2015 may have been the breakout year for wearable devices, but a first look the most expected wearable devices in 2016 proves that this is an even bigger year for wearable gadgets.
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Last year, we all saw the rise of the Fitbit to wearable device stardom, the unknown sales figures of the Apple Watch, and the demise of the Google Glass. This year, based on early predictions and the sneak preview from the 10 Coolest things and best gadgets from CES 2016, we can expect to see more fitness trackers – made more style-savvy – and smart watches dominate the wearable gadget market. And while there has been a lot of buzz in the last few months about Virtual Reality headsets, 2016 is bound to be its big year with more games, movies, and even porn entering into the virtual reality arena.
Since the wearable devices segment is becoming more and more competitive, the companies have to find solutions to maintain their positions on the market by spending billions on R&D and trying to use cutting-edge technology in order to attract customers. Since most companies that produce wearable devices have grown and went public, we can see that in most cases, these devices still have room to catch on. Fitbit Inc (NYSE:FIT) went public last year and the stock has dropped by nearly 44% since the IPO, despite the strong first reactions. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)‘s sales of the Apple Watch are strong, but have not managed to outshine the company’s dependence on its key product – the iPhone. Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN)’s stock is also down by around 33% on the year. Therefore, 2016 might be a key year for the wearable devices industry and companies might have the last chance to gain the confidence of investors in the long run before the world immerses in the next financial crisis and wearable devices drop to the bottom of the shopping lists.
So, which gadgets made it to this list of most expected wearable devices in 2016? Read on to start the list!
10. OmBra
Canadian tech startup, Om Signals, has decided to revolutionize women’s sports bra experience with the very first ‘smart’ underwear, the OmBra. The smart sports bra, which was presented to the public at the CES 2016 in Las Vegas, offers more than just physical support for women doing workouts and sports; it’s equipped with fitness tracker capacities as well.
The OmBra is designed to track the wearer’s breathing rate, heart rate, as well as the number of calories burned during a workout. The biometric data records are then shared to the company’s OmSignal mobile app that reads and relays feedback of the data to the wearer. The OmRun feature of the app is integrated into the bra’s design to help its wearers manage their running and fitness targets. The app also lets women measure their breathing, improve their rhythm, and even compare their fitness levels with other women in their age group.
The smart bra features antimicrobial mesh panels for breathability, a stretchable fabric made of a blend of polyester, elastane, and nylon for comfort, adjustable straps, removable paddings, and racerback design.
The OmBra comes from the same company that launched the Smart Shirt in 2014, and it is expected to be available to the market by Spring this year.
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9. Oculus Rift
Since its launch in June last year, the consumer version of the much-anticipated Oculus Rift, developed by Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), will finally be out on the market within the first quarter of 2016. It’s currently available on pre-order from the Oculus website – all of which will include a free copy of EVE: Valkyrie. The Oculus Rift will come with an XBOX One controller and Windows 10 support. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)’s last results have been strong and Oculus is a nice side project for the company, which might one day become as successful as its other recent acquisitions like WhatsApp or Instagram.
The new consumer version of the Oculus Rift will be significantly lighter than the earlier-released Oculus Rift developer kits and will feature two OLED Screens. Rift owners can expect zero blurs and pixels visible due to its low latency. Its more ergonomically superior design also features fabric-coating that makes it easier and more comfortable to wear.
One of the most important features of the new Oculus Rift is the adjustable Interpupillary Distance (IPD) of its optics. Because not everyone has the same distance between both eyes, making this feature possible ensures that everybody can adjust the Rift’s lens distance to suit their personal needs. The new Rift also allows the user to wear eyeglasses underneath it to accommodate everybody.
Several game outfits are set to launch VR versions this year making it all the more an exciting year for Oculus Rift users.
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8. Garmin Varia Vision
Expected to hit the stores in the first quarter of the year, Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN)’s Varia Vision is the latest of smart gadgets designed for bikers. Unlike existing heads-up display (HUD) units, Varia Vision does not come with its own sunglasses but can be mounted on existing ones.
The lightweight HUD does not have GPS but powerful radars – compatible with Garmin Edge 520 or Garmin Edge 1000 – that allow riders to detect incoming cars from behind. With the Edge unit, the Varia Vision can point out nearby turns and street names as well as indicate distances between turns. Varia Vision adjusts to whichever side it is placed so riders can decide based on where they are entirely comfortable with, and without fear of the unit blocking their peripheral vision.
One of its main features is the glove-friendly touch panel that lets riders switch displays on the move easily. It is water-resistant, so it’s perfect for any weather. The Garmin Varia Vision also boasts of ambient lighting that adjusts according to the outdoor brightness, ensuring visibility for the rider no matter how sunny or gloomy a day is.
Another main feature is its vibrating technology, which notifies the users of incoming calls, texts, and other information without having to check their smartphones and take their eyes off the road in doing so. Cyclists will also definitely love the reported 8-hour battery life, about twice the hours of its rivals.
Wearable devices have gained traction for Garmin lately and in its latest financial report, the fitness segment accounted for 20% of the company’s total sales and was the only segment that registered a 23% annual growth in sales to $143 million, while the auto segment, even though totalled $265 million, posted a 14% decline in sales. Moreover, the company expects the fitness segment to maintain strong growth in the near future.
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7. Fitbit Blaze
Fitbit Blaze, launched at the CES 2016 in Las Vegas, is the latest addition to Fitbit’s popular line of gadgets. Compared to the sporty, compact look of its predecessors, Fitbit Blaze looks a lot like a smart watch with its thicker straps and larger, color touchscreen. It is noticeably more versatile-looking than the earlier Fitbit models, making it look more easily suitable to wear for a workout as it is for other more casual activities.
One of its so-called Breakthrough Features is its PurePulse Heart Rate technology. Compared to the earlier models, the Blaze can measure the wearer’s heart rate purely on the gadget itself and without the need for a separate heart monitor strapped around the chest. It can also detect its wearer’s activity alongside tracking steps or sleeping quality.
With its larger screen and virtually more loaded capabilities, the Fitbit Blaze is designed to connect with smartphones, which then allow its wearers to access GPS, control music, or get communication notifications right off of their Fitbits. On-screen workouts can also be downloaded onto the Fitbit.
As mentioned earlier, Fitbit’s stock plunged by 44% since its IPO in June, but the largest part of this decline was registered last month, when the stock got dragged down by concerns that the market for wearable devices allows for great competition and is becoming more saturated. Nevertheless, investors will be watching the stock closely in the upcoming months and the impact of the Blaze on the sales will be one of the main factors affecting the stock’s direction.
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6. Apple Watch 2
With Apple surprisingly not releasing the sales figures of the Apple Watch from 2015, the Apple Watch and its supposed successor, Apple Watch 2, are swirling wildly around the tech rumor mills. There has not been a word from Apple, but people are already highly anticipating the release of the second watch. Rumor has it that production is slated to start late January of this year after Chinese sources are said to have confirmed the information.
According to the said report that appeared on this site recently, Apple will launch the Watch by April alongside launching the latest of the iPhone models. Of course, with nothing set in stone, speculations abound and the fabled new Apple Watch model is driving tech-savvy citizens wild with excitement. But all this buzz for something shrouded in so much misery can only be good for the company; without anyone having any idea how it looks like it is still one of the most expected wearable devices in 2016.
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5. Moto 360 Sport
Motorola launched late last year an aptly-named sibling to its earlier Moto 360 smartwatch, the Moto 360 Sport. It is basically, and as its name suggests, a Moto 360 smartwatch built specifically for the sportier among us.
Compared to the regular Moto 360, Sport has a bulkier, more athletic build and it is equipped with fitness watch features – heart rate monitor, steps counter, even its own built-in GPS tracker. To make sure that the watch is versatile and can be used anywhere, Moto 360 Sport does not have an LCD screen but instead uses an AnyLight Hybrid Display screen – basically ambient light sensors that make sure the brightness of the screen adjusts to the surroundings for better visibility any time of day and at any weather.
One other highly noticeable feature of the Moto 360 Sport is its being well-fitted for sweaty sporty wrists. The band is made sure to fit around just right without sliding off or hindering breathability even in the midst of an intense workout.
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4. Nexus Band
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL)’s supposed up and coming Nexus Band is a lot like the Apple Watch 2 – it is shrouded in a ton of mystery and is completely working on rumors and reports. But despite the lack of official reports from Alphabet, the Nexus Band is still one of the most expected wearable devices in 2016 because of its reported budget-friendly price tag.
According to several reports, the Nexus Band will be lightweight and highly efficient on top of being relatively cheaper than the leading brands today – Fitbit and Xiaomi.
There are no further reports on when this is supposed to materialize, but the Nexus Band is supposedly the mass version of Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL)’s luxury medical-grade Google X Activity Tracker.
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3. Google Glass 2
The rumor mill is quite abuzz with future activities from the bigwigs of wearable devices, and Google Glass is not spared. But based on this report, there’s a lot of basis for the Google Glass 2 chatter.
There is nothing much to know about the new Google Glass 2 but it is supposedly going to be named Enterprise, which hints at what the new smart glass is intended to be. Unlike its predecessor, whose rise and fall was swift, saddening, but somehow expected, the Enterprise model will be sold for business/work over play. The new model is also rumored to be using Intel Atom as its processor.
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2. Intel X-Ray Helmet
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s X-Ray Helmet may be the closest thing we can get to real X-Ray vision for now, but this wearable smart device is not made for everyday use. The Intel X-Ray Helmet, which looks like something straight out of a Marvel comic book, is designed for industrial use. It is believed to be released in early 2016.
Launched in the CES 2016 in Las Vegas, the X-Ray Helmet features helmet-mounted glasses that can see into industrial machinery. The Intel X-Ray Helmet is also called the Daqri Smart Helmet runs on Core m7 processor and is loaded with sensors that track the wearer’s movement as well as a line of vision for a more accurate, versatile, and focused vision.
The product is designed to work anywhere and is wireless making it suitable for use in a variety of industrial settings.
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1. Microsoft HoloLens
With limited buttons, a very hefty price tag, a whole slew of tiny sensors, and several years in electrically charged anticipation, the world may likely get their hands on Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)‘s HoloLens. Having been announced as early as 2012, the device is believed to be made available to select developers early this year and hopefully to the public by Christmastime making it top the list of the most expected wearable devices in 2016.
The Microsoft HoloLens is in its very early days of being made available to the tech community with quick hands-on demos. There are still several questions to be answered regarding its functions and practicality but one thing Microsoft made certain to be known about the HoloLens is that it’s not going to be a Virtual Reality headset.
The Mixed Reality/Augmented Reality headset is bound to bring ‘holograms’ of graphics to blend with the real world so users can still exist in his/her actual environment while wearing the lenses. The HoloLens is also loaded with sensors and cameras because it works mainly on gestures.
The Microsoft HoloLens, which will run on limited distribution in the first quarter of the year, comes with a $3,000 price tag.
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2016 is indeed an exciting year for wearable technology, as is proven not just by this list of the most expected wearable devices in 2016 but also by the awe-inspiring devices featured in the recent CES. Which of these gadgets are you itching to get a hold of?
