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
![The author wearing an Apple Watch Ultra 2, COROS PACE 3, and Garmin Forerunner 965 at the Mount Diablo summit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c2VYub7oyZFGdhzpsh2ESZ-320-80.jpeg)
I wore five smartwatches to Mount Diablo's peak. These brands were best for elevation accuracy
By Michael L Hicks published
To the top Once again, I wore way too many smartwatches to help you figure out which watches will give you accurate results when it comes to your next trail hike or climb.
![Promo image showing a woman wearing a Quest 3 headset and watching a spatial video in VR.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZiCQ93yUNxSuoFKyQP7qLm-320-80.jpeg)
Quest v62 update courts would-be Vision Pro buyers with gestures, spatial video
By Michael L Hicks published
v62 update Meta wants to be the "Android of VR," and apparently that starts by offering a lot of Apple's software tricks in a much more affordable headset.
![The Meta sign at the company campus at 1 Hacker Way.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zuwB8uGQSdre52kaVNFjSC-320-80.jpeg)
Meta Q4 2023 earnings report shows record-breaking Quest 3 sales, ad profits
By Michael L Hicks published
Q4 2024 earnings Meta is still losing billions every quarter on Reality Labs and AI investments, but its ad revenue was so absurdly high that it still made more money than ever.
![Fitbit Charge 5 Outdoor Hike](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CTSxo4DmEads5LhSvMnBKY-320-80.jpg)
This Fitbit-breaking update feels like the last straw
By Michael L Hicks published
No answers Most Fitbit Charge 5s now last less than a day per charge, if they turn on at all. And Google's response thus far has been to tell people to buy newer Fitbits instead.
![Asking Google Bard a question on a Google Pixel 7 Pro phone](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oqxTr4vXKAoenBHA7ozBeD-320-80.jpg)
Google Bard explained: Gemini, Assistant with Bard, availability, and controversies
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Generative AI You may soon find the Bard AI available on your Android phone in place of Assistant; here's how it works and whether you'll pay for it.
![Oura Ring (Gen 3) on a smartphone](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u2spFUWezzbN2fh3YLtEwE-320-80.jpg)
Feeling stressed? New Oura Ring 'Resilience' update will help you pinpoint why
By Michael L Hicks published
Test your Resilience Most modern smartwatches will tell you when you're stressed; the Oura Ring will determine how good you're body is at overcoming high-stress situations, both during the day and overnight.
![Samsung Galaxy Fit 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mpq4CWcWbwXkhTz3oeUvfK-320-80.jpg)
Samsung website leak gives away key details about the Galaxy Fit 3
By Michael L Hicks published
Forthcoming Fit While you wait for the Galaxy Ring or Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung has another promising fitness tracker coming soon: the Galaxy Fit 3.
![Front view of the Fitbit Charge 6](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zNvZtC8jFfkPjG62ZgP9gY-320-80.jpeg)
Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Sense 2: The best fitness tracker or its deluxe sibling?
By Michael L Hicks published
Fitbit fight! The Charge 6 costs half as much as the Sense 2 with most of the same tools — but each has its strengths and exclusives.
![A screenshot showing the Galaxy S24 Live Translate feature, helping English and Spanish language speakers understand one another.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DhZ8yMSC99kvUoEs6Mzwr-320-80.jpeg)
How to use Live Translate on the Galaxy S24
By Michael L Hicks published
Unleash the Galaxy AI With the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you can have your phone interpret over a dozen languages for you, both during phone calls and within your messages. But you'll need to go into your settings first.
![The Running Coach activity on the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MpDBGGaYEy2cthhBqNu6NR-320-80.jpeg)
Samsung's most intriguing fitness tech of 2024 isn't Galaxy Ring or Watch 7 — it's Galaxy AI
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday We're fired up by the Galaxy Ring and curious about the Galaxy Fit 3 and Samsung Glasses. But it's the software behind them that shows the most promise.
![The post-EDA sensor reading screen showing mood options on the Fitbit Charge 6](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oxWsZTZfrAWDorzy5NJYzZ-320-80.jpeg)
Your next Fitbit or Pixel Watch could monitor your mental health
By Michael L Hicks published
Big Brother Would you want your watch to warn you if you're showing signs of depression? Google and Fitbit made plans to test for that, but it would need to collect a lot of data about you to do so.
![Hands-on with the Meta Quest 3 Touch Plus controllers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7E5Vh3DCtb4KPpsUH7WYpj-320-80.jpg)
How long do Quest 3 controller batteries last?
By Michael L Hicks published
Longevity Q&A The Quest 3 Touch controllers last longer than the Quest Pro's, but not as long as the Quest 2 controllers. Here's what you need to know.
![The underside of the Meta Quest 3 showing the IPD adjustment wheel, POGO charging pins for the dock, and volume rocker buttons](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6xNvN6GPjiHzVNTa5gEphW-320-80.jpg)
Meta fixed the Quest 3's notorious mic issues, but your face cover may still block them
By Michael L Hicks published
I can hear you now The Quest 3's mic issues have frustrated fans of multiplayer games for months, but now Meta has taken significant steps to fix them for good.
![Looking at the different colorways of the Samsung Galaxy S24](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9h4qLmMGqc4uXuxtpH2esm-320-80.jpg)
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. Apple iPhone 15: One clear winner, one near-miss
By Michael L Hicks published
The inevitable battle The iPhone 15 predictably wins for general performance and upgraded its main camera, while the Galaxy S24 has the superior display and puts a greater emphasis on AI and power.
![Screenshot of the Masimo Freedom, showing the time, steps, blood oxygen %, pulse rate, and hydration index data on a watch face.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hi6F9SeXS5h3J9WQ4h8PB4-320-80.jpeg)
Masimo's blood-oxygen smartwatch matters beyond the Apple Watch ban — even if you won't buy it
By Michael L Hicks published
Blood oxygen You're not going to buy this $999 smartwatch, but it could put pressure on companies to stop treating blood oxygen data as an afterthought.
![The Samsung Galaxy Ring teaser image at Galaxy Unpacked 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PUJ8X2CpswiRuY6VUT33iB-320-80.jpeg)
Why you should be excited by the Galaxy Ring — and why Samsung will struggle to convince you
By Michael L Hicks published
Put a ring on it The Galaxy Watch 7 will undoubtedly outsell the Galaxy Ring, but I'm much more excited about a Samsung smart ring than another smartwatch that struggles with health tracking.
![The new AI features of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, demonstrated on the Galaxy S24 Ultra](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gQywtVsP7fDefEdRcU2YKH-320-80.jpg)
How many updates will the Galaxy S24 get?
By Michael L Hicks published
More support Samsung is challenging the iPhone and Google Pixel by giving the Galaxy S24 series more yearly OS updates than any Samsung phones in history.
![Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbDd9NSHRoTzcvV95niU63-320-80.jpg)
Does the Galaxy S24 work with the S Pen?
By Michael L Hicks published
Stylus time As always, the Galaxy S24 Ultra ships with a built-in S Pen. But can you use other S Pens with the Ultra, or can you buy an S Pen to use with the S24 or S24+? Here's what you need to know.
![A promotional image of a SoulCycle class with the instructor wearing a Fitbit Charge 6, with the words "Fitbit + SoulCycle" transposed on top.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FwEpQ5Aw93sASjCVDP3AAX-320-80.jpeg)
Fitbit: Everything is normal, have some free SoulCycle classes on us!
By Michael L Hicks published
Free stuff Despite Fitbit losing its leadership, the rest of the company is trying to proceed as normal, offering Fitbit giveaways and running health studies.
![A post-run screen showing the author's VO2 Max score and estimated recovery time](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TrQW8tAojXYJqHxExhG6QF-320-80.jpeg)
Garmin made some epic feature updates while you were distracted by CES
By Michael L Hicks published
Some long-requested features like the ability to undo accidental lap presses or switch from one sport to the next automatically are now available, if you're willing to download the beta.
![A notification from the Stand Up! app on the Garmin Venu 3](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XGYPpCr73CwzadqysJ9WHh-320-80.jpeg)
Those annoying smartwatch move alerts will save your life. Only one brand gets them right
By Michael L Hicks published
Standing isn't enough It's not enough to just stand and wave your arms around; you need to move with purpose throughout the day to stay healthy.
![Garmin Forerunner 265 (left) and Forerunner 965 (right) side-by-side](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QX2k83MXKaxGcmzmbFPPMJ-320-80.jpeg)
First 12 things to do with your new Garmin watch
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Sunday Runday Garmin watches can be pricey, so make sure that you're getting the most out of them. Our fitness editor uses Garmin watches daily and has the info you need.
![Fitbit Sense 2 vs Fitbit Sense bottom sensor comparison](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YyZDossaymbBa8APrRHEYh-320-80.jpg)
First 14 things to do with your new Fitbit
By Michael L Hicks published
Get Fit the right way If you bought a new Fitbit and aren't sure how to take full advantage of it and the new app, we're here to help you get started.
![A Google Logo at CES](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aCh9Kz8bpZgVr3uzzz3Mze-320-80.jpg)
Google steals Meta's 'efficiency' excuse as it lays off hundreds in AI pivot, loses Fitbit leaders
By Michael L Hicks published
AI pivot The Alphabet Workers Union criticized the Google layoffs as "needless," while Google promises to make the company "work better."
![A man uses the unnamed Sony XR headset to create a 3D virtual object using the smart ring controller.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RdzjsM3fxbboJ7zhsNVGvY-320-80.jpg)
PSVR 2 maker Sony pivots to 'spatial' XR with another Apple Vision Pro-style headset you won't buy
By Michael L Hicks published
As cool as this headset looks, it's not something that anyone besides serious engineers or artists can use. But it looks much more reliable than the Meta Quest Pro.