3 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Smartwatch

watchOS 26 preview: a subtler take on AI

Workout Buddy is Apple’s foray into fitness AI, but the real stars of watchOS 26 are Wrist Flick and Smart Stack.

Victoria Song
Google’s Pixel Watch 4 might charge on its sideGoogle’s Pixel Watch 4 might charge on its side
Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
Gemini is ready for your Wear OS watch now.

Google’s AI is rolling out to more wearables, after the company announced it was coming at I/O in May, then debuted it on the Galaxy Watch 8 this month.

Gemini replaces Google Assistant, and should be available from the Play Store for any watch running Wear OS 4 or later that has Assistant. But if your watch doesn’t have Assistant already, you’re not getting the Gemini upgrade.

Google Gemini on Wear OS widely rolling out

[9to5google.com]

Nothing’s new CMF smartwatch drops swappable bezels for a bigger displayNothing’s new CMF smartwatch drops swappable bezels for a bigger display
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
The AirPods Pro 2 can now serve as hearing aids in more countries.

Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company has officially launched its hearing aid feature, along with the Apple Watch’s sleep apnea detection, in more locations, including Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and others.

The best fitness tracker and smartwatch Prime Day dealsThe best fitness tracker and smartwatch Prime Day deals
The Amazfit Active 2, one of our favorite fitness trackers, is just $79.99 right nowThe Amazfit Active 2, one of our favorite fitness trackers, is just $79.99 right now
The best Apple Watch Prime Day dealsThe best Apple Watch Prime Day deals
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series hands-on: squircle squad
Play

Gemini’s on the wrist, there’s a new Antioxidant Index, and a slightly updated Ultra, too.

Victoria Song
How to watch Samsung’s foldable-filled Unpacked eventHow to watch Samsung’s foldable-filled Unpacked event
Google Maps is now available on Garmin’s smartwatchesGoogle Maps is now available on Garmin’s smartwatches
Samsung’s event spoiled by massive last-minute leakSamsung’s event spoiled by massive last-minute leak
Google kills its Keep app on Apple WatchGoogle kills its Keep app on Apple Watch
Google Calendar now has an Apple Watch appGoogle Calendar now has an Apple Watch app
Andrew Liszewski
Google quietly introduced precise Bluetooth tracking on the Pixel Watch 3Google quietly introduced precise Bluetooth tracking on the Pixel Watch 3
Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy Watch 7 has returned to its best price to dateSamsung’s entry-level Galaxy Watch 7 has returned to its best price to date
OnePlus announces the Nord 5 and four more productsOnePlus announces the Nord 5 and four more products
The new Pebble watch’s mobile app will also work with some old Pebble watchesThe new Pebble watch’s mobile app will also work with some old Pebble watches
Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
The Android phone that works with Apple.

Vivo claims its X Fold 5 has achieved an Android first: interoperability with the Apple Watch. According to product manager Han Boxiao the watch can display calls and texts from the X Fold 5, and sync health data. The phone can also receive calls and texts sent to an iPhone, access iCloud, and extend the display of a Mac.

How? We have no idea, but hopefully we’ll find out when the phone launches this month.

<em>The Apple Watch can apparently display calls from the Vivo phone.</em>
<em>While the Android device can handle calls coming into the iPhone.</em>
<em>And you can set it up as an external Mac monitor.</em>
1/3
The Apple Watch can apparently display calls from the Vivo phone.
Image: Han Boxiao / Weibo
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
watchOS 26 adds a new ‘wrist flick’ gesture to quickly dismiss notifications.

At WWDC 2025, Apple just showed off a new update coming to its wearables this fall.

Once watchOS 26 is available, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 wearers will be able to dismiss notifications, silence times and alarms, and ignore calls just by turning their wrist over and back like this (below), in addition to the existing double tap gesture.

Animated GIF showing a person’s arm turning to dismiss a notification on an Apple Watch
watchOS 26 ‘wrist flick’
Image: Apple
Apple announces watchOS 26 with a wrist flick gesture and AI ‘Workout Buddy’Apple announces watchOS 26 with a wrist flick gesture and AI ‘Workout Buddy’
Garmin announces new Forerunner watches with splashy colors and running metricsGarmin announces new Forerunner watches with splashy colors and running metrics
Huawei’s latest watch has a snazzy new fingertip sensorHuawei’s latest watch has a snazzy new fingertip sensor
Victoria Song
Victoria Song
Samsung confirms Gemini will debut on its Galaxy Watches.

The big Wear OS 6 news is that Gemini is headed to the wrist. It’s unsurprising to see Samsung’s smartwatches will get it first. After all, new Galaxy Watches have launched before new Pixel Watches ever since Google and Samsung teamed up to create Wear OS 3. The good news is you won’t necessarily have to upgrade. Google told me that Gemini will be coming to any Wear OS watch that currently supports Assistant.

Access Denied

[news.samsung.com]

Wear OS 6 puts Google Gemini on your wristWear OS 6 puts Google Gemini on your wrist
Whoop backpedals on its paid upgrade whoopsWhoop backpedals on its paid upgrade whoops
The Pebble’s creator demos his new smartwatchThe Pebble’s creator demos his new smartwatch
OnePlus backs off its Watch 3’s huge price hikeOnePlus backs off its Watch 3’s huge price hike
Victoria Song
Victoria Song
The OG Apple Watch first shipped 10 years ago today.

That’s a momentous milestone. Apple isn’t doing a huge thing today — it’s just launched Global Close Your Rings day and you can pick up a physical pin in store if you do. That said, today’s a fun day for a blast from the past and re-reading The Verge’s very first Apple Watch review. (And if you’re so inclined, a little retrospective I wrote just before the Series 10 launch in September.)

Apple Watch: the definitive review

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
The new Pebble’s new charger.

Eric Migicovsky, the creator of the original Pebble watch who’s also resurrecting the wearable, shared a picture of the upcoming Core 2 Duo smartwatch’s USB-C charging dongle on X, as spotted by 9to5Google.

Designed by Nomad, the charger’s magnetic design looks similar to the one it created for the original Pebble watches eight years ago, complete with a USB-C port instead of a permanently attached cable so you can connect your own.

A person holding a magnetic USB-C charger for a smartwatch.
The Core 2 Duo smartwatch’s USB-C charging dongle is designed by Nomad.
Image: X
The Apple Watch Series 10 is back on sale for a record low of $299The Apple Watch Series 10 is back on sale for a record low of $299
Pixel Watch 4 leaks suggest Google is doubling down on battery againPixel Watch 4 leaks suggest Google is doubling down on battery again
OnePlus won’t say why its Watch 3 suddenly costs $170 more than promisedOnePlus won’t say why its Watch 3 suddenly costs $170 more than promised
SmartThings gets Matter 1.4 support for water heaters, heat pumps, and moreSmartThings gets Matter 1.4 support for water heaters, heat pumps, and more
Loss of Pulse alerts are rolling out on Pixel Watch 3Loss of Pulse alerts are rolling out on Pixel Watch 3
Victoria Song
Victoria Song
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is an awful lot like the Vivoactive 5.

Just don’t mistake it for a new Vivomove, Vivosport, or Vivosmart. (Why does Garmin do this!?)

In all seriousness, I spent some time going through the specs on the new $299 Vivoactive 6 versus the Vivoactive 5. There’s very few differences. You’re getting a handful of extra software features that weren’t around when the Vivoactive 5 launched, more activity profiles and GPS systems, a slightly slimmer form factor, and new colors. There’s no EKG compatibility, however. If you’re looking to upgrade, they go on sale April 4th.

Meet vívoactive 6, the latest health and fitness smartwatch from Garmin

[prnewswire.com]

Garmin adds AI and a subscription tier to its appGarmin adds AI and a subscription tier to its app
You’ll soon be able to hear Apple Watch alarms even in silent modeYou’ll soon be able to hear Apple Watch alarms even in silent mode
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Opening iOS is good news for smartwatchesOpening iOS is good news for smartwatches

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