Michael Hicks

Walnut Creek

Senior Editor, AR/VR and Fitness at Android Central

Senior editor of AR/VR and fitness for @androidcentral. Will tweet about tech, gaming, SFF novels, running, Star Wars opinions, and more randomness.

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Articles

Will last-gen Galaxy and Pixel Watches die this year...and should they?

1 week ago | androidcentral.com | Michael Hicks

My weekly column focuses on the state of Wear OS, from new developments and updates to the latest apps and features we want to highlight. The One UI Watch 8 beta arrives later this month with exciting health, sleep, fitness, and nutritional tools. Unfortunately, only the Galaxy Watch 5 or later can run it. Will the Galaxy Watch 4 receive the stable version eventually, or is it stuck with Wear OS 5? The answer to that question will be an important one for Wear OS as a whole.
Will last-gen Galaxy and Pixel Watches die this year...and should they?

1 week ago | inkl.com | Michael Hicks

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Galaxy Watch 4 both screens on sitting atop keyboard. My weekly column focuses on the state of Wear OS, from new developments and updates to the latest apps and features we want to highlight. The One UI Watch 8 beta arrives later this month with exciting health, sleep, fitness, and nutritional tools. Unfortunately, only the Galaxy Watch 5 or later can run it. Will the Galaxy Watch 4 receive the stable version eventually, or is it stuck with Wear OS 5?
My experience with next-gen AR gaming glasses turned this skeptic into a believer

1 week ago | androidcentral.com | Michael Hicks

AC thVRsday is a weekly column that delves into all things VR, from new hardware to new games, upcoming technologies, and so much more. Typically helmed by Android Central Senior Editor Nicholas Sutrich, this week's entry is a guest post from Michael Hicks, another Android Central Senior Editor who regularly covers all things XR.
A look into Google's Android XR strategy and its big gaming push

1 week ago | androidcentral.com | Michael Hicks

Google had a hefty presence at Augmented World Expo 2025, with several panels dedicated to selling developers on the idea that Android XR will be the next big thing for VR, XR, AR, and smart glasses. I attended every discussion I could, from the Android XR keynote by Google XR executives Justin Payne and Hugo Swart to a discussion by a gaming developer describing what it's like to make Android XR games, as well as Google executives' vision for the future of AR devices.
Meta and Google made big promises at AWE, but AR glasses' future is still messy

1 week ago | androidcentral.com | Michael Hicks

Smart glasses are undeniably exploding. Speakers at Augmented World Expo 2025 panels on the future of smart glasses were passionately bullish on its future. But once specifically asked about augmented reality displays in glasses, the expert responses from Google, Meta, and others split into complicated, divergent visions of the future. They assured listeners that the world would inevitably adopt AR glasses, and even eventually "replace our phones" generations from now.
Meta and Google made big promises at AWE, but AR glasses' future is still messy

1 week ago | inkl.com | Michael Hicks

They assured listeners that the world would inevitably adopt AR glasses, and even eventually "replace our phones" generations from now. But they had very different ideas on how they'd emulate smart glasses' success, given that those are more affordable and naturally stylish. (Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)AR glasses today have a growing market as extended displays for gaming and streaming.
Meta and Google made big promises at AWE, but AR glasses' future is still messy

1 week ago | share.google | Michael Hicks

Smart glasses are undeniably exploding. Speakers at Augmented World Expo 2025 panels on the future of smart glasses were passionately bullish on its future. But once specifically asked about augmented reality displays in glasses, the expert responses from Google, Meta, and others split into complicated, divergent visions of the future.
Garmin Forerunner 970's running tolerance tool is too useful to be a 'premium' feature

1 week ago | androidcentral.com | Michael Hicks

(Image credit: Android Central)In this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks about the world of wearables, apps, and fitness tech related to running and health, in his quest to get faster and more fit. Last week, my new Garmin Forerunner 970 warned me that I probably shouldn't run because I was close to my running tolerance for the week. Instead, I found out the hard way what happens when you ignore Garmin's algorithm.
Best of AWE 2025: The most promising XR gadgets from Niantic, Sony, Android XR, and more

1 week ago | androidcentral.com | Michael Hicks

Across a whirlwind three days of Augmented World Expo USA 2025 in Long Beach, California, I tested out demos from some of the biggest names in XR, while also checking out prototypes from start-ups that could change the industry. But I saw much more on the show floor.
WatchOS 26 and Wear OS 6 mirror and differ from each other in intriguing ways

2 weeks ago | androidcentral.com | Michael Hicks

My weekly column focuses on the state of Wear OS, from new developments and updates to the latest apps and features we want to highlight. WatchOS 26 and Wear OS 6 will arrive later this year, and it's fascinating to see how Apple, Google, and Samsung are taking different approaches to keep their watches relevant amidst this year's AI explosion. On the wearable front, though, feature thievery is rampant and indiscriminate.