Accessories

Xiaomi announces latest wearables at MWC 2024

The Xiaomi Smart Band 8, Watch S3, and Watch 2

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Xiaomi has released its latest wearable devices at MWC 2024: The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S3, and Xiaomi Watch 2.

These AIoT latest offerings complement the launch of the Xiaomi 14 series, letting users enhance their sports, health, and wellness lifestyles.

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro: Fitness meets fashion

The most affordable among the three, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro comes with upgrades in customization, tracking, and monitoring.

It has a new rectangular 1.74-inch AMOLED screen with an upgraded 60Hz refresh rate. The smart band is incredibly thin and lightweight at just 9.99mm and 22.5 grams, respectively.

Highly fashionable and easy to wear, the Smart band 8 Pro also has quick-release bands on both sides for easy interchangeability. The straps are available in black and silver, with a wide range of strap materials and colors for personalization.

When it comes to work outs, the device offers more than 150 sports modes. A built-in 3D exercise animation provides visual guidance for users.

For health monitoring, the wearable has an upgraded four-channel heart rate monitoring module. Additionally, the watch supports features like Alexa voice assistant and “find mobile phone.”

Xiaomi Watch S3: Dial into style

Meanwhile, the Xiaomi Watch S3 is a multi-functional smartwatch that sports a classic watch design.

It has a round 1.43-inch AMOLED display, complemented by a light aluminum alloy frame. It also comes with interchangeable bezels and straps.

The Watch S3 can deliver superior performance using the Xiaomi HyperOS system. It boasts a battery life of up to 15 days. Moreover, a quick five-minute charge can extend its life to another two days.

A first on the watch is a feature enabling users to perform personalized operations using various flips of their wrists. By just doing those movements, users will be able to reject calls, check the weather, or even take photos.

Like the Smart Band 8 Pro, the Watch S3 offers professional-level tracking for over 150 sport modes. There are 10 on-wrist running courses that vary in levels for a scientific and intuitive guide throughout workouts.

For the first time, there will be new winter sports modes on the global version of the Watch S3 too. These include skiing, which comes with enhanced antenna reception performance and improved positioning accuracy.

A fun addition on the Watch S3 when it comes to health monitoring is the “Sleep Animal.” When a user wears the watch for seven straight days, a “Sleep Animal” is generated. This best represents the user’s sleep condition based on the week-long sleep pattern.

Xiaomi Watch 2: Smarter every wear

Lastly, the Xiaomi Watch 2 is the most high-end among the three new wearables, giving users comprehensive functionality.

The 37-gram watch flaunts a sleek design bannered by a 1.43-inch AMOLED display. It is equipped with Google Wear OS to provide users with a smooth and stable smartwatch experience. Users will get five of the most commonly used apps and will be able to download from more than 200 third-party apps.

The Watch 2 is powered by a Snapdragon W5+Gen 1 Wearable platform. The device brings up to 65 hours of battery life on typical usage, and a large 32GB storage.

Taking tracking to the next level, the Watch 2 supports over 160 sports modes, including winter sports. Under skiing mode, it can record the distance and average speed of each glide and even map a user’s ski tracks.

Aside from Strava, the Watch 2 also supports Suunto after Xiaomi has expanded its partnership. This allows users to sync their sports and sleep data between Mi Fitness and the two other apps.

Price, availability

All three wearables will be available for sale on Xiaomi’s official channels for the following prices:

  • Xiaomi Smart Band 8: Starts at € 69
  • Xiaomi Watch S3: Starts at € 149
  • Xiaomi Watch 2: Starts at € 199

Accessories

OBSBOT launches AI-powered 4K Tiny 3 series webcams

Professional-grade audiovisual features in compact bodies

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OBSBOT has announced the global launch of two new AI-powered 4K webcams: the Tiny 3 and Tiny 3 Lite.

Designed for content creators, streamers, podcasters, remote professionals, educators, and more, the Tiny 3 series sets a new benchmark for professional webcams.

The products combine studio-grade spatial audio, flagship-level imaging, and industry-leading AI intelligence.

The two variants also come in ultra-compact aluminum-alloy bodies while delivering premium sight and sound.

Both the Tiny 3 and Tiny 3 Lite feature industry-leading triple silicon MEMS microphone array. This system combines one omnidirectional and two directional microphones powered by Sisonic MEMS technology.

The architecture is commonly found in premium TWS earbuds and professional audio equipment. Such technology enables:

  • ultra-low distortion up to 130 dB SPL
  • exceptional 69dB signal-to-noise ratio
  • full spectrum 50Hz-20kHz frequency response
  • consistent unit-to-unit studio quality

This way, users can expect immersive sound that rivals dedicated microphones without the need to buy an extra product.

In addition, the Tiny 3 series features five dedicated audio profiles so users can tailor fit the webcams for various needs:

  • Pure Audio Mode — zero processing, studio-grade capture
  • Spatial Audio Mode — enhanced left-right stereo separation for vlogs, storytelling with soundscape
  • Smart Omni Mode — AI-powered 360-degree pickup with balanced vocals, ambient sound
  • Directional Mode — focuses on voice in front while cutting surrounding noise
  • Dual-Directional Mode — clear audio capture from front and rear while rejecting side noise

Moreover, the Tiny 3 series comes with Voice Locator. This feature lets the product find users, smoothly rotating the gimbal and tracking them automatically.

They can also leverage voice commands or the OBSBOT Vox SE wireless lavalier for cable-free audio.

Flagship imaging

Picture wise, the Tiny 3 features 4K@30fps video and up to 120fps high-frame rate capture. The system also uses advanced DCG HDR for balanced highlights and shadows, as well as ultra-fast dual all-pixel PDAF autofocus.

And powered by OBSBOT’s AI algorithms, the series introduces AI Tracking 2.0. Key capabilities include:

  • accurate tracking of subjects like individuals, groups, hands, objects, and more via Only Me mode
  • auto zoom, customizable composition lines, Face Framing
  • Voice Tracking
  • Multiple AI modes, including dedicated Desk Mode, Whiteboard Mode
  • Intuitive gesture and voice controls

For further control, users can use the OBSBOT Center and OBSBOT live for creative controls. These cover exposure and gamma curve adjustments, manual white balance tuning, and more.

Furthermore, the Tiny 3 products support remote interaction and VR features powered by the OBSBOT Toolkit.

They also integrate effortlessly with the OBSBOT ecosystem for livestreams, gaming handheld capabilities, and more.

Price, availability

The Tiny 3 starts at US$ 349 while the Tiny 3 Lite starts at US$ 199. The Vox SE, meanwhile, retails for US$ 59.

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Accessories

Soundtrack for the city: HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI TMA-2 headphones

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Living in a big city like New York makes you want to have music on a lot: on the subway, walking between meetings, sitting in a café with your laptop, zoning out on a long walk home, or romanticizing the smallest things. Headphones have become an essential part of my life.

That’s why the HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI collaboration makes sense. The TMA-2 HIDDEN Edition headphones are reminiscent of early-2000s tech. It’s nostalgic but with New York City character, at least the kind that I encounter and not the one you see in movies.

If you follow either brand, the partnership feels natural. HIDDEN.NY started as an Instagram mood board and grew into a full lifestyle platform rooted in street culture and design. AIAIAI is a Danish company that’s long been part of music culture, known for modular gear that artists use.

The first thing you notice is the colorway. The transparent design with green highlights is subtle. It’s not loud but still stands out.

You can see the structure of the headphones, which makes them feel more like an accessory than just another piece of black plastic tech. Bonus points that they are a conversation starter, too.

In daily use, the headphones are easy to live with. They are light and comfortable, which is important when you’re wearing them for long stretches. They don’t clamp too hard nor do they feel bulky.

Sound-wise, they’re clean and balanced. While it doesn’t have active noise cancellation, it works well for all the ways people actually listen in a big city. I like that you don’t have to think about the sound much.

It’s just good in a way that doesn’t get in your way, whatever mood I’m in wherever I am in the city, these headphones are great company.

AIAIAI’s modular approach also means these aren’t built to be tossed when something wears out. The speaker, headband, earpads, and cable are all replaceable.

So much of the tech we use should grow with us, even if they get outdated. So AIAIAI builds systems that can be upgraded over time. That’s part of why artists and DJs use them.

Especially because it’s a collectible, it feels like a piece you’ll want to keep. As someone who uses his prized possessions for a really long time, I love this about these headphones.

In a city where everything moves fast and feels temporary, it’s nice to have gear that doesn’t feel disposable.

The campaign, shot by photographer Gunner Stahl, probably looks familiar if you’re attuned to hiphop culture. What sets his work apart is his portraits feel more raw and relaxed instead of posed and polished. It aligns with HIDDEN.NY’s aesthetic, the kind of everyday style that feels genuine.

At the end of the day, the HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI TMA-2 Bluetooth headphones make sense for people who live in cities like New York, where music is part of how you move, work, and think.

They sound good, they look interesting and different. They fit into real life without trying too hard.

The TMA-2 Hidden Edition headphones retail for US$220 and is available on aiaiai.audio.

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Accessories

G-DRAGON is CASETiFY’s first ever Global Brand Ambassador

Right on time with the brand’s 15th-year milestone

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

One of K-Pop’s most iconic soloists of all time has finally partnered up with the globally-renowned case maker.

And this isn’t like any other CASETiFY’s K-Pop Collab, this is much grander than that.

i-naugural Brand iCON

You heard that right! CASETiFY reveals their first ever Global Brand Ambassador.

Amassing 25 million Instagram followers, over 1.2 Billion YouTube views, and hitting almost 4 Million Spotify listeners, G-DRAGON has truly marked his footprint as the “King of K-Pop” — more than just being the iconic member of the global hit group BIGBANG.

His long overdue comeback (and world tour) with Übermensch’ last 2025 further proves how massive the VIP (and FAM) community is.

That said, GD’s influence isn’t limited to the music industry alone. Art and fashion have also witnessed his legendary artistry through his PEACEMINUSONE label. That pretty daisy with a fallen petal is the brand’s most iconic emblem you can see around.

The introduction of his fashion line was connected to music as well. It was introduced way back in 2013 during his ‘COUP D’ETAT’ solo promotions which was a true hit. It was totally evident in the album art’s peace symbol minus that one line.

Wesley Ng, CASETiFY’s CEO and Co-Founder (who’s also fashion-savvy), said that “welcoming G-DRAGON as the brand’s first Global iCON is a powerful statement.” This will not only amplify the reach of the already-popular case maker, it will also influence the brand’s creative direction.

After all, one’s artistic expression can be seen easily with the cases we rock out and about.

i-conic CHROMATIC

In line with this milestone also lies a new collection of cases and accessories.

The all-new CHROMATIC Collection is built around two concepts: FORMS & HUES. First, the CHROMATIC: FORMS set is headlined by the premium-made Alloy Ripple Case with an upgraded aluminum material.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Speaking of aluminum, the accompanying accessories are all metallic — from the 2-in-1 cross-body chain to custom cube charms for bespoke personalization.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Meanwhile, the CHROMATIC: HUES adds five new vibrant shades to CASETiFY’s ever-popular Ripple Collection through the Neon Ripple Case. These bold range of colors not only embody users’ creativity and self-expression, it also showcases an individual’s overall aesthetics.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

While this isn’t the PEACEMINUSONE collab some of us have initially thought, crossing fingers that will be the next official CASETiFY collab in line.

Pricing and Availability

The brand new CHROMATIC COLLECTION is expected to hit shelves real soon with prices ranging between US$ 10 to US$ 85,

They will be available for purchase on CASETiFY.com and in select CASETiFY Studio retail stores around the world starting on January 26 (Monday).

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