https://www.scmp.com/rss/309465/feed In early 2012, a fundraising by the maker of the Pebble smartwatch became the most successful in Kickstarter history, highlighting the potential of wearable computing devices. In September 2013, Samsung Electronics unveiled its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, while Qualcomm simultaneously revealed its Toq smartwatch. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has stepped up its overseas expansion with the global launch of its flagship Xiaomi 17 series in Barcelona, in its latest effort to challenge Apple and Samsung in the premium segment. The launch event, held on Saturday ahead of MWC Barcelona, marked the overseas release of Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra, months after the company launched the Xiaomi 17 series domestically. As with the domestic versions, both models are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345016/chinas-xiaomi-launches-premium-smartphone-17-series-globally-challenge-apple-samsung?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345016/chinas-xiaomi-launches-premium-smartphone-17-series-globally-challenge-apple-samsung?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies is aiming for a major international comeback, with the overseas release of its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 80 Pro, alongside a new smartwatch and the addition of a “wheelchair mode” to its wearable devices. Powered by the company’s self-designed, China-made Kirin 9030 Pro processor, the overseas version of its Mate 80 Pro handsets will run on the Android-based EMUI 15 operating system, Huawei announced at a launch event in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. While the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344774/huawei-targets-global-comeback-mate-80-pro-smartphone-new-smartwatch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344774/huawei-targets-global-comeback-mate-80-pro-smartphone-new-smartwatch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:01:08 +0000 dpa dpa An Apple Watch feature to spot signs of high blood pressure cannot reliably be used instead of regular screening tests, according to new research. People should not rely on their watch to alert them to changes in their blood pressure due to the risk of “false reassurance”, researchers say, adding that people should still have regular blood pressure checks using a cuff. Apple has a “hypertension [high blood pressure] notifications feature” which it says is “not intended to diagnose, treat or aid... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3343165/apple-watch-shouldnt-be-relied-alert-possible-hypertension-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3343165/apple-watch-shouldnt-be-relied-alert-possible-hypertension-study?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen One recent Saturday afternoon in Shanghai, a 10-year-old girl – glasses perched on her nose, her pink T-shirt tucked into a purple skirt – led her parents into a Little Genius store. Returning to school after the summer break, she was eager for a new smartwatch and had only one brand in mind. “We checked out Huawei and Xiaomi, but my daughter insisted on getting Little Genius,” the mother told the sales staff. Known locally as Xiaotiancai and abroad as Imoo, Little Genius may be unfamiliar to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3328227/move-over-apple-little-genius-smartwatches-captivate-millions-children-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3328227/move-over-apple-little-genius-smartwatches-captivate-millions-children-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 01:00:11 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng In a glitzy product launch in Paris on Friday, Huawei Technologies cemented its growing leadership in wrist-worn wearables by unveiling two new watch models, as well as rolling out an overseas version of a smartphone. The new Huawei Watch GT 6 is available in two sizes – 46mm and 41 mm in diameter – with the smaller unit delivering a 14-day battery life, double that of the previous generation. The larger watch can last for 21 days, a 50 per cent improvement on its predecessor. In addition,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326193/huawei-launches-new-watches-nova-14-smartphone-globally-it-deepens-presence-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326193/huawei-launches-new-watches-nova-14-smartphone-globally-it-deepens-presence-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:00:16 +0000 Annie Darling Annie Darling Once reserved for fitness fanatics and Silicon Valley insiders, wearable tech is entering a new era – one of precious metals and exquisite craftsmanship. Smart jewellery is now a fashion-forward essential, merging high design with intelligent functionality. As the boundaries between style and innovation continue to blur, the luxury world is paying close attention, rethinking what adornment can offer beyond beauty alone. Today’s upscale pieces aren’t just decorative – they’re practical,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3315641/continued-rise-luxury-smart-jewellery-gucci-hermes-tag-heuer-vertu-and-other-brands-are-combining?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3315641/continued-rise-luxury-smart-jewellery-gucci-hermes-tag-heuer-vertu-and-other-brands-are-combining?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 05:00:10 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Consumers should not rely on smartwatches to track their fitness levels for medical purposes, a Hong Kong watchdog has warned, after a test showed the data could deviate by as much as 74 per cent. The Consumer Council revealed on Thursday that three models out of 44 tested smartwatches and fitness trackers that were locally available had deviations of between 59 per cent and 74 per cent when counting steps taken by the user, which could be caused by including minor hand movements. Heart-rate... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310428/apple-or-samsung-hong-kong-consumer-council-test-shows-deviations-smartwatches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310428/apple-or-samsung-hong-kong-consumer-council-test-shows-deviations-smartwatches?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 May 2025 05:30:27 +0000 Reuters Reuters Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) firm iFlyTek was planning to expand its European business as trade tensions rise between the United States and China, vice-president Vincent Zhan said. “The US and China trade war has some impact for us,” Zhan said in an interview on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, adding that North America is the company’s largest market outside China in terms of demand. Zhan said iFlyTek was aiming to diversify its supply chain to reduce... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3301394/mwc-2025-chinese-ai-firm-iflytek-eyes-europe-expansion-us-trade-war-heats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3301394/mwc-2025-chinese-ai-firm-iflytek-eyes-europe-expansion-us-trade-war-heats?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Mar 2025 02:03:06 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Apple’s latest iPhone models are mostly excluded from China’s new subsidy scheme for boosting domestic consumption, giving domestic smartphone makers the opportunity to lift sales on the back of the stimulus measure. China will offer a 15 per cent subsidy for purchases of smartphones, tablets and smartwatches that cost under 6,000 yuan (US$818), in line with the government’s expanded trade-in scheme for consumer goods, according to a notice on Wednesday by the National Development and Reform... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293944/apples-pricey-iphones-out-chinas-new-subsidy-scheme-ceiling-capped-us818?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293944/apples-pricey-iphones-out-chinas-new-subsidy-scheme-ceiling-capped-us818?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:00:18 +0000 China will subsidise consumers who purchase new smartphones this year, in the latest attempt to elevate the country’s sluggish domestic consumption as external uncertainties are set to mount. The country’s nationwide consumer trade-in programme, funded by sovereign bonds, will be expanded to personal digital products, including smartphones and tablets, as well as smartwatches and bracelets, its top economic planner announced on Friday. Yuan Da, deputy secretary general of the National... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3293299/calling-all-smartphone-seekers-china-subsidise-personal-devices-expand-trade-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3293299/calling-all-smartphone-seekers-china-subsidise-personal-devices-expand-trade-push?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jan 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies is stepping up its competition with Apple beyond 5G smartphones, with the launch of its latest smartwatch series in China and Europe nearly a decade after the Shenzhen-based firm introduced its first device in that category. At an event in Shanghai on Tuesday, Huawei introduced on the mainland its new Watch GT 5 series – with prices starting at 1,488 yuan (US$212) – featuring a slimmer design, upgraded antenna and algorithm for improved positioning accuracy, up to two weeks... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279918/huawei-heats-global-smartwatch-market-new-gt-5-series-challenge-apple-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279918/huawei-heats-global-smartwatch-market-new-gt-5-series-challenge-apple-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Sep 2024 10:00:36 +0000 Apple said on Monday it would pause sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the United States from this week, as it deals with a patent dispute over the technology that enables the blood oxygen feature on the devices. The move comes after an order in October from the US International Trade Commission (ITC) that could bar Apple from importing its Apple Watches after finding the devices violate medical technology company Masimo’s patent rights. The decision is under review by President... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3245533/apple-pause-watch-series-9-ultra-2-sales-us-week-over-patent-dispute-blood-oxygen-feature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3245533/apple-pause-watch-series-9-ultra-2-sales-us-week-over-patent-dispute-blood-oxygen-feature?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Dec 2023 02:03:52 +0000 Smartphone and gadget giant Xiaomi Corp has become the latest Chinese industry player to unveil a unified operating system for its mobile devices, cars and internet-connected home products, as US-sanctioned Huawei Technologies works towards liberating its own integrated OS completely from Google’s Android. Xiaomi described HyperOS, its recently introduced OS, as a combination of a highly customised Android system and the company’s proprietary Internet of Things (IoT) platform Vela, launched... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3239589/xiaomi-launches-home-grown-cross-device-system-hyperos-us-sanctioned-huawei-moves-further-googles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3239589/xiaomi-launches-home-grown-cross-device-system-hyperos-us-sanctioned-huawei-moves-further-googles?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Oct 2023 23:30:19 +0000 Alphabet’s Google on Wednesday launched Pixel 8 smartphones and a new smartwatch that integrate its artificial intelligence (AI) technology more deeply into the company’s consumer gadgets. Google’s flagship Pixel smartphone has a fraction of Apple’s iPhone sales, but it is designed to show how Android products push the limits of available technology. Pixels are popular with photography enthusiasts and consumers who prefer the Android gadgets without modifications by other phone makers. Google... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3236845/google-unveils-pixel-8-smartphones-pixel-watch-2-new-ai-features-mobile-processor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3236845/google-unveils-pixel-8-smartphones-pixel-watch-2-new-ai-features-mobile-processor?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Oct 2023 02:20:31 +0000 The Apple Watch Series 9 at first glance looks like not much of an upgrade. Its outer appearance is virtually identical to the last two generations, and the most tangible new feature – the ability for the watch to detect your thumb and index fingers tapping together – won’t be ready until October, when it will become available via a software update. But after wearing the new watch over multiple days in Chiang Mai, Thailand, we are reminded again why this product is so dominant in its class – it... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3235308/apple-watch-series-9-review-first-chip-upgrade-years-finger-thumb-tap-feature-and-enhanced-iphone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3235308/apple-watch-series-9-review-first-chip-upgrade-years-finger-thumb-tap-feature-and-enhanced-iphone?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Sep 2023 09:15:12 +0000 A Chinese smartwatch brand that targets kids aged from four to 15 has overtaken Apple Watch to become the second top selling brand in China, according to new market research. Imoo, widely known in China as “Little Genius”, accounted for 21 per cent of the country’s smartwatch market in the second quarter, surpassing Apple to rank second, only behind smartphone giant Huawei Technologies, according to a report from research firm Counterpoint. The brand benefited from the high demand in the first... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3233502/chinas-little-genius-smartwatch-kids-overtakes-apple-watch-home-market-thanks-features-such-remote?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3233502/chinas-little-genius-smartwatch-kids-overtakes-apple-watch-home-market-thanks-features-such-remote?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Sep 2023 15:00:27 +0000 Since the pandemic, those in the know say people in the tech industry are fixating more on watches than ever before. “Much more of a statement – nobody leaves home without one!” says Victoria Hitchcock, a fashion lifestylist and personal brander in Silicon Valley, per Vox. Unlike professionals in finance who have long seen the value of “a statement,” those in the tech industry have been characterised – and even mocked – for their fixation on utility and simplicity. (Think the old tech bro... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3230608/9-watch-brands-tech-millionaires-love-elon-musk-and-jeff-bezos-wear-omega-and-bill-gates-goes-casio?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3230608/9-watch-brands-tech-millionaires-love-elon-musk-and-jeff-bezos-wear-omega-and-bill-gates-goes-casio?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Aug 2023 05:40:39 +0000 While traditionally holding product launches in the US and occasionally Europe, Samsung took its flagship show home for the first time this year. Titled “Unpacked”, the event in South Korea’s capital Seoul saw the unveiling of two new foldable phones, a trio of tablets, and two new smartwatches. As the show’s slogan – “Join the flip side” – clearly suggested, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 was the star. The outside cover screen of the clamshell foldable got a significant bump to 3.7 inches – three times... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3228833/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-5-and-z-fold-5-phones-unveiled-plus-galaxy-tab-s9-and-tab-s9-ultra-and-galaxy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3228833/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-5-and-z-fold-5-phones-unveiled-plus-galaxy-tab-s9-and-tab-s9-ultra-and-galaxy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jul 2023 11:00:13 +0000 What if you had a smartwatch that could measure your blood pressure and generate an electrocardiogram (ECG) too? A ticker for your ticker, so to speak. Well, there is one: Huawei’s new Watch D. Someone with dangerously high blood pressure normally does not feel it. Left undetected and untreated for years, it can gradually damage blood vessels and increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is most common in adults over age 50, but many... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3205529/how-heart-health-new-huawei-watch-d-beats-apple-watch-and-samsung-galaxy-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3205529/how-heart-health-new-huawei-watch-d-beats-apple-watch-and-samsung-galaxy-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jan 2023 09:15:08 +0000 As China finally abandons the most austere of its Covid-19 restrictions, many people – particularly young adults – are paying closer attention to their physical and mental well-being. Three years of sporadic lockdowns and lack of social interaction have taken a toll on health. A lot of people have been turning to wearable fitness devices to help them get into shape. The wearable devices market in China is expected to grow 20 per cent per year to reach a market size of over US$20 billion in 2025,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3204334/apple-watch-protein-powders-are-all-rage-china-gen-zs-rediscover-benefits-good-health-amid-resurging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3204334/apple-watch-protein-powders-are-all-rage-china-gen-zs-rediscover-benefits-good-health-amid-resurging?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Dec 2022 07:00:10 +0000 It won’t have escaped your attention that there’s a football tournament going on. No top-level sporting event can take place without accurate timekeeping, and the 129 official referees officiating at the 64 World Cup matches in Qatar are relying on the supreme accuracy and reliability of Hublot timepieces to keep the game moving. The watch they have on their wrists – the Big Bang e Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 – is a genuine groundbreaker. Launched to mark the event, these Gen3-connected watches... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3201679/style-edit-why-fifa-world-cup-referees-wear-hublot-watches-big-bang-e-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3201679/style-edit-why-fifa-world-cup-referees-wear-hublot-watches-big-bang-e-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Dec 2022 02:00:13 +0000 The Apple Watch is the most popular smartwatch in the world, and it is definitively the best choice for iPhone owners. There are three Apple Watch models that the brand offers with different price tags and features, including the Series 7, SE and Series 3. The easiest route is to get the Apple Watch Series 7 for the latest design, but it’s also the most expensive Apple Watch, so it isn’t for everyone. The US$280 Apple Watch SE is a great alternative that comes with a larger screen and more... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3190551/best-apple-watch-buy-2022-series-7-se-and-series-3?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3190551/best-apple-watch-buy-2022-series-7-se-and-series-3?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Aug 2022 12:00:28 +0000 Mother’s Day is fast approaching, with plenty of opportunities to celebrate and spoil your mother. If she is tech-savvy – either looking to start their journey to world domination with a high-functioning smartwatch or to escape reality with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones – we have it covered. We’ve rounded up some of the best tech gifts, including highly rated smartwatches, home goods, gaming gear and much more. For the mother who needs a smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 7 300 Smartwatches... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3176263/mothers-day-gadgets-apple-watch-kindle-or-sennheiser-wireless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3176263/mothers-day-gadgets-apple-watch-kindle-or-sennheiser-wireless?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 May 2022 11:15:15 +0000 Apple’s newest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 7, hit stores on October 15 with a larger display and a pair of exclusive new watch faces to choose from. The iPhone maker and tech giant unveiled the latest watch last month along with the iPhone 13 – and has been shipping units to customers who could place pre-orders as of October. 8. The Series 7 starts at US$399 for the 41mm-sized model and US$429 for the 45mm model. The displays on Apple’s newest watches have 20 per cent more screen area and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3152325/apple-watch-series-7-review-20-cent-more-screen-area-40-cent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3152325/apple-watch-series-7-review-20-cent-more-screen-area-40-cent?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:30:27 +0000 Since its debut six years ago, the Apple Watch has dominated the smartwatch market. Sales may fluctuate every quarter, but industry numbers show Apple’s smartwatch generally grabs 30 to 40 per cent of the global smartwatch market share, while all other brands are in single digits. So when Google announced at its developer conference in May that it had partnered with Samsung to jointly develop the former’s Wear OS platform for the latter’s wearables, many saw it as a necessary move: two rivals... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3148090/smartwatch-showdown-apple-watch-series-6-vs-samsung-galaxy-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3148090/smartwatch-showdown-apple-watch-series-6-vs-samsung-galaxy-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Sep 2021 02:45:09 +0000 Biel Crystal Holdings Limited, the world’s largest maker of smartphone screens, said it applied to raise capital in Hong Kong, reviving the initial public offering (IPO) that was scuttled three years ago amid the escalating trade war between the United States and China. The Hong Kong-based company’s stock sale will be co-sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, HSBC and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), according to a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange, without providing financial... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3143337/biel-crystal-revives-hong-kong-stock-offer-plan-glass-supplier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3143337/biel-crystal-revives-hong-kong-stock-offer-plan-glass-supplier?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jul 2021 12:29:26 +0000 If you’re a watch aficionado, you’re likely familiar with Paul Newman’s passion for the Rolex Daytona or the Tag Heuer Monaco worn by Steve McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans.  Rolex and Tag Heuer are just two prominent watch brands that for decades have capitalised on their connections to icons of the past, even though the late Newman and McQueen don’t really ring a bell with most millennial and Gen Z consumers. Frédéric Arnault, the 26-year-old chief executive of Tag Heuer, is not afraid to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3138252/can-tag-heuer-compete-apple-and-smartwatch-set-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3138252/can-tag-heuer-compete-apple-and-smartwatch-set-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jun 2021 04:15:13 +0000 The Apple Watch has come a long way since it hit our wrists six years ago.  It was initially deemed a flop in 2016 and failed to win customers over in the months after it launched. Now it’s the most popular smartwatch in the world, with a 55 per cent market share that dwarfs competitors like Google, whose US$2.1 billion Fitbit acquisition gave it an edge starting in 2019. Facebook is reportedly ready to launch its first-ever smartwatch in 2022 – but it has its work cut out for it, given Apple’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3137349/how-apple-watch-took-fitbit-and-won-can-facebook-steal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3137349/how-apple-watch-took-fitbit-and-won-can-facebook-steal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000 Huawei Technologies Co’s HarmonyOS 2 has arrived, and it is set to start showing up in more smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and even home appliances. Under pressure from US sanctions that have blocked access to Google apps and services, Huawei began transitioning last year to HarmonyOS, its own in-house operating system for Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. The company now has numerous partners for the OS, including home appliances giant Midea, drone maker SZ DJI Technology, and Swiss... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3136017/will-huaweis-harmony-operating-system-end-global-duopoly-googles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3136017/will-huaweis-harmony-operating-system-end-global-duopoly-googles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jun 2021 05:00:39 +0000 Huawei Technologies Co’s opening salvo for its HarmonyOS mobile platform to go mainstream, helping the telecommunications giant overcome US trade sanctions, has drawn thousands of partners, but also delivered a stiff reality check – none of its major Chinese Android smartphone rivals are on board. Huawei faces an uphill battle to convince other smartphone makers to change from Android to HarmonyOS over difficulties of “user conversion, compatibility issues and political risks”, which few vendors... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3135935/huawei-draws-large-consumer-brands-run-harmonyos-android-smartphone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3135935/huawei-draws-large-consumer-brands-run-harmonyos-android-smartphone?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jun 2021 10:22:28 +0000 Apple has released a limited edition Black Unity Collection for the Apple Watch to commemorate Black History Month. The collection is made up of three parts: a limited edition Apple Watch Series 6, the Black Unity Sport Band and a Unity watch face, which are “designed to celebrate and acknowledge Black history and Black culture”, Apple said in a press release. “We are all accountable to the urgent work of building a more just, more equitable world – and these new projects send a clear signal of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3120225/black-unity-apple-watchs-powerful-symbolism-black?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3120225/black-unity-apple-watchs-powerful-symbolism-black?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Feb 2021 22:00:09 +0000 Huawei Technologies Co plans to sharpen the focus of its wearables research and development on health care, as the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker pushes into new growth areas amid its struggles with US trade sanctions. The initiative could also enable Huawei to catch up with Xiaomi Corp, the world’s second-biggest wearables vendor behind Apple. Shenzhen-based Huawei is undertaking three health research programmes on hypertension management, body temperature and coronary heart... https://www.scmp.com/tech/gear/article/3119149/huawei-ramps-wearables-effort-focus-health-care-amid-push-new-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/gear/article/3119149/huawei-ramps-wearables-effort-focus-health-care-amid-push-new-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Jan 2021 15:00:11 +0000 In a laboratory in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), researchers study a swinging metal pole designed to mimic the movement of human arms. Using a highly compact generator containing fewer than 10 components – including a motion capture unit and power generation unit – the researchers aim to harvest the energy created by human motion to power smartwatches and wristbands. This research, documented in academic journals including Applied Energy and IEEE Internet of Things Journal earlier... https://www.scmp.com/tech/science-research/article/3108264/smartwatches-powered-wearers-cuhk-researchers-aim-harvest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/science-research/article/3108264/smartwatches-powered-wearers-cuhk-researchers-aim-harvest?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Nov 2020 00:15:05 +0000 Surfing the internet used to be simple: we got online using either a computer or smartphone. But the arrival of smartwatches, smart speakers and countless other new gadgets in the Internet of Things has made users more connected than ever. And now that is threatening to widen the digital divide between China’s children in urban and rural areas. More than 99 per cent of the country’s population under 18 now has access to the internet, according to an annual study by the Chinese Academy of Social... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3102524/smartphones-bridged-digital-divide-chinas-urban-and-rural-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3102524/smartphones-bridged-digital-divide-chinas-urban-and-rural-children?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2020 03:05:14 +0000 For the first time since 2011, Apple did not announce a new iPhone at its annual September event. The phone’s absence had already been reported in advance, so it’s not a complete surprise. But in China, it still caught some netizens off guard. On the microblogging site Weibo, the hashtags “#iPhone 12 wasn’t announced” and “#Apple event doesn’t have Phone 12” were trending for hours. Many users complained that they have been waiting a long time for a new phone and asked why Apple didn’t announce... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3101786/without-iphone-12-apples-new-product-announcements-make-most-boring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3101786/without-iphone-12-apples-new-product-announcements-make-most-boring?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2020 17:00:17 +0000 The newly announced Apple Watch Series 6 continues the company’s push to position the wearable as a health and wellness device: it can now track blood-oxygen levels by shooting red and infrared light, and the whole process takes 15 seconds. “You can have [the Watch] monitor your blood-oxygen levels during sleep and when you wake up, the findings will be on your Watch and iPhone app,” explains an Apple executive, adding that the company is working with three medical centres in the US to determine... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3101778/new-apple-watch-series-6-can-check-your-blood-oxygen-levels-every?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3101778/new-apple-watch-series-6-can-check-your-blood-oxygen-levels-every?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2020 09:45:21 +0000 Apple has asked suppliers to build at least 75 million 5G iPhones for later this year, roughly in line with last year’s launch, in a sign that demand for the company’s most important product is holding up in the midst of the global pandemic and recession. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant anticipates shipments of these next-generation iPhones may reach as high as 80 million units in 2020, according to people familiar with the situation. Apple plans to launch four new models in... https://www.scmp.com/tech/gear/article/3099762/apple-preparing-75-million-5g-iphones-alongside-new-watches-and-ipad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/gear/article/3099762/apple-preparing-75-million-5g-iphones-alongside-new-watches-and-ipad?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:10:44 +0000 Fitbit has unveiled a smartwatch enabled to tell if you may be feeling stressed out or potentially running a fever. The company this week announced a trio of health wearables. At the centre of the line-up is the Fitbit Sense, an innovative smartwatch with sensors that help you better understand what might be happening to your body. The hi-tech device comes with a sweat reading sensor that detects “small electrical changes” to tell you how your body responds to stress. So if your palms get sweaty... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3098886/covid-19-detector-your-wrist-thats-what-fitbit-claiming-its-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3098886/covid-19-detector-your-wrist-thats-what-fitbit-claiming-its-new?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2020 04:45:12 +0000 Shenzhen-based smartphone company Nubia has a new smartwatch with a curved display that wraps around a user’s wrist. It follows last year’s Nubia Alpha (Nubia-α), which made a splash in tech circles with its eye-catching design. But with its newest watch, Nubia is playing it a bit on the safer side. The Nubia Watch was unveiled on Monday alongside the new Nubia Red Magic 5S, a gaming phone with a 144 Hz display. The good news for people who like the idea of the Nubia Alpha is that the new watch... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3095169/new-curved-display-smartwatch-follows-last-years-nubia-alpha-much?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3095169/new-curved-display-smartwatch-follows-last-years-nubia-alpha-much?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2020 11:35:52 +0000 Ever since being blacklisted by the US and losing access to Google apps on its smartphones, Huawei devices have looked a lot less attractive to people outside China. That could be why China’s largest smartphone brand has gone all out by opening its largest and swankiest flagship store in its home country. The newest Huawei store in Shanghai opened its doors on Wednesday, and it’s showing off a lot more than smartphones. Along with the typical Huawei gadget displays, the shop features a car to... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3090438/huawei-put-car-kitchen-and-gym-inside-huge-new-flagship-store-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3090438/huawei-put-car-kitchen-and-gym-inside-huge-new-flagship-store-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jun 2020 12:45:13 +0000 When Apple introduced its Watch in 2014, it was presented as a stylish fashion accessory that offered communication abilities. Media at the time covered it as a luxury item – there was a model priced at US$17,000. In recent years, Apple has pivoted its marketing and pushed the Watch as first and foremost a health and fitness device, with key features introduced such as fall detection and electrocardiogram sensors. This year’s new Apple Watch features, coming via a WatchOS 7 software update,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3090364/apple-watch-latest-health-upgrades-hand-washing-tracker-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3090364/apple-watch-latest-health-upgrades-hand-washing-tracker-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jun 2020 04:53:56 +0000 Can your Fitbit or Apple Watch detect a coronavirus infection before the onset of symptoms? Researchers are looking at these devices and other such wearables as a possible early warning system for the deadly virus. Last month, scientists at the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute said they had created a digital platform that can detect Covid-19 symptoms up to three days before they show up using the Oura ring, a wearable fitness and activity tracker. An app developed by... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3088137/your-wearable-tech-could-be-used-covid-19-virus-early?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3088137/your-wearable-tech-could-be-used-covid-19-virus-early?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jun 2020 11:00:14 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Realme saw rapid growth in 2019, especially in India, where it became the fourth most popular smartphone brand in the country in the first quarter, according to IDC. And now the Oppo spin-off brand is expanding in India to include a smartwatch and smart TV in its offerings. The Realme Watch will come with a square 1.4-inch LCD screen. It’s also equipped with heart rate and oxygen monitors, a fitness tracker and the ability to control music, smartphone... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085987/realmes-first-smartwatch-costs-us50-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085987/realmes-first-smartwatch-costs-us50-india?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2020 11:27:40 +0000 Realme saw rapid growth in 2019, especially in India, where it became the fourth most popular smartphone brand in the country in the first quarter, according to IDC. And now the Oppo spin-off brand is expanding in India to include a smartwatch and smart TV in its offerings. The Realme Watch will come with a square 1.4-inch LCD screen. It’s also equipped with heart rate and oxygen monitors, a fitness tracker and the ability to control music, smartphone cameras and smart homes. The company is also... https://www.scmp.com/future-tech/realmes-first-smartwatch-costs-us50-india/article/3085952?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/future-tech/realmes-first-smartwatch-costs-us50-india/article/3085952?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2020 11:27:38 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The tiniest changes in your heart rate, temperature and sleeping patterns could help give forewarning for the next big pandemic. That’s according to researchers from the wearables company Huami after collecting data from 1.3 million users in Europe and China. The researchers hope their prediction model could eventually be used to alert health authorities of future infectious disease outbreaks. Huami may not be as well known as Fitbit in much of the... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3084089/can-fitness-trackers-warn-us-about-next-covid-19-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3084089/can-fitness-trackers-warn-us-about-next-covid-19-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2020 21:00:09 +0000 The tiniest changes in your heart rate, temperature and sleeping patterns could help give forewarning for the next big pandemic. That’s according to researchers from the wearables company Huami after collecting data from 1.3 million users in Europe and China. The researchers hope their prediction model could eventually be used to alert health authorities of future infectious disease outbreaks. Huami may not be as well known as Fitbit in much of the world, but it’s one of the largest wearables... https://www.scmp.com/tech/can-fitness-trackers-warn-us-about-next-covid-19-attack/article/3083809?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/can-fitness-trackers-warn-us-about-next-covid-19-attack/article/3083809?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2020 21:00:05 +0000 As final-year students and their teachers in Beijing return to school for the first time since the coronavirus lockdowns, city authorities are adopting wearable smart technology to help prevent further large-scale outbreaks. The latest solution involves a smart wristband that monitors body temperature in real time. Beijing has rolled out the pilot scheme among final-year students, according to an online report in state-owned Beijing Daily on Monday. The goal is to “spot irregularities and invoke... https://www.scmp.com/tech/start-ups/article/3083827/beijing-adopts-smart-wristbands-real-time-fever-detection-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/start-ups/article/3083827/beijing-adopts-smart-wristbands-real-time-fever-detection-students?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2020 09:45:14 +0000 Fitbit on Wednesday launched a virtual study to test if its wearable devices can detect irregular heart rhythms or atrial fibrillation. The hardware to detect irregular beats is present in Fitbit’s devices, but is not available to consumers. Device users who enrol in the study will be allowed to test it in order for Fitbit to seek regulatory review. Fitbit, which is being acquired by Google-parent Alphabet, said in October that it planned to develop a method to detect irregular heartbeats that... https://www.scmp.com/tech/science-research/article/3083238/fitbit-starts-study-test-if-devices-can-detect-irregular?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/science-research/article/3083238/fitbit-starts-study-test-if-devices-can-detect-irregular?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2020 02:10:56 +0000 Apple said it will hold a virtual version of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference starting June 22, about two weeks later than usual. The conference – where the company plans to preview major software updates for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch – will be held online this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The extra two weeks gives the company more time to assemble a virtual conference and helps Apple engineers finish up the initial versions of the new software while working... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3083056/apple-hold-developer-conference-online-due-covid-19-pandemic-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3083056/apple-hold-developer-conference-online-due-covid-19-pandemic-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2020 01:52:52 +0000 After dabbling in smartwatches with its excellent Versa line, Fitbit has returned to its flagship fitness tracker with the Charge 4. We examine some of its upgrades and drawbacks. Design and hardware The Fitbit Charge 4 is, at just half an inch (12.5mm) at its thickest point and weighing 30g, one of the slimmest and lightest fitness trackers around. This streamlined design is aided by the removal of the physical button that has been seen on past Fitbit devices. In its place is a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3082275/fitbit-charge-4-powerful-fitness-tracker-let-down-its-poor-screen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3082275/fitbit-charge-4-powerful-fitness-tracker-let-down-its-poor-screen?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2020 21:00:25 +0000