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Here are the must-have wearable gadgets of CES 2017

Ever since the introduction of the Apple Watch in 2015, (or Ever since the first wave of smartwatches in 2014,) companies from around the world have entered into an arms race to make the coolest, most useful wearables and capture a slice of the burgeoning market. Going by the number of gizmos unveiled at CES this year, the competition among gadget makers is only starting to heat up, which is great news for consumers in the market for wearables.

Touting new features, styles and innovative form factors, the wearables on display were as unique as they were plentiful. We saw pajamas that help you sleep, an on-body tracker that helps pregnant women monitor their contractions and even a motion sensor kit that can reconstruct all of your movements in 3D. We teamed up with Verizon Wireless to share our favorite wearable gadgets at this year’s CES.

Motiv Ring

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Uncomfortable size and complicated controls are common concerns among those buying a wearable device for the first time, which is why the Motiv ring is a great fit for those who want all the benefits of a fitness tracker with none of the attention. The ring, made of titanium alloy, tracks a bevy of health stats, including steps, calories, distance and heart rate. Since its discreet form factor doesn’t feature a screen, the Motiv’s battery can last three to five days on a single charge. And if you’re a swimmer you’re in luck: the Motiv ring is waterproof up to 50 meters.

The Motiv is currently up for pre-order for $199 with the iOS version shipping out this spring. The Android version is slated to hit stores by summer.

Nuheara IQbuds

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What happens when you cross headphones with hearing aid technology? You get Nuheara’s IQbuds, of course. These unique earbuds allow people to improve their hearing in typically noisy settings like crowds and industrial environments by using multiple integrated microphones to focus on conversation and drown out the surrounding cacophony with noise canceling technology. The IQBuds also double as wireless Bluetooth earbuds, allowing users make and receive phone calls and listen to music on the go, and switching between the two modes happens on the fly.

Funded through Kickstarter rival, Indiegogo, the earbuds are available for pre-order for $199 and are expected to start shipping in December.

Misfit Vapor

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The Vapor represents Misfit’s first real foray into the realm of smartwatches, which many considered to be an inevitability after the wearable tech company’s acquisition by the clothing and accessory giant Fossil. Breaking away from the bulky design of its competitors, the slim smartwatch has a decent 1.39-inch AMOLED screen, is water resistant up to 50 meters, and can last up to two days on a single charge. In addition to the usual activity tracking features, you’ll also get standalone heart rate monitoring, an altimeter and an integrated GPS antenna, and 4GB of storage for music, which is ideal for joggers who want to listen to music and don’t want to lug their smartphone with when they go out for a run.

The Vapor is set to go on sale by the end of the year for $199.

Neurowave

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If you’re prone to sudden bouts of motion sickness or nausea and prefer to steer clear of drugs like Dramamine, Reliefband’s Neurowave is perfect for you. By stimulating the median nerve located under the wrist, the Neurowave bracelet can cure nausea by restoring a normal gastric rhythm through a process known as neuromodulation. The Neurowave bracelet, which has been cleared by the FDA, also helps pregnant women with morning sickness and those who regularly partake in activities that may induce motion sickness, such as sailing and VR gaming.

The Neurowave will be available for purchase in the second quarter for $150.

Sgnl

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Easily one of the most unique products on display this year was Innomdle Lab’s Sgnl, a wearable that lets you make phone calls by pressing your finger (yes, your finger) against your ear. The Sgnl works by way of a smart strap that uses body conduction to transmit a voice signal, received via Bluetooth from your smartphone. The result: you can receive phone calls on-the-go like a Secret Service agent without pulling your phone out or fiddling with a headset.

The Sgnl is available for pre-order on the company’s Kickstarter page for $139 and will begin shipping in February.

 

CES 2017 is full of exciting new concepts that will change the way we live. As our everyday activities continue to further integrate with our smartphones, we’ll have more and more control at our fingertips. Verizon keeps you connected to all the things that matter, with the latest devices on the best network.