OnePlus is expanding its product ecosystem with the announcement of five new devices, including the latest addition to its popular Nord smartphone lineup. These new products are slated to launch in Europe and India next month, with full specifications and pricing to be revealed at the official launch event on July 8th.

Leading the charge is the Nord 5, the newest mid-range smartphone from the company. Notably, it’s the first Nord device to incorporate a flagship Qualcomm chip – the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3, designed for more affordable flagship phones. The Nord 5 will also boast an upgraded cooling system and support for LPDDR5X RAM. While full details are pending, initial images show a distinctive “Dry Ice” pale blue finish and a dual rear camera setup.

Joining the Nord 5 is the Nord CE5, expected to be a more budget-friendly option, though details are currently limited to its “Marble Mist” finish. Celina Shi, OnePlus’ European head of marketing, confirmed in an interview that both the Nord 5 and Nord CE5 will feature the new customizable Plus Key (replacing the signature Alert Slider) and enable the AI Plus Mind feature.

OnePlus is also introducing the OnePlus Pad Lite, described as an “entry-level” tablet. It retains the central, circular camera design seen on older OnePlus tablets, differentiating it from the newer Pad 3. While official specifications are scarce, a recent leak suggests it will feature an 11-inch LCD display, run on the MediaTek Helio G100 chipset, and be available in an optional cellular version.

Rounding out the announcements are a smaller 43mm OnePlus Watch 3, complementing the existing 47mm model, and a new pair of earbuds, the OnePlus Buds 4. These earbuds will include dual drivers, support Hi-Res audio, and be available in green or dark gray.

Samsung is stepping up its game in the health tech race with plans to develop a new hub, designed to simplify how users share health data directly with their doctors between appointments. This initiative aims to bridge the disconnect often experienced when patients struggle to recall medical advice or fitness suggestions.

Dr. Hon Pak, a Samsung health executive, highlighted the company’s commitment to cutting down this gap. They’re working on tools that will funnel data collected from smartwatches into a central location, also providing nudges to help users stay on track with doctor-prescribed goals. Pak emphasized the need to move away from fragmented health solutions. “There are a lot of innovations out there but it’s siloed,” Pak said. “We think there’s a responsibility and a potential for bringing the experience into an ecosystem so that the users have a more simple experience rather than having 10 different apps to manage your condition.”

While the full hub is still some time away, Samsung recently announced new features coming to its smartwatches as part of a One UI 8 software update. These enhancements will include tools for measuring antioxidant levels and vascular load, alongside a running coach and upgrades to sleep management. The features will be available on last year’s Samsung Galaxy Watch models, with the bedtime coach specifically coming to the Galaxy Watch 5 and newer devices. A beta program for these features is set to launch this month in the US and South Korea.

To check antioxidant levels on a new-generation Samsung watch, users will simply press their fingertip against the sensors on the device’s back. The feature can then suggest nutritional adjustments, like eating antioxidant-rich berries, to help improve readings. The vascular load feature measures pulse waves during sleep to assess arterial pressure, aiming to better identify the risk for stroke and other cardiovascular issues. The new running feature will help users train for races by analyzing baseline performance, and an enhanced sleep tool will suggest optimal bedtimes based on several days of analyzed data.

Smartwatches are evolving beyond simple notification companions, increasingly merging with sports watches and even medical-grade wearables. Competitors like Apple Inc., Garmin Ltd., and Alphabet Inc.’s Google have already made significant advancements in measuring heart conditions and sleep.

This shift towards more comprehensive health features in wearables aligns with broader trends, as noted by Pak. Increases in chronic diseases, healthcare workforce shortages, and rising medical costs are leading more people to seek care from home. “The burden is now on the patients and the families that have to provide that care,” he explained. “So with that, we have to be in the home.”

Samsung’s health platform currently boasts about 68 million monthly active customers. Looking ahead, Pak mentioned that more health sensors are planned for future Samsung devices, including earbuds. While features like cuff-less blood pressure tracking and non-invasive glucose tracking are in development, they are still years away from release.

Huawei has launched its flagship smartwatch, the HUAWEI WATCH 5 Series, with the X-TAP, a new fingertip sensor that redefines smartwatch health management. Located on the side of the watch body right next to the watch crown, the X-TAP is integral to the distributed HUAWEI TruSense System, allowing the watch to unlock new health monitoring capabilities. Featuring a new smooth-edged design with spherical sapphire glass and futuristic colours, the HUAWEI WATCH 5 exudes understated luxury with cutting-edge smarts. Now available on Huawei’s official online platforms and in retail stores for AED 1599.

The X-TAP is the most groundbreaking feature of the HUAWEI WATCH 5. As an integrated sensor with ECG and PPG sensors are built into it, it is part of the upgraded HUAWEI TruSense System that makes use of Distributed Super-Sensing Module to deliver significantly enhanced health insights. Measuring physiological signals directly from fingertips greatly improves accuracy and yeids faster results, enabling much more comprehensive health monitoring using the watch.

Simply pressing and holding the X-TAP for three seconds instantly directs you from the watch home screen to Health Glance function, which generates detailed assesment of your health based on 11 health metrics and long term trends in just 60 seconds. All data from HUAWEI X-TAP, including Health Glance reports, will be analysed and compiled into daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly insights and trends. Based on these assesments, users will be provided with tips to work on their health or consider seeking professional medical advice where necessary.

Being Huawei’s top-of-the-line smartwatch, the WATCH 5 uses premium and durable materials for constrcution. The spherical sapphire glass that protects the screen compliments the smooth-edged, high gloss finish of the watch case. On the 3 o’clock side on the watch body sits the 12mm X-TAP made of high-strength heat-bent glass blending perfectly with the curvature of the dial.

A subtle sense of luxury is etched into every detail, even the colour palettes. The HUAWEI WATCH 5 42mm features a premium 904L stainless steel casing—the same alloy used in luxury watches—delivering exceptional corrosion and wear resistance for enduring refinement. The HUAWEI WATCH 5 46mm instead uses an Aerospace-grade Titanium material, which is 45% lighter than 904L stainless steel, 1.8 times stronger, and 1.5 times harder. It is lightweight, tough and corrosion resistant.

The HUAWEI WATCH 5 Series supports e-sim cellular calling, standalone navigation, onboard music streaming, and enjoys Huawei’s ecosystem of fitness and general apps. It can handle key tasks without needing your phone constantly in your pocket. The watch also introduces new gesture controls designed for one-handed use.

To help users optimise their smartwatch usage, the WATCH 5 comes with a dual-mode battery. In Standard Mode, HUAWEI WATCH 5 46mm can last for up to 4.5 under normal usage and 42mm edition can last up to 3 days on Standard Mode. The battery life can be extended with the Battery Saver Mode, allowing the watch to last up to 7 days on the 42mm edition and 11 days on the 46mm edition.