OPINION : August is now in the rearward - prospect mirror , intend it ’s time for us to name our net succeeder and nonstarter from last month .
This week , Garmin announced thelatest updates to its high - end lineswith the Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 smartwatches . Meanwhile , Motorola uncover its latest range of affordable smartphones andApple commit out save - the - date with the tagline ‘ It ’s Glowtime’for the big iPhone 16 launching this September .
Keep translate to learn who ( or what ) we name our winner and loser this week , and why .
Winner: Garmin
Our victor this week is Garmin as the company annunciate the long - awaited upgrade to its Fenix line of smartwatches .
The raw Garmin Fenix 8 features anAMOLEDdisplay for the first prison term , putting the cover more on par with theApple Watch Ultra 2and theSamsung Galaxy Watch Ultra .
The AMOLED blind put back the MIP LCD panel on theFenix 7 , which used a build - in memory to make pixels more easy seeable in burnished consideration and draw out the barrage fire lifespan of the gadget . While swell for reading outdoors , MIP screens can often appear dim and wash out in low-spirited - light conditions , such as indoors , making the AMOLED display on the Fenix 8 a more attractive option for everyday usage .
Not only are AMOLED screens brighter and proffer superior direct contrast compared to MIP screens , but they have their own perquisite when it fall to battery life as black pel can reserve power by remaining unlit . That said , if stamp battery life is your independent precedence , the solar charging version is still usable and now fork up 50 % more solar might than its precursor .
The Fenix 8 is n’t the first Garmin wearable to sport an AMOLED presentation , with the Venu , Forerunner , Vivoactive , and Epix lines all offering AMOLED shape in 2024 . However , it ’s great to see Garmin raise another model to AMOLED , making the Fenix 8 an even more equal to contender to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch Ultra go forward .
Loser: Sony
This week ’s also-ran is Sony as the fellowship announced a PlayStation price rise in its home country of Japan .
This is n’t a small increment in Leontyne Price , either . harmonize to a report byVGC , Sony notified fans that the cost of thePS5would rise from ¥ 66980 to ¥ 79980 from September 2 . That ’s a ¥ 13000 – or $ 90/£69 – addition , get hold of the damage of the console from about $ 460/£350 to $ 550/£418 in a matter of days .
The more low-cost Digital Edition is n’t exempt from this price salary increase , with the platter - less console likewise increasing in cost from ¥ 59980 to ¥ 72980 with the same ¥ 13000 added on . This take the toll of the PS5 digital edition from more or less $ 415/£315 to $ 505/£384 .
Sony also revealed that the price of its DualSense controllers and PlayStation Portal will be increase , lend even more expenses for those looking to pick up an extra restrainer or plot aside from their console .
“ give the late take exception outside environs , including the current fluctuations in the global economic situation , and the impact it will have on our business , we have reached this decision ” , explained Sony in aJapanese PlayStation Blog update(translated via Google Translate ) .
Thankfully , there ’s been no indication that these price hikes will stretch out to the residual of the Earth , but it paint a troubling trend particularly as this is n’t the first prison term that Japanese gamers have had to endurea pricier PS5 .
