Michael L Hicks
Michael is Android Central's resident expert on fitness tech and wearables, with an enthusiast's love of VR tech on the side. After years freelancing for Techradar, Wareable, Windows Central, Digital Trends, and other sites on a variety of tech topics, AC has given him the chance to really dive into the topics he's passionate about. He's also a semi-reformed Apple-to-Android user who loves D&D, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings.
For wearables, Michael has tested dozens of smartwatches from Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, COROS, Polar, Amazfit, and other brands, and will always focus on recommending the best product over the best brand. He's also completed marathons like NYC, SF, Marine Corps, Big Sur, and California International — though he's still trying to break that 4-hour barrier.
Latest articles by Michael L Hicks
It's past time for fitness watches to promise proper software updates
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday If Google can promise seven years of updates for the Pixel 8, maybe it can promise *two* years of updates for the Fitbit Charge 6.
Garmin's $3,000 MARQ Carbon watches make the Epix 2 Pro look thrifty
By Michael L Hicks published
Watch or mortgage payment? Most athletes will never afford the MARQ series, but these carbon-fiber watches do look fantastic, and they have the effect of making Garmin's usual $300–$1,000 watches seem reasonable.
The 20 last-minute Prime Day deals under $30 you won't want to miss
By Michael L Hicks published
Tick tock You've already made your big purchases; these are the affordable impulse buys that most people will want and can easily afford.
Prime Day is your best shot at a 'cheap' Garmin Fenix or Epix
By Michael L Hicks published
Cheap is relative When it comes to Garmin watches, "expensive" is a relative term. But the Garmin Epix and Fenix watches are *truly* expensive, which makes Prime Day a great shot to snag one for a "reasonable" price.
Best October Prime Day Kindle deals
By Michael L Hicks last updated
E-reader deals You'll find deals on the Kindle Scribe, Oasis, Paperwhite & Paperwhite Signature Edition, both Kids models, the base Kindle (2022), and several Fire HD tablets if that's more your speed.
Why wait for Prime Day? The Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic are at all-time lows!
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Save early 10% off may not seem like a huge deal, but it's rare to save much on a watch that's less than two months old. And the Galaxy Watch 6 is already affordable compared to most flagship watches.
The Pixel Watch 2 is the casual fitness watch I've been waiting for
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday Fitness felt more like an afterthought on the first Pixel Watch. This generation, Google did almost everything right.
Samsung takes a leaf out of Google's Tensor book for Exynos 2400 comeback
By Michael L Hicks published
Bouncing back Samsung's chip doesn't appear to be as fast as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but it will try to use its significant AI boost to gain an edge.
Here's why the skinnier Quest 3 weighs more than the Quest 2
By Michael L Hicks published
Dense and balanced The Quest 3 is a lot more comfortable than the Quest 2 out of the box, but it's still got a decent amount of weight on your head, especially if you modify it.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Which is the best Android watch?
By Michael L Hicks published
Top Android watches It's the comparison that all fans of Android smartwatches have been waiting for. Is Google's second attempt at a smartwatch better matched against Samsung's flagship watches?
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and FE Plus: Specs, pricing, upgrades, and more
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Mid-range quality Thanks to updates like two display sizes, IP68 resistance, 90Hz refresh rate, more default RAM, and a fingerprint sensor, the Tab S9 FE is a much more well-rounded mid-range slab than the Tab S7 FE.
Rumored Meta layoffs hint at struggles amid Quest 3 launch
By Michael L Hicks published
Efficiency first Meta had ambitions to develop its own custom silicon and operating system for Quest headsets, but that now looks increasingly unlikely.
Meta Quest 4: Everything we want from the Quest 3 successor
By Michael L Hicks published
Thinking ahead Yes, the Quest 3 just came out. No, it's not too early to think about how the next Quest 4, Quest Lite, or Quest Pro can top the current-gen headset.
Quest 3 will succeed at fitness where the Quest 2 fell short
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday Mixed reality can enable in-headset HIIT training in a way that virtual reality never could.
Meta won't offer Quest 2 trade-ins for the Quest 3, a missed opportunity
By Michael L Hicks published
Get ready for e-waste The Quest 2 sold 20 million (and counting) because it was affordable; the Quest 3 is pricier, and people won't know what to do with the headset they already have.
Quest 3 games: Exclusives, free, launch titles, Xbox games, and enhancements
By Michael L Hicks published
Next-gen upgrades The Quest 3 will have over 100 new or enhanced games between its October 10 launch and the end of 2023.
Most Quest 2 accessories won’t work on the Quest 3
By Michael L Hicks published
Incompatible The new Quest 3 has some key design changes that make it more comfortable...but also ensure you're going to have to buy some new accessories.
The Meta Quest 3 arrives October 10, runs laps around the Quest 2
By Michael L Hicks published
No more waiting Meta announced the new mixed-reality headset today. Here's a quick summary of what you need to know about the Quest 3.
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
By Michael L Hicks published
Long-awaited battle Both watches upgraded their performance and displays while keeping similar designs to past generations.
Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars 2024
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Surround sound with less hassle
Can the Charge 6 and Pixel Watch 2 fix Fitbit's woes?
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday Fitbit has several paths it can take to regain people's trust. Most of it starts with improving Fitbit Premium.
Facebook now makes it easy to lead a double life with multiple personal profiles
By Michael L Hicks published
Clean up your feed If you have a personal Facebook profile and want to create a second without all the baggage (or your real name), you can now do so without needing to create a professional account.
Garmin Venu 3 vs. Venu 2: Every key upgrade
By Michael L Hicks last updated
A major improvement Garmin Venu 2 owners have a ton of reasons to upgrade. For Venu 2 Plus owners, it's a tougher decision.