Amazon Prime Day 2021 is one of the best times of the year to nab yourself a wearable bargain.

A good fitness tracker is the best way tech can help you get out to exercise more and Amazon Prime Day has loads of wearable deals for you to choose from.

We will have all the hot picks for beginners, and those after a "pro" style runner's watch should be happy too when the deals flood in June 21-22.

There are lots of discounts on Garmin's watches, Galaxy watches and even Apple Watches. If you want to see all the Prime Day deals, then head to our Amazon Prime Day hub for a curated selection.

The best Amazon Prime Day wearable deals

An Apple Watch is a practical device. They help you keep on top of notifications, plan meetings, track your health and more.

But making sure they actually look good - with the help of the best Apple Watch strap - is vital too. After all, you wear them all day.

From subtle, minimalist designs to statement pieces, there are plenty of straps to pick and choose from, making sure you can express your individuality whilst you get on with your day’s work.

Here’s our pick of the best. Upvote your favourite.

Best Apple Watch straps

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ShortList has teamed up with HONOR to offer one lucky reader a fantastic prize: a brilliant smartwatch bundle that features two top-of-the-range gadgets.

We're giving away an HONOR Watch GS Pro and Honor Watch ES. Together they are worth £300 and are both cutting-edge devices from HONOR’s smartwatch line-up.

The HONOR Watch GS Pro is a rugged smartwatch that will bring out the adventurer in you. The Watch GS Pro has been crafted with mechanical precision to survive even the toughest environments. It’s a stylish smartwatch that can be personalised for whatever you are doing, whether that be outdoor pursuits or trail running.

It comes with 24/7 heart rate monitoring, all-night sleep tracking and can measure your blood oxygen levels. There are more than 100 workout modes - including some sophisticated ski-tracking technology - GPS functionality, and the watch has a battery that lasts for up to 25 days. It’s so good, you can even make hands-free calls on the thing, thanks to its built-in speaker and microphone

The Honor Watch ES is a fantastic fitness tracker, offering the ultimate in style on the move. It is packed with a bundle of tracking metrics, from heart rate and sleep to stress levels.

The Honor Watch ES is equipped with a 1.64-inch AMOLED Touch Display, which is a bezel-less full-colour display that delivers vivid visuals that adjust brightness automatically according to ambient lighting for all-day readability. Alongside this, there is a long-lasting 10-day battery life, 95 workout modes, an animated virtual coach to inspire you to exercise, 24/7 heart-rate monitor, and stress and sleep monitor.

No matter what your workout, these HONOR devices are the ultimate accessory, helping you to monitor your fitness and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

How to WIN

To be in with a chance of winning, please fill out the form below and head to the terms and conditions for more details.

ShortLists's HONOR Smartwatch Competition

The competition closes on midnight 30th November and is open to UK residents aged 18 and over.

We all know now more than ever how special it is to be able to spend time outdoors. That feeling of a long hike, bike ride or run simply can’t be beaten and is the perfect antidote to these trying times.

When embarking on an outdoor adventure, it’s essential that you have with you the right equipment, and when it comes to your choice of smartwatch, HONOR has got you covered.

UPDATED: You now have the chance to win an HONOR GS Pro along with the brilliant HONOR ES Watch in our exclusive competition. This brilliant smartwatch bundle is worth over £300. Just click here for more details and to find out how to enter.

HONOR is a company obsessed with design and creativity, offering unforgettable experiences with the technology it creates and this can be seen in the stunning HONOR GS PRO smartwatch, compatible with both Android phones and iPhone.

The HONOR GS PRO is built to withstand whatever the world throws at it, and then some. It’s a smartwatch for those looking to enrich their lives while embarking on their latest adventures. Whether that’s through its intelligent fitness tracking, top-class navigation or detailed data about whatever surroundings you find yourself in, it’s a smartwatch that is your ultimate outdoor companion.

Here are 5 things to know...

1. The HONOR GS PRO is built to withstand the toughest of environments

When we say tough, we mean TOUGH. The HONOR GS PRO has been put through some arduous testing to make sure it can withstand pretty much any environment it’s in. In total, the smartwatch has gone through 14 different MIL-STD-810G tests. These tests are of United States Military Standard and comprise temperature-humidity-altitude resistance, salt spray, sand resistance and humidity resistance.

Before it could pass HONOR’s rigorous testing procedures, the smartwatch had to withstand temperatures as low as -40°C and as high as 70 °C. It went through 96 hours of salt spray and 240 hours of humidity testing. So when HONOR says it can withstand the toughest of environments, it really means it.

2. The HONOR GS PRO has been designed for those with a sense adventure

As well as being one tough cookie, the HONOR GS PRO has a number of design flourishes that are ideal for those of you who are urban adventurers and adventurers at heart. The exterior, for a start, is rugged. It’s been crafted with mechanical precision to survive those aforementioned tough environments.

Its ruggedness is complemented with a fantastic amount of personality and a wide range of creative, stylish watch faces, that will match your look to whatever outdoor adventure you are having.

3. The HONOR GS PRO has a battery life that won’t let you down

25 days. That’s how long the HONOR Watch GS Pro can last on a single charge if you are a typical user - and it will last an impressive 14 days if you put it under heavy usage.

When you are out and about, with the outdoor GPS mode on, then you will still get a fantastic 100 hours’ battery life. In short: you don't need to worry about running out of battery when on your adventures

4. No matter what your sport, the HONOR GS PRO is there for you

With over 15 professional workout modes and 85 customised workout modes, it really doesn’t matter what your sport of choice is, the HONOR Watch GS Pro will be there for you. If you are a skier, then you’ll be pleased to note that this smartwatch can track the following: the number of runs, distance, trail time, maximum speed, maximum steepness, vertical ascent and descent, altitude, heart rate, and calories burned.

And it’s not just sports tracking, the HONOR Watch GS Pro has everything you need for a comprehensive view of your health. Whether you want 24/7 heart rate monitoring, full sleep tracking, or to monitor your blood oxygen level, the HONOR Watch GS Pro has you covered.

5. The HONOR GS PRO is your ultimate outdoor guide

There are some fantastic feature flourishes that really make the HONOR GS PRO an essential smartwatch for the outdoors. One of our favourite features is something called Route Back. While the GPS is there to help pinpoint where you want to go on an adventure, Route Back helps you get back to your original position with ease. Even if you have gone down the road less travelled, this really is a fantastic feature.

And it’s not the only one. The HONOR GS PRO is bursting with data to help you plan your day’s adventures. From sunrise and sunset times, bad weather alerts and tidal information, it really has it all.

You can also answer calls through the HONOR GS PRO. Thanks to its built-in speaker and microphone you don’t have to whip out your phone to answer calls even, which is great news if you are cycling or climbing.

Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned that it is a damn-fine watch, too!

When thinking about the best Seiko watches, it's impossible to overstate the impact Seiko has had on the watch industry.

Founded in 1881 in Tokyo, the intervening 138 years have seen the horologist produce a series of world firsts in design and technological innovation, each of which redefined the industry.

The first quartz watch in 1969? Seiko. The first multi-function digital watch in 1973? Seiko. The first solar powered watch in 1977? Seiko. The list goes on.

More recently the arrival of the Seiko Spring Drive movement in 1999 and the solar powered GPS watch in 2012 prove the company has never rested on its laurels. The former offers a mechanical movement with quartz accuracy, the latter sun powered timekeeping controlled by satellite.

The company also operates across the full financial spectrum, from wildly affordable to the absolute opposite, yet each of its watches offers a combination of superb design and fantastic build quality. Ultimately, the Japanese company may not have the perceived luxury appeal of its Swiss brethren, but those in the know will usually sport a Seiko.

• We tested 10 of the best running watches for the move active watch fan
• We also compiled a definitive list of the best Android Smartwatches for those who prefer taking it slow.

Best Seiko watches

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The Apple Watch hasn't always been the most kid-friendly wearable out there, but it seems Apple is determined to change that.

Not only has it recently been revealed the new Apple Watch 6 might have new and improved parental controls, now 9to5Mac has found iOS 14 code that suggests the watch’s distinctive activity rings will be adjustable for children.

Previously a lot of the health features have been designed with adults in mind, but the activity rings could soon reflect more children-friendly goals.

For example, the leak seems to indicate that Apple wants to be able to allow the red outer ring (that usually measures calories burned) to show how much time is spent moving throughout the day instead.

The goal for that movement will start at 90 minutes to encourage children to keep active (without the negative connotations of counting calories).

For those waiting for the new updates, iOS 14 is scheduled to be released in September, later this year.

• For all your Apple Watch accessories, check out our round-ups of the best Apple Watch stand and best Apple Watch straps.

If you are one of those people who wants a smartwatch but don't want to look like you have a computer strapped to your wrist, then TAG may well have the answer.

TAG is back in the smartwatch game with the latest TAG Heuer Connected range, which blends nicely that luxury watch look and feel with smartwatch functionality.

It was back in 2015 when TAG offered up its first connected luxury watch and now the new Connected range - some 18 months in the making - is here and the watches make quite the design and tech statement.

Powered by Google\s Wear OS, the new Connected range, according to TAG Heuer’s Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, Frédéric Arnault, "was designed and engineered with the same passion and attention to detail as [the company's] mechanical watches."

This means that not only do the new watches look like watches, but the technology side of things is a lot more refined, so that whether you are using the watch for lifestyle of sport, you won't be lost in myriad menus feeling dumb that you can't work out the smart functionality.

Looks wise, there's a 45-mm stainless-steel or titanium case to choose from, with a graduated ceramic bezel, a central rotating crown with two functional buttons. You can choose from two straps: a black rubber one or steel with a folding buckle.

The screen is OLED and scratch resistant. It flits between ambient and active modes to help with battery and you get a travel pouch and magnetic charger with the watch. Battery is a sizeable 440mAh battery, which should get you 20 hours' use.

There are five always-on mechanical- or digital-inspired TAG Heuer watch faces to choose from and you can customise dial options and colours.

You can get activity progress, notifications and things like weather information directly from the watch but there is also a companion Sports app that can be customised for the sports you are into - golf, running, fitness etc. The 2020 Tag Heuer Connected also has heart rate monitoring, which is a great addition to the range.

The TAG Heuer Connected watch is available in store form 13th March, priced from £1,495.

Head to our best Android smartwatch guide to see the competition the Connected is up against.

Apple has quietly been working away at the new Apple Watch 6 and now after months of silence, we’re finally finding out a little more about what’s in store.

Having found out earlier this week that the new watch might be able to test the oxygen levels in your blood, which could in turn warn you of any potential heart conditions, it also seems the Series 6 could have a dedicated kids mode.

Leaks of iOS 14 code to 9to5Mac, parents will be able to use their iPhones to manage the settings on their child’s watch. This would mean parents have better control over what type of music their children are accessing, as well as contacts.

Currently, you can pair multiple watches to your iPhone, but can only control one at any given time.

If that doesn’t go far enough for you, there has also been a new feature called Schooltime that has been uncovered, which restricts the usage of certain apps during… (you guessed it) school.

It seems Apple Watch users will also finally be getting sleep tracking. This has been long-suspected after Apple unintentionally leaked that they were working on a Sleep app late last year.

The new code has now suggested that users will be able to set sleep goals, as well as receiving advice on how to improve the quality of their sleep.

These new features will be available for the Apple Watch Series 6 and watchOS 7 but the new watch isn’t expected to be revealed until early autumn at the earliest.

Main image: Luke Chesser/Unsplash

• Once you’ve decided on an Apple Watch, here are the best Apple Watch straps and best Apple Watch stands

Renowned martial artist Bruce Lee would have been 80 this year, so Casio wants to celebrate his birthday in style - with a limited-edition G-Shock.

The new Mr G watch has turned Lee’s iconic yellow tracksuit from Game of Death into an eye-catching timepiece all in honour of the film star.

Why honour a martial artist with a watch? Apart from making a cool timepiece, Casio thinks the G-Shock’s “uncompromising commitment to materials, structure, processing, and finishing” compliments what was Lee’s “world-class physical and mental toughness”.

Whatever the justification we’re here for it because there’s some pretty impressive details.

On the watch face, you’ll find Lee’s ‘dragon’ signature and the engraved bezel that tells you “using no way as a way, having no limitation as limitation.”

It also has all the usual features you’d expect from a G-Shock including it being shock-resistant (obviously), water resistant up to 200m and a solar-charging system.

Because it’s limited-edition, there are only 300 copies up for grabs but the MRGG2000BL-9A watch will be available in April for a hefty $4000.

• These are the best Seiko watches available right now
• If you’re looking for something with more tech, try one of our best Android smartwatches

Honor may be best known for making cheap smartphones that pack a punch but in the last year, the company’s attention has been drawn towards the world of smartwatches.

Honor’s latest offering is the MagicWatch 2 - a smartwatch that is meant to be your companion through whatever the day throws at you, whether that be night or day, work or leisure - all for the price of £149.99.

There are two sizes available - 42mm and 46mm - but because of our reviewer’s slightly smaller stature, we road-tested the newer 42mm model.

The design of the MagicWatch 2 is sleek and minimal and the interface is user-friendly and easy to use, but what do you really get for just over £150? And, can it really rival those pricier big-name brands?

Here are the seven things you need to know about the Honor MagicWatch 2.

Honor’s MagicWatch 2 is available in the new 42mm size for £149.99, or in 46mm if you prefer a slightly bigger watch. And. there's even £20 off the 46mm until Sunday, bringing the price down to £139.99.

• For more smartwatch options, check out our best Android smartwatch review
• And for more fitness-orientated wearables, try our best fitness tracker and best running watches

1. The Perfect Fit

Unlike most watches - smart or otherwise - the Honor MagicWatch 2 has 17 holes on the watch strap so that it fits perfectly on your wrist. Contrasting this with our Fitbit, which we wear daily, we usually have to choose between having it a little too tight or risk it sliding around most of the day. There’s no such issue with the MagicWatch 2 because there are so many holes at such close increments to each other, you’re bound to find the perfect fit.

The small spacing between the strap holes also naturally increases the watch’s comfort. We usually can’t wait to take off our watch at the end of a long day but we found we could wear the MagicWatch 2 a complete 24 hours before we succumbed to taking it off.

2. Get the most out of your workout

The MagicWatch 2 offers a shed load of data when it comes to your workouts. Before working out, you simply let the watch know what type of exercise you are doing with the preset options covering everything from jog outdoors to rowing, open water swimming and hiking. If you want to make your run a little more interesting - or you need a little more coaching - there are also 13 running courses to choose from. If you’re new to running, these are a great place to start as the courses are broken down into timed segments to give you something to aim for.

To give you a better idea of how the stats are broken down, we decided to hike Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Each kilometre of the 6.4km walk was broken down so we could see our pace, along with stats on our average stride, cadence, heart rate and how high we climbed. We particularly like the recovery time feature, which shows how long you should take out before exercising again. In our case, it was 14 hours.

3. Making stress manageable

We could all benefit from being more aware of our stress levels, and the Honor MagicWatch 2 helps you do so. The smartwatch’s stress monitor has a nice graph that tracks your stress levels, along with giving you a score. It was a handy way of pinpointing what increased our stress and it also gave us an idea of what percentage of the day we were relaxed, normal, medium or highly stressed. Turns out being stranded in Edinburgh because of Storm Ciara and cancelled trains does make you a little stressed.

The MagicWatch 2 also offers breathing exercises, which tell the wear to breath slowly in and out in time with an undulating circle. It’s probably not something we’d use regularly but may be a nice feature for those who struggle with anxiety and find breathing exercises to be a helpful tool.

4. Sleep well

The sleep monitor was by far our favourite feature of the MagicWatch 2. If you’re not used to wearing a tracker to bed, it does take a little getting used to but we found the MagicWatch 2 to be pretty comfortable to wear to bed and we loved the amount of data we got from it. Not only did it let us know exactly how long we’d been asleep, it also broke down that sleep into light, deep and REM sleep.

The graph on the Huawei Health app gave us a great idea of when we were sleeping our heaviest, along with giving a decent summary of how well you slept and what a good amount of REM sleep really is. We scored low when it came to deep sleep continuity but normal for all the other categories including how often we woke up, our breathing quality and how long we slept for. This is definitely a handy tool if you’re struggling to sleep and want to better understand why, or are simply curious to find out what makes a good night’s sleep.

5. A battery that lasts forever (Almost)

One of Honor’s key selling points for this watch was its 14-day battery life so naturally it was the first thing we wanted to put to the test. The verdict? The battery does last a hell of a long time. Ours lasted just over 10 days but that was wearing it night and day, taking full advantage of all the monitoring and GPS/location features. For typical everyday use, this watch is easily going to last two weeks, especially if you’re not going to be wearing it to bed every night like we were.

And okay, 14 days may not be forever but it's certainly long enough that you can get on with your life without worrying about charge every 5 minutes. There’s simply no faulting the battery life of the Honor MagicWatch 2, it’s the perfect smartwatch for those who like to travel a lot and appreciate the fact they won’t need to take yet another charging cable.

6. Be ready for the great outdoors

The watch may be designed with everyday use in mind, but there are some good features that make it pretty handy for if you want to go off course. Not only does it track your exercise and location, but there’s also a built-in compass, flashlight and barometer (which measures air pressure).

Now if you’re a regular hiker, you’ve probably invested in some more rugged (and more expensive) tech but the MagicWatch 2 isn’t really designed for you. If you’re a city dweller who’s decided to go on their first camping trip since the millennium then you might get some fun out of the MagicWatch 2.

7. Make it personal

With over 80 watch faces available for the MagicWatch 2’s full-colour AMOLED touchscreen, you’re bound to find one that suits all your design and functionality needs. For everyday use, we enjoyed ‘Dashed’, which allowed us to keep track of our steps and heart rate combined with the more traditional watch face. Other options include ‘Space’, a minimal black and white design simply showing the time, date and weather, and ‘Clear’, which combines all of the above, plus battery life and calories burned into one colour-coordinated watch face.

Final Verdict

With a fantastic battery life, an app that impressed us more than we thought that it would and a strap that actually fits our wrists, the Honor MagicWatch 2 is a great smartwatch contender. It's not a watch for those who are looking to monitor their exercise and health at an advanced level, or those who are looking for a rugged watch to take hiking. But, for those looking for a well-priced Android smartwatch rival (this watch doesn't use Wear OS or Watch OS but Honor's own software), then this is for you.

We all know that getting your hands on a new piece of tech can be a holy experience, but now it seems the Vatican are taking that concept to the next level.

Showing that religion really can move with the times, the Catholic church has announced the launch of a new piece of wearable wrist tech to help millennials discover the ins-and-outs of religion.

Yes, the Click To Pray eRosary really is a thing - and the Pope hopes it will be coming to a wrist near you soon.

Retailing for $109 (£85), the new piece of smart tech links to your smartphone via a mobile app and is activated when the user makes the sign of the cross.

There’s no word yet, though, on whether making the sign of the horns at a gig will activate the device and force you to repent.

Featuring 10 black agate and hematite rosary beads alongside a silver 'smart cross', the wrist tech - launched by GadgeTek Inc. - connects to the app via Bluetooth and it’s also water resistant.

The device “offers you three brief moments of prayer each day,” according to the Click To Pray press release, which also notes that "this project brings together the best of the Church's spiritual tradition and the latest advances of the technological world.”

For those who aren’t familiar with the concept, Click To Pray is the official prayer app of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

The release also notes that the device is “aimed at the peripheral frontiers of the digital world where the young people dwell” and refers to the use of “technology-based pedagogy to teach the young how to pray.”

This isn’t the first time religion has attempted to branch out into the world of tech however.

Back in 2018, a Catholic evangelical group launched "Follow JC Go!", a Christian interpretation of the Pokemon Go app, while in March the Church of England announced it was now accepting contactless donations at services.

As for whether this latest piece of wearable tech is a form of divine intervention that will bring millennials closer to God? We’ll just have to wait and see.

You can purchase the rosary now from the Click To Pray store - and the device will be available on Amazon imminently.

• On the hunt for wrist wear with more of a fitness angle? Discover our pick of the best fitbit offerings around.

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Apple has revealed the Apple Watch Series 5, an iterative update that has a few new features to entice you away from the older Apple Watches available.

Don't come expecting a huge amount of changes here, but the biggest new thing in show is that the Apple Watch Series 5 has an always-on display, which will make those people happy that there current Apple Watch screen goes dark when you stop looking at it.

Th new Apple Watch comes with an all-day 18-hour battery life, ultra efficient power management circuit and optimised screens for workout metrics.

It also has a built-in compass, so you can see directions like in an iPhone and you can see things like latitude, longitude and elevation.

There's Fall detection, emergency SOS on board (without using the iPhone) and has the widest assortment of cases ever seen for an Apple Watch.

There's two brushed Titanium models to choose from, a ceramic model that comes in a brilliant white, and new Nike and Hermes collaboration.

The Apple Watch Series 5 comes with WatchOS 6 and will be available from $399 ($499 cellular models) when it's released Sept 20th in stores.

These are the best running watches in the world right now.

The Apple Watch dominates many lists of the best smartwatches. But the new Samsung Watch Active2 might be an impressive competitor.

It has what Samsung calls a “digital bezel”, which mimics the physical rotating bezel of the classic Galaxy watches, but with increased screen space and touch sensors.

There will be two main options, 44m and 40mm versions, as well as two separate styles. One has a synthetic rubber band, the other a leather strap.

The 40mm Samsung Watch Active2 should be available on the 27th September, costing around $280 (£229). Samsung's 44mm version will be a little bit more, at $300 (£246).

Battery life is pretty impressive for a smartwatch – 9to5Google reports the 247mAh batteries should last “easily a couple of days”, so you shouldn’t be caught out.

If you use your smartwatch primarily to track your fitness and health, the Active2 might be made for you. Heart rate sensors have been doubled up, giving a more accurate picture of your health, and you can now take a full ECG (though, to be clear, this wouldn’t replace an actual ECG taken by a doctor).

Sleep tracking is also improved, and additions like pace coaching tools will help you reach your fitness goals.

Tempted? Pre-orders will start on September 6th, and all pre-orders receive a free Wireless Charger Portable Battery.

• Want to shop around? Our list of the best Android smartwatches should help you out.

There are plenty of benefits to having an Apple Watch, if you’re into that sort of thing. It can track your sleep: useful. It can help you track and achieve fitness goals: also useful. And it can save your life if you fall over and nearly die, apparently.

That’s what happened when 67 year old Toralv Østvang fell and was knocked unconscious in his bathroom. He was found by the emergency services – but only because his Apple Watch had alerted them.

According to 9to5 Mac, Østvang’s daughter said he “went to the bathroom in the middle of the night but fainted and fell to the floor”. 

“It could have gone so much worse,” she said. “All morning we asked, ‘What had happened if he hadn’t worn a smart watch?’ He didn’t bring his mobile phone in the bathroom. It’s amazing that he got such quick help from the alarm, until the police found him. It was a serious fall, perhaps it saved his life.”

The feature, which is automatically built in to the watch for users over the age of 65, is fairly new: last year, the function debuted in the Apple Watch 4, with commentators remarking that it could be a pivotal feature which might persuade older users to embrace the smartwatch. 

“Identifying a fall sounds straightforward, but it requires a large amount of data and analysis,” Apple explain. “With falls, there’s this repeatable motion pattern that happens. When you trip, your arms go forward; but when you slip, your arms go upward.”

If there’s no movement after a fall, the watch automatically calls emergency services. 

If you’re clumsy and fancy enabling the feature, just select ‘Emergency SOS’ in the Apple Watch app.

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(Images: Apple)

Technology’s weird, isn’t it? For a while it was all about having the smallest phones possible, and now that screens have got so good, everyone’s sporting mammoth handsets. 

And no matter the march of progress, the increasingly fast nature of nostalgia and the emotional connection we have with gadgets means there’s always going to be some sort of “Make this current thing look like an older thing” movement. Phone cases that look like old cassette tapes, iPod docks that look like record players, that kind of thing.

It’s reached a new high/low point with this, though, a case for the Apple Watch that turns it into a visual recreation of an iPod.

You could of course be forgiven for thinking that if the wheel works, that’s quite nice – we’re getting near glove weather, and touchscreens are fiddly as hell with gloves – but the wheel is ONLY THERE FOR SHOW. The case is just a case and does nothing except make you look a bit like you’re listening to an older piece of still quite modern technology, and stop the fitness tracker working properly. And yet, we still want one.

It’s very well done by Caseology designer Joyce Kang and promises to “change the form factor of the Apple Watch and provide a different user experience.” It’s just a concept at the moment but could end up going into production.

Nostalgia is weird, isn’t it? It’s applied much more to items we have emotional connections to. You wouldn’t get anyone selling a case designed to make a 2018 TV look like a 2001 plasma, or a router designed to resemble a 56K one. Those devices are just seen as vessels through which the good stuff comes, while somehow in an iPod’s case the hardware is as beloved as the music it delivered. 

People felt very emotionally connected to the iPod when it came out, spending hours crafting playlists and stuff, and just as the sight of a Ps2 or Nintendo 64 can bring back warm waves of goodwill, there’s something about a crappy old iPod that feels… just… more pure than anything we have now. It’s a complete nonsense of a feeling, but is also absolutely valid, and long story short we want this case, and Christmas is coming, so cheers.

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(Pics: Behance)

From being able to skip a track on your algorithm-generated weekend playlist – without having to get out of bed or even touch anything – to barking at your phone to bring you a pizza, technology in 2018 is luxury on all levels.

However, amid a crowded sea of extravagant, lavish gadgets, there are some bits of tech that still stand out from the rest, be it their over-the-top design, functionality, or their four-figure price tag. 

If you’re going to spend big, do it right.

Best camera:

Hasselblad X1D-50c; £5,999

Buy now

Go on, take a good look. We know you want to reach out and grab it. The Hasselblad X1D-50c is an elite, compact, mirrorless photographic powerhouse, packing a retina-dazzling 50MP quality punch. And yet, despite those monstrous capabilities, it’s as pleasing on the eye as its pictures. Handmade in Sweden, it’s as elegant as a Scandinavian armchair, as satisfying to hold as a freshly brewed coffee on a crisp morning. It’s a gem of a camera, producing moments in time that are as vivid as the day you first clapped your eyeballs on them. £5,999;hasselblad.com

Best speaker:

Leff Amsterdam; £84.55

Buy now

You could stick the Leff Amsterdam speaker in the V&A, it’s that pretty. But then you’d miss out on its glorious 360-degree sound. Save it for your palatial, one-bedroom flat instead. £84.55; hsjohnson.com

Best computer accessory:

24-karat gold USB stick; £199.50

Buy now

Luxury comes in many forms: a new Ferrari, champagne on board a yacht sailing around the Caribbean, Andrea Pirlo lofting a dreamy through-ball goal-wards, this 24-karat gold USB stick. £199.50; goldgenie.com

Best smartwatch:

Breitling Exospace B55; £6,710

Buy now

The Breitling Exospace B55 includes an electronic tachymeter, chrono flight metrics and, once linked to your phone, mission time. The watch to wear to save the world. £6,710; mappinandwebb.com

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12 watches under £200 that look a million bucks

Best kitchen gadget:

KitchenAid Artisan 4.8-litre stand mixer; £789

Buy now

With its brushed-nickel curves and stainless-steel bowl, the KitchenAid Artisan mixer will give your worktop an instant one-up. It’s a gateway to your most lavish cakes ever. £789; johnlewis.com

Best luxury apps

Jetsmarter; Free

Download

Imagine hailing a private jet just as you would a cab on the street. With this air booker, which searches runways for idle planes and spare seats, it’s a (very) pricey reality. Free; jetsmarter.com

IVIP Black; £999.99

Download

This is your ticket to a secret world of complimentary upgrades, an on-demand concierge and member-only services cloaked in spy levels of secrecy. £999.99; ivipworld.com

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While you’ve been investigating just how feasible it is to sell a kidney on the dark web to raise enough cash for the new iPhone Xs, we’ve been listening out to the whispers and mutterings to find out what Apple has in store for us next.

From updated MacBooks to a TV streaming, here’s everything Apple is hard at work on.

The October Event

Apple has spent the last decade finely tuning its iPhone launch events – a September night (it’s always been in September) of fancy slides and slick demos that translates to mainstream news coverage, huge hype and a healthy pre-order of new handsets.

In order not to overcrowd its ‘iPhone Moment’, the lesser products of the California tech group have typically had to wait until the dust has settled before being announced at a low key October event – usually in its third week.

An October event has now been confirmed - specifically Tuesday 30 October - and it’s the place where Apple will reveal what they didn’t show off alongside its new iPhones and Watch on 12 September. 

Here’s what we could expect.

An ‘Affordable’ MacBook

Earlier this year, many all-knowing analysts – busy reviewing the profits and movements of the companies that make the components that Apple employs to fill its devices – pointed toward Apple releasing three new smartphones in 2018, alongside an affordable 13-inch MacBook Air.

While the iPhones emerged, an apparent issue with sourcing the right processors for the Air pushed its release back to October.

The new Air isn’t expected to have any significant new bells or whistles but a thorough upgrade on all that’s gone before: a 13-inch Retina high-resolution display, Touch ID, a new Intel chip and USB-C ports.

The main selling point of this MacBook Air won’t be a new tech gimmick, but will rather be its price point – way down at the bottom of Apple’s current pricing, sneaking in at under £1,000.

That would make it cheaper than all other MacBooks – and less than an iPhone XS. Madness. But good madness.

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A new iPad Pro

Been eyeing up a new iPad? You may want to wait for the latest Pro model to emerge, with significant speculation that Apple is marrying several useful pieces of tech from its iPhone range with its next tablet.

Rumours point to a new iPad Pro emerging before the close of 2018 with the same TrueDepth front-facing camera system as the latest iPhones. This would solve a minor headache for developers keen to build apps that make use of the camera’s function across both the latest iPhones and iPads, rather than having to build drastically different versions for each device. As with the iPhone, it could also see the iPad Pro lose its home button in favour of reading its owner’s face to open, in turn making its achingly-beautiful screen even bigger – up to 11-inches.

The other significant shift set for the new Pro is a switch from Apple’s Lightning connector to USB-C. That means faster charging, faster uploads and a whole stack of new accessories to clutter your desk draws with.

Swapping to a USB-C connection could also allow the iPad Pro power a 4K external screen via a single cable, turning the touchscreen into a vast control pad for design work and presentations. Yes please.

An updated Mac Mini?

Alongside a new MacBook Air and iPad Pro, there’s one other small-yet-still-significant computing device that could receive a much-needed update later this month.

In 2017, an eager fan emailed Apple President Tim Cook asking if the beloved Mac Mini would ever gain a new set of features. Surprisingly, Tim Cook actually responded, assuring the customer that the micro powerhouse would “be an important part of our product line going forward.”

There’s a chance the Mini, launched back in 2014, could be modernised with multiple processors, improved graphics support, SSD storage and 4K video output as Apple looks to increase its computing sales with a more affordable offering.

2019 line up

Looking a little further afield, there’s an exciting array of products that Apple is set to polish off for launches throughout 2019.

The company is said to be hard at work prepping the successor to the impressive AirPods.

Possibly ready for a reveal at the October event before going on sale next spring, Apple is adding a significant set of features to compete in an increasingly crowded wireless earbud market:

• Noise-cancelling is set to be squeezed into the ‘Pods, letting you cut out the chatter and buzz of the commute

• The new AirPods 2 will be water resistant – though not fully waterproof. A stroll in the rain will be fine, but don’t go for a dip

• You’ll be able to activate Siri without using your hands to tap the new model, but rather uttering “Hey Siri” – great while you’re on the go, terrifying for the person sitting next to you on the bus

• Bluetooth range will be extended, meaning you can move further away from your device when listening or taking a call

Alongside new AirPods, Apple is also said to be working on over-ear headphones. Set to be released under the ‘Apple’ name, the over-ear ‘phones (AirPod Plus? EarPods?) will offer high-end wireless performance, taking on other noise-cancelling offerings from the likes of Bose, Sony and its own Beats label.

Another announcement set for next year is an updated, smaller HomePod. Apple’s home speaker hasn’t performed as well as hoped, largely down to its high price point (£319) compared to the likes of the Google Home (£129) and Amazon’s Alexa (£89.99).

A HomePod Mini and Hompod 2 will take on the likes of Google and Amazon, with a shift away from being a luxury wireless speaker to a more affordable connected speaker with features that revolve around an improved integration with Siri. 

Apple to take on Netflix

The other major launch expected from Apple in 2019 isn’t a gadget, but a new TV streaming package.

In June 2017, Apple hired Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg ¬– executives from Sony Picture Television behind the likes of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Crown.

At the time, Eddy Cue - Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services – stated that the company had “exciting plans in store for customers”, pointing towards Apple expanding its range of content offerings (think Carpool Karaoke and Planet of the Apps) to a service that could take on Netflix, Amazon and other streaming services.

Erlicht and Amburg have since been selecting a line-up of original content set to bring subscribers in in their hundreds of thousands – but the exact nature of that content has apparently been a point of contention within the company.

The Wall Street Journal gained insider knowledge that Vital Signs – an original semi-biographical drama about the life of Dr Dre – was deemed too violent to be associated with Apple. Upon viewing the series, Tim Cook was apparently troubled by scenes that “featured characters doing lines of cocaine, an extended orgy in a mansion and drawn guns.” He declare that the show couldn’t be backed by Apple.

This prompted Apple to identify exactly what it did want to feature, telling agents and producers it was looking for “high-quality shows with stars and broad appeal”. Think less Game of Thrones, more Big Bang Theory.

Apple has apparently already invested some $1 billion into buying and creating its first set of original shows, which will include:

• An adaptation of the rollicking novel Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, about his escape from an Australian prison into the underbelly of Bombay, India

• A range of programmes developed by Oprah Winfrey, who signed a deal with Apple back in June

• A thriller series by M. Night Shyamalan

• An animated musical comedy titled Central Park, about a family of Central Park caretakers who have to save the world. It’s by Bob’s Burgers creator Loren Bouchard, so it could be great

• A sci-fi/horror/fantasy series based on the classic Steven Spielberg 1980s show Amazing Stories – with Spielberg serving as executive producer. Think of it as a Black Mirror-episodic offering with more aliens

• A show from La La Land director Damien Chazelle

The content package could roll out as soon as spring 2019 (probably March), but Apple is yet to decide exactly how it wants to structure its service.

Some believe that Apple could run an entirely new Apple TV subscription, accessed online or on apps on iPhones, iPads and Apple TVs (the box, not the subscription service), separate from Apple Music. Other options include creating a single Apple content bundle, including music, TV and magazines from its Texture acquisition back in March.

However Apple decides to slice up its pie, you can expect to hear a lot more about its original content early next year.

No more Apple Car?

There’s one long-rumoured gadget we’d all like to see: the Apple Car.

Back in 2017 Tim Cook looked to have parked the idea of Apple building its own car altogether, telling Bloomberg that the company was instead focusing on the far less sexy world of ‘autonomous systems’. Rather than building a curvy dream machine of white plastic and metal with touchscreen steering wheels, Cook suggested that the company was turning its attention to what he described as the “mother of all AI projects”, creating solutions that help other manufacturers’ cars become fully self-driving. 

The company is clearly still hard at work on something, after reports emerged in August that one of their test vehicles, fitted with all manner of cameras and sensors, was driven into by a Nissan Leaf at 16mph.

We’ll bring you updates of any new rumours as soon as they surface. Until then, get yourselves ready for that 30 October show.

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What the hell is the time, ever? Whatever is the time? At any given point, what the hell is the godforsaken time? You don’t know, do you, because you ain’t got a watch on, you cavalier, time-ignorant rogue. How on earth are you supposed to know what time you’ve got to meet your pals at the bowling alley, eh? They’re gonna start without you! And that’s the least of your problems - your wrist also looks rubbish.

So what you’ve got to do to rectify this situation is get yourself a nice wristwatch, so that you can a) get to bowling on time and b) have a smart-looking wrist that everyone’s jealous of. And you can do this for under £200, didn’t you know? You don’t have to shell out a diaphragm-busting £10,000 to buy a fancy-looking watch, mate, you can do it on a budget. And I’m gonna tell you how:

Here:

Below:

Is where I’ll tell you:

The Drumline in blue nubuck by NEWGATE (£149)

That’s some minimalist smoothness right there - just imagine rubbing your cheek against that nubuck strap like a big bipedal cat on the tube, getting funny looks from the entire carriage, purring loud enough to put everyone on immediate edge, being forcibly removed at the next station. Yeah, that’s a watch right there.

Signature men’s classic timepiece with part rose gold plating by ACCURIST (£124.99)

Want a bit of a Rolex, East-End flash on your arm but don’t want to spend your entire house fund? Look no further than Accurist’s Signature collection, a range of classic designs for a mouth-watering price. Bang this number round your wrist and the fur coat will come next - you’re a hard-nut and everyone knows it. Get a pitbull, too, while you’re at it - THE BIG MAN IS BACK IN TOWN.

Huxley by JOULES (£95)

Lovely bit of classic sailor’s watch style going on here, teamed with a smart leather strap and some subtle blue detailing. “One million quid” you say, as you roll up your sleeve, “One actual million quid this cost GET OFF YOU CAN’T TOUCH IT” you snap your arm away “Don’t touch what you can’t afford,” you adjust your tie, flashing your watch once more, “Right, trigonometry, everyone turn to page 45 in their textbooks.”

Sphère grande brown by ADEXE (£99)

Look at the colour of the face on this watch - is it just about the sexiest thing of which the human brain is capable of thinking? It’s reserved for only the sexiest of beasts. The true lotharios amongst us. Team that with a red leather strap, and well, you had better batten down the hatches because you’ll have a horde of hungry paramours after your business.

Chancery by HENRY LONDON (£60)

Forget the blue face, you never see a red face, do you? Apart from every time you see your kindly neighbour Ken, of course, but on a watch? That’s rare. Rare, and it turns out, rather nice. This classical design with a modern strap keeps it simple and silver, and then thwacks you round the chops with a big red herring - ain’t seen that face around here before, have we? Apart from on Ken, we mean.

Marlin leather strap by TIMEX (£174.99)

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The Timex Marlin was a 1960’s staple piece from the brand, and they’ve whipped it back into shape and brought it back through time to the present day. Ask it what black and white television was like. Ask it about the first time it saw The Beatles live. Ask it if its ever done acid. The tales this watch will tell, eh? If it could talk. It can’t, but it is lovely.

District_M1 by ADIDAS (£120)

ROSE GOLD! BAM! I’M SHOUTING IT! ROSE GOLD IS SO NICE THE WORDS DEMAND TO BE SHOUTED! ROSE GOLD! OOF! LOOKY HERE! THAT’S A NICE WATCH! ADIDAS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN! ROSE! GOLD! RO! SUH! GOL! DUH!

Adventure green by RAYMOND & PEARL (£190)

Oh, you thought a red face (and blue face) was the only rogue direction you’d be taking today? Well, what about veering down the green road? Simple, stylish, pared-back face, classic black leather strap, then woah a green face. Not everyone will be daring enough for this, but for those that are? Well, welcome to Cool Town.

Holst titanium and brown leather smartwatch by SKAGEN (£169)

Hey, you! Did you know that this was a smartwatch? Nope, you did not, because it is only £169 and it doesn’t look terrible. Well, newsflash, buckerino, it absolutely is - you’ll get phone notifications, automatic time update, activity and sleep tracking, a phone finder, music control and “more”. It’s like we’re in Blade Runner or something. Back To The Future. Blade To The Future.

Vivid Klinga by TRIWA (£149)

Juicy slice of Scandi design here, with a modern style, not too busy, but with a unique little flash of multicolour styling - a nice bit of kit, this. Put it on your wrist and you’ll be Stylish Sam the Swish Sexy Suitor. Put it on your leg if your ankles are thin enough. Do whatever you want - I’m not your dad, I keep telling you this.

GW170 by SWATCH (£36)

Like your Nike Off-Whites? Of course you do, you big sneaker freak! Well, why not extend that design choice up to your arm, with this quirky little work-in-progress timepiece.

“Your watch ain’t finished!” the youths will shout.

“Get wrecked, ya big cows in blouses!” you’ll reply, in your head, never out loud. NEVER OUT LOUD.

A168WEM-2EF by CASIO (£26)

An all-time classic style here, by your reliable and faithful friend, Casio. Twenty six measly pounds of money is all it will cost to own this, even if it does have a fancy turquiose screen. Which by the way, it should have - if you’re going for this style (one of the most popular in the whole world) make sure you get one with a splash of colour to make it stand out. Nobody likes a sheep. Especially a sheep that can tell the time. They are the most dangerous of all.

BN0142 BN0142WHBLG by BRAUN (£124)

That’s a funny looking razor, you say, doing your best impression of a dad. Yeah, turns out that Braun make watches, too - who’d have literally “thunk” it? Also turns out they make pretty nice ones, if this is anything to go by, because that there, up there, just up above, is a nifty wrist-ornament. Unusual design, too. All round quality and you deserve it.

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So Tim Cook and the gang have done their thing in Cupertino and it’s Christmas come early for Apple lovers.

But what exactly have they announced this time?

iPhone XS and XS Max

• It’s pronounced “tennis”
• The iPhone XS has a 5.8 inch OLED display - the same as the original iPhone X - which has been branded “super retina” quality
• The iPhone XS Max has a 6.5 inch OLED display - it’s the same physical size overall as an iPhone 8 Plus, but with an extra inch of display
• They come in gold, silver and space grey
• There’s a new glass, which is “the most durable ever”
• It’s more waterproof, rated for up to 2m for ten minutes
• Under the bonnet, the two phones are near identical
• The new chip in the XSs is the A12 Bionic - the smallest features on the chip are an astonishing 7 nanometres across - and apps can now launch 30% faster
• They’re available with storage up to an enormous 512GB - that’s half a terabyte
• The camera on the XSs is a 12MP wide-angle camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera, with a new 7MP sensor on the front. There are new features such “smart HDR”
• The camera can now record video with stereo sound, and takes very high-quality low-light footage
• The battery on the XS lasts 30 minutes longer than the X, and the XS Max lasts a whopping 90 minutes more
• Both iPhones now have dual sim support - this is mainly a feature for the Chinese market
• The iPhone XS starts at $999 for 64GB
• The iPhone XS Max starts at $1099 for 64GB
• They’re available to preorder on Friday 14 September, and will ship a week later, on Friday 21 September

iPhone XR

• This is Apple’s new ‘cheap’ phone
  
• It’s pronounced “ten R”
  
• It’s made from aluminium, as opposed to the steel of the XSs
  
• It comes in red, blue, white, black, yellow and coral (sadly, not the orange we were promised by one ‘leak’)
  
• The LCD display is 6.1 inches and is branded as the “liquid retina” display
  
• It doesn’t have 3D Touch - instead it has “haptic touch’ - essentially it will click if you hold your finger on a button, similarly to the old iPods
  
• It has the same chip as the XSs, the A12 Bionic
  
• The front camera is the same as the XSs
  
• There’s only one rear camera - the 12MP wide-angle camera
  
• Battery life is “an hour and a half longer than the iPhone 8 Plus” (which is shorter than the XSs)
  
• The iPhone XR starts at $749 for 64GB
  
• They’re available to preorder on Friday 19 October, and will ship a week later, on Friday 26 October
  

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Apple Watch 4

• The new 4 series has been launched
  
• One has a 45mm screen, up from 42mm, and the other had a 40mm screen, up from 38mm
  
• Both watches are the same physical size as their 3 series predecessors, just with bigger displays
  
• It comes in three aluminium finishes, and three stainless steel versions too
  
• All the older bands are compatible with the new watch
  
• The digital crown now has haptic feedback
  
• The speaker is 50% louder than before
  
• It features the S4 chip and a CPU that gives “up to two times faster performance”
  
• The new accelerometer is “next generation” and eight times faster at sampling data
  
• The battery lasts “all day”
  
• This means that the Watch can now detect a fall, which is a huge new selling point. Why? They explain:
  

“Identifying a fall sounds straightforward, but it requires a large amount of data and analysis. With falls, there’s this repeatable motion pattern that happens. When you trip, your arms go forward; but when you slip, your arms go upward.”

The watch looks for these signs and, if it spots them, it pushes the option for calling the emergency services.

If there’s no movement for the next minute, it will call them automatically.

How many people will now think to buy one for their elderly relatives?

• It costs $399 for the GPS version and $499 for the cellular version
  
• They’re available to preorder on Friday 14 September, and will ship a week later, on Friday 21 September
  
• The new watchOS 5 is launching on 17 September
  

And a few other things…

• The iPhone 7 has had a price cut to $449
  
• The iPhone 8 has had a price cut to $599
  
• The Apple Watch 3 has had price cut to $279.
  
• The new phones will be carried by all the major carriers, although only EE and Vodafone seem to be fully supporting features like the cellular Apple Watch and the dual sim support
  
• The Mac is getting a new OS - Mojave, in two weeks
  
• Apple is now run on 100% renewable energy, and they have stated that their next goal is to use 100% recyclable materials
  

(Images: Apple)

We’ve teamed up with Nokia to give away the hottest hybrid smartwatch on the market to two lucky readers. How good is that, mate?

Introducing the Nokia Steel HR: the hybrid smartwatch that fits effortlessly into your life and style. Whether you’re hitting the gym, rushing between meetings, or heading out on the town with mates, the Nokia Steel HR moves with you, tracking your activity whilst its premium design keeps you looking smart – in more ways than one.

With a battery life of up to 25 days, the Nokia Steel HR has more than enough life to help keep you in the know about yours. Optimise your daily work-outs by recording your heart rate and calories burned - and stay on top of the daily grind by learning about your sleep patterns. With easy changeable strap options, you can even switch up your style as often as you like.

With automatic activity detection, the Nokia Steel HR captures your every move without you even having to think about it, recording your vitals on the Nokia Health Mate app. Thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity, the Nokia Steel HR also seamlessly keeps you updated with the real world via agenda, call and text notification.

So, if you want a smart way to keep in the know about your health, the Nokia Steel HR is the stylish solution for men on the move.

The Nokia Steel HR hybrid smartwatch includes;

• Heart rate monitoring – tracks heart rate trends day and night, plus continuous tracking of the heart in workout mode

• Activity tracking – automatic walk, run, swim (water resistant – 50m) & 10+ activities recognised, plus calories burned & distance

• Sleep monitoring – sleep cycle analysis plus silent vibrating alarm with Smart Wake-Up

• Digital screen – get text, calls, and event notifications, plus view daily stats – like steps, distance, and heart rate – with the push of a button

• Long battery life – up to 25 days on a single charge, plus 20 more with time & activity tracking only

Find Nokia on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

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By entering this competition you’ll be signed up to the weekly ShortList competitions email featuring a whole load of exclusive reader offers and competitions.

And you thought Apple just had a new iPhone up its sleeve?

An investor note sent out by well-connected technology analyst Ming-chi Kuo has been picked up by the rumour specialists at AppleInsider, detailing a host of new features set to come to Apple's smartwatch later this year.

Here's everything you need to know about the Apple Watch 2.

There are going to be two models

It looks like the Apple Watch is going to mirror the the dual model system used by the iPhone - with an Apple Watch [X] and an Apple Watch [X]S line up. 

One model won't change much

The investor note describes one model as an 'upgrade' on the current Apple Watch design: it will have the same appearance as the current model, but a better processor and improved waterproofing. 

Given that Apple isn't putting many new bells and whistles in this version of its timepiece, it's likely to be a good deal cheaper. 

The second model is where it's at...

The investor note outlines that the other model (which we'd call the 'S') will have improved location features, thanks to an inbuilt GPS radio and a barometer - because not a day goes by when we don't wonder what the atmospheric pressure is, right?

It'll get a better battery

The 'S' model will also feature an improved battery - though don't expect it to last any longer, as that power will be needed to run the additional features.

It will also get a thinner display, and squeeze in that improved processor. 

Expect it to be shown off at Apple's September event, where it will sit alongside the new iPhone. 

Simpsons did it first. 

Well, when you've written 27 seasons, you're going to drain the creative ideas well sooner or later.

In addition to making every script writer's job roughly 110 per cent harder, The Simpsons has also outpaced the tech industry to a number of key inventions. 

Compiled by the minds of Alltime10s, the following video highlights a score of inventions that turned up in the block-coloured world of Springfield before occurring IRL.

From smartwatches to autocorrect, Matt Groening must be kicking himself he didn't put some patent requests in.

3D printed food

Episode: Future Drama

Farmville/VR job simulator

Episode: Bart Carny

Hamburger earmuffs

Episode: The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace

Baby translator

Episode: Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?

Yep, there's an app for that.

Airplane restaurant

Episode: Natural Born Kissers

Autocorrect

Episode: Lisa on Ice

Smartwatches

Episode: Lisa's Wedding

Left-handed store

Episode: When Flanders Failed

Sarcasm detector

Episode: They Saved Lisa's Brain

Okay, so the 'real' one only works on written text, but it still does the same job.

Blood-spraying billboard

Episode: Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie

Someone actually made this for a Kill Bill billboard in New Zealand. 

Hear that?

It's the growing rumble of Apple rumours frothing like a raging tide ready to break when their next launch event happens on March 21.

Here's a roundup of all the info and tech the foremost gadget gods are expected to shower on their loyal followers.

When's it happening?

The week of 21 March 2016

At least, those are the noises coming from several Apple-friendly sources.

Korean site UnderKG News believes that the event has been delayed by a week, pushed back from 15 March to the week of 21 March - possibly in order to polish off some of the reveals and demonstrations.

Their source has pointed to an event being held on either 21, 22 or 23 March, following an internal memo sent to various Apple staff to leave these dates available in their schedules.

A 4-inch iPhone

No one can agree on the name (it's either the iPhone 6C or the iPhone 5se) but it's looking increasingly likely that Apple is set to scrap production of the iPhone 5s with a new 4-inch model.

Features:

• 4-inch screen
• NFC for Apple Pay functions
• Rounded iPhone 6-esque design
• New camera
• New processor
• No 3D Touch screen

iPad Air 3

While the iPad Pro wasn't the runaway success they might have hoped it would be, Apple is still keen to squeeze more functionality (and money) from a new 'regular' iPad.

Features: 

• A new A9X chip
• Thinner build (yep, thinner than 6.1mm)
• Stronger aluminium case
• Enhanced camera
• 3D Touch screen

A smaller iPad Pro

Was the iPad Pro just a little bit too big for your liking? Then you'll likely be thrilled to hear that Apple is set to shave 2.2 inches off it for a 9.7-inch version - doubling the devices screen sizes in a similar manner to its 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Features

• 9.7-inch screen
• A9X processor
• Smart Connector
• A smaller Smart Keyboard cover

Two new MacBook Air models

Apple's super-sleek MacBook Air has apparently undergone a full redesign in order to squeeze even more tech into even thinner 13-inch and 15-inch models. 

Features:

• Retina displays
• Super-slim design

New Apple Watch models

While Apple won't be releasing the Apple Watch 2.0 in March, shifts in their component supply chain are pointing to a new aesthetic redesigned timepiece. 

Features:

• New colours for the rubber Sport band
• Additional colours for the Hermes partnerhsip
• A black Milanese Loop model
• Potential for a front-facing Face Time camera

Anyone with an ear to the tech-obsessed quarters of the internet will have heard rumblings of an Apple event springing up in March.

Some are linking it with the launch of an iPhone 6C - a new 4-inch handset that pumps new tricks into the body of an old iPhone 5S. Others believe that a new iPad Air 3 could slide into stores, with an even thinner body and full Pencil support. 

What you almost certainly won't get is a the Apple Watch 2. 

While the general cycle of portable Apple products dictates that hardware receives an annual upgrade, there have been no giveaway changes to Apple's vast component supply chain: Apple makes very little of what goes into its own products, sourcing individual components from smaller technology groups and packaging them into shiny, sleek designs. When Apple lines up a new iPhone or iPad, analysts will usually notice fluctuations in supply chains that suggest the immanent arrival of new hardware. 

Though a March Apple event would line up nicely with the reveal of a new Apple Watch model, TechCrunch has word that no 2.0 design is in the works. 

What could emerge is a tweaked Watch that sports a small FaceTime camera, allowing you to conduct socially awkward video calls from your wrist, rather than a cumbersome iPhone screen (or worse, iPad screen) - though even this design might not arrive until the annual September event at which Apple is expected to show off the iPhone 7.

Are you hankering after an Apple Watch with improved battery life and new tricks? Let us know.

Swatch is getting with the times.

The Swiss watchmaker has announced that it's "tap-to-pay" model, the Swatch Bellamy, will be coming to Europe after signing a sponsored_longform with Visa.

Sticking with Swatch's analogue traditions, the Bellamy doesn't look to track your movement or send notifications to your wrist. Hidden within its case is a near field communication (NFC) chip, allowing the Bellamy wearer to make contactless payments up to £30. The system doesn't drain the battery life of the watch, but rather uses a system similar to that of your contactless bank card.

First unveiled in China in October after signing a sponsored_longform with China UnionPay, Swatch will now work with VISA to bring the Bellamy's payment functions to Europe and the US. 

Prices are yet to be announced, though the Chinese model sold for the equivalent of £60 - a great deal cheaper than the likes of the Apple Watch, which also features contactless payment options. They'll arrive in early 2016.

It's one to Swatch.

Having technology in your pocket is so passé - a naughties trend as dated as using the term 'naughties'.

As tech gets smaller and smarter, companies are creating ever-more subtle devices to slip about your person.

We've teamed up with the knowledgeable folk at Broadband Choices to present a selection of the coolest, varied examples of wearable tech out there right now. Buckle up and embrace the future...

Lumo Run

Smartwatches and fitness bands are all well and good, but who wants to carry all that tech when you can just stuff it all down your shorts?

That’s what exactly what Lumo’s done with the Lumo Run. These smart shorts contain a sensor that measures running metrics - everything from bounce to pelvic rotation.

£72

Sensoria smart socks

If smart shorts aren’t your thing, what about socks? Sensoria’s smart sock connects to Android and iOS devices, and monitor how you run - from step rate to your foot landing technique. By the way, they’re machine washable, which is a good thing because we’re guessing they can get pretty stinky.

£32

Apple watch

It's a headline-grabber for a reason.

Apple’s smartwatch is a wrist-mounted thing of beauty. Great design, and packed with features for work, play and fitness. Not the best battery life though.

From £399

SMS BioSport biometric earbuds

These aren’t just a standard pair of earbuds - they also measure your heart rate to make sure you’re pushing yourself hard enough while you listen to the Rocky soundtrack. They cut out noise caused by working out, making your music nice and clear. No more panting ruining your beats.

£129.95

Skully Helmet

When something’s fully crowd-funded in eight minutes, you have to sit up and take notice.

The Skully motorcycle helmet is all about helping you take notice of things. Packed with fancy tech that gives you a wide field of view around your bike, real-time navigation, audio directions and other useful information, it looks pretty badass too.

£985 pre-order

Samsung Galaxy Gear S

The Gear S connects to your smartphone and sticks the best features on your wrist with an elegant, curved screen. Navigation, fitness tracking - it even lets you make and receive calls. If you have a Samsung Galaxy S6, this is its ultimate partner.

From £329

Samsung Gear VR Innovator

Virtual reality’s set to be the next big thing, and Samsung Gear VR’s one of the easiest ways to do it. Simply snap a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 into the front, and you’ll be able to look around virtual worlds as if you’re really there. It looks silly, but it’s undeniably immersive.

£199.90

Pebble Time

The Pebble Time has a surprising amount of personality for something so small.

It’s all about simplicity - simple but attractive looks meet uncomplicated, useful functionality. Excellent battery life too for a smartwatch. Stylish, useful and effortlessly charming.

From £120

FitBit Charge

If you’re looking to get fit, a Fitbit wristband is a… erm, great fit?

The Fitbit Charge is one of the best activity trackers in the business. It monitors your calories, exercise regime, takes notifications from your phone and has a hefty battery life. Pretty fit, right?

From £99.99

Ringly smart jewellery

This one's for your girlfriend - but it's still incredibly cool. Have you ever looked at a bit of bling and thought, “I wish this could connect to my phone and send me message notifications”? Us neither - but that's what Ringly achieves. Hidden in the gem of choice is a Bluetooth connector and a small vibration motor: connect to your phone and it'll buzz when you receive a notification. Snazzy.

From £129