2026 has quietly been one of the busiest years yet for tech. Phones have gotten thinner and smarter, earbuds are disappearing into your ear (literally), and even your fitness tracker has stopped nagging you to look at a screen. Tech giant Samsung has released a smartphone designed for the chronic doomscroller, while the new Oura Ring 5’s lightweight design makes wearing tech an absolute breeze. That being said, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all these new launches. So we’ve done the sifting for you and narrowed down the year’s biggest releases to the ones that genuinely deserve a spot in your bag, on your wrist, or on your desk.
Apple iPhone Duo, from $3,099
Credit: Apple
The wait is finally over. Apple has just launched an iPhone that finally folds. Apple’s first foldable is roughly the size and shape of a passport when folded, so it slips into even the smallest of evening bags. Closed, you can text, scroll and take calls on the outer screen as usual, but when you open it like a book, you get a 7.6in screen, the largest ever for an iPhone, which feels like carrying a mini iPad in your pocket.
It’s perfect for running two apps side by side, so you can watch your favourite shows while replying to your emails at the same time. And because it can stand on its own when half-open, you can FaceTime or catch up on your shows hands-free while doing your skincare, or let it stand on its own while you take photos. Journal lovers will also be excited to know that this year, Apple Pencil support will arrive on iPhone Duo on both the outer and inner displays.
However, if there’s one thing to know before switching: iPhone Duo is eSIM only, so there’s no physical SIM card, and it doesn’t have Face ID, so you’ll only get to unlock the phone via Touch ID on the side with the lock button.
Now, if you’re convinced about getting one, it’s available in Star White and Night Sky, and while it’s certainly a splurge, it’s a great option to consider if you’re looking to replace both your phone and your iPad.
Insta360 Luna Ultra, from $969
Credit: insta360
If you’re the friend who always ends up filming the trip, the Insta360 Luna Ultra is about to make your life a lot easier. This pocket-sized camera was co-engineered with Leica, so your footage comes out crisp and polished, with built-in Leica colour profiles. The colours of the videos are pretty impressive, and the footage is pretty smooth and steady as you move. It glides seamlessly and is easy to use, making it very beginner-friendly. My favourite feature? The removable touchscreen doubles as a remote, so you can set it up, step into the frame, and finally appear in your own travel videos – which comes in really handy, especially when you’re travelling alone. Besides that, it also weighs just over 200g and is light enough to toss into any bag, so you can bring it along with you wherever you go, even on your nights out with friends.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, $988
Credit: Samsung
If your weekends often involve something adventurous like going on trails, open water or a long run, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is Samsung’s toughest smartwatch yet. With an 800 mAh battery, you can expect up to 60 hours of power, so you can literally go days without charging your watch. The screen is up to 5,000-nit, which basically means you can read your messages poolside or at the beach without squinting. It’s also made for adventure, with a water resistance rating of 100 meters, so you can swim and dive with them on.
On the wellness side of things, this watch actively tracks your sleep, heart health and workouts, and even comes with a water intake alarm to remind you to stay hydrated.
The only downside is that it only comes in one 47mm size, so it may feel a little bulky on smaller wrists, like mine and it only pairs with Android phones.
JBL EasySing Mic Mini, from $219
Credit: JBL
Karaoke night just got a lot more exciting. JBL has just launched its latest EasySing Mic Mini – a pocket-sized microphone – that turns almost any song into a karaoke track. While many might think it’s just another microphone set, it’s anything but. With this mic, thanks to its AI-powered vocal removal, you can, with just one tap, lower the original vocals by 25%, 50%, or 100% in real time. That means you can keep the singer as a guide if you’re still learning the lyrics, or remove them completely and sing your heart out at your parties. It’s also handy beyond karaoke: use it as a standalone mic, clipped onto your clothes, or attached to the ring handle so you can move freely whether you’re dancing, singing, presenting or podcasting. It works with speakers, phones, and laptops, as well as most JBL speakers.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, from $2,498
Credit: Samsung
Samsung unveiled its eighth-generation foldable at a Galaxy Unpacked event in London this July, and it arrived with a twist: for the first time, the Fold line has split into three: the Z Fold8, the Z Fold8 Ultra, and the Z Flip8. Of the three, it’s the Z Fold8 that caught our attention, thanks to a unique passport-like silhouette that folds neatly and sits comfortably in one hand, no pinky-finger balancing act required. The interface feels intuitive without trying too hard and it’s sleek enough to slip into your pocket without a second thought. Unfolded, the display comes into its own, making doomscrolling on Instagram and TikTok, reading and multitasking, feel effortless rather than like a workaround. Paired with Galaxy AI, which takes much of the legwork out of editing photos and videos, the Fold8 feels less like a gadget you adapt to and more like one that’s already adapted to how you actually use your phone.
Oppo Enco Clip 2, $259
Credit: Oppo
Oppo’s latest earbuds trade the traditional in-ear seal for an open-ear, ear-clip design that wraps around the outer ear instead. While it looks like just another fashion accessory, these buds double as earrings that happen to play music. Each earbud weighs a mere 5.2g, and the battery life stretches up to a generous 40 hours total.
What’s especially impressive is the dedicated AI call-clarity, paired with bone conduction and a new AI large-model clear-call algorithm. Together, they isolate the noise around you, letting you enjoy smoother, clearer calls even in noisy settings like streets, train platforms or the MRT. Other standout AI features include live translation setting which is handy when you’re travelling abroad, and IP55 water and dust resistance, so a sudden downpour won’t spell disaster.
Apple MacBook Neo, from $999
Credit: Apple
Apple spent years without a true budget laptop in its lineup, until the MacBook Neo came about in March. Despite the smaller price tag, it doesn’t skimp on personality. The Neo comes in four colourways (Silver, Blush, Citrus and Indigo), wrapped in a durable aluminium shell that weighs just 1.23kg. It also has a reasonably remarkable battery life that would probably last you through the workday if you’re doing basic tasks, and it’s built to pair seamlessly with an iPhone for tasks like starting an email on one device and finishing it on the other. Starting at $999 (and even less with student pricing), it’s the MacBook for students, parents, or to simply keep as an ultra-portable second machine.
Oura Ring 5, from $549.54
Credit: Oura
Oura’s fifth-generation smart ring, launched in May, is proof that good things really do come in smaller packages. Unlike its predecessor, the latest version of the Oura Ring is 40 per cent slimmer, making it the smallest smart ring on the market and, at last, one that actually looks and feels like ordinary jewellery. Crafted from lightweight titanium, it comes with an upgraded sensor architecture for sharper accuracy and a week-long battery life, so you’re not constantly hunting for a charger. But the real glow-up is on the software side: new features include Health Radar for proactive alerts on shifts in your body, nighttime blood pressure signals, and GLP-1 Insights for anyone tracking metabolic health alongside medication. For the woman who wants to actually understand her sleep, stress and cycle data, this is the wearable worth investing in.
Garmin CIRQA Smart Band, $279
Credit: Garmin
Garmin’s first-ever screen-free wearable is built for those who want comprehensive health and fitness tracking without constant screen distractions. The fabric CIRQA band monitors round-the-clock metrics including heart rate, Body Battery™, sleep, stress, skin temperature and Pulse Ox, alongside advanced fitness metrics such as training readiness, HRV status and VO2 max, all accessible via the Garmin Connect app. It’s also built with women’s health in mind, offering menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking via skin temperature sensing. The battery life itself is decent as it lasts up to 10 days per charge, and there’s no mandatory subscription required to access its core features. Either way, it’s an easy entry point for anyone curious about wearable health tracking but not ready to commit to a smartwatch on their wrist every day.
ASUS ExpertBook Ultra, from $2,999
Credit: ASUS
For the woman running her own show, the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is a serious contender for your next work laptop. Unveiled earlier this year, the new ASUS ExpertBook is built around an ultralight 0.99kg magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis finished with a durable, scratch-resistant nano-ceramic coating. True to the AI moment we’re all living in, it runs on Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 processor for serious on-device AI performance, while a 3K tandem OLED touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass and six-speaker Dolby Atmos audio make it feel far from your average business laptop. To top it all off, it’s also spill-resistant, so an accidental coffee spill or an overstuffed tote bag mishap won’t take your keyboard down with it. However, it’s worth noting that spill-resistant not the same as waterproof, so a dunk is still off the table. This premium contender isn’t cheap, but for professionals who want a laptop that looks as polished in the boardroom as it performs, it earns its price tag.
