Wearables

Smart lets you go phone-free with Apple Watch

Stay connected beyond your phone

Published

on

Smart Communications is expanding its smartphone-free connectivity options with Apple Watch, letting subscribers stay connected, track their health, and make payments from their wrist.

The latest Apple Watch lineup, including the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3, is now available through Smart Postpaid Plans with Device starting at Plan 999.

The Apple Watch SE 3 starts at P692 per month, while the Apple Watch Series 11 starts at P1,321 per month. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 starts at P2,275 per month. Customers can also choose 0% installment plans through participating bank partners.

Smart Device Link lets Apple Watch users share their primary mobile number and plan with their smartwatch for P199 per month. This allows them to make calls, send texts, and use mobile data even when their iPhone isn’t nearby.

First-time Smart Device Link users can get a free six-month trial until September 30. Smart says activation instructions are available through its website.

Apple Watch

Beyond connectivity, Apple Watch offers health, fitness, safety, and wellness features that vary by model. These include heart rate and sleep tracking, ECG, Sleep Score, workout tracking, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS.

Users can also make secure, contactless payments directly from their Apple Watch with Apple Pay.

The Apple Watch SE 3 focuses on essential health, fitness, safety, and connectivity features. The Series 11 adds more advanced health and fitness capabilities, while the Ultra 3 is designed for demanding sports and outdoor activities.

Smart 5G further supports connectivity across Apple Watch, iPhone, and other digital services, whether users are at work or on the go.

Smart was also recently recognized by Ookla for having the Best Mobile Video Experience in the Philippines for the first half of 2026. It posted a Video Score of 72.82, the highest among mobile operators in the country.

The Apple Watch SE 3, Series 11, and Ultra 3 are available through Smart’s Postpaid Plans with Device starting at Plan 999 via the Smart Online Store and Smart Stores.

Wearables

Garmin Approach S72 brings swing metrics, green reading to your wrist

Meet the newest flagship golf watch with a built-in speaker!

Published

on

Garmin has unveiled the Approach S72, its new flagship golf smartwatch.

It comes in 43mm and 47mm sizes, and both have bright AMOLED displays. The watch also gets a titanium bezel, a sapphire lens, and a new lightweight ComfortFit fabric band.

Swing and heart rate data on the course

The Approach S72 adds on-wrist swing metrics, including hand speed, backswing length, and wrist rotation. Garmin says the idea is to help you change your swing based on real data instead of feel alone.

Real-time heart rate is part of the picture too. You can see how your heart rate changes before and after each shot, and once the round is over, you can look back at trends in how it may have affected your score.

The Approach S72 also covers everyday health tracking with its wrist-based heart rate and stress tracking, plus Body Battery energy monitoring and advanced sleep monitoring. It also comes with preloaded activity profiles for strength and mobility work.

Reading greens and reviewing rounds

A new green reading feature uses green contour data to show which direction a putt will break, along with the average slope percentage, which should make picking an aim point quicker.

This requires an active Garmin Golf Membership. After a round, the Garmin Golf app can show putting analytics like speed bias, direction bias, and make rate.

Aerial imagery of each hole is also included, so you can see real photos when deciding where to lay up or where the safest miss is.

Driving range sessions can be logged to the Garmin Connect app as well. You’ll get swing metrics and tendencies there, and the practice time counts toward your fitness goals.

Built to wear all day

The titanium bezel is light enough that Garmin says it won’t get in the way of a swing.

The Approach S72 also has a speaker and microphone, so you can make and take calls and use voice commands on or off the course. Garmin calls it the first of its golf smartwatches to offer this.

A built-in flashlight has variable white light intensities and a red light, which comes in handy for finding gear in your bag or lighting up a dark spot.

On battery life, Garmin says the larger model lasts up to 20 hours with GPS on the course and up to 16 days with GPS off.

Price, availability

The Garmin Approach S72 will be available starting October 22 for PhP 52,990. You can buy it at garmin.com, Garmin Brand Stores, Garmin Specialty Stores, and Garmin’s official e-commerce platforms.

Continue Reading

Wearables

Garmin Enduro 4 promises up to 320 hours of battery life

Solar charging, new stamina metrics, and a 66-gram build for long days on the trail.

Published

on

Garmin has announced the Enduro 4, the newest GPS smartwatch in its long-lasting Enduro line.

It pairs an energy-efficient 1.4-inch MIP display with a solar lens, and can last up to 320 hours in activity mode or up to 90 days in smartwatch mode.

Power modes that match your effort

The Enduro 4 introduces preset power modes, so you can choose how much battery you’re willing to trade for performance.

Max Accuracy turns on full-feature tracking for shorter efforts, and Max Battery stretches recording time for longer outings. The 320-hour figure comes from Max Battery with solar charging.

Built for hilly terrain

Two new grade-adjusted features are aimed at runners who spend their time on climbs. Grade-adjusted pace-based workout targets help you stay in your effort range when the trail tilts upward, and grade-adjusted rolling pace shows your pace in real time as the terrain changes.

The watch also adds stamina zones, which show how your stamina affected a given activity. Stamina curve looks at the bigger picture, charting how your endurance changes over time based on your fitness and training history.

Faster maps, plus a way to log longer adventures

Garmin gave the Enduro 4 50% more RAM than the Enduro 3 and an updated map engine. Garmin claims panning is up to 30% faster on the built-in routable maps.

A new perspective view adds detail both close-up and farther out, which makes it easier to see what’s coming next on the route.

For longer trips, Garmin Epic lets you combine multiple activities into one entry in Garmin Connect. You can group them across days, weeks, or months, add photos, share the story with family and friends, and see the health and performance data collected over that stretch.

Indoor rowers get VO2 max and power curve, and ruckers can now adjust pack weight mid-activity and set target metrics like calories burned.

Lightweight, with a new band

Garmin lists the Enduro 4 at 66 grams, which it says makes it one of the lightest ultraperformance smartwatches around.

The 51mm case is made of fiber-reinforced polymer, topped with a titanium bezel and a scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens. It also has an integrated LED flashlight with white and red options, and a 10 ATM water resistance rating.

The new ComfortFit Fabric Band is moisture-wicking and uses QuickFit, so swapping bands is simple. Onboard storage is 64 GB, which gives you room for maps, music, and data when you’re away from home for a while.

Price, availability

The Garmin Enduro 4 will be available starting November 3 for PhP 56,290. You can buy it at garmin.com, Garmin Brand Stores, Garmin Specialty Stores, and Garmin’s official e-commerce platforms.

Continue Reading

News

Sony teams up with Hello Kitty for exclusive limited-edition collection

Sony and Hello Kitty join forces.

Published

on

By

Sony x Hello Kitty

Sony has teamed up with Hello Kitty for a limited-edition collaboration that combines selected Sony products with exclusive merchandise featuring Sanrio’s beloved character.

Available exclusively through Sony Store channels, the collection marks Sony’s first collaboration with Hello Kitty. It covers the Xperia 10 VIII smartphone and three wireless headphone models: the WH-1000XM6, WH-CH730N, and WH-CH530.

Each collaboration model comes with exclusive Hello Kitty merchandise designed specifically for Sony Store customers.

Sony x Hello Kitty collection

Sony x Hello Kitty | Xperia 10 VIII

The Xperia 10 VIII collaboration model is priced at SGD 919. It comes with an exclusive Hello Kitty sacoche-style shoulder bag designed to carry the smartphone and other small essentials, along with a Hello Kitty tote bag.

Meanwhile, the WH-1000XM6 collaboration model costs SGD 609. The WH-CH730N is priced at SGD 249, while the WH-CH530 costs SGD 149.

Sony x Hello Kitty | WH-1000XM6

Each headphone collaboration package includes a Sony Store-exclusive Hello Kitty pouch for carrying the headphones and personal belongings, as well as a Hello Kitty tote bag.

The products retain Sony’s existing designs while adding Hello Kitty-themed accessories. The collection aims to bring the character’s signature charm into everyday use without changing the core design of the Sony devices.

Available now in Singapore

Pre-orders for the Sony x Hello Kitty collaboration models are now available through Sony Store channels in Singapore.

Sony is also showcasing the collection at the Sony Store at 313@somerset. Visitors can try the products firsthand and take photos at a dedicated Hello Kitty photo wall.

The collaboration models are available in limited quantities.

For more information, visit the official Sony Store Singapore website.

UPDATE: Sony x Hello Kitty arrives in the Philippines

The Sony x Hello Kitty collaboration will also be available in the Philippines starting October 16, 2026, at select Sony Centres.

Customers who purchase the WH-1000XM6 can add the exclusive Hello Kitty Collaboration package for PHP 4,999. The WH-1000XM6 is available in Black, Silver, Midnight Blue, Sand Pink, and Sandstone.

The collaboration will be available at the following Sony Centres:

  • SM Mall of Asia
  • SM Megamall
  • Glorietta by Ayala Malls
  • The Sony Centre-exclusive collaboration goods are designed to complement Sony products with Hello Kitty’s signature charm, adding a playful touch to everyday music experiences.
Continue Reading

Trending