Michael Hicks

While the Pixel Watch 4 hardware and Wear OS 6 feel polished, the Gemini and Fitbit experiences are still works-in-progress with tons of potential.

I've worn Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses for runs, walks, hikes, rounds of golf, and more; here's why I love them, but why you may or may not feel the same.

Not everyone should spend $499 on a "Classic" watch with such an unconventional design, but the rotating bezel and Samsung Health perks remain as compelling as ever.

The Pixel 9a breaks the A-Series mold with a trademark the flagships can't match — epic battery life — while keeping pace with performance and visuals.

The Shokz OpenFit 2 brings back the runner-tailored design for situational awareness while fixing most of my issues with the first-gen wireless earbuds.

Meta's new glasses have the style, battery life, AI tools, and promise of years of updates to tempt you — but that won't be enough if the weight or company scares you off.

The NOMAD is a respectable Garmin Instinct 3 alternative for weekend hikers and trail runners who want the essentials but can live without expensive extras.

The Venu X1 takes nearly every Forerunner 970 and Fenix 8 feature and crams it into an ultra-skinny frame, with a gorgeously bright display that makes maps and widgets easier to read.

The Forerunner 970 is perfect for serious runners who'll use it for years, but only some of its new perks justify the $750 cost.

The COROS PACE Pro is the brand's first AMOLED watch, but it's the accuracy, speed, training tools, and battery that make it a standout running watch.

The Garmin Fenix 8 cobbles together familiar features from the Venu, Forerunner, Instinct, and Descent lineups into one familiar package. It's a fantastic device, but the price tag is truly hard to justify.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 fixes most of its predecessor's woes and is packed with Wear OS tricks. It's imperfect, but trending in the right direction.

The Polar Vantage V3 has a ton of health, sleep, and training data beneath the surface. You won't see a lot of it on the watch, but you'll still benefit from what lies underneath.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the combination of fitness tools and smarts I've been waiting for — and the gorgeous 1.9-inch display doesn't hurt, either.

The Ultrahuman Ring Air is an excellent sleep-tracking companion and among the best smart rings out there, despite some flaws.

Designed to ease mainstream users into a more niche ecosystem, the Garmin Venu 3 crams in traditional smartwatch tools and avoids overwhelming you with data.

Put a Charge 5 and Charge 6 side-by-side, and you couldn't tell them apart. It's all about the Google-branded smarts beneath the surface.

You don't need to overspend to get a fantastic, lightweight running watch. Only a frustrating watch band situation keeps this from a perfect score.

...don't fix it. The Watch 6 follows the Watch 5 template, making some useful updates, though it does leave some problems unsolved with the battery and fitness tools.

A Forerunner 955 with a visual facelift, the Forerunner 965 makes following mapped trails that much more enjoyable. But Garmin's prices keep creeping ever higher.