Michael L Hicks
Michael is Android Central's resident expert on wearables and fitness. He's reviewed or tested dozens of smartwatches, fitness bands, VR headsets, smart rings, earbuds, and other wearable tech from brands like Amazfit, Apple, COROS, Fitbit, Garmin, Google, Meta, Polar, Shokz, Suunto, Ultrahuman, Withings, and more. After earning a degree in English and an MA in Publishing & Writing, he started as a tech freelancer in 2015, covering emerging tech news for Techradar and VR films and games for Wareable in off-hours while working full-time at an educational publisher, coding e-books. Eventually he discovered he had more passion for tech writing than publishing and became a full-time freelancer in 2020, writing for Android Central, Windows Central, Digital Trends, and other sites. AC hired him as Senior Editor by the end of 2020 in a "jack-of-all-trades" tech role, but he channeled his passion for running into a set role covering Wearables and VR in 2022. his trademark is to thoroughly test every fitness smartwatch he reviews, checking its steps, heart rate, GPS, and elevation accuracy against other brands so that athletes know whether they can trust that data. In his free time, Michael has run marathons in NYC, SF, DC, Sacramento, and Big Sir.
Latest articles by Michael L Hicks
![Screenshots of the Fantasy Hike app](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b9AuNgniECpxjapT9pxmNg-320-80.jpg)
These are my favorite running and step-counting apps to keep me motivated
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Sunday Runday Whether you're looking for motivation to run your first 5K, hit a marathon PR pace, or just to walk enough steps every day to stay healthy, these are the apps I'd recommend.
![The Ultrahuman Ring Air next to a typical ring to show its size, surrounded by other jewelry.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vMPRBuPqBEmv2StvX6UTHa-320-80.jpg)
Ultrahuman Ring Air review: Forgettable, in a good way
By Michael L Hicks published
Smart rings The Ultrahuman Ring Air is an excellent sleep-tracking companion and among the best smart rings out there, despite some flaws.
![Garmin Forerunner 265 and 255 side-by-side](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T9wd3P7YZZCPJAngN9aWTB-320-80.jpeg)
Best Garmin Forerunner: choosing the right watch for each runner
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Best running watches When you're a runner, it's important to find a watch that can keep up. We're here to help you decide which Garmin Forerunner is right for your needs.
![The Meta Quest 3 with Touch Plus controllers and a coral color strap](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VjWv9mJEbFBxst6ToaqpGf-320-80.jpg)
Meta Quest 3: Everything you need to know
By Michael L Hicks published
MR + VR The Meta Quest 3 is the best VR headset available today (yes, even better than the Apple Vision Pro, in our opinion). Here's what you should know about it.
![The Meta booth at GDC 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/59asULuAZfyggtHc3p25PQ-320-80.jpg)
These are my favorite upcoming Quest 3 and Vision Pro games from GDC 2024
By Michael L Hicks published
GDC 2024 From dodging lasers to racing motorcycles, GDC had some impressive VR and MR game demos due out later this year.
![The Ultrahuman Ring Air and Garmin Forerunner 965 sitting on a pillow.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SnuPedWdbZ2L68SDwhJFy7-320-80.jpeg)
I'm never wearing a smartwatch to sleep again
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday The lightest fitness band or watch you'll find can't beat a smart ring for seamless comfort. Seriously, NEVER again.
![A slide during the GDC 2024 panel "Simulacra and Subterfuge: Building Agentic 'Werewolf'". It shows the text "Generative Werewolf" and avatars for LLM bots.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P7fJN82FZJUCYXBfTveGaB-320-80.jpeg)
Google had its LLM murder itself in Werewolf to test its AI smarts
By Michael L Hicks published
GDC 2024 At GDC 2024, Google engineers explained how its Large Language Model played the popular party game. It has a long way to go.
![Jesse Schell, CEO at Schell Games, at a podium for his GDC panel, "The Future of MR Experiences". The slide shows the Schell Games logo.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UueUT9dz2SpmhiBJbe4VGZ-320-80.jpeg)
This VR dev veteran has thoughts on the four 'killer apps' that the Quest 3 and Vision Pro need
By Michael L Hicks published
GDC 2024 Jesse Schell, the VR veteran behind Among Us VR and I Expect You to Die, explained his vision for how MR will have its breakout moment.
![A Google for Games banner hanging from the ceiling of Moscone West in San Francisco at GDC 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YQMSDhNsSVxoHBV3TzSc7F-320-80.jpeg)
GDC 2024: Google's vision for AI 'living games' sounds awful, but inevitable
By Michael L Hicks published
GDC 2024 Google engineers described how Gemini 1.5 and Vertex AI will help make games "much more human" with hundreds of thousands of NPC chatbots with memories.
![The OnePlus Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 2 worn on left and right wrists](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TxCrE5NDybCNSrfW872aV7-320-80.jpg)
Wear OS 4: New features, One UI 5 Watch, and more
By Michael L Hicks, Namerah Saud Fatmi published
Latest wearable software Two years after Wear OS 3, Wear OS 4 is here to make Android smartwatches better than ever.
![The front of the Meta Quest 3 headset with a BoboVR M3 Pro head strap installed](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BtCfBaGg8QxY2zT6jLM2xX-320-80.jpg)
Dream team: Modders behind Half-Life 2 VR, Doom VR join forces for licensed Quest ports
By Michael L Hicks published
GDC 2024 Flat2VR and Team Beef have formed a studio and are developing a licensed VR game port for "official platforms."
![Garmin Forerunner 165 and 965 sitting atop one another on a plant.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L32utu6sJRhWEgUGUmhh8B-320-80.jpeg)
I'd swap my Garmin Forerunner 965 for this much cheaper smartwatch in a heartbeat — if it weren't for one thing
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday Garmin strategically withholds software from its cheaper watches. Only one missing Garmin Forerunner 165 tool is hard to lose.
![The Garmin Forerunner 165, COROS PACE 3, Fitbit Charge 6, and Polar H10 sitting together on a table.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gzEYL8n2Zzj2NCE2bAEUvE-320-80.jpeg)
I tested the Garmin Forerunner 165 against the two best cheap fitness trackers
By Michael L Hicks published
Put to the test How the Forerunner 165 compared for steps, GPS, and heart rate against the Fitbit Charge 6 and COROS PACE 3.
![2013 Samsung Galaxy Gear](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MkzTFUD6hPhxTKbs5eDpJD-320-80.jpg)
Future Galaxy Watches may borrow the Apple Watch squircle look — and I'm on board
By Michael L Hicks published
A square surprise A report claims Samsung is "enthusiastically" considering squircle Galaxy Watches after the Watch 7 and that "the switch is going to happen."
![The Garmin Forerunner 965 showing data from the CORE Body Temperature Sensor](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BHzsZaBRjNgGrAoHRHKkqi-320-80.jpeg)
This wearable for pro athletes has me rethinking my whole approach to fitness training
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday I tested out the CORE Body Temperature Sensor and learned why VO2 Max and my fitness watch aren't enough to ensure I'm race-ready.
![Meta Quest Pro headset with Quest Touch Pro controllers charging on the included dock](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZX7UoxM32QnCD2LYerguLe-320-80.jpg)
Meta Quest Pro 2: Everything we want from the 2025 Apple Vision Pro rival
By Michael L Hicks published
Try, try again The Meta Quest Pro 2 will need a revamped display, lighter design, and a clearer purpose to avoid another flop and justify the $2,000 cost.
![Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition displaying workout stats](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e5kQYhFWiFYD6YTtyVXxjb-320-80.jpg)
Which Wear OS watches work with iPhone?
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Not worth the effort Samsung and Google don't bother with iOS anymore, and most of the other Wear OS brands who try to make iPhone compatibility work probably regret it, given how lackluster the experience is.
![Heart rate zones on the Garmin Forerunner 965](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2Y94eFaX27QSJeJVTRzyDD-320-80.jpeg)
Latest Garmin Forerunner update sounds great on paper but may be causing tracking issues
By Michael L Hicks published
Heart rate issues Aside from cool tricks like Lap Undo and a track database, Garmin Forerunner update 18.22 has apparently introduced heart rate tracking issues.
![OnePlus Watch 2 notification settings on watch](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xKU4W9LwFMwy2V6pDiCrec-320-80.jpg)
How many updates will the OnePlus Watch 2 get?
By Michael L Hicks published
How long? The OnePlus Watch 2 is tempting due to its gorgeous design and 100-hour battery, but you should know upfront how long it will last from a software perspective.
![The Motorola Adaptive Display concept phone at MWC 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QmFCxFKoGPbvD6xfoqSZLB-320-80.jpg)
Samsung and Motorola want us to wear our smartphones. We REALLY shouldn't.
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday MWC 2024 was full of sci-fi-esque tech like transparent laptops, but a wearable, bendable smartphone doesn't even make sense on Star Trek.
![OnePlus Watch 2 in use](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uBzqRwhzSP4toKXDMtUob9-320-80.jpg)
OnePlus Watch 2 vs. Galaxy Watch 6: Both built to last, but in different ways
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS showdown We break down where the OnePlus Watch 2 wins (style, battery life, GPS data, and more) and where the Galaxy Watch 6 wins (comfort, displays, navigation, health sensors, and more).
![Google Pixel 8 review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kRgrEi9Hvg6fKUnhXQXKJJ-320-80.jpg)
Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 6: Major fixes and unresolved issues
By Michael L Hicks published
The Pixel 6 was a promising phone hampered by software issues. Does the Pixel 8 do enough two years later to justify an early switch?
![A side view of the Garmin GPSMAP 67i showing the SOS button cover](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/op94xA97kzy2DESgu6NQ6g-320-80.jpeg)
Garmin SOS report details all the times its InReach satellites saved people's lives last year
By Michael L Hicks published
SOS Garmin reports that its InReach SOS program is used almost as often for auto and motorcycle accidents as for hiking emergencies.
![Grabbing a Meta Quest 3 controller that has AMVR grips attached](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yEqLoxLpVofgGAN5uSbkb9-320-80.jpg)
Meta Quest Plus' new 'catalog' of games comes with a $25 store credit incentive
By Michael L Hicks published
Expand your Quest library Meta is making its monthly subscription a combination of Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus, with both a set games catalog and two new monthly games.