What goes well with a new iPhone? A new Apple Watch, of course.

Complementing the launch of the new iPhone 18 Pro series, Apple has also launched the new Apple Watch Series 12. Rather than completely reinventing the wheel, the new series aims to pack in more features into the wearable we all know and love.

This time, the Apple Watch Series 12 will focus on a key metric, heart rate variability (HRV). Also explaining the importance of tracking HRV, Apple maintains that the new watch is the best wearable for keeping track because it can automatically tell you when you should push and when to relax. Naturally, it can also tell you if something is wrong.

Armed with the new S11 chip, the Apple Watch Series 12 also boasts Siri AI, powered by Apple Intelligence and Audio Intelligence. Besides keeping track of their vitals, the wearable can also be an effective assistant for day-to-day tasks. For example, Live Rewinds tracks the past 15 seconds of a conversation so you could look back if you missed some important bits. Siri Recap then creates highly intelligent summaries of past conversations.

Naturally, you’re also getting the standard array of fitness tracking. The bigger story, however, is a redesigned Health app coming later this year. The new app comes with a Health Age feature which shows how healthy you are, relative to your age.

The watch will last up to 24 hours on a single charge or up to 10 hours during an outdoor workout. Plus, a 15-minute charging sessions gets you 50 percent of battery life back.

Price, availability

The Apple Watch Series 12 comes in a variety of colorway options including dark bronze, black, light gold, and space gray aluminum, and radiant gold and natural titanium. It also comes in pearl white and night blue for the ceramic version.

It starts at US$ 399 and will come out on September 18.

Shokz has launched two new open-ear audio products designed for active lifestyles and everyday use.

The OpenRun Air 2 is a bone conduction sports headphone built for running, cycling, hiking, and outdoor training. The OpenFit Air 2 is a true wireless earbud designed for workouts, commuting, and all-day wear.

Both products keep the ear canal open. This lets users listen to music and take calls while staying aware of their surroundings.

OpenRun Air 2 gets smaller and lighter

The OpenRun Air 2 weighs 26.4 grams. It is also more than 9% smaller than the OpenRun.

Shokz redesigned the ear hooks to follow the natural curve of the ear. The new design distributes pressure more evenly. A forward-shifted center of gravity also helps reduce bounce during movement.

The ear hooks and neckband use a durable memory alloy. This helps keep the headphones secure during activities.

The headphones use Shokz’s PremiumPitch 3.0 bone conduction technology. Its upgraded driver uses an all-metal, dual-coil, dual-reed structure. Shokz says this delivers richer bass, clearer vocals, and a more balanced sound.

Users can also adjust the sound through the Shokz App. It offers four preset EQ modes and two custom EQ profiles.

The OpenRun Air 2 offers up to 10 hours of listening time. That’s 25% longer than the OpenRun. A five-minute Quick Charge can also provide up to two hours of playback.

An IP67 rating protects the headphones from dust and water. The device also uses USB-C charging and physical controls.

For calls, the OpenRun Air 2 uses an AI-powered noise reduction microphone. Shokz says it helps keep calls clear even in windy conditions.

The headphones come in Black and Ice Blue. Both colors are available in Standard and Mini sizes.

OpenFit Air 2 is the lightest OpenFit

The OpenFit Air 2 weighs 7.2 grams per earbud. Shokz says it is the lightest product in the OpenFit lineup.

The new charging case is 10.5% smaller than the previous generation. The earbuds and case together are also 17.6% lighter.

Shokz redesigned the ear hook with a 0.75mm nickel-titanium alloy frame. This balances flexibility and support during workouts and everyday use.

The open-ear design also reduces pressure and heat buildup inside the ear canal.

For audio, the OpenFit Air 2 uses Shokz’s Bassphere driver and OpenBass 2.0 algorithm. The system uses a dual-driver setup to improve low-frequency performance.

A 30-degree angled speaker directs sound toward the ear. DirectPitch technology also helps reduce sound leakage.

Like the OpenRun Air 2, the OpenFit Air 2 supports four preset EQ modes and two custom profiles through the Shokz App.

The earbuds provide up to eight hours of listening time on a single charge. The charging case extends total battery life to up to 36 hours. A 10-minute quick charge provides up to three hours of playback.

The earbuds also use pressure-sensitive controls designed to reduce accidental inputs from sweat, water droplets, or hair.

Other features include dual microphones with AI noise reduction, IP55 sweat and water resistance, Bluetooth 6.1, Multipoint Pairing, Fast Pair, Swift Pair, customizable controls, and Find My Earbuds through the Shokz App.

The OpenFit Air 2 comes in Black, White, and Ice Blue.

Pricing and availability

The Shokz OpenRun Air 2 and OpenFit Air 2 will be available starting August 27 through Shokz.com and select retailers.

Both products are priced at $129.95 USD and $169.95 CAD.

What if smart glasses could make you more present instead of recording everything around you? Check out MemoMind or back it up on Kickstarter.

After spending time with the MemoMind One around New York City, THE Michael Josh wanted to answer one question: Do smart glasses actually become more useful when they stop trying to be a camera?

In this video, we take a look at the MemoMind One — a new pair of AI-powered smart glasses that take a very different approach.