The thought of losing the ability to hear is a terrifying prospect for many, as it means being deprived of the delightful sounds that enrich our lives. But what about the opposite scenario?
What if you were afflicted with a condition that ensured you would never experience silence again?
A condition that filled your life with incessant roaring, ringing or whooshing noises?
This is the reality for seven million Britons, including myself, who live with tinnitus – an incurable condition that affects each person differently.
Among those affected are actor and former Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp and his wife Shirlie, both of whom suffer from tinnitus. In my case, I constantly hear a ringing sound in both ears, which is louder in the right ear than the left.
I first noticed this when I was around nine or ten years old. Although it doesn’t significantly disrupt my life, there are moments when I wish the noise would just stop.
My journey with tinnitus began at a young age and, in some ways, I consider myself lucky because I was still a child when it started. Growing up in a bustling household with multiple siblings in London – a city that is seldom silent – perhaps made it easier for me to adapt.
Consequently, there were few instances where the ringing could make its presence felt, except during quiet moments. Being very young at the time, I assumed it was an external noise, not something originating from within my own head.
As time passed, not much changed. I stumbled upon information about tinnitus at school and looking back, the condition didn’t worsen, only making itself known when external sounds were minimal.
However, everything changed one night at a race track. Working as a paddock marshal at an event, I declined the offer of earplugs from a colleague as we watched the start of the final race.
As the cars sped off, an intense ringing in both ears drowned out all other sounds for the next few minutes. Although it eventually subsided, my hearing was permanently altered.
Since that fateful night in the mid-to-late 2010s, I’ve taken steps to prevent my tinnitus from escalating, including wearing earplugs at loud venues, managing stress levels which can cause temporary spikes, and keeping busy to distract myself from the noise.
While my journey doesn’t call for the world’s smallest violin, being diagnosed with tinnitus as an adult can be a daunting experience as you grapple with the loss of silence. With that in mind, I have several pieces of advice to help manage your tinnitus.
Firstly, remember you’re not alone. Seven million Brits share this condition, providing a vast support network for those difficult days when the ringing is particularly loud.
Secondly, welcome other sounds and let them distract your mind. Whether it’s the patter of rain or the hum of traffic, allow your mind to focus on these noises instead of the tinnitus.
Thirdly, don’t panic. Stress and anxiety only amplify tinnitus, so try mindfulness techniques or find ways to relax, such as listening to music or exercising to release positive endorphins and hormones.
Fourthly, protect your ears. You don’t need to wear ear defenders to the club, but affordable earplugs are available at places like Boots and Superdrug, allowing you to enjoy the music without damaging your hearing.
Lastly, be patient. Yes, tinnitus is incurable, frustrating, and frankly rubbish, but part of living with the condition is simply getting used to it.
It takes time, but gradually you’ll learn to live with it and eventually it’ll become just an annoying noise you hear every now and then.
The NHS also offers a wide range of advice for those suffering with tinnitus. I am no medical professional so it’s always best to check with them before undertaking lifestyle changes.
From the Golden Globes 2025 red carpet to the Netflix afterparty, Zoe Saldaña donned her winning glam in the most stunning outfits. First, Saldaña wore a classic Saint Laurent gown with a plunging neckline for her first-ever win for “Emilia Pérez” in the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role category, reported WWD. She later slipped into a showstopper sheer gown with floral lace, pairing it with a fitting accessory — her trophy — for the celebratory party at Spago in Beverly Hills.
Zoe Saldaña might just have won her Golden Globe award, but she has been winning hearts and serving looks for a long time now. Kicking off the awards season with a spectacular victory, Saldaña celebrated the milestone in a simple yet sexy sheer dress and the cutest social media post. She joined her “Emilia Pérez” co-stars for Netflix’s afterparty following the ceremony, wearing a chic and sheer dress to make an eye-catching appearance.
Saldaña’s outfit was a caramel-colored lace dress with complex floral patterns and a halterneck design that transformed into a turtleneck. The fully see-through dress fitted flawlessly around her toned body, offering just sufficient sneak peeks. In addition, she combined the look with bronze makeup and statement diamond earrings and rings to deliver one of the sleekest moments, especially with her slick-back hairdo. Moreover, her black nails rightly matched the gorgeous Saint Laurent gown she donned for the ceremony.
Later, Zoe Saldaña recapped her memorable night and Golden Globes 2025 win as the “craziest dream” in Instagram photos. In the stills, she sported her afterparty glam as she cheerfully posed on a bed making fanatical faces at the camera. Saldaña then credited stylist Petra Flannery for masterminding the ensemble, makeup artist Vera Steimberg for the bronze masterpiece, and Mara Roszak for the neat hairstyle.
Originally reported by Nikita Mahato on Mandatory.
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the January 6 episode of Jeopardy!.]
After Drew Goins’ initial appearance in September 2024, fans clamored to see him return to Jeopardy!, and that’s exactly what happened in the second and final week of the Second Chance Tournament. In fact, he even got a bit of redemption after he previously missed out on a Taylor Swift question.
Goins, a journalist from Honolulu, Hawai’i, faced off against Steve Miller, a retired medical transcriptionist from Eugene, Oregon, and Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds, a theatrical wardrobe technician from Ottawa, Ontario. The three hoped to advance to the January 9 finals and then join Will Yancey in the Champions Wildcard event (beginning January 13).
Early on, Goins had control of the game, leading at both breaks in the Jeopardy! round and doubling his score with the first Daily Double; in “Historic History,” he correctly answered, “The 1973 Arab-Israeli War occurred during these 2 periods, one Jewish & one Islamic, both of which involve fasting” (What are Ramadan and Yom Kippur?).
It was during his interview in the middle of the first round that host Ken Jennings asked about a “run-in with some angry Swifties” after his first episode. “I got a Taylor Swift question wrong, went home worried that the Swifties would come rip me out of my bed one night, but it turns out the angry Swiftie was my brother, who’s here today,” Goins shared. “The night before taping, he had prepared an entire practice board for me,” and while the goal may have been to just get through it and he had more stuff to study, “It was entirely Taylor Swift.” Jennings suggested he might have a second chance here, since “That’s what Second Chance is for.”
Well, Goins certainly did, with the last clue of the Jeopardy! round in Albums reading (and getting a laugh): “In 2014 Taylor Swift gave us this album named for a different year.” Goins rang in and excitedly answered, “What is 1989?” Jennings said in response, “Redemption for Drew. That is correct. And the crowd goes wild.”
While Goins was leading 11,600 to Miller’s 3,400 and Garrick-Reynolds’ 2,600 heading into Double! Jeopardy, it wasn’t a runaway for him. That was in part due to Miller’s play in this round, including doubling his score with the second Daily Double of the game. In “Alliteration on the Map,” he correctly answered, “What is Corpus Christi?” for “Mustang & Padre Islands lie between this Texas town & the Gulf of Mexico.” That gave him 16,400 to Goins’ 18,800 at the time. But Goins got the third Daily Double and still led going into Final Jeopardy! with 33,400 to Miller’s 18,400 and Garrick-Reynolds’ 9,800.
All three players correctly answered, in “21st Century Business,” with “What is Tinder?” for the clue, “An early version of this app was called Matchbox, but that name was too similar to another company that offered the same service.” Goins advanced with the second-highest winning total all season, 36,801.
“Glad to see drew is finally out of the woods with that epic redemption arc. no more bad blood from the angry swifties!” one fan wrote on the Reddit thread after the episode, and Goins replied, “’Bad Blood’! I studied! I get that!”
Jeopardy! player Sam Cameron chimed in to the thread to share his thoughts from the green room of the taping. “This was such a crackerjack match to watch,” he wrote, “and it did not disappoint upon a rewatch. The gutsy Daily Double payoffs, the too-perfect Taylor Swift clue – Steve and Jonquil played SO well and kept it competitive right through the end, but it’s tough to stop the kind of freight train that Drew was driving this game. Serious congrats to all three players, what a fantastic way to kick off the week!”
Player Zoe Grobman, also on this week’s schedule, added, “Jonquil was the first competitor I met, while waiting for the elevator at the hotel. She’s an absolute sweetheart and razor sharp, the type of person who makes you immediately root for her. I remembered Steve from his original game. He joined us for last weeks tapings the day before as well. Drew I hadn’t met before tape day but he quickly won everyone over with his infectious energy. In other words, when they announced today’s competitors I felt bad that only one of them could win.”
Grobman also shared that the games were taped on Election Day. “There was a nervous energy in the air. It was honestly a huge relief for us to have to turn off our phones and entertain each other instead of doomscrolling online,” she wrote. “During FJ I quipped in the green room that you want to make sure to spell Tinder correctly to avoid the confusion with…erm…a different app, so of course we all enjoyed seeing Drew leave out the E – but what an amazing Fire Symbol! He was immediately joking about it himself when he came back to the green room. A great game by all three players.”
What did you think of this game? Let us know in the comments section below.
Job hunters are having a tough time reentering the workforce.
According to a Sunday report from the Wall Street Journal, it now takes job seekers an average of six months to find employment, a month more than in years past.
The number of people unemployed, meaning without a job but trying to find work, is also higher now than it was at the same time last year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Employment Situation report, the unemployment rate rose from 3.7% in November 2023 to 4.2% in November 2024.
The report, which was released on December 6, 2024, stated that 7.1 million people were out of work compared to 6.3 million people at the same time last year.
The number of long-term unemployed people is also up. In November, 1.7 million people said they had been looking for work for at least 27 weeks, or close to seven months, compared to 1.2 million people last year.
Continuing applications for unemployment are also reaching record-high levels, indicating that it’s taking job seekers longer to find work. Bloomberg reported in late December that continuing applications for unemployment benefits reached a three-year high, rising to 1.91 million for the week ending December 14.
“Labor market conditions are undeniably cooling,” EY senior economist Lydia Boussour told Entrepreneurlast month.
According to the WSJ, it’s especially difficult to find a job in tech, law, and media. Companies hired more in these sectors when coming back from the pandemic but have now cut down on their need for new hires.
As these high-paying white-collar jobs disappear from job boards, job postings have diminished in quantity overall. According to the Journal, there’s just one job posting per unemployed worker now instead of the two job postings available in early 2022.
“Hiring is too low; it’s really hard to find a job,” Guy Berger, chief economist at labor market group the Burning Glass Institute, told CNBC last month.
A new Gallup poll released in December adds another factor to the mix. The poll shows that U.S. workers who are currently employed are looking for work at the highest level since 2015. The majority, or 51%, are actively seeking a new job, adding to the competition that unemployed workers face.
Investing.com – The UK economy is tipped to grow by 1.5% in 2025, up from 0.9% last year, according to estimates from analysts at UBS.
In a note to clients, the analysts suggested that “less contractionary fiscal policy” could provide the British economy with a “decent amount of momentum” this year.
However, the country’s private sector may struggle under the weight of elevated taxes, borrowing costs and wage expenses, the analysts flagged.
In December, official figures showed that the UK economy failed to grow in the July-to-September period, marking a tepid beginning to the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Office for National Statistics said it now expects gross domestic product output during the three months of 0.0%, down from its prior estimate of 0.1% expansion.
Starmer’s government, which came into power in July, has unveiled fresh tax bumps for companies, fueling concerns among many businesses. The negative sentiment was particularly noticeable in the UK’s manufacturing sector, the UBS analysts noted, adding that this “has continued to deteriorate as firms plan for the prospect of a steep increase in taxes.”
Meanwhile, the Bank of England has predicted that UK economy will not grow in the final quarter of 2024, although policymakers chose to leave rates unchanged at their latest meeting due to concerns over lingering inflationary pressures.
However, the UBS analysts said they believe the “recent slump” in the British economy is “unlikely to persist,” citing the impact of public spending plans announced in the latest UK budget put forward by Starmer and his finance minister Rachel Reeves in late October. The proposal is “likely to result in a fiscal stimulus” that could add an estimated 0.5% to GDP in the coming year, the UBS analysts said, citing forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Still, the first budget from Starmer and his in-power Labour party has “laid bare the precarious state of the UK’s public purse,” the analysts warned. The decision to press ahead with increased spending — and only offset it partially with higher taxes — “has […] heightened these concerns,” they added.
“So, despite large tax increases last year, the outlook for public finances remains challenging,” the analysts said. “How the government will deal with this is yet unclear, but few of the options available are appealing.”
NEW YORK — In the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing in 2020, investor Mellody Hobson recalls frequent calls from directors at Fortune 500 companies for references to diverse candidates for boards. Now, she says, it’s “very sporadic.”
“During the George Floyd days there were dozens and dozens of them,” said Hobson, the co-CEO of Ariel Investments who also serves on the boards of JPMorgan and Starbucks. “Those requests have dramatically dropped.”
Over the past year, Reuters and other media have reported that a backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies by some conservative activists has sapped corporate enthusiasm for them.
Among Russell 3000 companies, the number of new black directors fell to 12% in 2024 from 26% two years ago. peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com
Interviews with corporate directors and advisers as well as a recent study on corporate boards paint a stark picture of how pronounced the fallout of that backlash has been.
Among Russell 3000 companies, the number of new black directors fell to 12% in 2024 from 26% two years ago, according to the study by business research group the Conference Board and data firm ESGAUGE. At the same time, the number of new white directors bounced back to 69%, up from historic lows of 52% in 2022.
Directors and board advisers said conservative backlash through litigation and other means had pushed DEI policies down the priority list for companies, often in subtle ways — a trend that some experts said could accelerate under the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
“It is not a non-issue, it’s just not THE issue,” Hobson said, referring to how companies were now thinking about diversity on their boards. Over the long term, “we will continue to move in the right direction,” she said.
One recruiter, for example, said many companies no longer made diverse candidate slates a top requirement in director searches. Felix/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com
One recruiter, for example, said many companies no longer made diverse candidate slates a top requirement in director searches.
“A couple of years ago more searches had diversity as number one or two criterion than have it there now,” said Richard Fields, head of the board effectiveness practice at search firm Russell Reynolds.
DEI policies got a boost after Floyd’s murder by a white police officer sparked national outcry and energized the Black Lives Matter movement.
Investors and their advisory firms used their shareholder power to push companies to include people of different backgrounds in senior roles, and companies hired more diverse board members.
The efforts led to more gender and racial diversity among directors of large U.S. companies than ever before. Some 12% of directors on S&P 500 boards are now black.
DIVERSE BOARD EQUALS ‘BETTER BUSINESS’
The distribution still lags societal makeup. U.S. Census Bureau data show 14% of working age adults are black.
The gap widens for a broader set of companies. Only 8% of the directors at Russell 3000 companies are black, according to the Conference Board.
DEI proponents worry the pushback could hurt efforts to address longstanding inequities and underrepresentation of diverse communities to the detriment of business interests.
“It has been repeatedly shown that building a diverse board will ultimately ladder up to better business,” said Lisa Davis, a managing director at advisory firm Teneo.
Only 8% of the directors at Russell 3000 companies are black, according to the Conference Board. REUTERS
The decrease in diverse new hires to corporate boards has a significant correlation with the cultural shift, said Andrew Jones, head of ESG (environmental, social issues, and corporate governance) at the Conference Board.
“In 2020 there was initial momentum when the death of George Floyd was followed by social unrest and corporate DEI was at its height. Then there was a lot of legal and political scrutiny following the Supreme Court decision last year,” Jones said.
That decision effectively prohibited policies long used to increase the number of under-represented minorities at American universities.
“I don’t think its overt racism, although it does exist, but perhaps people feeling less of a need, maybe less pressure on this issue,” Hobson said.
Reflecting on fewer requests for references to diverse board candidates, Hobson said: “I think they were responding to the marketplace with the outreach, and the marketplace is not as demanding on these issues right now.”
The revelation this weekend that China was able to hack US wireless telecom networks undetected for months proves yet again that President-elect Donald Trump is dead wrong to try hindering the 2024 law, set to take effect Jan. 19, effectively banning social-media app TikTok unless parent ByteDance sells it to non-Chinese owners.
Trump has asked the Supreme Court to delay the law’s kick-in so he can further stop it after taking over Jan. 20, and if the justices don’t go along maybe his lawyers can figure out another way to gum up the ban.
But he’s wrong, no matter how many billions of views of Trump-themed content the app has hosted in the past — because Beijing can’t be trusted.
That telecom-hack news shows what China will do even knowing it’ll eventually be found out: It believes any US response will be a joke.
TikTok is simply a soft-power intel play in which hundreds of millions of Americans voluntarily hand over personal data to Beijing — no hacking required.
Sure, ByteDance shouts again and again that its Chinese employees can’t access US user data, but that’s already been proven untrue; workers were using that data to track journalists.
Indeed, with one of TikTok’s board seats filled by a political commissar, it’s clear all user data is there for Chinese Communist Party perusal.
ByteDance itself openly collaborates with China’s military and intelligence agencies, running an AI academy explicitly for military purposes.
Worse, this intel op runs both ways.
Beijing isn’t just harvesting data on us, it’s using a corporate cats-paw to brainwash Americans via TikTok’s insanely addictive algorithm.
Trump is literally the most famous person in the world — he doesn’t need TikTok because he can find other platforms.
Congress passed the TikTok ban with massively bipartisan agreement; it’s beyond necessary.
So for the good of the country, Trump needs to cool down the “warm spot” he feels for TikTok and side with those who see the clear and present danger the app and the government behind it present.
Golden retrievers, with their sunshine smiles and boundless energy, steal hearts everywhere. But there’s a hidden truth: they shed like champions! This article dives into the reality of golden retriever shedding, exploring the extent of the fur-everlasting challenge and offering practical tips to manage it. We also explore whether their playful nature translates to constant messes, helping you decide if a golden retriever is the right fit for your clean-loving lifestyle. So, unleash the leash on your curiosity and join us as we untangle the truth behind the fur: are golden retrievers truly messy dogs or manageable companions?
Golden Retrievers: Shedding Champions or Manageable Mess-Makers?
Shedding Like a Champion:
The answer to the first question is a resounding yes. Golden retrievers are double-coated dogs, meaning they have a soft, dense undercoat for insulation and a longer, coarser outer coat for protection. Both layers shed throughout the year, with peak shedding seasons occurring in spring and fall as they adapt their coats to changing temperatures. During these periods, be prepared for fur on furniture, clothes, and even your dinner plate!
Coping with the Furry Fallout:
While the shedding might seem overwhelming, there are ways to manage it and keep the fur under control. Here are some key strategies:
Frequent Brushing: Brushing your golden retriever 2-3 times a week with a combination of slicker brushes and undercoat rakes removes loose fur before it becomes airborne. This not only reduces shedding but also improves skin health and prevents matting.
Bathing: Regular baths (around once a month) with a good quality shampoo can help remove loose fur and distribute natural oils, keeping the coat healthy and minimizing shedding.
Diet: A healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can promote healthy skin and fur, leading to less shedding. Consider consulting your veterinarian for recommendations on the best diet for your golden retriever.
Vacuuming: Invest in a good vacuum cleaner with strong suction and HEPA filters to effectively capture fur. Regular vacuuming of furniture, floors, and carpets is crucial.
Fur Control Products: There are various fur control sprays and wipes available that can help reduce shedding and make cleaning easier. However, always consult your veterinarian before using any new products on your dog.
Beyond the Shed: Are Golden Retrievers Messy Dogs?
While shedding is a significant factor, it’s not the only indicator of messiness. Golden retrievers, in general, are relatively clean dogs. They are eager to please and enjoy learning good habits. With proper training, they can learn to wipe their paws after walks, avoid muddy areas, and generally stay cleaner than some other breeds. However, their playful nature and love for the outdoors can sometimes lead to mud-caked fur and sandy paw prints.
Managing Messiness:
Here are some tips to keep your golden retriever (and your home) cleaner:
Wipe down paws after walks: Invest in a dog towel and wipe your dog’s paws before they enter the house after walks.
Train for cleanliness: Teach your golden retriever basic commands like “leave it” and “off” to prevent chewing or jumping on furniture.
Provide appropriate outlets for energy: Exercise your dog regularly to release pent-up energy and prevent boredom-induced messes.
Choose appropriate toys: Provide durable, chew-resistant toys to prevent your dog from destroying furniture or personal belongings.
Conclusion:
Golden retrievers may shed like champions, but with proper management, the fur doesn’t have to rule your life. By implementing regular brushing, bathing, dietary changes, and cleaning routines, you can keep the shedding under control. Additionally, training and providing appropriate outlets for your dog’s energy can minimize other mess-making behaviors. Remember, with love, patience, and the right strategies, you can enjoy the companionship of your golden retriever without drowning in a sea of fur. So, breathe easy, fellow dog lovers, and get ready to embrace the joys (and occasional fur-filled frustrations) of owning a golden retriever!
OpenAI set out to build AGI from its founding in 2015, when the concept of AGI, as Altman put it to Bloomberg, was “nonmainstream.”
“We wanted to figure out how to build it and make it broadly beneficial,” he wrote in his blog post. “At the time, very few people cared, and if they did, it was mostly because they thought we had no chance of success.”
But the company recruited talent with the lure “just come build AGI,” and in April 2023 appeared to have at least made some strides toward it: Microsoft researchers said that ChatGPT had “sparks” of AGI. They demonstrated that “beyond its mastery of language” GPT-4 could solve “novel and difficult tasks” including math, coding, vision, medicine, law, psychology, and more, without special prompting.
Smartwatches do more than just track your steps and deliver phone alerts to your wrist. The best smartwatches go even further, giving you the ability to pay for a cup of coffee, take calls and connect to apps like Spotify all without whipping out your smartphone.
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you already know all of the benefits of a smartwatch. You’re ready to invest, or upgrade from an aging accessory, but we wouldn’t blame you if you if you didn’t know where to start. There are dozens of smartwatches available now, including GPS running watches, fitness trackers that look like smartwatches and multi-purpose devices. Plus, you’ll want to consider factors like durability, battery life and operating system before you spend a lot of money on a new wearable. We’ve tested and reviewed most major smartwatches available today and these are our top picks.
Table of contents
Best smartwatches
Apple
Tracks: Sleep, activity, calories, stress | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular (optional) | GPS: Yes, built in | Water resistant: Yes | Assistant support: Siri | Display: Always-on, wide-angle OLED touchscreen | Weight: 36.4 grams | Battery life: 18 hours
While the Series 10 is yet another iterative update to the Apple Watch, this wearable remains at the top of our list because Apple knows how to add small but useful features over time without fixing what isn’t broken. The Series 10 is slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and it has a marginally larger screen that uses a wide-angle OLED panel for better viewing angles. Both of those things, indeed, make it easier to see and interact with text and graphics on the screen from all different positions.
Apple also increased the efficiency of the Watch’s battery with this latest model, so most users should see a slight increase in battery life. The Watch is still technically rated for 18 hours of battery life, but you’ll likely get more juice out of it even with a GPS-tracked run thrown in during the day. While we still wish the Apple Watch had a multi-day battery life like competitors from Garmin and Fitbit do, any battery gains are a plus — especially for those who want to take advantage of the new sleep apnea tracking feature that the Series 10 has in watchOS 11. This new feature allows the Watch to track breathing during sleep and note any disturbances in a 30-day period. Considering the Watch has had relatively basic sleep tracking features until now, this is a welcomed addition.
Otherwise, the Series 10 does everything right that the Series 9 did. It remains an excellent fitness tracking watch and a great way to receive all of the most crucial alerts from your iPhone in a more discreet way. Anyone with a Series 9 or 8 might be disappointed by the Series 10 because it’s not reinventing the wheel, and therefore may not feel like a huge upgrade. But those coming from an older Apple Watch model, or an entirely different wearable, will notice a big difference in performance, features and charging speed.
It only took three iterations, but Google finally got it right with the Pixel Watch 3. It’s the most fully realized Pixel Watch yet, and one that any Android fan would get a lot of use out of. The latest model, which now comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes, has a slightly larger circular display that’s brighter than ever and can reach up to a 60Hz refresh rate. It can also drop down to just 1 nit of brightness when you’re wearing it to sleep, which not only makes for a better experience overall, but also contributes to its longer battery life. You’ll get up to 24 hours out of the Pixel Watch 3, which is a big improvement over the previous generation and more in line with competing devices from Apple and Samsung.
The Pixel Watch 3 is also a great activity tracking device, with features like auto workout detection and custom running plans, plus the ability to track metrics like Cardio Load. There’s Fitbit smarts in here, just like in previous Pixel Watches, so you’re covered when it comes to daily workouts, steps, sleep and more. The only downside to this is that if you’re interested in more in-depth coaching, those features are hidden behind the Fitbit Premium paywall.
While Wear OS 5 could use a bit more polish, the integration with the Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 3 is handy so you can use voice commands to check on things like weather forecasts, calendar alerts, map directions and more. We also appreciate the addition of faster charging on the Pixel Watch 3, so you can go from 0 to 100 in a bit less time than before. That’ll come in handy if you’re really keen on using the watch as a sleep tracker. Overall, the improvements Google made in this edition of the Pixel Watch helped push it over the edge as a worthy competitor to the Apple Watch and a top pick for Android users looking for their next wearable.
Tracks: Sleep, activity, calories, stress, dozens of workouts | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ANT+ | GPS: Yes, built in | Water resistant: Yes | Assistant support: None | Display: 1.2-inch AMOLED with optional always-on mode | Weight: 39 grams | Battery life: 11 days in smartwatch mode, 19 hours in GPS mode
Garmin is known for its prowess in the world of fitness watches and the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the watch I tested that I wanted to wear the most when I went out for a run. The expertise of the Forerunner line is in the name, and Garmin truly excels at making comprehensive yet friendly GPS running watches in flavors that will suit all kinds of athletes, from beginner to expert. The Forerunner 165 stands out with its lightweight design, bright AMOLED touchscreen, straightforward button controls, accurate built-in GPS and its ability to track workout stats just as well as all-day activity data.
Starting a run with the Forerunner 165 is as easy as pressing a single button — the top-right button on the case literally has “run” embossed onto it, and it takes you to the workout profile menu where you can choose the exercise you want to track. Run is the first option, but you have more than 25 profiles to choose from including track run, treadmill, walk, strength, swim and more. When running outside, the GPS took an average of 15-20 seconds to lock onto my location, but you don’t have to wait for it to do so — press the run button again to begin and the GPS will catch up on its own.
The Forerunner experience has benefited greatly from the continuous improvement of the Garmin Connect mobile app. The previously clunky, confusing app has been well refined so that you can customize its homepage the workout and activity stats you care about the most, including things like Body Battery, Sleep Score, menstrual cycle information and more. It’s easy to dive into your most recently tracked activity and get in the weeds with pace, cadence, training effect (aerobic or anaerobic), power and stamina stats.
Garmin puts the battery life of the Forerunner 165 at 11 days in smartwatch mode, and I found that to be mostly accurate even with a handful of GPS-tracked runs thrown in. The company claims you’ll get up to 19 hours of battery life with continuous GPS use, which should be enough for most runners and athletes competing in long-haul races. You can also get the 165 with music storage built in or not, with the former allowing you to store music locally on the watch so you can listen with a pair of Bluetooth headphones.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 will set you back $250 without music storage, or $300 for the model with music storage built in. That’s on the lower end of the price spectrum for GPS running watches; you could easily spend $500 or more if you’re unsure about what you need and what’s just extra fluff. While Garmin does have a few cheaper devices, the Forerunner 165 strikes the right balance of feature set and price that will appeal to seasoned runners and those who are just diving into a more regimented running routine.
Yes, there are still companies out there trying to make “fashionable” hybrid smartwatches. Back when wearables were novel and generally ugly, brands like Fossil, Michael Kors and Skagen found their niche in stylish smartwatches that took cues from analog timepieces. You also have the option to pick up a “hybrid” smartwatch from companies like Withings and Garmin – these devices look like classic wrist watches but incorporate some limited functionality like activity tracking and heart rate monitoring. They remain good options if you prefer that look, but thankfully, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten much more attractive over the past few years.
Ultimately, the only thing you can’t change after you buy a smartwatch is its case design. If you’re not into the Apple Watch’s squared-off corners, all of Samsung’s smartwatches have round cases that look a little more like a traditional watch. Most wearables are offered in a choice of colors and you can pay extra for premium materials like stainless steel for extra durability. Once you decide on a case, your band options are endless – there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps available for most major smartwatches, and for both larger and smaller wrists, allowing you to change up your look whenever you please.
Factors to consider before buying a smartwatch
Compatibility
Apple Watches only work with iPhones, while Wear OS devices play nice with both iOS and Android phones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are also compatible with Android and iOS, but you’ll need to install a companion app on your smartphone.
The smartwatch OS will also dictate the type and number of third-party apps you’ll have access to. Many of these aren’t useful, though, making this factor a fairly minor one in the grand scheme of things.
Price
The best smartwatches generally cost between $300 and $400. Compared to budget smartwatches, which cost between $100 and $250, these pricier devices have advanced operating systems, communications, music and fitness features. They also often include perks like onboard GPS tracking, music storage and NFC, AMOLED displays, and long battery life, things that budget devices generally don’t have.
Some companies make specialized fitness watches: Those can easily run north of $500, and we’d only recommend them to serious athletes. Luxury smartwatches from brands like TAG Heuer and Hublot can also reach sky-high prices, but we wouldn’t endorse any of them. These devices can cost more than $1,000, and you’re usually paying for little more than a brand name and some needlessly exotic selection of build materials.
Battery life
Battery life remains one of our biggest complaints about smartwatches, but there’s hope as of late. You can expect two full days from Apple Watches and most Wear OS devices. Watches using the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor support extended battery modes that promise up to five days of battery life on a charge — if you’re willing to shut off most features aside from, you know, displaying the time. Other models can last five to seven days, but they usually have fewer features and lower-quality displays. Meanwhile, some fitness watches can last weeks on a single charge. If long battery life is a priority for you, it’s worth checking out the watch’s specs beforehand to see what the manufacturer estimates.
Communication
Any smartwatch worth considering delivers call, text and app notifications to your wrist. Call and text alerts are self explanatory, but if those mean a lot to you, consider a watch with LTE. They’re more expensive than their WiFi-only counterparts, but cellular connectivity allows the smartwatch to take and receive phone calls, and do the same with text messages, without your device nearby. As far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will let you glance down to the watch face and see if you absolutely need to check your phone right now.
Fitness tracking
Activity tracking is a big reason why people turn to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece should function as a fitness tracker, logging your steps, calories and workouts, and most of today’s wearables have a heart rate monitor as well.
Many smartwatches’ fitness features include a built-in GPS, which is useful for tracking distance for runs and bike rides. Swimmers will want something water resistant, and thankfully most all-purpose devices now can withstand at least a dunk in the pool. Some smartwatches from companies like Garmin are more fitness focused than others and tend to offer more advanced features like heart-rate-variance tracking, recovery time estimation, onboard maps and more.
Health tracking on smartwatches has also seen advances over the years. Both Apple and Fitbit devices can estimate blood oxygen levels and measure ECGs. But the more affordable the smartwatch, the less likely it is that it has these kinds of advanced health tracking features; if collecting those kinds of wellness metrics is important to you, you’ll have to pay for the privilege.
Music
Your watch can not only track your morning runs but also play music while you’re exercising. Many smartwatches let you save your music locally, so you can connect wireless earbuds via Bluetooth and listen to tunes without bringing your phone. Those that don’t have onboard storage for music usually have on-watch music controls, so you can control playback without whipping out your phone. And if your watch has LTE, local saving isn’t required — you’ll be able to stream music directly from the watch to your paired earbuds.
Displays
Most wearables have touchscreens and we recommend getting one that has a full-color touchscreen. Some flagships like the Apple Watch have LTPO displays, which stands for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide. These panels have faster response times and are more power efficient, resulting in a smoother experience when one interacts with the touchscreen and, in some cases, longer battery lives.
You won’t see significant gains with the latter, though, because the extra battery essentially gets used up when these devices have always-on displays, as most flagship wearables do today. Some smartwatches have this feature on by default while others let you enable it via tweaked settings. This smart feature allows you to glance down at your watch to check the time, health stats or any other information you’ve set it to show on its watchface without lifting your wrist. This will no doubt affect your device’s battery life, but thankfully most always-on modes dim the display’s brightness so it’s not running at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper devices won’t have this feature; instead, their touchscreens will automatically turn off to conserve battery life and you’ll have to intentionally check your watch to turn on the display again.
NFC
Many new smartwatches have NFC, letting you pay for things without your wallet using contactless payments. After saving your credit or debit card information, you can hold your smartwatch up to an NFC reader to pay for a cup of coffee on your way home from a run. Keep in mind that different watches use different payment systems: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Wear OS devices use Google Pay, Samsung devices use Samsung Pay and so forth.
Apple Pay is one of the most popular NFC payment systems, with support for multiple banks and credit cards in 72 different countries, while Samsung and Google Pay work in fewer regions. It’s also important to note that both NFC payment support varies by device as well for both Samsung and Google’s systems.
Other smartwatches our experts tested
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is probably overkill for most people, but it has a ton of extra features like extra waterproofing to track diving, an even more accurate GPS and the biggest battery of any Apple Watch to date. Apple designed it for the most rugged among us, but for your average person, it likely has more features than they’d ever need. If you’re particularly clumsy, however, its high level of durability could be a great reason to consider the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE is less feature-rich than the flagship model, but it will probably suffice for most people. We actually regard the Watch SE as the best smartwatch option for first-time buyers, or people on stricter budgets. You’ll get all the core Apple Watch features as well as things like fall and crash detection, noise monitoring and Emergency SOS, but you’ll have to do without more advanced hardware perks like an always-on display, a blood oxygen sensor, an ECG monitor and a skin temperature sensor.
Garmin Forerunner 745
Garmin watches in general can be great options for the most active among us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is an excellent GPS running watch for serious athletes or those who prize battery life above all else. When we tested it, we found it to provide accurate distance tracking, a killer 16-hour battery life with GPS turned on (up to seven days without it) and support for onboard music storage and Garmin Pay.
