As a lot as I’d prefer to get to each product in-depth assessment earlier than Christmas, I’m very life like that isn’t going to occur. I’m attempting, however the backlog is actual, and the onslaught of latest merchandise this previous fall has been large. Particularly with overlapping merchandise, and solely so many wrists to work with. Add to that the truth that, typically, I overdo the testing bit, spending arguably an excessive amount of time with the product (months) when a barely shorter assessment cycle would have netted the identical outcomes.
As an nearly common rule, I’ll prioritize merchandise that I have already got, forward of an embargo, to make sure the assessment hits on product announcement day. If I obtain a product after that time, then I do my finest, based in your demand. Hottest merchandise are likely to get completed first, although, as you’ll see beneath, positively not at all times (as a result of once more, different corporations/merchandise that get stuff to me earlier will push these different critiques down the queue). Rinse, repeat.
Which doesn’t imply the merchandise within the queue are dangerous. In reality, they’re arguably among the finest merchandise launched this yr. However somebody just lately famous I hadn’t reviewed a lot of merchandise and requested whether or not that meant they had been dangerous, which triggered this publish. However once more, there’s solely so many wrists/rides/and so forth… Thus, listed below are my consolidated ideas on every one, mainly my elevator-pitch-review if you’ll. I may clearly write volumes on every.
Right here’s the record of issues within the backlog nonetheless, after which my roughly one-paragraph thought on every one. Be happy to ask questions within the feedback beneath; I’m comfortable to try to give extra nuanced solutions.
Apple Watch Sequence 11
Elite Rivo
DJI Mavic 4 Professional
DJI Mini 5 Professional
DJI NEO 2
DJI OSMO NANO
Garmin Bounce 2
Garmin Edge 550
Garmin Fenix 8 Professional
Garmin Forerunner 570
Garmin Rally x210
Garmin Venu 4
Garmin Venu X1
GoPro Hero 4K Lit
Insta360/Antigravity A1
Polar Loop
Wahoo KICKR Bike Professional
Whoop 5.0
Whoop 5.0 MG
Lastly, once more, this doesn’t imply a assessment isn’t coming. In reality, one may drop tomorrow, or Friday, or subsequent week. However, in case it’s essential make value/sale/vacation/gifting choices, right here ya go!
Apple Watch Sequence 11:
My spouse has really put essentially the most time on this over the previous few months, although I’ve additionally put within the miles, too. As with most Apple releases, that is extra incremental than monumental. Its objective isn’t to get Sequence 10 homeowners to improve, however to get Sequence 5 homeowners to improve. And I feel it does that. I don’t have any actual points with it; it simply works because it has prior to now. It’s predictable {hardware} tweaks, however extra critically, notable WatchOS 26 software program tweaks as I’ve beforehand outlined.
Elite Rivo:
Thus far, so good right here. Each my spouse and I’ve been driving this coach on and off for the final month or two (together with me simply final evening). It’s an important choice that’s priced fairly moderately. Accuracy has been spot-on good right here in all our rides. When it comes to options versus the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2, it’s bought a barely decrease flywheel weight (and thus barely much less inertia feeling), nevertheless it’s additionally cheaper at retail costs (although the CORE 2 is cheaper when on sale).
DJI Mavic 4 Professional:
I purchased this again in Might to finally assessment, and put up my full ActiveTrack gauntlet check and extra. It’s a cinematic powerhouse, although, so was the Mavic 3 Professional. I don’t assume the improve is as clear-cut from a Mavic 3 Professional, and albeit, all the new gimbal setup is simply downright dumb. Your complete level of constructing this loopy ever-rotating gimbal was ostensibly to ship vertical video, besides, you possibly can’t level the gimbal downwards, defeating all the level of vertical video (since most vertical video shot from the air goes to require downwards pitch of the gimbal). Sigh. Aside from failing on the ‘you had one job’ facet, it’s nice.
DJI Mini 5 Professional:
In most years, this is able to have been DJI’s hottest drone. However between the US ban, the screwed-up weight challenge, and the NEO collection, it doesn’t actually really feel as if it delivered on that reputation. Don’t get me improper, it’s an important drone, however being obese has real-world implications in lots of international locations from a authorized flying standpoint. And with the NEO 2 being so good quality-wise (extra on that in a second), I battle to achieve for the Mini 5 Professional, as a substitute defaulting to both my Mavic 4 Professional for super-scenic fairly issues, or the NEO 2 for every thing else.
DJI NEO 2:
I really like this factor. That is unquestionably the drone of the yr, and arguably the most effective drones that DJI has made in years ( it from a features-to-price standpoint). The standard is an enormous bounce up over the NEO 1 (not even in the identical ballpark), and the gesture-based options are extremely helpful, particularly if working/mountaineering/pedestrian. When paired with a distant, it mainly does nearly every thing most individuals would do with the DJI Mini 4/Mini 5 collection. If you happen to’re into sports activities monitoring, that is the drone to get. Whereas the HoverAir X1 Professional/Professional-Max delivers barely higher video high quality and another helpful options (beacon management), it’s additionally roughly 3-4x the value.
DJI OSMO Motion 6:
DJI has an extended historical past of putting in very incremental upgrades to their motion cameras, and this continues that custom. Truthfully, it doesn’t appear to look higher than the Motion 5 in my testing, and the entire open-gate sq. recording factor is laughable contemplating what number of influencers fell for the advertising and marketing (their rivals have been doing this for years). None of which implies it’s not an important little digicam; it’s simply not all that a lot better than the Motion 5, however prices a bunch extra. I actually thought we’d get greater resolutions this yr, as DJI has notably fallen behind in that division. For me, I defer to both the GoPro Hero 13 Black (for daytime footage), or the Insta360 Ace Professional 2 as a substitute (for nighttime footage).
DJI OSMO Nano:
This digicam was meant to compete with the Insta360 Go collection, and it does a great job of that. Although I discover it sort of a unusual digicam to make use of in actual life (preferring the Insta360 Go collection as a substitute). For one, it suffers the identical waterproofing challenge because the Insta360 Go collection, in that whereas the digicam portion is waterproof, the primary case just isn’t (making it tremendous straightforward to finally kill). With regards to high quality, it’s positively a step up over the bottom Insta360 Go 3 collection, although it appears to fall a bit in need of the Extremely collection. In fact, DJI killed it on value right here, at the very least in comparison with Extremely. I additionally actually want it had an SD card inside the pod choice (just like the Extremely).
Garmin Bounce 2:
This is likely to be the most effective Garmin watches they launched this yr. No less than, you probably have youngsters. Sure, it’s an enormous leap in value in comparison with the previous, although, I feel it’s now priced appropriately to the retail costs of each Apple & Google, when it comes to their child choices. Like these, it requires a subscription. However as somebody whose youngsters used the Bounce 1 watches extensively for years and at the moment are on Bounce 2, the battery is much better, the options (together with precise voice calling) are a lot better, and the watch is mainly a cut-down Vivoactive 6. So issues like sport modes, options (flashlight), and extra are similar to the grownup watches, besides simply simplified in some instances. My recommendation is that when you’re attempting to determine between a Bounce 1 and a Bounce 2, positively go Bounce 2.
Garmin Edge 550:
The Edge 550 is basically the button-only model of the Edge 850 I reviewed again in September. There are a handful of variations from the Edge 850 apart from the dearth of a touchscreen; most notably, it doesn’t embody the Edge 850 bike bell, or round-trip route creation. However right here’s the factor: I’ve been driving nearly each trip since early September with simply the Edge 550 (and often a Wahoo ROAM V3), and haven’t really missed something on the Edge 850. And with lack of contact, not like the Edge 540 being a scorching mess when it launched with what was mainly touchscreen software program and no touchscreen, the Edge 550 has been no downside to make use of with out contact. Positive, it’s quicker/handier to have the touchscreen, nevertheless it wasn’t the dealbreaker I assumed it will be. And from a stability standpoint, it’s been rock-solid from launch, a theme amongst the biking merchandise this yr, however not shared by many of the wearables (excluding Bounce 2, which has been good).
Garmin Fenix 8 Professional:
I’ve now put much more miles and massive testing adventures on this than I anticipated during the last 3+ months. And someway nonetheless haven’t completed my full in-depth assessment. Sigh. On the entire, this felt just like the launch that the Fenix 8 ought to have been, besides Garmin went all girls-gone-wild with the pricing right here (and arguably, why they missed earnings). Like many 2025 Garmin merchandise, it suffered from early bugs, although it appears principally fairly strong now. I respect the satellite tv for pc messaging options as a backup once I’m out of mobile vary, working or driving (which is usually), although it does really feel like a V1 implementation in some ways. If you happen to’re Fenix 8 vs Fenix 8 Professional, my basic recommendation could be that if you will get the Fenix 8 (non-Professional) on a great sale, I’d in all probability go that method, but when there aren’t any gross sales, I’d go Fenix 8 Professional. Both method, skip MicroLED.
Garmin Forerunner 570:
Whereas I reviewed the Forerunner 970, I by no means fairly bought round to ending my Forerunner 570 assessment. The 2 models are very comparable, apart from the truth that the Forerunner 970 has maps, and the Forerunner 570 someway doesn’t (though watches half its value do). I really feel just like the Forerunner 570 will sometime be used for example of an in any other case glorious watch that absolutely missed its audience and pricing. It was imagined to be a Forerunner 270, however Garmin felt the additional exterior case supplies had been ‘too good’ for the Forerunner 270, so that they elevated the value and identify. Had it been saved a Forerunner 270 at roughly the present pricing, I’d have been high quality with it, however at this value, I battle to see its place in life.
Garmin HRM-600 Coronary heart Charge Strap:
This has been nice. I’ve been utilizing it always since Might, and it has been near-perfect. I say ‘near-perfect’, as a result of about the one slight frustration is usually pairing with new watches/gadgets and having to enter pairing mode and such. That’s principally as a consequence of EU laws requiring consumer consciousness of transmitting knowledge, so I can’t solely blame Garmin there. However in any other case, the strap works nice, and battery life is completely high quality (and I respect that it makes use of the conventional Garmin charging port). My solely criticism right here is the value. At 2x that of the Polar H10, until you could have different Garmin gear (notably, watches), and truly care about among the further metrics, then simply get the Garmin HRM-200 or Polar H9/H10 as a substitute.
Garmin inReach Mini 3 Sequence:
This can be a substantial improve over the inReach Mini 2 collection, although particularly the inReach Mini 3 Plus. I don’t in any respect perceive the Mini 3 base unit, being simply $50 cheaper, however missing all the brand new options you care about. Particularly when the inReach Mini 2 is $249 proper now, making it $200 cheaper than the Mini 3, and having nearly an identical real-world options (certain, there’s new UI and issues, however the core product is mainly the identical on the bottom 3). As for the Mini 3 Plus, the power to ship voices/pictures outdoors of cellar protection has been nice, and the brand new siren is helpful too. Now that stated, I’ll have my assessment out tomorrow on this, and I’ll be aware I’ve had some regarding points on the Mini 3 Plus, so…keep tuned there.
Garmin Rally x10 Sequence:
I’ve been driving these since August generally, plus some earlier tidbits, on highway, gravel, and MTB. They’ve been rock-solid for all of those, and a bunch of coach time as properly. Many of the enhancements over the present Rally models are fairly minor within the grand scheme of life, however are appreciated. For instance, my spouse loves the improved sq. interface on the pedals for higher removing when touring. And battery life hasn’t been a difficulty for me both, lasting longer than the rivals. Accuracy has been spot-on, too, and there have been no early teething bugs. Lastly, whereas it has the identical new pairing safety gates because the HRM-600, for most individuals, you aren’t randomly pairing new gadgets each week, so it’s not a difficulty. In the end, the singular challenge right here is the value. At this value level, you possibly can mainly get two units of Favero Professional collection pedals (dual-sided). That’s a no brainer, and is why I’ve purchased extra Favero Professional RS and Professional MX pedal units this yr for my spouse and my further bikes. It’s not that they’re higher, it’s only a extra logical buying selection.
Garmin Venu 4:
The Venu 4 is Garmin’s major competitor to the Apple/Samsung/Google watches, although this yr it noticed a reasonably huge value hike over earlier years. On the flip facet, Garmin added in a considerable quantity of latest options, successfully making it a Forerunner 570 as properly. There’s simply a lot newness right here, together with Coaching Readiness and all of the coaching load sort options. This principally got here on account of the newly consolidated Garmin codebase for these watches, and Garmin doubtless Apple including in these options and saying ‘certain’. It’ll be fascinating to see how this shifts gross sales downwards to the cheaper Vivoactive 6 although, and if that product will successfully take the place of the Venu 4 because the extra standard choice. It was at all times a powerful vendor, however the pricing shifts (and the Vivoactive 6 being extremely properly priced) will make issues fascinating.
Garmin Venu X1:
I really spent nearly my total summer time on this watch, together with some strong hikes. However in fact, I bought distracted with different new watches and by no means completed this assessment, although you possibly can discover my full novices’ information, which frankly covers my ideas fairly properly. This was Garmin’s mix of a Fenix/Forerunner/Venu multi function. And I feel they efficiently achieved what, arguably, no one was asking for. The issue, as current pricing modifications point out, is that the market doesn’t perceive it. Paradoxically, that is really the one watch I feel *was* priced accurately this yr, relative to Garmin’s different pricing. Being Garmin’s slimmest GPS watch means much less battery life, however for me the actual limiter was simply wanting extra buttons. In any other case, I cherished it (and the present sale pricing makes it a steal).
GoPro Hero 4K Lit:
The large benefit of the GoPro Hero 4K (and now 4K Lit) collection over the Insta360 & DJI rivals is the truth that all the factor (display screen included) is totally waterproof. The principle drawback? Every part else. Sure, it’s smaller than these as a complete package deal, however the high quality is severely missing in comparison with both of these rivals. And whereas I feel the Lit (LED) idea is definitely an extremely helpful concept on an motion cam (assume evening path runs and such), GoPro placing it on a digicam with the worst low-light high quality within the business did them no favors. I do hope they proceed this concept, although ideally on a future GoPro Hero 14 with superb low-light high quality. I imply, simply asking for a good friend.
Insta360/Antigravity A1:
I flew this a bit earlier this yr and have a full-production unit arriving this week to dig into it extra carefully. Once I flew it again within the spring, it was nonetheless solidly half-baked. Nevertheless, it’s clear issues have dramatically improved based mostly on the critiques I’ve seen. Clearly, whenever you’re launching your first drone product, it’s not going to rival DJI’s. Like, factually, it’s not (I can depend an enormous pile of options which might be lacking). However given the truth that DJI merchandise gained’t be obtainable within the US in two weeks, Insta360 has a chance. And every thing I’ve seen on the ultimate product so far is wanting promising. Most critically, I’ll be seeking to see how rapidly Insta360 iterates on new options. That reality alone will drive whether or not or not they will have a profitable future. In my thoughts, we have to see month-to-month function drops. The excellent news is that no firm within the motion cam house has nearly as good a observe document of unending new function updates as Insta360. So, right here’s hoping!
Polar Loop:
You already know the ‘most improved’ award that they offer youngsters on sports activities groups? It’s the underhanded method of giving out an award whereas concurrently saying ‘you had been the worst’. The Loop mainly will get that award. As nearly each assessment has outlined (and my early first-look publish), the diploma of dumpster hearth right here rivals that of Strava’s authorized staff. This was designed because the Whoop competitor, however failed to know a very powerful half about Whoop: It simply does all of it within the background, robotically. Whereas the Polar Loop requires fixed care and feeding to get correct outcomes. That stated, I’ll give them credit score for the truth that, within the November timeframe, firmware updates have considerably improved issues in comparison with September. However it’s nonetheless far-off from being a Whoop competitor.
Wahoo KICKR Bike Professional
The KICKR Bike Professional is mainly only a KICKR Bike V2 with a brand new handlebar. And, there’s nothing improper with that – it really works simply in addition to earlier than. I did a brief preview publish, and in some unspecified time in the future, I’ll wrap up a closing assessment, although there gained’t be an excessive amount of greater than I’ve already stated beforehand. As I’ve famous prior to now, until you actually need the up/down performance of the KICKR Bike collection, then both the KICKR Bike SHIFT or Zwift Trip are going to be much better values. However, to every their very own.
Wahoo ROAM/BOLT V3:
If there’s any product the place I’m semi-speechless, it’s these two. They bought off to a heck of a rocky begin, however general, the most important challenge is admittedly the screens. They only aren’t good, with sure angles being solely invisible relying on the place the solar/and so forth is. After which battery life is mainly 10-12 hours real-world, so it’s not such as you’re buying and selling battery life for an incredible show (akin to the Edge 550/850). I wrote all about ROAM V3 battery life fiascos and faux numbers in my Edge 850 assessment.
In the end, I simply don’t actually know what to say right here, which might be why, regardless of my continued testing with it, I haven’t gotten a assessment out. Wahoo spent all this time growing a mannequin that doesn’t actually appear to be any higher than the earlier one, and in some methods, is worse.
Wahoo TRACKR Radar:
Just like the ROAM/BOLT V3, I’ve put extra miles on this than I can depend. My spouse, too. In reality, it might need essentially the most miles out of something on this whole record. On one hand, I really like the USB-C, and just like the fashion/design of it. The actual-world battery life is okay, however mainly a wash in comparison with Garmin’s battery life. On the draw back, it false-positives prefer it’s going out of fashion – by far one of many worst on the market. I’ve additionally had some false-negatives, although admittedly, not since late summer time. It’s powerful; it’s the default one which my spouse and I attain for, merely due to USB-C. However the precise working joke on our rides remains to be “Is it really clear/a automobile, or simply Wahoo?” I’m unsure how you can reconcile these ideas.
Whoop 5.0 & 5.0 MG
I’ve been carrying the Whoop 5.0 MG since Might (and Whoop bands for five years prior), and my spouse has been carrying the Whoop 5.0 (base) on and off, too. General, they work properly, and most critically, the 14-day battery really holds up in my testing. Actually proud of that. From a {hardware} standpoint, these don’t actually really feel all that completely different than earlier ones, aside from the MG options on the MG version that almost all frankly gained’t use. Positive, some will get worth out of the medically licensed ECG function, however the Blood Stress function isn’t really medically licensed (the middle of a giant battle with the FDA). And it requires you to calibrate it sometimes with a blood strain monitor anyway (which solely prices about $30-$50 for a medically licensed one). As at all times with Whoop, you’re shopping for a subscription product, not a lot the {hardware}. Whoop has seen a lot of doubtlessly critical rivals enter this yr (Polar, AmazFit), although none have actually eaten into how good Whoop is. Whether or not or not Garmin could make a swing at it subsequent yr stays to be seen.
Wrap-Up
Okay, phew, there ya go! Once more, being on this publish/record doesn’t imply a assessment isn’t coming. It simply means it hasn’t been completed but. Considered one of nowadays, I’ll work out how you can take care of the large onslaught of merchandise.
With that – thanks for studying, and be happy to drop any questions down beneath!
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