The future of wearable technology is here, and it’s not just a wristband or a pair of headphones. The next generation of smartwatches will be more than just fitness trackers; they’ll have the ability to run apps, make phone calls, and even connect with other devices. Here are five products that could become must-have wearables by 2022.
Apple has been teasing its fourth-generation smartwatch since last year at WWDC, but a new report from Bloomberg claims that we may see a release as soon as this fall. It’s expected to feature an upgraded display (hopefully for better battery life), a faster processor, and improved health tracking features. We wouldn’t expect any kind of radical redesign like the Apple Watch 3 — yet another reason why you shouldn’t buy one now if you want to avoid missing out on key updates.
- Google Pixel 2
Google hasn’t said much about its second-gen Pixel phones beyond confirming their existence, but Android Police reports that both models will get upgrades over previous years. They claim to include a larger AMOLED screen, a faster Snapdragon 845 chip, and wireless charging. A recent leak also suggested that there would be two storage options, including 64GB and 128GB, although these haven’t been confirmed. If true, this means Google is finally offering some real competition against Samsung when it comes to internal storage.
- Fitbit Versa Lite
Fitbit already makes great fitness trackers, so it was only a matter of time before the company released a cheaper version of its best tracker. Dubbed the Versa Lite, the device should cost around $100 less than the standard model. It looks nearly identical to the original, except for the lack of GPS and heart rate monitor. Instead, the Versa Lite relies on Bluetooth Smart to track your steps, distance traveled, floors climbed, and calories burned.
- Huawei Watch 2
Huawei teased the second-generation Wear OS smartwatch at MWC19 earlier this month, and it sounds like it will continue the trend of adding more premium materials while keeping costs down. According to rumors, the watch will start at under $200 and ship with either a Qualcomm or Intel chipset. It will reportedly offer NFC payments through Google Pay, plus a number of third-party app support. In this case, the product name isn’t important because it’ll likely be called the Huawei Watch 2.
- LG Watch W7
LG didn’t show off too many details about the upcoming Watch W7 during MWC19, but it did tease the device with a few images. As reported by MySmartPrice, the smartwatch will come in three different sizes and will feature a round 1.39-inch OLED display. There will also be LTE connectivity, IP68 water resistance, and a built-in GPS sensor. You can probably expect the Watch W7 to launch alongside the G8 ThinQ smartphone sometime later this year.
The highlighted products are important ones, but they aren’t the only watches worth looking forward to this year. Fossil’s Q Explorist and Skagen Falster 2 have all received significant design changes, making them look fresh again.
