• Apple Watch Series 5 is here! Apple hosted a special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre in its Cupertino, California headquarters on September 10 where the company unveiled watchOS 6-powered Apple Watch Series 5 alongside the iPhone 11 series consisting of the iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
• "We've seen Apple Watch have a meaningful impact on our customers' lives and we're excited to deliver even more capabilities with Apple Watch Series 5 and watchOS 6," Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer said on the occasion.
• Last year, with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple added a bunch of interesting features to its smartwatch lineup. The list included noteworthy features like ECG and fall detection among others. The company also added walkie-talkie like features and Siri shortcuts to its Watch Series giving greater mobility and ease of use to Apple Watch users.
• This year, Apple took this trend a step further and introduced some cool new features that would allow users to use Apple's newly launched Apple Watch Series 5 not just as a smart watch but also as a watch.
• Confused? Take a peek at the features that Apple has introduced in its new Apple Watch:

• A couple of years back Samsung introduced always on display feature on its flagship Galaxy S-series smartphones. Now, why are we talking about Samsung smartphones when theme of the day is clearly Apple? That is because Apple has borrowed a page from Samsung's playbook and introduced one of its most famed features on its smart watch, albiet with a twist.
• Apple has introduced the always on display feature on the Apple Watch Series 5, which apart from displaying the time also displays your vitals your vitals all the time. Apple has introduced a bunch of new watch faces especially for this feature to preserve the battery life. The company has intrduced a new LTPO display along with an ultra-low power display driver, efficient power management integrated circuit and new ambient light sensor that allows the Watch Series 5 to deliver 18 hours of battery life.

• Apple Watches are not only used for monitoring your vitals, tracking your fitness levels and of course checking the time but also for navigation through the unknown roads and highways. But this can get confusing at times, especially if you don't know which direction you are facing. To solve this issue, Apple has introduced a built-in compass in the Apple Watch Series 5. This compass syncs with the new compass app to give users details such as the direction where they are heading, inclination, latitude, longitude and current elevation. Users can also add one of three new Compass complications to their watch face to see direction at a glance.

• Another utilitarian feature that Apple has added to its Watch Series 5 is the ability to make international calls. Now, before you jump on to the conclusion that you will be able to call your friends and family while travelling abroad, then let me clear your confusion - you won't. But on the flipside if you are in trouble when you are on a foreign trip, you will be able to call emergency services using the new Apple Watch Series 5. This feature, the company says, will work regardless of the place where you purchased your Apple Watch or if your international roaming plan has been activated or not. Simply said, help will come to you when you need it.
• Notably, the International emergency calling feature will also works with fall detection to automatically place an emergency call if your Apple Watch senses that you have taken a hard fall and haven't moved for about a minute. But you will need to activate this feature first.

• While the above mentioned features are the biggest updates coming to the Apple Watch Series 5 this year, the company is also introducing some other, probably less fancy, features its newly launched smart watch.
• Apple is including a new Cycle Tracking app in the Watch Series 5, which gives customers (read: women) the ability to log important information related to their menstrual cycles and see predicted timing for their next period and fertile windows. In addition to that Apple has also introduced a new Noise app in its new smart watch that will help users understand the ambient sound levels which indeed would help them understand how certain sounds are having a negative impact on their hearing.

Now comes the most important aspect of the Apple Watch Series 5 -- price, availability and variants. Apple has introduced the Apple Watch Series 5 a bunch of new variants this year. The list includes:

• Brushed finish variants: Titanium brushed finish and space black brushed finish
• Stainless steel variants: Gold, Silver and Space Black
• Aluminium case variants: Silver, Gold and Space Grey
• Special Editions: Ceramic case edition
• Apple Watch Nike Edition: Windrunner jacket design, Nike Sport Band and reflective Nike Sport Loop
• Apple Watch Hermes Edition: Block band in Della Cavalleria print and all-black version with Hermès gradient watch face.

Now comes the price. Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 5 starting at $399 in the US. Check out the India pricing here:

• Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS) costs Rs 40,900 in India.
• Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) costs Rs 49,900 in India.

Apple hasn't announced the price of its special edition watches yet. The company also hasn't announced as to when the Watch Series 5 will be available in India. The company says that the new Apple Watch is coming to the authorised Apple resellers in India soon.
In addition to launching the Watch Series 5, Apple has reduced the price of its Apple Watch Series 3. Here are the new prices:

• Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) costs Rs 20,900 in India
• Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) costs Rs 29,900 in India.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

• It seems like every company is now making a smartwatch — or, in the case of Google, a smartwatch platform for other companies to build on — but only Apple consistently makes the best smartwatches you can buy. Samsung is nipping at Apple’s heels with the launch of the Galaxy Watch Active 2, a beautiful new smartwatch with built-in sleep-tracking, advanced workout-tracking and an ECG sensor for diagnosing atrial fibrillation. (One caveat: That last feature doesn’t work at launch, but will be turned on later.)
• In the design department, Samsung wins by a mile. This is the smartwatch I actually want to wear. Apple’s watchOS 6 delivers a slew of features that Samsung can’t match (yet), but the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is still one of the few Android smartwatches you’ll want to buy. Bonus: The Galaxy Watch Active 2 also works with iOS, so if you don’t want to be locked into a platform, this is a better alternative than the Wear OS options out there.

• The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is available to buy as of Sept. 27. The 40-millimeter Bluetooth version of the watch with an aluminum finish is $279, and the larger 44-mm model is $299. A stainless steel option starts at $379. For cellular connectivity, you’ll have to shell out $429. Samsung is also releasing an Under Armour special edition of the watch with MapMyRun integration at the forefront for $309.

Design and Display

• The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a fitness-focused device, as is obvious from the name, but aesthetically it strikes a tone between sporty and traditional timepiece with its slim, minimalist design. The watch is offered in a shiny, silver stainless steel case for the LTE variant while the Bluetooth versions come in silver, black, and a pink color called lily gold. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 sports 5-ATM water resistance and easily interchangeable 20mm watch straps.
• The bezels of the watch are a bit thinner than its predecessor to accommodate slightly larger screens. There are 1.2-inch and 1.4-inch AMOLED displays in the 40mm and 44mm options, respectively, with 360 x 360 resolutions on both.
• New to the Watch Active 2 is a rotating bezel for navigating the watch, but this isn’t an addition you’ll actually see. Unlike the mechanical rotating bezel on the Galaxy Watch, this is a digital implementation that functions as an edge gesture. This brings back the beloved navigation feature, previously missing from the original Galaxy Watch Active, and lets you navigate the interface with it.
• Lastly, Samsung has introduced a new feature called My Style, which lets you take a picture of your outfit and generates five different watch faces based on it, depending on the area of the outfit you select.

More sensors mean better tracking, including a new ECG monitor

• The Active 2 also increases its tracking sensors, doubling the heart rate light sensors from four to eight and adding twice the sensitivity to the accelerometer, making it able to measure g-force up to 32Gs, as oppose to the original Watch Active’s 16G limit. Samsung said this will aid accuracy in activity tracking, but for now, it hasn’t added any new tracking features.
• Last, but certainly not least, is the new electrocardiogram monitor. This ECG monitors the electrical signals from your heart, helping you detect irregular heartbeats or atrial fibrillation. This isn’t meant to replace medical-grade equipment and shouldn’t be used for diagnosis, but an FDA-cleared device like this can help you stay abreast of important aspects of your health.
• Unfortunately, it’s still pending FDA clearance, as it’s in the research and trial phase. At launch, this won’t be enabled, much like Samsung’s blood pressure monitor featured on its predecessor, which six months later has yet to make it to devices.

• The crown jewel of the specs for the new wearable for many may be the option for 4G LTE connectivity, enabling you to roam without your phone and still receive calls and messages. Processor-wise we have the same dual-core, 1.15GHz Exynos 9110 and 768MB of RAM, with the LTE model making a slight upgrade to 1.5 GB of RAM.
• The battery size has also been bumped up a bit from the original’s 230mAh juice pack. The 40mm steps up slightly to 247mAh while the 44mm version leaps further to 340mAh, although Samsung hasn’t stated what, if anything, this may change for the expected use times. The LTE versions are likely going to draw more battery life.

• Running the show is Samsung’s proprietary Tizen operating system, which has a couple of new app integrations. Users can now scroll through their Twitter feeds, liking and retweeting posts as they please, and a new integration with YouTube facilitates browsing and watching trending videos — however useful that may be on a watch.
• On the fitness front, you won’t find much in the way of new features, other than the aforementioned increased tracker sensitivity, which should deliver better tracking. You’ll still find automatic workout detection, guided workouts, and Bixby integrations like being able to say, “I want to run 5 miles in 30 minutes,” and be coached with real-time insights throughout.

• Amazon hosted its annual fall event at its headquarters in Seattle on September 25. As goes the tradition, the tech giant had a lot to say at its fall event. To give you some idea, Amazon announced over a dozen Alexa skills and features and launched a total of 15 new devices at the event. At The Sphere, which many of you know is Amazon's dome shaped headquarters in Seattle, the company announced the Amazon Echo Buds, proving a number of reports rights.
• The Amazon Echo Buds have been in news for quite sometime now. We heard the earliest report of Amazon working on what are now being called the Echo Buds in December last year. At the time, noted Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo said that both Amazon and Google might launch earbuds powered by their respective virtual assistants, the Google Assistant and Alexa. We heard whispers about the Alexa-enabled earbuds again earlier this year. The report at the time suggested that users will be able to answer calls, order goods and listen to voice updates using Amazon's Alexa enabled earbuds.
• Now Echo Earbuds have debuted with not only those qualities but much more. Something that wasn't expected out of them. But then that is the case with most Amazon products. They hit you like a bolt from blue and when they do, you cannot help and marvel at the simplicity of the design, ingenuity of the idea, quality and of course the afforadability of the product.
• To give you a fair idea of the features that the newly launched Amazon Echo Buds come with: The Amazon Echo Buds are powered by Alexa and each earbud has two premium, balanced armature drivers, which the company says helps it to crisp, clear vocals and dynamic bass. It comes with Bose active noise cancellation technology that allows users to block all noise. Users can switch between the ANC and Passthrough modes to hear what is around them without removing the earbuds. Echo Buds use the Alexa app to stream Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and Sirius XM and the best part about them is that they are also compatible with the Google Assistant and Siri.

Price and release date

• The Amazon Echo Buds are already up for pre-order in the States with deliveries beginning on 30th October. The timescale is expected to be similar in the UK although the pre-order page isn’t live at the time of writing.
• At £120/$130, the Buds are an eye-catching saving on the cost of the second generation Apple AirPods. In fact, with the superb Sony WF-1000XM3 true wireless headphones more expensive too, it’s most likely that the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 is where Amazon will most likely find the strongest competition, especially when it comes to pure sound quality.

Design and features

• Like most true wireless headphones, the Amazon Echo Buds come with a case which not only acts as a home to store them in but also to charge them with too. The promise is 5 hours of listening from a full charge with the case providing an additional three full charges, taking the total to 20 hours.
• That’s not a huge amount compared to others on the market but it should keep you powered up for the odd casual trip. A 15 min quick charge can get you 2 hours of playback when time is short.
• It’s an all-black affair for both the headphones and the carry case. Together, they measure a compact 57 x 77 x 29mm with each bud only 7.5g and 22 x 23 x 24mm in size. There are three sizes of eartips to choose from to help perfect that noise-isolating fit. They’re also IPX4 sweat and water-resistant, which should help them stay in full working order during sweaty (or rainy) park runs.

Sound

• In some ways, a people-packed and noisy demo area at the Amazon launch event was the right kind of setting for trying out the Echo Buds. But our colleagues at Techradar only had a matter of minutes with them in their ears to report their findings.
• On a first listen, the noise-cancelling seems impressive — if not quite at the levels of the Sony WF-1000XM3 — but they respond to the Alexa wake-word every time, even in a chaotic environment like the press launch. With ANC activated, news headlines appear to come through loud and clear when requested and not having to fumble around to find a button each time is welcome.
• The audio itself seems well balanced enough. Listening to Get Lucky by Daft Punk, there's appears to be decent bass weight and a decent sense of openness.
• We’re looking forward to getting them in for a full review so we can bring you the definitive verdict on their dynamics, sense of timing and much more.

•  Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has just announced a new audio product in the market, the Mi Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers. The Mi Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker is likely to take the competition to Lenovo Ultimate Ears, Bose, SoundLink and JBL in this segment. This launch comes just days after the company announced a number of new products in the Chinese market. These devices include the recently announced Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha, Mi 9 Pro 5G, MIUI 11, and more. Other products launched at the event include the Mi True Bluetooth Wireless Airdots 2, and a new Powerbank.

• According to a report by GizmoChina, the new product is available on sale now. Interested buyers can head to the official Xiaomi page on T-Mall page to make the purchase. In addition to this announcement, the company also shared important details including the price and features. As per the report, the Xiaomi Mi Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker features Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity. The company has also added a USB Type-C port on the speaker for charging. Beyond this, the product runs on a 2,600mAh battery while offering up to 8 hours of continuous playback time.
• Taking about the audio hardware, Xiaomi has added 52mm drivers in the speaker. In addition, the device also comes with two HD microphones to receive audio commands. Xiaomi has also added a strap on the speaker to ensure that users can hang the speakers at the back of their bag or any wall. The company has also taken care to add IP55 dust and water resistance to the speaker. This will come in handy as the device is actually named as “Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker”.
• At an event a few days ago, Xiaomi had launched the Mi AIrDots Pro 2 Bluetooth earbuds that are equipped with dual microphones that offer voice control and noise cancellation features. It supports touch controls, comes equipped with 14.2mm drivers, and the battery offers 4 hours of standalone playback, 14 hours with the case. It supports USB Type-C charging, and it takes about an hour for the case to charge. For now, there are no details about when the Mi Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker will go on sale in markets other than China.

• Xiaomi on 24 Sept. launched the Mi AirDots Pro 2 at its China event, alongside the Mi Power Bank 3 50W fast charge model and the 30W Mi Charge Turbo wireless charging stand as well. At the event, the Mi 9 Pro 5G, the Mi TV Pro 8K, and the Mi Mix Alpha 5G was also announced. The Mi AirDots Pro 2 earbuds support Bluetooth 5, 14.2mm drivers, and dual microphones for ENC. The Mi Power Bank 3 supports 50W fast charging, packs a 20000mAh capacity battery, and is slightly bulkier with thickness at 27.5mm. The 30W Mi Charge Turbo wireless charging stand has a new air duct design for faster and safer heat dissipation.

• Starting with the earbuds, the Mi AirDots Pro 2 is priced in China at CNY 399 (roughly Rs. 4,000), and it is set to go on sale from September 27. The earbuds are listed to be available in a single White colour option. The Mi Power Bank 3 50W, on the other hand, is priced in China at CNY 299 (roughly Rs. 3,000). There is no clarity on when this new 50W power bank will go on sale.
• The 30W Mi Charge Turbo wireless charging stand is priced in China at CNY 199 (roughly Rs. 2,000). It comes in a single White colour option, and there is no word on when it will go on sale.

• Like their predecessors that were launched in January this year, the Mi AirDots Pro 2 look heavily inspired from the Apple AirPods series, and come in a white charging case as well. They feature a semi-in-ear bud design to fit your ear canal easily and prevent it from falling off. The earbuds support Bluetooth v5.0 and LDHC Hi-Res audio codec. It comes with dual microphones that offer voice control and noise cancellation features. There's an integrated infrared sensor that helps Mi AirDots Pro 2 recognise when the earbud is removed. This helps in automatically pausing the audio whenever you remove them.
• There are also touch controls for volume and track change, and come equipped with 14.2mm drivers as well. They can connect to Android and iOS devices both, and each bud weighs about 4.5 grams. The case weight is about 50 grams. As for battery life, the Mi AirDots Pro 2 offer 4 hours of standalone playback, 14 hours with the case. It supports USB Type-C charging, and it takes about an hour for the case to charge.

Xiaomi Mi AirDots Pro 2 TWS: sound quality

• These Xiaomi headphones also incorporate the new Bluetooth codec LHDC, which allows better sound definition at low latency. Unlike the Mi True Wireless codec, the SBC, this new LHDC allows more than three times the data transmission and provides more realistic wireless audio and high definition, according to the manufacturer.
• Each earpiece now has a 14.2 mm diaphragm, which according to Xiaomi allows for "richer and fuller" bass, while highs are described as "clear and sharp". We also have a dual microphone to reduce noise during phone calls.

• The headphones also received ENC noise reduction. In the first generation it worked, but not very well. Here the headphone form factor has changed, and it is not quite clear how active noise reduction can work in the earbuds at all. But officially it is - it is necessary to underline it.

• The personal assistant Xiao AI is still present, though only for China, and is invoked either with voice or a tap on one of the headphones. We also have a new case that can be used to store the headphones as well as to charge them and give them extra autonomy when necessary. However, Xiaomi did not give any information about the autonomy or charging times of the headphones or the case.

• The new Mi AirDots Pro 2 headphones don't last long: 4 hours. In an hour in the case, they will be fully charged. The total working time with the case is also not impressive: up to 14 hours.
• However, these figures are officially better than the last generation: 3 hours from one charge and 10 hours from the case. In an hour, the headphones were charged for just 70 minutes listening to music. Progress is evident!

• Mi TV range in India has been expanded with four new models launched at Xiaomi's Smart Living 2020 event in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The new range includes the Mi TV 4X 65-inch (its biggest yet in India), Mi TV 4X 43-inch, Mi TV 4X 50-inch, and the Mi TV 4A 40-inch. Xiaomi has also upgraded its PatchWall with Netflix support and launched the Black variant of the Mi Soundbar. The Beijing-based company claimed that 34.2 percent of its Mi TV models are so far being sold offline in India. Also, more than 80 percent of the Mi TV models available are touted to have made locally in the country.

Mi TV 4X 65-inch

• The biggest TV offering from Xiaomi, the new Mi TV 4X 65-inch is said to offer over 40 percent more surface area when compared to the 55-inch model. It features a premium metal finish and slim 0.43-inch bezels. It features a 4K UHD (3840x2160 pixels) 10-bit display with support for HDR10. The company claims that the ‘Ultra Bright’ panel on the TV is brightest they’ve ever shipped on a Mi TV. On the inside there is a quad-core Cortex A55 SoC. The TV comes with Xiaomi's proprietary Vivid Picture Engine (VPE) and offers a wide colour gamut that is 88 percent of the NTSC colour space.
• The TV also offers s four-driver speaker system that can produce 20W audio along with support for DTS-HD and Dolby Audio. Apart from your standard HDMI and USB ports, you also get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. The TV runs on PatchWall 2.0 based on Android 9.0 with the option of switching to Android TV interface and you finally get Amazon Prime Video and Netflix out of the box. The new PatchWall update now offers a Light Theme and a carousel view along with Live News integration.
• The new Mi TV 4X 65-inch is launched at an introductory price of Rs 54,999 and will be available via Mi.com and Flipkart starting from September 29.

Mi TV 4X 43-inch, Mi TV 4X 50-inch

• Xiaomi also brought two new models under the Mi TV 4X series. Both the Mi TV 4X 43-inch and Mi TV 4X 50-inch models come with 4K HDR 10-bit displays. You also get similar 20W speakers, Dolby Audio and DTS-HD support, PatchWall 2.0 and Android TV 9.0. These are excellent options for someone looking for an affordable 4K television. The Mi TV 4X 43-inch is priced at Rs 24,999 while the Mi TV 4X 50-inch is priced at Rs 29,999.

• There is also an affordable option as Xiaomi has launched the Mi TV 4A 40-inch model which features a full-HD display panel and similar audio capabilities as the other models, so you get the 20W speakers and support for DTS-HD and the new PatchWall update with Android TV interface. This one is priced at just Rs 17,999 and will be available starting September 29.
• Alongside the new TV range, Xiaomi also announced a new black colour option on the Mi Soundbar which was launched last year. Also, the new update on the new and existing Mi TVs will enable users to finally control volume using the TV remote when connected using the S/PDIF interface.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mi TV 4X 65-inch has been launched with an introductory price of Rs 54,999.
• The three new Mi TVs will go on sale in India on September 29 midnight.
• The new Mi TVs will come with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video out of the box.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 65: Price in India and Availability

• The Mi TV 4X 65-inch is a big upgrade over the 55-inch Mi TV 4X Pro currently available in India. The new 65-inch 4K UHD Smart TV is priced at Rs 54,999 in India. The TV is priced competitively against the launch of Motorola’s first Smart TVs in the country. Xiaomi notes that it is an introductory price and will go on sale from September 29. Motorola launched its 65-inch UHD TV alongside five other models at Rs 64,999 in India. The Mi TV 4X 65-inch will be available via Mi.com and Flipkart.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 65: Specifications and Features

• The Mi TV 65-inch comes with a 4K HDR panel supporting a 10-bit display and wide color gamut. Like Motorola‘s offering, Xiaomi has also added MEMC (Motion Estimation/Motion Compensation) called Reality Flow with the help of a dedicated chip. The TV has a sound output of 20W and supports Dolby + DTS-HD audio output. The Mi TV 4X series also includes Vivid Picture Engine, an in-house image processing technology to produce better contrasts and punchier colors.
• Like other Mi TVs, the 65-inch Mi TV 4X also runs Android TV with PatchWall 2.0 UI. The big change coming with these TVs is the native support for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Xiaomi is also claiming 7,00,000+ hours of content as part of this interface. In terms of specifications, there is a quad-core processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage. It comes with three HDMI ports, one AV port, two USB ports, one Ethernet and S/PDIF port.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4X specifications

• The Mi TV 4X series feature 4K HDR10 enabled panel for a cinematic experience, according to the company. The high-end 65-inch model has a built-in Vivid Picture Engine that is rated to deliver deep contrasts, punchier colours, and significant depth to the picture quality. The TV also features Wide Colour Gamut (WCG) and Reality Flow, which is backed by MEMC technology to ensure smooth refresh rates. Notably, the 65-inch model runs Android 9.0 out of the box.
• The Mi TV 4X 65-inch, Mi TV 4X 50-inch, and Mi TV 4X 43-inch, all flaunt 3,840 x 2,160p resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 178-degree viewing angle. TVs are powered by 1.5GHz Cortex A-55 quad-core chipset paired with 2GB of RAM and 8GB storage built-in, except for the 43-inch option, which packs 1GB RAM + 8GB storage. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3x HDMI (including one ARC), AV, analog signal DTMB, 2x USB ports, and ethernet. The Mi TV 4X supports almost all the apps available on the Google Play store, including Hotstar, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

Mi TV 4A (40-inch) specifications, price, and availability

• The brand has also launched Mi TV 4A (40-inch) at the event. This model also ships with 20W speakers and runs PatchWall 2.0 UI. The Mi TV 4A (40-inch) features a full-HD panel. This TV also features Vivid Picture Engine and the brand claims that it has been launched with the aim to fill in the gap between the 32-inch and 43-inch models. Notably, there is also a data saver mode included, which allows for 3x more videos on mobile data, as per the brand’s claims. This TV has been priced at Rs 17,999. It will be also made available alongside the other TV models as well.

• Huawei’s Watch GT first appeared in October 2018 and, by the looks of it, the company considered it was time for an upgrade. The smartwatch, which was developed under the code name ‘Latona’, with model number LTN-B19, has popped up in various government databases and a lot of people assumed they were actually looking at a new model featuring the Android Wear OS.
• However, that doesn’t seem to be the case, at least of these new leaked renders are anything to go by. The new watch builds on the original design but brings in a number of improvements: one of them is a larger screen with smaller bezels as well as a thinner and more compact frame.
• The battery however, is slightly larger, standing at 445mAh, so it will last longer than its predecessor’s. The watch also features an integrated GPS module as well as a microphone and a speaker, which means that now you’ll be able to call people directly from it.
• It will connect via Bluetooth but it’s unknown at this time if LTE will make an appearance.
• What we do know, at least judging by the images, is that we’ll have an optical heart rate monitor on it and a choice of two designs: one of them is an all-black variant with a rubber band while the other is a black and silver combination featuring a brown leather strap.
• The smartwatches look like they won’t run on Google’s Wear OS however but Huawei’s proprietary software.
• The Huawei Watch GT 2 will most likely follow in the footsteps of its older sibling and make an appearance in October but it’s not a long shot to assume that Huawei might introduce it during the IFA this week. We’ll keep an eye on it and tell you all about it if the company does.

Huawei Watch GT release date and price

• There are two variants of the Huawei Watch GT that you need to know about, and Huawei calls them the Sport and the Classic.
• When it was first released, it was difficult to find the more expensive Classic version. It's now a lot easier to find, but in our experience, we’ve often found retailers don’t specifically refer to them by their Sport and Classic names. The way to tell which version you're looking at is the black body edition is the Sport variant, while the silver body is the Classic.
• Originally released in the UK in November 2018, the watch has an RRP of £199 for the Sport variant but we've often seen the price as low as £160. The Classic is meant to cost around £220, but again we've seen it on sale for around £40 less at £180.
• Those in the US will soon be able to buy the Huawei Watch GT too. It's on sale from February 19 this year and is set to cost $199.99 for the Sport edition. The Classic version is up for pre-order at $229.99.
• We currently don’t expect it to officially launch in Australia, although that may change with time and there are some third-party retailers where you can buy the watch. We've seen it on sale for around AU$320.

Design and display

• This is a thin and light smartwatch with a full-color display, and we found it comfortable to wear throughout our time using it; we also had compliments on how the watch looked on our wrist.
• The design is similar to that of the Huawei Watch 2, although it is slimmer. It's 10.6mm thick, and that helps it to sit on your wrist comfortably, without weighing it down like some smartwatches can.
• There's a 1.39-inch AMOLED display, which we found to be bright and clear. All of your stats appear clearly on the display, and it’s easy to interact with the touchscreen. That clarity is likely down to the resolution of 454 x 454 pixels, which is higher than we’ve seen on a lot of other smartwatches.
• This is one of the best screens we’ve seen on a smartwatch, which is why it’s a bit of a shame there’s no Wear OS software on the watch to provide apps other than Huawei's default selection. But let’s keeping focusing on the design of the watch for now..
• There are two buttons on the right-hand side of the watch that enable you to navigate around its interface when you’re not using the touchscreen itself.
• The top button works to wake the watch and then take you back to the main menu, while the lower one is designed for you to set up your own shortcuts. This enables you to easily boot up your favorite apps without having to head into the main menu, which is useful if you’re often running with the watch.

• The market for tablets might be stagnating but Lenovo does not seem to have plans to leave it anytime soon. The company has just announced two very affordable Lenovo Tab M7 and Tab M8 slates for 2019 and the starting price is just $90 (around Rs 6,000). The two slates are targeted mainly at media consumers and the M7 is the most affordable 7-inch version. The Tab M8 is a bit more expensive starting at $110 (around Rs 8,000) and availability for the duo is scheduled for October. However, these two devices are yet to come to India. The two slates share quite a few common internals such as a quad-core MediaTek chipset, Android 9.0 Pie, 2MP front cameras, and a headphone jack. Both the tablets also have 4G LTE options. 
• Coming to the smaller Tab M7, it has a 7-inch 1024×600 LCD display and the base model has as little as 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. This model runs Android Go but there’s a 2GB model with 16GB/32GB of storage that runs standard Android 9.0 Pie. The battery is 3,500mAh which could last a day with the power-sipping HD screen. There are a pair of basic 2MP cameras on the rear and the front if required. The Tab M7 will be offered in Iron Grey, Platinum Grey, and Onyx Black colour options.

• 7-inch (1024 x 600 pixels) IPS screen with 350 nit (Typ.), 300 nit (Min.) brightness
• 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8321 (WiFi) / MT8765B (LTE) processor
• 1GB / 2GB RAM, 8GB / 16GB / 32GB internal memory, expandable, up to 128GB via microSD
• Android 9.0 (Pie) / Android Pie Go Edition (1GB)
• 2MP rear camera
• 2MP front-facing camera
• 3.5mm audio jack, front-facing speaker,FM Radio
• 4G (Optional), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
• Dimensions: 176.33×102.85×8.25; Weight: 236g
• 3450 mAh battery with up to 10 hours of video watching or browsing

Lenovo Tab M8 Specifications

• 8-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD / (1920 x 1200 pixels) Full HD IPS display with 350 nit brightness
• 2GHz Quad-Core MediaTek Helio A22 12nm processor with IMG PowerVR GE-class GPU
• 2GB RAM with 16GB storage / 3GB RAM with 32GB storage
• Android 9.0 (Pie)
• 5MP auto focus rear camera
• 2MP front-facing camera
• 3.5mm audio jack, Side Speaker tuned with Dolby Audio
• 4G (Optional), WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz_, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
• Dimensions: 199.1×121.8×8.15; Weight: 305g
• 5000mAh battery with up to 12 hours of video watching or 18 hours of browsing

Pricing and Availability

• Lenovo Tab M7 comes in Iron Grey, Platinum Grey and Onyx Black colors, starts at €99 (US$ 109 / Rs. 7,845 approx.), available starting in October 2019
• Lenovo Tab M8 (HD) comes in Iron Grey and Platinum Grey colors, starts at €139 (US$ 153/ Rs. 11,015 approx.), available starting in October 2019
• Lenovo Tab M8 (FHD) comes in Iron Grey and Platinum Grey colors, starts at €159 (US$ 175/ Rs. 12,600 approx.), available starting in October 2019

Lenovo Smart Clock

• The Lenovo Smart Clock is priced at $79.99 (Rs. 5,634 approx.) and it will be available from spring 2019.
• FOR TECH COMPANIES, it’s not enough that many of us now fall asleep with our smartphones next to us, then reach to grab our phones yet again immediately after opening our eyes. They want us to have as many touchpoints in our lives as possible, an infinite number of ways in which we might interact with their products and services. So now they’re coming for our bedsides.
• Lenovo’s Smart Clock is one of a few examples of this, along with Google’s Home Hub, Amazon’s new Echo Show 5, and the two-year-old Echo Spot. All of these products are small enough to live on a bedside table, just inches from where you lay your head at night. The companies say these little devices with screens could go anywhere; on a kitchen counter, in your home office. But they lend themselves particularly well to the space that exists between slumber and stumbling into the shower each morning. They show you your calendar, tell you the weather, play snippets of news, and, oh yes, blare loud noises into your brain if that’s what gets you going in the morning.

• The Smart Clock doesn’t actually do anything a Google Home Mini can’t, but it’s a much better bedside companion. It’s not just that it has a screen. Lenovo has carefully considered the ways in which you will use the Smart Clock to emphasize features that aren’t as prominent on other smart speakers. For example, if your Wi-Fi goes out, it’ll still display the clock rather than the an error screen.
• For one, it doesn’t have a camera. Lenovo understands that the majority of Smart Clocks will be placed in a bedroom, so rather than implement a set of switches and toggles to turn it off, it simply eliminated the risk altogether. The lack of a camera might be a deal-breaker for some, but I’m willing to bet most people will buy it because it doesn’t have a camera rather than despite it.
• But the best feature of the Smart Clock is a simple one: alarms. They’re always a tap or a swipe away, but like any other Assistant device, you’ll mostly set them by asking. Like the Sunrise feature on Pixel phones, alarms start off low and gradually increase in volume, so as to not jerk you out of a deep sleep. The speaker is surprisingly good too, so it’s a bummer that you can only set it to play one of six preset tones rather than a song or station.
• It’s been so long since I used an alarm clock with actual buttons that I hadn’t quite realized how much of an annoyance snoozing has become on smartphones and smart speakers. On the Smart Clock, you can tap anywhere on the screen to snooze rather than struggle to tap a small smartphone target or hope it can understand your groggy mumbles. And there’s a setting to adjust the length of snooze time, too: a small but welcome addition. There’s even a Nap Timer, which starts a 20-minute timer for a quick stretch of shuteye.

A semi-smart display

• For as good as it is at alarms, however the Smart Clock isn’t as great at being a smart display. While it dutifully does the things a smart speaker should—home control, general knowledge questions, music playback, etc.—it doesn’t take advantage of its screen beyond showing the time. So you don’t get maps, song lyrics, or the Smart Dashboard on the Google Nest Hub.

Michael Simon/IDG

• The biggest deficiency is that it can’t display photos. While its screen is a good deal smaller than the Google Nest Hub or even most smartphones, it’s still plenty large enough for photos, especially when the 2.5-inch circular Echo Spot manages to do it. Google Photos integration should be a tap and a toggle away. Alas, it remains out of reach.
• You also can’t watch videos on the Smart Clock. While it connects with a Chromecast to beam things that Assistant finds, it can’t actually show them on its tiny screen. That means if you put a Smart Clock in your kitchen, you won’t be able to use it to view recipes. Instead, Assistant will read you the steps like it would on a Google Home, but all the speaker will show is the colored circles logo. It’s a bummer since the Smart Clock display is the perfect size for a countertop.

Should you buy a Lenovo Smart Clock?