phones are boring The general idea of what a phone is hasn't changed over time. Even folding phones, which were heralded as bringing excitement back to the scene, are settled into the same year over year processor and camera upgrade cadence that standard phones have been in for years.
Each of the major phone releases this fall has been less than exciting. The latest versions of the GALAXY FOLD 4 and FLIP 4 are the same as last year's versions, but with newer processor and cameras. The new processors and cameras in the Pixel 7 and Pro models are almost the same as in the previous models. The iPhone 14 is almost the same as the iPhone 13 in terms of design, features, and performance.
There is a lot of action happening in the smartwatch space, a category that has been largely inactive for the past half-decade. The smartwatch is the star of the show, as all three manufacturers have upstaged their phone releases with more exciting and unique offerings for your wrist.
The first thing we should do is start with SAMSUNG. Although the company did fall into a little bit of the iterative update trap, it did introduce a new tier for the watches. It has a more rugged titanium case, a larger screen, an even bigger battery, and better navigation options for when you are running away from civilization. The new design and materials of the Watch 5 Pro make it stand out from the crowd.
Since the Apple Watch came out in 2015, Apple has released iterative updates to the same lineup of one small and one large watch. The Series 8 is almost the same as the Series 7.
The Apple Watch Ultra gives us something new that we haven't seen before. There is a new design, a bigger and brighter display, a whole new button, and a battery that runs around other Apple Watches. The Apple Watch is being marketed as a device for long-distance runners, climbers, and even divers, but it will be bought by many people who don't do those things and just want a big, top-of-the-line Apple Watch.
This year, there will be a new entrant to the market in the form of GOOGLE. The first device in thePixel hardware family was released this year, the Pixel Watch, which is the first of its kind.
It has been a long time since the arrival of the Pixel watch, which combines the efforts of the two companies. It is meant to bring new life to the market, with a design and set of features that seem specifically created to go toe to toe with the Apple watch. Is the design small? Check to see if it's true. The frame has a strap attachment system. Check to see if it's true. There is a crown with subtle feedback. Check to see if it's true. There is a voice assistant ready to control smart home devices. Check to see if it's true. Heart rate monitoring and electrocardiograms are included in fitness and workout tracking. Check and make sure.
If you want to switch from an Apple device to an operating system other than the Apple Watch, now is the time to do it.
The new watches bring something interesting to the table. Even if some of that progress can be boiled down to "you don't have to charge it as often", they feel like a movement back towards innovation and progress in Wearable Technology.
I don't know how Apple will update the Ultra over the course of the next year, and I don't know how Google will update its platform over the course of the next few years. This isn't to say that the crop of watches is perfect, but that there is a lot of work to be done. If you want to scratch that new gadget itch this year, watches are where it's at.
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