For better or worse, Wear OS smartwatches have followed the same path as Android phones: Samsung and Google dominate mind share. This year, they released the Galaxy Watch 9 and Pixel Watch 5 — but which to choose? I decided to wear both.

See what you missed in Daily Tech Insider from Sept. 7–11.

The post AI Agents, Foldables, Cyberthreats, and Chip Deals Define This Week in Tech appeared first on TechRepublic.

See what you missed in Daily Tech Insider from Sept. 7–11.

The post AI Agents, Foldables, Cyberthreats, and Chip Deals Define This Week in Tech appeared first on TechRepublic.

I nearly gave up on wearing my Galaxy Watch altogether after a stretch of missed texts and silent calendar alerts. The culprit turned out to be a setting I'd flipped on to squeeze out more battery life.

Apple Watch Series 12 adds a new health sensing system, Audio Intelligence, faster charging, longer workout battery life, and ceramic case options too.

The post Apple Unveils Apple Watch Series 12: What the $399 Watch Adds This Year appeared first on TechRepublic.

Motorola’s $349.99 Moto Watch Ultra returns to Wear OS with LTE, Polar health tools, a two-day battery claim, and two promised OS upgrades.

The post Moto Watch Ultra Launch: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

Pixel Watch 5 leads overall, while Galaxy Watch9, OnePlus Watch 3, and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 offer better fits for Samsung users, battery life, or outdoor use.

The post 4 Best Wear OS Smartwatches for 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

Apple Watch Series 12 adds a new health sensing system, Audio Intelligence, faster charging, longer workout battery life, and ceramic case options too.

The post Apple Unveils Apple Watch Series 12: What the $399 Watch Adds This Year appeared first on TechRepublic.

Motorola’s $349.99 Moto Watch Ultra returns to Wear OS with LTE, Polar health tools, a two-day battery claim, and two promised OS upgrades.

The post Moto Watch Ultra Launch: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

Pixel Watch 5 leads overall, while Galaxy Watch9, OnePlus Watch 3, and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 offer better fits for Samsung users, battery life, or outdoor use.

The post 4 Best Wear OS Smartwatches for 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

There was a lot more new stuff than expected.

Origami is a wonderful art form, but as a new project from the Shibaura Institute of Technology demonstrates, it can also have applications in the world of wearable tech.

The project involved creating paper-based sensors that could be worn on the body. These sensors were designed to be self-folding into helical forms, which would allow them to adapt neatly to the wearer over a wide range of body dimensions. This was achieved by using a standard inkjet printer to print patterns onto a flat piece of paper, with the printed patterns creating a self-folding behavior in the paper itself. Copper tape was then applied to the paper in order to act as an electrode for picking up triboelectric signals and measuring galvanic skin response. The idea is that these methods could be used to quickly and easily produce custom low-cost wearable sensors for a range of applications.

We’ve featured all kinds of interesting wearable hacks over the years, from power delivery via skin to shirts that will hide you from automated surveillance system. If you’re working on your own fancy projects that hang, clip, or dangle from the human body, don’t hesitate to let us know on the tipsline.

Sony leads overall, while Soundcore, Dell, Apple, and Bose offer better fits for value, certified meetings, Apple devices, or noise cancellation.

The post 5 Best Wireless Earbuds for Work Calls in 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

Sony leads overall, while Soundcore, Dell, Apple, and Bose offer better fits for value, certified meetings, Apple devices, or noise cancellation.

The post 5 Best Wireless Earbuds for Work Calls in 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

Computer (rumors) says yes. The iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12 are also expected today.

A smartwatch can do far more than show notifications or count your steps, especially if it's connected to the rest of your smart home. Google's ecosystem has quietly turned the wrist-worn device into a surprisingly capable remote control, letting you interact with devices around your home without reaching for your phone.

Some Apple Watch models give you the ability to stay connected even when you're away from your phone. But is it worth the cost?

Compare four Oura Ring alternatives by price, subscription fees, battery life, health features, and iPhone or Android compatibility.

The post 4 Best Oura Ring Alternatives for 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

The Pebble Time 2 is the most fun I’ve ever had with a smartwatch. It’s not the prettiest. It’s not the most durable. It’s not even packed with the most features. But this smartwatch sparks so much joy and is so genuinely useful that I haven’t wanted to part with it from the moment I put it on.

Xiaomi Smart Band 11 keeps the Band 10’s display size and 21-day battery claim but adds more brightness, a thinner design, and new health features.

The post Xiaomi Smart Band 11 vs Smart Band 10: What Actually Changed? appeared first on TechRepublic.