As autumn approaches, we’ve already seen a flurry of constant product launches from the tech industry’s biggest players. In fact, this past week alone has been packed with some pretty notable announcements from companies like Spotify, Xiaomi, and Garmin. So to help you catch up, here’s a quick summary of the top tech stories you may have missed—let’s take a look!
Spotify Upgrades its Free-tier Service for Listeners
If you’re a Spotify listener but aren’t too keen on signing up for the platform’s Premium-tier subscription, then you might want to hear what Spotify’s got in store—the platform recently announced that it’s bringing over several major updates to its free service, which finally gives free-tier users a level of control that was previously limited to premium subscribers. Listeners can now instantly play any song on demand by searching for it or by tapping a link shared by friends or even artists. Previously, users on Spotify’s free service were only able to listen to tracks as part of pre-existing playlists, without the ability to edit the playlists themselves.
Xiaomi’s Redmi 15 Finally Arrives for Global Markets
Xiaomi’s Redmi brand is still going strong with consistent launches throughout the year, as seen with the arrival of the new Redmi 15. Now available for global markets, the Redmi 15 features a large 6.9-inch display with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, in addition to an FHD+ resolution. Given its large size, Xiaomi has also managed to fit a 7,000 mAh battery inside, which is pretty large and should be more than enough for most users who are looking for a device that can last all day long. The phone is priced starting at £159 for buyers in the UK.
Meta’s New Smart Glass and Wearable Combo Make their Official Debut
With more and more bigger brands continuing to push boundaries with wearable technology, we’re beginning to see new and interesting products arrive on the scene, such as Meta’s new Ray-Ban Display glasses which bring over support for a built-in display (hence the name) in a more portable form factor. The glasses were launched alongside the Neural Band, which uses electromyography (EMG) technology that translates muscle movements into digital commands, meaning that you get to control the glasses with simple hand gestures.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro is Finally Here with a Larger Camera Sensor
DJI’s massive reach and expertise within the consumer drone industry is impressive, and the company is looking to build on this further with the unveiling of the new Mini 5 Pro, a compact and lightweight drone which DJI says is designed for both enthusiasts and professional creators. One major upgrade with this model is the addition of a larger camera sensor, a first for DJI’s Mini series. Priced starting at £689, the Mini 5 Pro’s drone’s camera is equipped with a 50MP 1-inch sensor that on paper should be capable of capturing finer details in images, even with low-light conditions.
Garmin Goes a Bit More Casual with the New Venu 4
Garmin’s massive selection of sports-oriented smartwatches features some of the best hardware on the market, and the company recently added a new entry with the Venu 4—a new premium smartwatch, the Venu 4 packs a ton of functionality in addition to a somewhat leaner look compared to the company’s other lines like the Instinct and Fenix watches, for example. Available in both 41mm and 45mm sizes, the Venu 4 features a sleek-looking design that’s more in line with premium timepieces, instead of the rugged aesthetic on its siblings. It also comes with a built-in speaker, microphone, and even an LED flashlight, the latter of which is a bit uncommon to see on most other smartwatches.
