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
Gollum would murder hobbitses to get this 43% OFF smart ring lightning deal before Cyber Monday ends
By Michael L Hicks published
My precious... The RingConn Gen 1 smart ring is on our "Best smart rings" list, and it's currently 43% ($120) off thanks to a Cyber Monday lightning deal.
Save 40% on most Quest 3 games through Cyber Monday; start with these 25 VR greats
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Cyber Monday 2024 About 300 Quest 3 games have a 40% discount, and we've chosen the best games from that huge list to help you build your library.
This 40%-off Cyber Monday deal makes this Amazfit running watch MUCH more compelling
By Michael L Hicks published
Cyber Monday 2024 I gave the Amazfit Cheetah Pro a positive review, but I wasn't sure it really justified a $299 price tag. Now it's 40% off, and it's much easier to recommend!
How to use your new Cyber Monday smartwatch to shed Thanksgiving pounds
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday I run through all the specific smartwatches and tools that'll actively help you lose weight, including those discounted for Cyber Monday.
These are my favorite Black Friday Garmin smartwatch deals still in stock (for now!)
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Grab some Garmin Garmin's holiday sale is LIVE, and retailers all over the web are dropping major discounts on some of our favorite smartwatches.
Make your phone-addicted kids read with these major Black Friday Kindle Kids deals
By Michael L Hicks published
Black Friday 2024 Both the Kindle Paperwhite Kids and Kindle Kids have significant discounts courtesy of Black Friday 2024.
Get $70 off (plus a free $100 upgrade on) my favorite Android watch of 2024
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Black Friday 2024 The Pixel Watch 3 is my favorite Android watch of the year, and the 45mm LTE model is $170 off right NOW!
Black Friday is live, but this 52%-off Galaxy Watch 6 deal won't last until Cyber Monday
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Black Friday 2024 Samsung won't make any more Galaxy Watch 6s, and they've begun to sell out for good thanks to their insane Black Friday price.
Black Friday Fitbit frenzy: Save tons of cash on Charge, Inspire, Sense, Versa, and Pixel watches
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Black Friday 2024 Whether you want a tiny inspire 3, feature-packed Charge 6, health-focused Sense 2, or Wear OS-ready Pixel Watch 3, there are some great Black Friday deals for all of them.
Every Android smartwatch has a Black Friday deal; here's how I'd choose as a wearable expert
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Rather than choose your next Android watch based on price, I'll run through the pros and cons for each Wear OS brand and generation to help you choose.
Galaxy Watches have never been cheaper, but you may want to skip this Black Friday deal
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Black Friday 2024 We've never seen brand-new Galaxy Watches as cheap as $126, but that should tell you something about the Galaxy Watch FE — it's kind of a trap.
Wear OS 5: New features, One UI 6 Watch, & eligible watches
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Battery boost (and more) Wear OS 5 arrived with the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7, but has since rolled out to some older models. Here's what you need to know about its perks and features.
Best Link Cable alternatives for Meta Quest
By Michael L Hicks, Nicholas Sutrich last updated
No weak link Meta's official Link Cable is pricey, but these alternatives won't break the bank.
The Polar Vantage M3 has premium guts in a mid-range package — with one key flaw
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday The new Polar Vantage M3 is an intriguing mid-range running watch; I put its GPS and HR accuracy to the test against Garmin and COROS.
New to Garmin? The $100-off Vivoactive 5 is the perfect starting point
By Michael L Hicks published
Black Friday 2024 Both the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and Forerunner 165 are $199 for Black Friday; first-time Garmin users, skip the pricey models and start here.
Cyber Monday smartwatch deal hunters should look at smart rings instead
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Cyber Monday Cyber Monday smartwatch deals are a dime a dozen. But there are very few reliable smart rings, and deals on them are harder to find.
Best smartwatch with LTE
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Cellular on your wrist If you depend on your wearable for just about everything, you may benefit from an LTE smartwatch. So, we've rounded up some of the best options.
Google Pixel Watch 4: Everything we know and want from the Pixel Watch 3 successor
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Necessary upgrades The Pixel Watch 3 has only just arrived, but we're already seeing specific areas where Google didn't make the specific upgrades we wanted. Here is what the Pixel Watch 4 could do better.
I don't care much for watch apps, but I'm giving them a second chance
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Smartwatch apps don't seem much more useful than smartphone apps, but they can sometimes be more convenient.
This smart ring is basically an April Fool's joke, but is it ahead of the curve?
By Michael L Hicks published
Why not both? This tiny smartwatch/ smart ring hybrid isn't going to appeal to most people, but there is a definite niche market for smart rings with working displays.
Garmin Fenix 8 review: Frankenstein's watch
By Michael L Hicks published
Garmin's greatest hits The Garmin Fenix 8 is an all-around monster that steals the best parts from all the other Garmin watches; it's a great device with an insane price.
The Garmin Instinct 3 has leaked; I'm hoping for two major changes
By Michael L Hicks published
Coming soon? An official Garmin website listing for the Instinct 3 45mm Solar has us wondering whether it'll keep its "unlimited" battery life while making upgrades.
Every feature Wear OS watches should borrow from Garmin
By Michael L Hicks published
Wear OS Weekly Our staff regularly uses Wear OS watches, but Garmin watches have tricks that tempt us away that Google and Samsung should borrow and make their own.
How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Android
By Michael L Hicks last updated
iOS to Android If you're switching from iPhone to Android, transferring your contacts to your new phone is just a backup, an import, and an email away!
I ran a 20-mile race wearing four fitness watches (like an idiot); here's what I learned
By Michael L Hicks published
Running test I ran a 20-mile race wearing a Garmin, Pixel, Apple, and Coros watch. You might be surprised how similar the results were in some areas — and how different in others.
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