Similar to Biometric Impedence Analysis used by more of the best smart scales, BIS tech sends a harmless electrical current through your body, which moves through fat, muscle and bone at different speeds. Using this information, the Withings BodyFit can calculate how much of each material is in your body. Clever.

The Withings BodyFit uses a retractable handle for more contact points, said to provide body composition measurement as accurate as a medical-grade DEXA scan, calculating fat mass with up to 99% accuracy and muscle mass with up to 98% accuracy. The scale provides fitness goals, a calorie tracker, cardiovascular insights, nutrition logging and lots more. It's essentially a fitness tracker you can stand on, taking you on a 'personalised body composition health journey' with tips accessible in the Withings app.

The GLP-1 connection

The interesting bit is Withings is recommending its scale to a group of people who are most concerned about maintaining muscle mass, and no, it's not bodybuilders. It's GLP-1 users, who are taking drugs like Wegovy (the UK's most common GLP-1, equivalent to the more famous Ozempic in the US) to help dramatically curb weight loss. Wegovy contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic — semaglutide — which stabilizes blood sugar and signals to the brain that you're full.

With muscle analysis based on six 'zones' in your body, Withings says 'For GLP-1 users, Withings BodyFit provides the precise, actionable insights to ensure weight loss targets fat while actively protecting crucial muscle mass'.

The idea is that while taking these drugs and dramatically losing weight, you can maintain functionality in your body by doing workouts that prioritise maintaining and gaining muscle mass, and check you're on track with the scale's advanced muscle-scanning tech.

Muscle and fat

Building and maintaining muscle is an important part of any healthy weight loss journey. While some people will welcome the aid of GLP-1 medications, especially those that are unable to burn calories with intense exercise due to joint or disability issues, others will want to do it the way it's always been done — sweat equity.

Muscle weighs more than fat, so a reliable smart scale like the BodyFit can help shift the goalposts of weight loss (and weight gain) success from a simple number on a scale to adjusting your body's percentages of fat and muscle.

While such detail can in some extreme cases create obsessive behaviour, for most people it's going to make getting healthier easier long-term, as it's more about having some functional muscle than it is about how much you weigh.

It's been all go in the world of headphones and earbuds in the first six months of 2026. In fact, we've put live no fewer than 70 audio-product reviews in the first half of the year.

In the ever-evolving wireless headphones space, the predicted uptick in open-ear designs (a 400% surge in releases of the design was cited late last year) and also wired options (the digital detox trend continues apace) means I had a lot to pick from for this little roundup.

Because of this, I've chosen to up my usual '5 best' to '8 best' in the headphone space, and give you a 50/50 split of the best headphones and earbuds we've tested so far this calendar year. You'll also see there's a wired option in this main list, as well as a couple of open-fit earbuds. We are nothing if not trend-setters here at TechRadar HQ.

I'll kick off with earbuds and move onto headphones — and within each grouping, I'll organize by release date, so starting with the January release of the ground-breaking Shokz OpenFit Pro, moving on to the February-issue Huawei Freebuds Pro 5 and so on.

Because even eight spots isn't enough to cover all bases, I'll also add a few honorable mentions at the end of this roundup. As I said, it's already been a bumper year for headphones — and we're still only half-way through it…

The 4 best earbuds of 2026, as tested by TechRadar

1. Shokz Openfit Pro

• Release date: January 6, 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

Finally, a set of open earbuds that sound like you're not wearing open earbuds! In the end, I didn't review the Shokz Openfit Pro because I had to have shoulder surgery — although I did do an early hands-on in which I said how impressed I was with these excellent buds. The writer who did review them is a very active man and, as you'll see if you click through, he put them through their paces for a whole range of sporting activities.

And this is honestly the Openfit Pro's greatest strength. Fans of sports-specific open earbuds and bone-conduction solutions will likely be well versed in Shokz products, but the OpenFit Pro are the first ever Shokz earbuds to feature a "synchronized dual-diaphragm driver and noise reduction". And by 'noise reduction', you absolutely must think 'active noise cancellation, but for an open-ear design'.

And I think (apart from perhaps last year's Honor Earbuds Open, which aren't especially geared for sports use) it's the first time ANC in an open design has been done really well.

Shokz would point you towards its unique new "aerospace-grade aluminum PMI dome cap" on the driver housing as one of the biggest design features. What it means is that there's a little 'nub' on the earpiece now, and it is a very good thing from a design perspective as well as sonically. It slips happily under the cimba concha (one of the inner folds of the outer ear — you'd get it if you tried them) to make them secure for a range of sports. And did I mention the sound? Oh, it's aces.

Read our in-depth Shokz Openfit Pro review

2. Sennheiser CX 80U

• Release date: Janauary 27, 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

Isn't it refreshing to see something priced at $39.95 / £34.99 (about AU$55) making a 'best of 2026' roundup? And from a trusted name such as Sennheiser too?

For that nominal fee — as my colleague Harry said in his thorough review — "these wired buds offer responsive, clean bass that grabs your attention without spoiling the party for sounds in the mid and treble ranges."

They're not winning any design originality awards, but the CX 80U do feel very pleasant in the ear, even for multi-hour listening sessions (some of us struggle with sleep sometimes OK?) and none of the team ever experienced discomfort or irritation. You also get small, medium and large ear tips included in the box, helping you to find your perfect fit.

There’s also an in-line controller, which is neither too close to the face nor too far down, and because it's attached to the right bud, you'll always know which side is which in a hurry.

All in all, a bargain proposition if you're embracing the wired trend this year — and if you are on that particular train, you should know it leads on past this to Audiophile Town. On this journey, I support you!

Read our in-depth Sennheiser CX 80U review

3. Huawei Freebuds Pro 5

• Release date: February 26, 2026
• Rating: 5 / 5

I see a lot of earbuds with AirPods Pro looks (although it has to be said, not as many as perhaps two years ago) all vying for a slice of the AirPods' healthy sales figures. So, for me to agree that a set of earbuds classes as a "serious AirPods Pro rival" is no small statement. And the Huawei Freebuds Pro 5 are those earbuds.

For everyday listening, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 are the best earbuds you can get without spending significantly more. They score highly across the board, and make a compelling case that there’s life beyond Apple's ice-white offering — even for those who have been reluctant to shop around.

This is, as the name suggests, the fifth generation of Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro line, which has been knocking on the door patiently since 2020, waiting for people to notice them — and to be fair, we’ve always rated them rather well. The FreeBuds Pro 4 landed in November 2024 and scored four stars, i.e., strong, but not quite there. What you need to know is that the Pro 5 are a wholly different beast; good enough to go head-to-head with the best at this level, including the September 2025-issue Apple AirPods Pro 3.

The FreeBuds Pro 5 look and feel more premium than their price suggests. They’re smaller and lighter than the Pro 4 at 5.5g per bud, which is noticeable. Build quality is excellent, the stems have a high-shine finish and the case has a satiny coating that feels upscale. And the sound and feature-set? It's incredibly good sound-per-pound value at this level. Highly recommended.

Read our in-depth Huawei Freebuds Pro 5 review

4. Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro

• Release date: May 21, 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

Well well well… another fifth-generation set of earbuds finally breaking through the congested roster of 2026 releases to make this Best in Show list!

Anker's Soundcore sub-brand doesn't necessarily have a reputation for releasing the absolute best earbuds; we gave the Soundcore Liberty 5 (yes, take care, because those aren't these — neither is this the 5 Pro Max, which you should swerve in favor of this product, the 5 Pro) a 3.5-star score, and that tended to be par for the course. Until now.

The May-issue Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro brought a change to the brand: it really feels like the firm is coming into its own as a sound specialist, and it knows what buyers really want.

The fit here is fantastic, and while you might think we've been swayed by the fancy touchscreen case, actually no. It's fine, but what is fantastic is the companion app you get with your purchase: it'll boggle your mind given how many tools it offers. And all of the perks are useful too — the ANC is very good, the listening test is handy, and the array of array of little extras is truly impressive for the money.

Read our in-depth Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro review

The 4 best headphones of 2026, as tested by TechRadar

1. Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000

• Release date: October 31, 2025 (but we got them to test in March '26)
• Rating: 5 / 5

You wanted the best, and these are the best. Nobody said 'best' meant 'affordable' though, so here we are. The eagle-eyed may note that these wired over-ears launched in late 2025, but owing to the very few review samples circulating (see my first point about this being an elite set of headphones), we only got our mitts on them in early 2026; and hang it all, it's my list and I need you to know about them.

If the price tag doesn't make you recoil, you've got a decent amp to drive them and you accept that they're an open-back design (so you wouldn't want to wear them on a packed commuter train or a long-haul flight in coach, say — although I'd wager owners of these cans will fly Business at least), the Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 headphones are an exceptional audio investment.

Think beautifully precise and engaging audio, plus exhilarating low-end performance — and they're very comfortable too. Okay, yes, for $3,499 / £3,000 / AU$4,999 you might expect comfort, but it isn't always a given, even at this level. Give them the right source material and amplification, and these exceptional headphones will reward you no end.

Read our in-depth Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 review

2. Nothing Headphone (a)

• Release date: March 13, 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

Now this is how you do a follow-up set of cans. Regular readers might remember the rather extravagantly priced Nothing Headphone (1) which, well, got 3.5 stars shortly after their release owing to a congested, slightly disorganized and compressed sound. These are not those.

This March-release set — from Nothing's mid-range '(a)' series, although I know it's a confusing naming structure — sound better and do more, but weigh, and cost, less.

The clamping force is still relatively strong, but I personally love the design, including a round multi-function custom button on the top of the right ear cup that can trigger your voice assistant by default, summon EQ control, be a mic mute, or work as a camera remote trigger — a new feature for this model, and one much pricier models (including the AirPods Max 2) have also implemented.

I don't want to appear smug, but I did predict last year that while Nothing hadn't aced it with the Headphone (1), the company took three goes to nail decent earbuds, and I was sure the next set of cans released by the quirky firm would fix all the issues of the inaugural set. And here we are: the Nothing Headphone (a) are some of the best new cans at their level.

Read our in-depth Nothing Headphone (a) review

3. Apple AirPods Max 2

• Release date: March 16, 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

So, Nothing's cans sat at the top of the pile for precisely… three days. Yep. The ever-evolving world of wireless ANC headphones can be brutal, and only three days after Nothing's affordable and delightfully different-looking headphones started snatching up column inches, Apple's second-generation flagship headphones landed, looking every bit the same as the first pair. And they still came out on top. Harsh, but fair…

I haven't always been an Apple headphone cheerleader. So you might think, given the complete lack of design overhaul, I'd be a little disappointed in the newest AirPods Max 2. But put them on your head, deploy the ANC and get them playing music and it becomes impossible to dislike them. The new H2 chip in each ear cup, combined with a new amplification module, is truly game-changing.

Yes, you can use the Digital Crown as a remote and yes, you can now do gestural controls, use Live Translation, or speak to someone and the headphones now adjust playback so you can chat happily, but none of these upgrades is what clinches the deal for me. What does? The noise cancellation is 1.5 times better, and if you've ever heard the first set, you'll know how remarkable an uptick in performance that is. Also, the sound is punchier and crisper, with greater dynamic nuance and insight.

The one fly in the ointment (and the reason I couldn't give them the full five-star score) is the battery life, at only 20 hours. But I'll take a hit on stamina when the bubble-of-silence ANC is this good.

Read my in-depth Apple AirPods Max 2 review

4. Marshall Milton ANC

• Release date: May 19, 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

A set of wireless on-ears in a 2026 'best of' roundup? How novel! And it's not just because of Marshall's continued commitment to rockstar, old guitar amp chic — although that customizable gold 'M button' on the corner of one ear cup is a beauty.

They're comfortable and you get a whopping 80 hours of playtime with ANC off, and a still-great 50 hours with noise cancelling active. But their magic is in what they combine: the Marshall Milton ANC effectively fuse everything we loved about the company's Major and Monitor models. They combine the iconic on-ear look of Marshall’s most popular headphones with the noise-cancelling capabilities and rich feature-set of their pricier over-ears, and all for an official price of $229 / £179 / AU$329.

And come on, they look much pricier than that! Marshall's Soundstage mode also makes a welcome return here, a profile intended to “make your sound more spacious”. It works nicely here, even in an on-ear design. OK, the effects aren’t as drastic as you'll get from some headphones’ spatial audio options, but you can adjust the metaphorical ‘room size’ and ‘amount’ that you'd like to get with your spatial sound. Top tip: a medium room at 80% was the sweet spot for my colleague Harry (and I happen to agree).

Read our in-depth Marshall Milton ANC review

Honorable mentions

The best of the rest

We've tested swathes of headphones and earbuds since the outset of 2026, and I cannot list all of them here, although you can go to my friendly audio reviews corner of TechRadar for a full list of everything that's been through the full 12 rounds with us recently (and in chronological order).

The three products I'm shining a light on here are headphones that also gained 4.5-stars following our thorough review process (not everything gets this rating, believe me) but that didn't quite make the list.

First up is the wired Meze Audio Strada, which landed on January 21, 2026. These are closed-back headphones (great for listening with people around you) that manage to sound admirably un-closed, and deliver an awful lot that will appeal to the well-off and larger-headed listener. Ah, there's the rub! While I adore the soundstage (not to mention the Macassar hardwood ear cups and Magnesium frame), I do not own a particularly large noggin and I struggled to achieve a fit that didn't fall backwards to the nape of my neck. Still, a lovely listen for the larger-headed audiophile.

Next, cast your eye in the gallery above to the mid-March arrival of the JBL Live 780NC. I've got no issue with the fit here, and the sound is great for the money, as is the feature set and very generous 80-hour battery. It's a little disappointing that you don't get a charging cable in the box though, and if we're being truly nitpicky (and it is our job to do so) the bass here can be a little overpowering for the audiophiles among us. That said, if you love the Harman curve (and plenty of consumers do, it has been proven!) they'll likely suit you just fine.

Lastly in this little trio, I'd like to draw your attention to the Grado Signature S750. They are another wired offering, this time open-backed, that actually landed towards the end of 2025 but, owing to their $1,695 / £1,695 (about AU$3,400) price tag, we wanted to take plenty of time over. We published our review in early 2026 — and I still want you to know about them. Things we loved? The exceptionally wide soundstage with excellent positioning and pinpoint clarity. The only issue? Despite the claim of 50% more padding than earlier models, Grado's design language might best be described as brutalist. I love how they look, but they're still quite hefty and after longer listening sessions, you do start to feel that weight across your crown…

• Samsung is phasing out the Vascular Load feature on Galaxy Watch in the US
• It's replacing it with Blood Pressure Trend in late July
• Users believe this is due to FDA compliance issues

Samsung's range of smartwatches covers every base when it comes to fitness tracking, but the tech giant is pulling the plug on a health monitoring tool it rolled out only last year. Don't fret; a replacement feature is on the way.

The company’s experimental Vascular Load feature, a tool that was introduced alongside the launch of the Galaxy Watch 8 at last year’s Galaxy Unpacked 2025, will be phased out in the US by late July. Its removal aligns with the upcoming Samsung Health 7.0 and One UI 9 watch updates, but it appears that Vascular Load will still be available to users outside of the US following the changes.

When Samsung removes Vascular Load at the end of the month, you'll no longer be able to access this data in the Samsung Health app. However, you can download your existing data by opening the app and tapping Samsung Health Settings, then find Samsung Health Information to continue.

Users are currently being notified via the Samsung Health app, but the company has yet to issue a wider announcement, which is a little frustrating, as I can imagine users just want a bit of clarity. That said, Samsung isn’t leaving you high and dry.

Vascular load feature being removed in the US from r/GalaxyWatch

To make up for the loss of the Vascular Load monitoring tool, the company is offering an alternative: Blood Pressure Trend — which Samsung says will be available in the upcoming Galaxy Watch (we assume this is referring to the Galaxy Watch 9).

While Vascular Load uses your heart rate data to measure factors like changes in blood volume, Blood Pressure Trend is designed to monitor your blood pressure periodically and show you a trend over time. In addition to this, it will also offer you tips and tricks to help maintain healthy habits.

To get started with Blood Pressure Trend, Samsung highlights in the notification that you’ll need to use a blood pressure cuff with your Galaxy Watch, and then once every 28 days to maintain accuracy (according to Android Authority). The company also shared that Blood Pressure Trend “is for wellness only”, and “not for the diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition”.

It’s still early days, and Galaxy Watch owners are awaiting further information on the upcoming changes, which have sparked online debate regarding the reasons for its US removal.

A vast majority of the online commenters believe that Samsung is concerned about Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance — one user says that the FDA often drags out approvals like this. While this idea gives the removal credibility, Samsung has yet to detail the reasons for its decision to stop access to Vascular Load, so we have to take this speculation with a pinch of salt.

If you've been making the most of the sunny weather by getting out and exercising, then you'll no doubt have considered buying one of the best fitness trackers around. But with so many different brands and models to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you.

Well, maybe the decision became a whole lot easier because the Fitbit Charge 6 is now on sale at Amazon for just £79 (was £139.99). That's a spicy 44% discount for those interested in the numbers.

For the price, it has excellent exercise tracking, sleep tracking, ECG functionality, and irregular rhythm notifications, all of which add up to an impressive feature-rich smartwatch.

Today’s best Fitbit deal

If you've had a look at our Fitbit Charge 6 review, then you'll notice that we only awarded it 3.5 out of five stars. That might put you off, but it's worth stating that the rating was given when we compared it to full-on fitness watches.

If you're only looking for a watch for occasional health tracking and some exercise tracking, then the Charge 6 is well worth a look, especially at this price.

Our reviewer actually concluded by calling it a “solid companion for all kinds of activities", and with a widespread array of features, including an ECG heart health reader and full GPS, there's a lot to commend it.

And let's not forget that it's a Fitbit, which means you get all the benefits of the Fitbit ecosystem with a six-month free trial to Fitbit Premium bundled in.

Still exploring your options? If you're a runner, then one of the latest Garmin deals is worth a look. Alternatively, if you want a better all-rounder with broader smartwatch integration, such as receiving and responding to texts, then have a look at the best smartwatch deals available right now.

Garmin Forerunner 70: One minute review

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is a Garmin watch that we’ve waited a long time for. This is the natural successor to the Forerunner 55, the watch that was pitched at beginner runners or runners who like to stick to the basics (and can even run a marathon in under two hours, as it was worn by record-breaker Sebastian Sawe).

With such a large time gap between the two watches, it’s hardly surprising to see Garmin make some big changes, not only with the hardware but the software too.

It’s clearly been a task of bringing the 70 in line with other new Forerunner watches, which includes adding an AMOLED display and touchscreen while keeping the full array of physical buttons to give it that traditional running watch feel. While keeping the AMOLED on at all times does dent the battery much quicker, it elevates the software and what it’s like to use the 70 as a smartwatch.

There’s some upgrades to the sensors, and while you don’t get Garmin’s latest multi-band GPS or Gen 5 Elevate optical sensor, the improved GNSS sensor and move from Gen 3 to Gen 4 sensors does deliver strong GPS and heart rate tracking performance still.

The additions made in the training and smartwatch departments also make this feel like a more advanced watch than the Forerunner 55. You now have a watch that has full access to Garmin’s Connect IQ store and brings in some of Garmin’s nicest smartwatch features like morning and evening reports. No you don’t get payments, Bluetooth calls or a music player, but if you’re looking for the basics that go beyond what the 55 offered, the 70’s got you well covered.

It’s also great to see some of Garmin’s best training features. Training Readiness now features on a cheaper Garmin to help you decide when to train and rest. You can now use the 70 to navigate your way. You don’t get full maps, but the breadcrumb navigation still makes it useful to have on your wrist when exploring new surroundings or struggling to get back home after a run.

Those added features do, unsurprisingly, come at an added cost. A cost that does push the Forerunner 70 out of that entry level category into more of a mid-range one. That does mean you can find cheaper alternatives like the Suunto Run or can pay a bit more for the Coros Pace 4 and get newer sensors including dual-band GPS. If you’re sold on Garmin’s software, still want that strong tracking performance and like the idea of having an AMOLED screen and the best smartwatch experience you’ll find on a running watch at this price, those are going to be the biggest reasons to grab the Forerunner 70.

Garmin Forerunner 70: Specifications

Garmin Forerunner 70: Price and availability

• $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$399
• More expensive than the Forerunner 55
• Cheaper than the Forerunner 170

The Garmin Forerunner 70 has a launch price of $249.99 USD / £219.99 UK / $399 AUS, which puts it firmly in the mid-range running smartwatch category. That’s in contrast to its predecessor the Forerunner 55, which launched with a sub-$200 price tag when it landed back in 2021.

Given there’s been some pretty sizable upgrades with the hardware and software, including adding an AMOLED display and richer smartwatch features, it’s not surprising that the price has leapt up a bit. It does feel like it’s lost a bit of the beginner-friendly appeal of the Forerunner 55 in the process.

The Forerunner 70 was launched alongside the Forerunner 170, which at $299 / £259.99 / AU$479 gives you additional features like contactless payments and a music player, longer battery life and additional sensors like an altimeter.

• Value score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 70: Design

• One case size option
• Added AMOLED screen
• Combination of touchscreen and physical buttons

Like the Garmin Forerunner 55, the Forerunner 70 remains a watch that sits pretty small on your wrist. That might be an issue for fans of bigger watches like a Fenix. For runners, typically smaller and lighter is better and that is what you get here.

Garmin has moved up slightly from a 42mm sized-polymer case to a 42.6mm one. It’s just the one case size that’s light to hold and comes in four different colors. Whether you want something plain or like a splash of color, you’re catered for here. The strap attached to the case is pretty typical of the ones you find partnered up to most Garmin Forerunners. It’s a 20mm silicone one that uses a pin mechanism, so you can remove it when the strap included gets sweaty or dirty or you just fancy switching to another color.

Garmin sticks to including five physical buttons for that classic running watch navigation experience. That’s now matched up with a 1.2-inch, 390 x 390 resolution AMOLED touchscreen. That sees Garmin move away from the memory pixel display on another watch line, sacrificing the longer battery life and more impressive viewing angles in brighter outdoor light for that added colour, vibrancy and to be more in keeping with other smartwatches. It’s still going to be a screen you can view comfortably outside when it’s really sunny. You just might need to crank up the brightness to do that, which will have an impact on battery life.

Like the Forerunner 50 and most other more affordable Garmin watches, the Forerunner 70 carries a 5ATM waterproof rating. That makes it safe for swimming and showering with it. There’s only a pool swimming tracking mode as Garmin leaves out open water and triathlon modes. That’ll be disappointing for anyone hoping they could pick this up as an affordable triathlon watch.

• Design score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 70: Features

• Upgraded Gen 4 Elevate sensor from Forerunner 55
• Includes latest training insights like Training Readiness
• Offers breadcrumb-style navigation

Garmin is pitching the Forerunner 70 as an entry-level running smartwatch, so it’s giving you some running features, but not all that it has to offer.

Like the GPS support, where the Forerunner 70 uses multi-GNSS, as opposed to the latest multi-band GPS included on the Forerunner 570 and above watches. This means you miss out on having improved tracking accuracy when running or moving near tall buildings or locations with a lot of tall trees.

Other hardware improvements include upgrading from the Gen 3 Elevate optical heart rate sensor to the Gen 4 version. That’s actually not the latest version of Garmin’s in-house sensor technology. That’s Gen 5, which gives you added features like ECG heart rate measurements. This will cover continuous monitoring and tracking heart rate during exercise. You can also pair external heart rate monitors to it as well.

In terms of software features, there’s a lot that’s been added to the Forerunner 70 over the Forerunner 55. Along with bringing the UI up to date with other AMOLED-toting Garmins, you’re now getting more smartwatch features. You can set up smart alarms, view morning and evening reports for a summary of your day and recommendations for the following day.

There’s improved notification support for Android users, so now you can view more information being shared in notifications. A big one is the added Connect IQ support: previously, this was restricted to only downloading watch faces. Now you have full access to the storefront to download apps, watch faces and data fields.

There’s plenty that’s been upgraded on the tracking and training front too. You can now follow routes using breadcrumb-style navigation as opposed to the full maps you’ll find on pricier Garmin watches. Garmin has brought in a raft of its latest training metrics and features including Training Readiness, wrist-based running power, more strength-focused training support and this is a watch that’s compatible with Garmin’s Coach. That’s free access to Garmin’s training platform that now comprises running, cycling and strength training plans that can be synced over to the watch.

• Features score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 70: Performance

• Good GPS despite lack of dual-band
• Smartwatch features work well across Android and iOS
• Heart rate tracking solid with support for external sensors

In terms of tracking your runs, the Forerunner 70 does a sterling job like most other Garmins and not just for running. When I’ve used it for pool swims, indoor rows, treadmill runs and bike sessions, the tracking has been as solid as other Garmins I’ve tested.

Some will be disappointed that Garmin doesn’t include its latest multi-band GPS technology. As I’ve found when using Garmin’s watches with multi-GNSS setups, they still perform better than a lot of dual-band watches. I’d say it’s the same story for the Forerunner 70. It might get a bit more shaky in places with a lot of tall buildings for the GPS technology to deal with, but I’ve been using it alongside the Forerunner 170 and Garmin’s markedly more expensive Garmin Forerunner 970, and the 70 has more than held its own.

It’s a similar story with heart rate tracking. While you’re getting the older Gen 4 version of Garmin’s Elevate optical heart rate sensor technology, that doesn’t equal a bad performance. For steady paced runs and runs in some significantly hotter running conditions, the 70 held up well against Garmin and MyZone heart rate monitor chest straps. It can take a bit longer to match up when you’re easing off during interval work. Overall though, the 70’s older sensor gets the job done, with the option to pair a Bluetooth heart rate sensor to improve performance.

Where Garmin has really bolstered things on the 70 compared to the 55 is the influx of training insights and bringing it more up to speed in terms of smartwatch features. It’s great to see Training Readiness make the cut where previously Garmin had left this useful insight into your preparedness to tackle a tough session off from its more affordable watches. It’s also about the presentation of these features, which is something Garmin does better than the competition. Like the well integrated daily suggested workouts or helping you keep an eye on your recovery time.

While you’re not getting the best that Garmin has to offer in smartwatch features, the added AMOLED touchscreen and general changes made to the user interface does mean it operates better as a smartwatch than most other running-focused smartwatches. The stream of Glances (widgets) offer a nice snapshot of your data, morning and evening report summaries are great additions, while the music playback controls work well with third party music services like Spotify. Unlike the Forerunner 55, you do now have full access to the Garmin Connect IQ store and that means increasing your ability to personalise the watch software with the features, apps and data fields you care most about.

Sleep tracking has been a bit of a weakness for Garmin. Particularly when overreporting sleep duration and the time it’s taken to recognise when you’d fallen asleep. Things thankfully have gotten better and I count the Forerunner 70 in the 'good' camp of sleep trackers. I’ve been wearing it to bed with an Oura Ring 5 and core sleep stats have largely told a similar story about my night’s sleep. The now added sleep coach and recommendation features brings sleep more into the training equation as well as helping you think more about your recovery time between runs and other workouts.

In terms of battery life, you’re unsurprisingly not getting the best Garmin has to offer on that front. What you are getting is a watch that should hold for a week’s worth of training. If you’re using it with the always-on display mode while tracking outdoor runs, you’re going to get less than a week.

GPS battery numbers give you a good amount to play with as well. I found that an hour's worth of running in the best available GPS mode hit the battery by just shy of 10%. That doesn’t add up to the 16 hours promised.

• Performance score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 70: Scorecard

Garmin Forerunner 70: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I’ve been wearing the Garmin Forerunner 70 for three weeks, tracking my outdoor and treadmill runs. I’ve also used it for pool swimming and indoor cycling, wearing it alongside other running watches to compare GPS performance. I’ve also been using it alongside a heart rate monitor chest strap to compare heart rate tracking during exercise.

First reviewed: June 2026

• SVP at Samsung says the Galaxy Ring 2 is officially in development
• It could come with a slew of design upgrades as well as deeper integration with other Samsung devices
• The biggest improvement is support for iOS, a first for Samsung wearables

When Samsung released the Galaxy Ring in 2024 it shot to the top of our list of best smart rings, but the Korean tech company has been rather silent on plans for the next-gen wearable — until now.

Speaking with Forbes, Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team at Samsung, Hon Pak, shared that the company’s next smart ring (presumably named the Galaxy Ring 2) is officially in development; “We are working on the next generation. I can tell you that,” he shared.

The announcement arrives just after the new Oura Ring 5 hit the shelves which, compared to its predecessor, is roughly 40% smaller with an even longer battery life, although does come with a higher price tag. It’s about time Samsung returned to the smart ring world given how fierce the competition has grown over the last two years — so how will the Galaxy Ring 2 stand against its rivals?

When Samsung released the first Galaxy Ring, Pak described it as “a comprehensive and simplified approach” to health and sleep, and it seems that he wants to build on this across both hardware and software.

For starters, if we look at the Oura Ring 5’s slimmer redesign, it wouldn’t come as a complete surprise if Samsung replicated a similar ‘smaller but tougher’ approach to its own smart ring for added comfort improvements.

Additionally, Samsung could take a page out of Oura’s book and remove skin contact bumps from the inside of the ring, all while extending its battery life — we also predicted that it will come with a solid state battery.

Though design upgrades are likely, Pak hinted that this won’t be the biggest difference with the Galaxy Ring 2. “If you look at the comparison of other rings, regardless of the competitor, the sensors are not that different right now,” he said, adding “It’s really about what services you create on the top layer. It’s really the software differentiation that you see.”

With these remarks in mind, the Galaxy Ring 2’s main focus will be on developing deeper software integration rather than reupholstering the hardware. Pak also shared that Samsung has plans to build on its connected ecosystem to help users receive more accurate metrics and get a better sense of their health habits.

Instead of using just the Galaxy Ring 2's collection of metrics to present the full picture of your well-being, Samsung takes your data from the smart ring and blends it with other devices in its network via the Samsung Health app. This could include Galaxy Watches and smartphones, and even its range of SmartThings home appliances to give you more detailed context into your daily activity and overall well-being.

For users who are deep into Samsung’s ecosystem of devices already, it’s a huge win, but one of the biggest setbacks with the first-gen Galaxy Ring is its lack of support for iOS. While Samsung has the overall edge over the likes of Oura, the latter supports iOS, giving users more reason to opt for its wearables over Samsung’s — but this could change with the Galaxy Ring 2.

In addition to software upgrades, Pak heavily teased that iOS support will finally be coming to the Galaxy Ring; “I’m smiling but I can’t say anything,” he hinted. Out of all the new upgrades, iOS support would throw the biggest curveball into the competition, giving non-Android users even more reason to make the switch to Galaxy Ring over rival wearables.

While it’s not exactly a formal announcement, it’s certainly a promising affirmation of what to expect from the long-awaited wearable. Despite not giving any details on an official launch date, Galaxy Unpacked 2026 is just around the corner where we’re expecting the announcement of the S26 lineup — could Samsung also throw the Galaxy Ring 2 into the mix?

• Fitbit devices have a new fitness coach powered by Gemini AI
• But the AI seems to be giving people extremely questionable advice
• Users have voiced their dissatisfaction with the feature

Fitbit recently introduced a new fitness coach powered by Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI), and it’s safe to say that it’s received a lot of flak from Fitbit users. Complaints have been flooding in, but surely few have been as bizarre as one recently posted to Reddit that involved some truly “unhinged” advice from Gemini.

Posting on Reddit, user bitteroldladybird started off by claiming that “The coach suggested I ditch my dog.” If that didn’t raise your eyebrows, what comes next surely will.

They continued by explaining that, “I’ve been walking my dog twice a day her whole life. Including the last year and a bit when I’ve had my Fitbit.”

But after that preamble, things start to get weird: “Recently the AI coach has been giving me feedback on my walks and it asked why my pace was so slow. I answered that I walk with my dog. This slows me down because she stops and sniffs and pees etc. Coach said it understood. Today it asked if I could ditch the dog to speed up my walks.” The user then opened the floor and asked fellow Redditors: “Has the coach given you weird or unhinged advice?”

Funnily enough, bitteroldladybird was far from the only person to relate a story like this. User KateJ95 recounted how “I got told to ditch my toddler … Turned coach off after that.” Individual_Sun2060, on the other hand, said “My coach incessantly tells me to rest, and has probably suggested I take the day off EVERY SINGLE DAY.”

User vemailangah, meanwhile, had a helpful suggestion for Fitbit’s next update: “coach sends AI robot to get rid of the dog to help you improve your walks.”

TechRadar’s own Matt Evans has had a similarly bizarre experience with Fitbit’s AI coach, explaining that it developed an obsession with a minor cold and wouldn’t let the issue go. After Evans didn’t wear his Fitbit for one day — and therefore logged zero steps or workouts — the AI chimed in with: “yesterday was a full recovery day with minimal movement.”

As Matt explained, it seemed that Gemini “really thought I spend 12 hours lying perfectly still, like a mummy in a sarcophagus.”

Latching onto any context

Judging by the feedback from people on Reddit and here at TechRadar, it seems that Fitbit’s AI coach is tuned a little too strongly towards fitness efficiency and improvement. If it detects any sort of “hindrance” that it feels is slowing you down, it suggests jettisoning it at the earliest opportunity — even if that means ditching your beloved pup.

TechRadar’s Evans points out that this behavior could be because Gemini “just kind of latches on to any context you give it, and is designed to improve your health — occasionally to its detriment when it comes to subtlety and context.” Because you know far more about yourself than Gemini does, the chatbot has to take any cue it can in order to build a picture of your wellbeing. And if you mention something tangentially relevant in your life, Gemini has a few other resources for context.

Aside from creating the kinds of bizarre situations that we’ve seen here, this issue limits the fitness coach’s utility. Another thread on Reddit asked “Does anyone actually use the AI Coach?” and was filled with replies from people who have lost patience with the feature. “When the trial ends, I’m out. Coach is garbage,” said flanga, while realManTing shared that “I find myself yelling at it over text and I cannot wait for my trial to end.”

As the original poster in that thread put it, the coach “constantly gives me long walls of text that are either obvious, outdated or just not useful. I don’t want to read an essay every time I open the app — I just want short, actionable insights.”

It therefore seems clear that Gemini’s AI coach is not particularly popular among Fitbit users and has a worrying tendency to offer questionable advice and to irritate them. Hopefully Google can make some rapid improvements before it suggests anyone else dump their dog to record a slightly faster walk.

• The Fitbit Air is getting its first software update
• It should fix problems with automatic workout detection
• An old Fitbit app workaround is going away

The first software update for the Fitbit Air is rolling out now, and the hope is that it's going to fix one particular bugbear for users — but there's also bad news for those who are still using the older Fitbit app rather than the Google Health replacement.

First up, the update is rolling out now, as reported by 9to5Google, though you might not see it right away: look for a notification inside the Google Health app that an update is ready. As per Google, it contains "bug fixes and general improvements".

There's a bit more detail in a post on the Google Health support forum from last month, suggesting that there are fixes to exercise tracking, split runs, exercise exports, multiple device support, and how the device deals with lost connectivity when tracking.

As noted by Android Authority, one of the most commonly reported problems on the Fitbit Air has been the inaccurate labeling of workouts that are detected automatically — tagging runs as general workouts, for example — and this issue now seems to have been resolved.

No more Fitbit app workarounds

Google Ending Support for Fitbit App July 15, 2026 from r/fitbit

While a software update is positive news for Fitbit Air owners, those who have been clinging on to the old Fitbit app on their phones won't be pleased that Google has now closed off a workaround for avoiding the upgrade to Google Health.

As explained by Gadgets & Wearables, some users have been sideloading older versions of the Fitbit app: these older versions don't get automatically replaced by Google Health, so it's a way of sticking with the old app interface and layout.

From July 15 though, these older versions of the Fitbit app are going to stop working. Users will have no choice but to switch to Google Health, which moves around a lot of the key elements on screen and introduces a new AI coach.

Fitbit fans have been complaining loudly about the changes that the Google Health app brings with it, and many are unhappy about being forced to upgrade: "I think I'm going to have to find an alternative to the AI slop," writes one Redditor.

Someone at Amazon forgot to turn off the Oura Ring 4 deals after Prime Day finished. Right now you can get the Oura Ring 4 at Amazon for 30% off in various finishes, including silver and black, for £244 (was £349), and the more expensive gold finish for £279 (was £499), saving 30% and 44% respectively.

There are also still some deals on Oura Ring 4 Ceramic finishes, but the discounts aren't as big, and are only on limited combinations of size and colour. If you missed out on the Amazon Prime Day deals and wish you'd bought an Oura, this could be your last chance to get one at a discount. Check out the deals in full below.

Today's best Oura Ring 4 deals

Should you buy the Oura Ring 4?

Even though the Oura Ring 5 is out, which is a big upgrade over the Ring 4 when it comes to design and performance, the price jump does hold it back from being an easy recommendation.

Costing an extra $50 / £50 / AU$80 than the standard Oura Ring 4 at launch, the Ring 5 is already priced a bit more. That, of course, is justifiable when you consider the improved accuracy and a 40% reduction in size, which is very noticeable when comparing the two side-by-side. But if you want the same core Oura Ring experience for less, this Ring 4 deal is the one to go for.

Considering it has most of the same features as the Oura Ring 5, the Ring 4 at this low price is a genuinely hard deal to pass up, especially when the Ring 5 is unlikely to see a discount anytime soon. If you're new to smart rings and want the best value price for an Oura Ring, the Ring 4 is the deal to buy.

We've tested a lot of crazy workout gear over the years, from Adidas' pressurized workout shoes to elaborate virtual coaching booths, but never anything from space.

Let me confirm that I haven't actually worn anything from outer space: this is a workout layer from premium activewear company Walero, which also makes professional-grade motorsport gear. The Walero Active temperature-regulating baselayer incorporates Outlast technology, which is a fabric system originally developed for NASA to clothe its astronauts.

The Outlast website says "the most important part of fabrics and materials with this NASA technology is the microencapsulated wax, which is usually won from rapeseed oil.

"When the temperature rises, it causes the wax in the capsules to melt. During this phase shift, the temperature cannot increase any further. Heat peaks are reduced or even prevented and as a result, sweat production decreases by up to 48%."

So the wax hardens and softens inside the fabric based on the wearer's temperature, capping it. Clever.

While the Walero baselayers only consist of 20% Outlast technology, I was intrigued enough to try it when I was offered to test one. Given that I also test the best running shoes in addition to fitness gadgets, I'm always intrigued when I hear about performance-enhancing technical fabrics and materials in addition to smartwatches and other gadgets on my usual beat.

So, without further ado, I laced up my Saucony Ride 19s and hit the road, wearing it on as many runs as I could (in between washes) over a month.

Beat the heat

I tested the Ben Nevis long sleeve half-zip Walero Active top, but I found it difficult to judge its results in an objective, numerical fashion. Walero claims its kit is scientifically proven to lower heart rates by 8%, and sweat production by 30%.

However, one person's sweat production and heart rate can change dramatically for all sorts of reasons, ranging from what they've eaten that day, to the weather, to their previous night's sleep. I normally test the best smartwatches against a Polar H10 heart rate monitor to obtain numerical data, but I found it difficult to deliver any meaningful comparison data on a regular workout vs. one in the top. An 8% decrease in heart rate isn't a massive change for the average runner to measure, although it could mean everything for an elite athlete. How does a mediocre but enthusiastic runner quantify this sort of thing?

Nevertheless, after running 10 kilometers in a UK heatwave, during which I would have normally worn as little clothing as possible (and certainly not a long-sleeved top) I must admit I was partially convinced. I wore a sleeveless t-shirt underneath, and hadn't needed to remove the long-sleeved top at all during the run.

Other runs in the top, some shorter, some similar distance, were done in cooler conditions, including one in the rain. At all times, the layer stayed on, apart from one exceptionally hot day. I didn't see any historic achievements or plateau-breaking as a result of wearing it, but my runs felt strong and the top was comfortable. I didn't need to shed the layer in most hot conditions to avoid overheating, or feel like it was insufficient in cold.

Will it really increase performance?

At the end of the day, it's a very premium-priced (a hefty £195, around $250 / AU$370) baselayer with a nice feel. Will it increase performance? Perhaps. It's definitely going to be a go-to when exercising in the cold, as the 'layering problem' rears its ugly head most often in transitional seasons. You start out cold, and end up baking due to over-layering. I see this piece as an answer to this issue.

One independent study testing the thermo-regulation property of Outlast fiber by means of thermal analysis found that the 'smart fiber' as its called, has "been certified [for] its obvious capability of temperature regulation". So the Walero top will reduce sweat and keep your body regulated with its 20% Outlast fibers woven into its construction, in theory.

In practice, for most of us, it's a fun novelty that seems ideal to wear in most conditions, and most suited to cooler changeable weather. You'll get a lot of wear out of it as it's very adaptable, but it's certainly more expensive than most baselayers. It's a cool gimmick to chat about as you queue up at the startline of your local parkrun, but whether it represents good value will depend on your budget. An amateur athlete looking to save money (most of us) won't get enough mileage out of this top to justify the expense, while a high performer with deep pockets will likely live in it due to its thermo-regulating qualities.

• A Chinese medtech firm has gained EU approval for its remote surgery robot
• Medbot’s Toumai system can now be moved and marketed freely in the European Union
• The approval comes after Toumai was used for the UK's first long-distance surgery

A Chinese medical technology firm has gained EU approval for its remote surgery robot following its use by a London surgeon to operate on a patient 1,500 miles away in Gibraltar.

Shanghai Microport MedBot’s Toumai is a three-part remote surgery system that allows doctors and surgeons to perform operations on the abdomen and pelvis.

The system is composed of a surgeon console, patient cart, and vision cart, with robotic ‘limbs’ allowing operators to perform operations. The system uses 5G connectivity to connect the surgeon console to the vision cart over long distances.

The approval follows Toumai’s successful use by a London surgeon to perform the UK’s first long-distance teleoperated surgery, a full prostate removal on a man with prostate cancer in Gibraltar.

Dr. Proskar Dasgupta performed the operation using the teleoperated system on 62-year old Paul Buxton in March 2026. Speaking to the BBC, Buxton said it was a “no-brainer” to take part in the experimental procedure and become “part of medical history”.

The robot will see you now

Gibraltar, a small UK territory just south of Spain, has a single hospital within its borders, meaning residents may need to travel 1,500 miles north to the UK for more complex procedures.

However, Toumai and remote surgery systems like it allow patients to be treated by experts without traveling to meet them. Dr. Dasgupta said to the BBC that he felt “almost as if I was there” while conducting Mr. Buxton’s procedure.

On June 22, Shanghai Microport MedBot announced that the Toumai robotic surgery system had received the CE Mark — an EU stamp of approval required to sell products in its common market

As South China Morning Post reports, this allows the system to be "moved and marketed" freely in the EU, meaning the company is free to offer Toumai to healthcare providers in any of the EU’s 27 member states.

This will be welcome news for MedBot, which made 73 per cent of its revenue from overseas sales in 2025, up from 20 per cent in 2023.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is one of my favorite watches of last year. It's slim, it's a high-performer and I think it looks better than its chunky siblings, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. All are on offer on Amazon Prime Day, but for most people, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is my pick of the bunch — especially after this second price drop.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

This deal isn't just at Amazon — it's also at Walmart, so you've got plenty of options if you want to grab the deal before time runs out at midnight tonight. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm) GPS-only is available for just $218.49 (was $349.99) at Walmart, a huge $131.51 saving. The listing says it's a $331 saving, which is a typo — Walmart seems to have borked some of its old prices for these entries — but a 38% discount is still a terrific deal and its lowest price ever. The 44mm GPS-only version is available for $237.49 (was $429.99), with cellular versions for both at an additional cost.

Check out the deals in full below. In case Walmart's sold out when you read this, we've also linked the Amazon deals:

Today's best Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 deals

Why get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 instead of the Classic or Ultra?

Good question, and I'll go into it. For starters, they're more expensive, even though these watches also boast historic deals of their own. I've popped the best deals on those down below.

In addition, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is very nicely designed, with its flat and slim body sitting nicely on the wrist due to its redesigned strap clasp and slender frame. This makes it ideal for use as a fitness tracker, as it doesn't move much during vigorous exercise such as running.

On the other hand, the Watch 8 Classic and Watch Ultra are thick and bulky, and I find them very conspicuous on the wrist, especially the massive Ultra. I awarded both these watches four stars in our Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra reviews — on the other hand, I awarded the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 a 4.5 / 5 score. It's just a great, good value wearable, especially at this price.

However, if you prefer operating your watch using the Classic's analog-style rotating bezel, or you want the increased battery life and powerful navigation features of the Ultra, there are some terrific deals on both watches.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

Garmin's range of advanced smartwatches is truly endless, and with that also comes an endless roster of generous price drops in Amazon Prime Day.

Though Garmin produces some of the best smartwatches and has given the Apple Watch a run for its money, some of their devices are sky-high when it comes to prices. With the end of Prime Day approaching, there's still a chance for you to bag that smartwatch upgrade you've been waiting for.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

The top deal in the US right now is on the Garmin fenix 8, a smartwatch with a staggering 10-day lifespan that's now $749.99 at Amazon (was $999.99). Equally, there are solid savings over in the UK too, but the best deal isn't on Amazon funnily enough.

Instead, UK shoppers should think about heading over to H Samuel, where the highly advanced Garmin epix Pro is now £299.99 (was £739.99) — that's actually a better value deal than Amazon's.

Today's best Garmin deals in the US

Today's best Garmin deals in the UK

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

The countdown to the end Amazon Prime Day has officially started and after today, all the deals you didn't take advantage of will be gone, so take this as a nudge to make the most of what's still available.

One of this year's most popular products have been the best fitness trackers but despite the popularity, there are still plenty left on Amazon to our surprise. And the best thing is that you don't have to break the bank to get started with your new fitness craze — I've selected four that are under $100.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Fitbit devices are usually your best shot at scoring a fitness tracker that's not only affordable and beginner-friendly, but on that's going to cover every health tracking tool you'll ever need — even if you know you'll use some more than others.

Right now, the biggest saving you can score is on the Fitbit Charge 6 which is now $85.45 down from $159.95, taking it to its lowest-ever price and saving you $70 at the same time. However, it doesn't end there, and there's more than meets the eye when it comes to Prime Day deals on wearables.

Today's best fitness tracker deals in the UK

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

It's the last day of this year's big Amazon Prime Day sales event, and I assumed many of the discounts were pretty much fixed at this point. However, I certainly didn't see a second price drop on the Oura Ring 4 coming today.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Our engagement editor Amelia Schwanke wrote about the 4.5-star Oura Ring 4 hitting a record low price earlier in the week, but I'm excited to report that it's dropped even further, as you can get the Oura Ring 4 for just £199.99 (was £349.99) at Amazon in Black, Brushed Silver, Silver, and Stealth colours. The Gold and Rose Gold colours are still a little bit more expensive at £229.99, but even if you do want to shell out for these, it's a hell of a deal.

Check it out below. If you're in the US and you've found yourself here, there's good news too — you can also get the Oura Ring 4 for just $226 (was $349).

Today's best Oura Ring 4 deals

It's an incredible piece of technology (it even won our health and fitness device of the year award), made even better by this crazy discount. Remember: Prime Day ends tonight, so you don't have long to snap this up.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

The sun is setting on this year's Amazon Prime Day, but thankfully, the offers on the best fitness trackers haven't gone anywhere.

Finding a new fitness tracker can be a little overwhelming given all the options that are available, but if it's a simple, easy-to-use yet effective device you're after then the search becomes a lot easier.

I've chosen five of the best deals on entry-level fitness trackers, and the best part is that they're mostly under £100 (one is just a few pounds over), so you can start your fitness journey without breaking the bank.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

The standout deal for me is the Fitbit Charge 6, one of our favorite devices, which is down to a record-low £75.05 (was £139.99). You can also snag the Fitbit Inspire 3 for even cheaper at £59.99 (was £84.99).

If you've been thinking about taking the plunge and getting a new fitness wearable, this could be your final chance to bag some of these deals for a while, so don't miss it!

Today's best fitness tracker deals in the UK

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

Before I start, yes, I know that I am personally responsible for listing the Apple Watch Ultra 3 as our best smartwatch overall. And yes, I know that the Apple Watch Ultra is currently at a lowest-ever price in the Amazon Prime Day deals (it's now down to $649 (was $799) in the US).

But hear me out: it might not be the right Apple Watch deal for you.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

While there are certainly some people who get a real kick out of its adventuring features, if you asked most current Apple Watch Ultra 3 owners how often they go on long trail runs or orienteering hikes, necessitating satellite communications and advanced maps features, or how often they go scuba diving, I'd say the answer wouldn't be very many.

Likewise, many users don't use the watch's LTE functionality, which lets you add it to a phone's data plan. I'm sure lots of people also wish it came in a smaller size.

The bottom line is that, when looking for the best value Apple Watch deal for you, I'm also considering all the features you might not use, which end up costing you money at the point of purchase. If you're a keen exerciser looking for a good Apple Watch, it's likely the Series 11 is what you're after, especially since it's at its lowest-ever price right now.

The Series 11 starts at $279 (was $399) in the US for the 42mm GPS-only model, and $309 (was $429) for the 46mm GPS-only model. Check out both deals along with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 below.

Because you have a choice of size and whether to add the Cellular connectivity or not, as well as not having adventuring features most users won't get a lot of mileage out of, the Apple Watch Series 11 does come across as a better value Apple Watch pick for most people. However, some power users and hardcore exercisers will still get a real thrill out of the comprehensive featureset of the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

As TechRadar's Senior Fitness and Wearables Editor, I'm usually testing at least one smartwatch, and sometimes two at once. But occasionally I get overwhelmed with the volley of notifications or the compulsion to check my metrics, and swap the tracker out with something more discrete and screenless.

I'm not the only one. 'Focus' wearables are on the rise, be they fitness bands without screens, smart rings, or something else like hybrid watches. They're different form factors, but they all do fundamentally the same thing — passively track your health and fitness in the background, rather than actively show you information during a workout like the best smartwatches.

Below is a trio of fitness trackers I've personally tested, along with my verdict about what kind of person they're best suited for — and where to find the best deals for Amazon Prime Day.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

If you dislike the idea of a smartwatch but still want a useful fitness tracker — maybe you want to wear a proper analog/digital watch — then I would recommend you start your search by looking at these three wearables.

1. Google Fitbit Air

• Best for: everyday exercise, budget buyers

I recently reviewed the Google Fitbit Air and really liked it. The old Fitbits have been redesigned as a screenless fitness tracker, around 12g including strap, with all the information being fed into the app so you can check it at your leisure. There's a haptic alarm you can tap to get rid of, but that's really all the interaction you have with the wristband, other than charging it around once a week.

It's very comfortable to wear during sleep because of its lightweight, and it cleaves very close to chest-based heart rate monitors and the likes of the top-tier Apple Watch Ultra 3. It's very popular because it's cheap too, at just $99.99 / £84.99 / AU$199 — at its base tier.

It does have an AI-powered premium health coach attached, which is an optional extra costing $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$14.99 a month, or $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$140 annually. Without this, you get your base stats such as sleep, steps, recovery, heart rate, and workout tracking. As you'll see later on in this article, premium tiers and subscriptions are becoming a theme. But whether you choose to subscribe or not, the Fitbit Air remains a solid choice for screenless tracking.

Read our full Google Fitbit Air review

2. Oura Ring 4

• Best for: holistic wellness, sleep tracking

The Oura Ring 5 is out, true, but that just means there are lots of deals on the Oura Ring 4 this week. Another subscription-based wearable, starting at $349 / £349 (less if you snag a Prime Day deal) with a $5.99-in-all-regions subscription attached, the Oura Ring 4 sits firmly at the premium end of the finger.

But it is undeniably impressive. It's even more comfortable than the Fitbit above (and thus a top-tier sleep tracker), boasts accurate metrics, and has an impressive suite of features, including a tag-based system to allow you to add context to your day's metrics and a sophisticated auto-exercise detection feature. It emphasizes holistic wellbeing, with emphasis on balance and mindfulness, even if the option for in-app blood tests is a bit creepy and, for want of a better word, 'biohacky'.

It comes in a range of finishes and colors, so it is a lot more discreet than the cheap plastic Fitbit. Price aside, it's an excellent fitness tracker, and the Prime Day deals should help soften that blow.

Read our full Oura Ring 4 review

3. Whoop 5.0

• Best for: serious athletes, optimizers

The screenless fitness tracking pioneer, Whoop is a wearable for perpetual optimizers. Whoop is designed to effectively be never taken off: the charging puck included with two of Whoop's three membership tiers effectively allows you to charge the device while it's still attached to your wrist, so you need never, ever take it off at all. Whoop collects and organizes an enormous amount of data, spitting it out in the form of all sorts of metrics, from your Whoop Age to its proprietary Strain score.

Its app is fantastic, implementing AI features well and housing an intuitive, comprehensive workout builder for gym rats. It's an excellent device for competitive athletes, casual CrossFit and Hyrox enthusiasts, and weekend warriors.

But Whoop is a premium device which you don't exactly buy: you rent access to it each year, starting at £169 / $199 / AU$299 per year for the Whoop One 5.0 and rising to £229 / $239 / AU$419 per year for the premium Whoop Peak tier, which nets you extra features like Whoop Age.

The highest tier is Whoop Life, which gets you a premium Whoop MG device with medical-grade heart health features, costing £349 / $359 / AU$629 per year. In my opinion, paying that each year in perpetuity doesn't represent good value — unless you can score an Amazon Prime Day deal on it.

Read our full Whoop MG review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

In the UK, we've been dealing with multiple unseasonable heatwaves, and if it's taught me anything, it's that hydration is important — and so is keeping your drinks at the right temperature. It's a small thing, but many times over the last few days, I've taken a sip from a bottle in my bag and grimaced, as my cheap non-insulated, single-layer metal screw-top bottle just isn't keeping anything cool.

Fortunately, thanks to the Amazon Prime Day deals, I'm coming prepared next time. I'm ordering myself a Yeti Rambler 42oz Straw Mug. Yeti are the gold standard of keeping things cool (and hot), and Amazon is doing some particularly good deals on their Tumbler shape right now.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

In the US, you can get the Yeti Rambler 35oz Straw Mug at Amazon US for $29.40 (was $42) in its White and Papaya colors. In the UK, you can get a slightly larger discount: the Yeti Rambler 42oz (1.5L) Straw Mug is available at Amazon UK for £29.25 (was £45) in Navy and Key Lime colours.

Check out both deals below:

Today's best Amazon Prime Day Yeti deals

The Yeti Ramblers are ideal for the gym, but they'll really shine on a long commute or car trip too, as you can pop a cold drink in them, head out the door on your way to work, and still be sipping refreshed at midday. I've ordered the larger 1.2L version because, as a fitness writer, I'm apparently supposed to be keeping myself hydrated.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

Most people don't walk enough. Sure, serious fitness enthusiasts make sure to get their 10,000 steps in each day, but many of us simply don't come close most days.

My fun fact of today is that the magic '10,000 steps' target isn't actually backed by science, but was arbitrarily invented by a Japanese pedometer company in the 1960s — but even though the number isn't a scientific target, moving more is rarely a bad thing.

You can use one of the best smartwatches or best fitness trackers to keep track of your steps and motivate yourself to hit the extra goal. But if it's too cold or hot to go outside, or you're inside with no reason to leave, it can be very easy to let those cardio goals slide. People give up on running regimes or pay for unused gym memberships when what they need is an easy, accessible, low-impact way to keep or stay fit.

- Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Step forward, walkingpads, otherwise known as under-desk treadmills. These slim cardio machines are easy to store, often cheap to buy (especially on Amazon Prime Day), and have become very popular on TikTok. Ideal for beginners or those looking for a gentler introduction to fitness, here's a trio of science-backed reasons to get one, along with a bunch of Amazon Prime Day deals on walkingpads in the US and UK.

1. You can watch TV while you walk

If you were going to catch up with your favorite shows while lounging on the sofa, now you can use that time to get your cardio in. Simply wheel the machine out from behind the sofa, under the bed, or wherever it's stored, plug it in, and switch on the TV.

Research published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that 'TV viewing, regardless of whether the programming is self-selected or standardized, associates with greater enjoyment of exercise'. If you find the exercise process enjoyable, you'll keep coming back to it; walking in front of one of the best streaming services might be a perfect way to get started. Try walking for the duration of one 30-minute episode of your latest obsession show each day.

2. Walking is low-intensity

Some people find running painful or intimidating. But walking is a low-impact, low-intensity alternative that most of us engage in every day. The human body was built to walk, and most of us can do so comfortably for at least a short period of time.

Research found that for people unable to tolerate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, lower-intensity walking was still beneficial for improving health, serving as a 'suitable alternative' to vigorous exercise. If you find running for 30 minutes hurts your knees or hips, walking for 45 minutes in front of the TV might be a more comfortable option for you.

3. Treadmills provide accessibility

As nice as it is to walk in front of the TV, sometimes it's good to get out into nature. Walkingpads or under-desk treadmills can be supplemental to a routine, acting as a helpful alternative to make sure you're consistent.

On fair-weather days, take your 30-minute walk outdoors and plan a circular route, while on rainy days or during heatwaves, you can stay indoors and walk instead. Giving yourself options and flexibility allows you to stay consistent, and when it comes to improving fitness, consistency is king.

Best walkingpad / under-desk treadmill deals in the US

Best walkingpad / under-desk treadmill deals in the UK

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

As far as the best running headphones go, we're still obsessing over the range of audio devices that Shokz has, especially those on offer right now during Amazon Prime Day.

I recently rounded up the best workout headphones deals and thought they're all solid picks, but not all of them are suited to running and intense cardio quite like Shokz. With that said, if you're more of a runner and less of a gym rat, investing in a good pair of headphones from Shokz might work out for you much better in the long run. Pun intended.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Our best overall running headphones, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, are now down to $124.95 from $179.95 on Amazon in the US. There's also a UK deal to match, taking the same pair of headphones down to £134 from £169.

However, if bone conduction headphones aren't on your list this Prime Day and you'd rather go without the connective band, the Shokz OpenFit 2+ are a great alternative, now $109 from $199.95 — and £144 down from £179 in the UK.

Last year, I ran my first half-marathon, ticking off another bucket list achievement, but deciding to go music-less was a huge mistake. Besides, my current headphones aren't designed for high-intensity running, which is why I wish I had looked into these models from Shokz before completing the whole 13 miles.

Today's best Shokz deals in the US

Today's best Shokz deals in the UK

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

There's one thing I can't live without when working out and that's music, and Amazon Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to see what deals are kicking about on the best workout headphones.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

I've gathered nine deals on some of our favorite models, with different types of headphones for different types of workouts. If you're a keen runner, whether that's outdoors in the sun or inside on a treadmill, and are after a set of headphones to optimize your cardio sessions, the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are now down to $124.95 from $179.95. There's also a UK deal to match.

But it's not just running-specific headphones on offer, there are models from Apple, Beats, and the budget-friendly JLab getting the Prime day treatment too, so there's something for everyone.

I'm a big fan of taking my workouts outdoors when the weather brightens up in the summer months, but let's be honest, doing any sort of exercise in the heat is difficult, so I'll be relying on my air-conditioned gym to get a kick out of my HIIT workouts.

Today's best fitness headphones deals in the US

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

Today's best fitness headphones deals in the UK

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

We already know watchOS 27 is coming and not all Apple Watches will support it. So if you’ve been holding off on upgrading an older Apple Watch or you’ve been thinking about getting your first one, then you don’t need to wait until Amazon Prime Day 2026 to score a great deal because the mainline Apple Watch Series 11 has just hit its all-time low price in Australia.

That’s right, Prime Day in Australia is still a little over a week away and Amazon is already discounting the wearable by 32% to just AU$447 for the 42mm GPS model.

While we’ve always recommended the more affordable Apple Watch SE 3 as the best for most people, we reckon this discount for the Series 11 is currently the better buy, especially if you value battery life, screen brightness, a slimmer chassis and more health monitoring.

Our Apple Watch Series 11 review called it the most capable and best-looking mainline Apple Watch yet, praising the brighter, more efficient and more scratch-resistant Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED display compared to its predecessor, as well as the larger battery capacity.

Battery capacity increased 9% for the 42mm and 11% for the 46mm model, with Apple rating both for 24 hours of typical use and up to 38 hours in Low Power Model. Our reviewer found the claim to be realistic, getting a full day and a half of battery life with light use.

On the software side, health tracking is more comprehensive with heart-rate alerts, ECG, wrist temperature, respiratory rate and cycle tracking, with blood pressure monitoring and hearing health as new additions. A Sleep Score feature has also been added (across all Apple Watches) to provide more easily digestible sleep tracking data.

Admittedly, the Apple Watch Series 11 won’t be much of an upgrade over the Series 10 as it’s very similar hardware, but upgrading from the Series 8 or older models, or even the Watch SE and SE 2, the performance jump will be a substantial boost.

And while we’re at it, marathon season is still in full swing in Australia, so this deal is worth a look as it can keep up with even the best running watches from the likes of Garmin.

Everyone is flocking to Amazon Prime Day to get their hands on the best tech deals out there, and one of the most sought-after devices are the best smartwatches.

While you can score a fair offer on Apple Watches, the deals for Wear OS models are just as good, if not a little more generous. If you're currently using a watchOS device and want to see what Wear OS is all about, or you're a seasoned Wear OS user and are on the hunt for an upgrade, we've got you covered.

• • Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

We've gathered a handful of deals on some of our favorite Wear OS smartwatches, ranging from top models including the Samsung Galaxy Watch8, as well as Google's Pixel Watch 4, latest member to its wearable family.

US deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

UK deals

More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £21.99
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• TVs: from £129.99

Just got a Garmin in the Amazon Prime Day sales? Congratulations. If you haven't yet pulled the trigger, the Prime Day deals won't be around for long, so I've included some of my favorites down below. Simply click here to go straight to the deals.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Now, welcome to the Garmin ecosystem! Garmin, the Garmin Connect app, and the Garmin Connect IQ store are cool, stripped-down app ecosystems designed to help you get the most out of exercise. There is a premium tier in Garmin Connect+, but it's entirely optional and, quite frankly, it's not been well received by the Garmin community at large, so I wouldn't recommend subscribing yet.

As well as the usual passive activity tracking, sleep tracking, and notification functionalities, Garmin gives you all sorts of tools to play with on its very modular watches. Here are three things to try as soon as you get your first watch.

1. Create your perfect home screen

When you first get your Garmin watch, you'll be presented with a watch face containing a small selection of stats, such as step counts, Body Battery score, or the watch's total remaining battery. But Garmin watch faces are made to be customized, so you can decide which stats are important to you. On five-button Garmins, you hold the left-middle 'up' button, while on two-button Garmins, you hold 'down', then navigate to Watch Face. You can scroll between different options or edit them in a granular fashion.

If you want to prioritize step count, you can swap it out with a widget showing your sleep score, for example, while VO2 Max can be swapped for another number like Body Battery. In this way, you can truly make the watch your own pretty much right out of the gate, without even touching the companion app to do it.

These are just the most important stats to you: to view the rest, you can scroll up and down from the watch face to view the rest of your widgets, and edit this list as well by scrolling to Edit, then +. Want to know the phases of the moon, your total distance run this week, or your blood oxygen levels? You can add them all to this secondary hotlist.

2. Create a route

Garmins are perfect for going off the beaten track, and even those without actual offline maps offer basic navigation features. You can use these features by creating a Course. You can learn how to create a Course in Garmin Connect here, but the general gist is that you can use Garmin's features to plot a route on a map, then follow that route using instructions from your watch.

Even if you're just going for a short walk, you can use its route plotting to find new circular routes, but it's incredibly handy for long runs, hiking expeditions, and even specialist sports like skiing.

Download the Course onto your watch using the instructions in the link above, then go to your activity of choice and scroll down to Navigation > Courses. If you get lost, most Garmins now have a 'Back to Start' functionality you can access when you pause an activity.

3. Visit the Connect IQ store

Once you've downloaded Garmin Connect and set up your new watch, you should also download Garmin Connect IQ, its app store. From there, you can access loads of free and paid apps, widgets, and watch faces, many simply made by enthusiastic Garmin fans, such as the Walk With Frodo app, which links your step count to Frodo's journey to Mordor in The Lord of the Rings.

You can also get official players for music services like Spotify, Deezer, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music, walking apps like Komoot to help sync the app with your Garmin ecosystem, and watch faces from fans and brands alike, the latter including Star Wars and Pokémon Sleep. The Pokémon watch face is linked to your Body Battery score, and sleeps when you get tired. Adorable!

Today's best Garmin deals

Not bought a Garmin yet? Below are the best Amazon Prime Day deals on Garmin watches in the US and UK.

US deals

UK deals

The recently launched Oura Ring 5 is smaller and smarter than its predecessor, making it a significant upgrade that I don't doubt most will make, but it's hard to argue with the Ring 4 when its price has hit a record low for Amazon Prime Day.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

You can now get the Oura Ring 4 at Amazon for $226 (was $399) in the US and for £232 (was £349) in the UK, which is a bargain when you consider that it was the best premium smart ring you can buy just two weeks ago.

Today's best Oura Ring 4 deals

My Oura Ring 5 review is out, but if you don't have time to dig into it, here's the long and short of it: it's a big upgrade over the Ring 4 when it comes to design and performance, but the price jump does hold it back from being an easy recommendation.

Costing an extra $50 / £50 / AU$80 than the standard Oura Ring 4 at launch, the Ring 5 is already priced a bit more. That of course is justifiable when you consider the improved accuracy and a 40% reduction in size, which is very noticeable when comparing the two side-by-side. But if you want the same core Oura Ring experience for less, this Ring 4 deal is the one to go for.

When comparing it to other wearables, the Ring 4 stands out as a luxury item for wellness tracking. It's not the right choice if you're after a fitness tracker, but for sleep and stress monitoring it's ideal. It has an easy to use companion app, and only has one day less of battery life, which is a minor trade-off given it can fully recharge in under an hour.

Considering it has most of the same features as the Oura Ring 5, the Ring 4 at this record low price is a genuinely hard deal to pass up, especially when the Ring 5 is unlikely to see a discount anytime soon. If you're new to smart rings and want the best value price for an Oura Ring, the Ring 4 is the deal to buy.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura