Trends with Benefits: Tech trends to watch for in 2017

By Greg Nibler Published January 23, 2017

Would you implant a chip in your body for convenience?: At CES 2017, DT’s Drew Prindle went above and beyond what most of us would do. Live from our coverage, he had two different chips implanted in his hand! Today we’ll follow up and tell you what they do, if they are actually working and maybe he can explain why he did it.

What tech will you buy in 2017?: This is going to be a huge year for technological advancements. With OLED wallpaper televisions, Alexa everywhere, self-driving cars and much more, we’ll tell you about what we expect in 2017. What are you most looking forward to?

Each week, we gather a round table of tech experts from the Digital Trends staff, along with the occasional celebrity guest, to discuss all things tech. Topics range from the big tech stories of the week to predicting the future, all while maintaining a somewhat civil decorum.

At 2:45 pm Pacific we answer your questions live.

Please subscribe and share Trends with Benefits and send in your questions to podcast@digitaltrends.com. We also broadcast the show live on YouTube every Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Pacific

Former Host

Greg has worked as a Host, Producer, and Writer in radio and television since the early 2000s, working for such companies as…

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Podcasts

Wearables

Apple’s smartwatches will look the same for at least another year, or two

Apple's Series 12 and Ultra 4 are reportedly skipping a redesign this year, leaving chip upgrades and health tracking to carry the entire generation.

Apple Watch Series 11 on home screen.

For the last few years, every single Apple Watch has looked identical to the last. The Apple Watch Series 11 shared its dimensions and looks with the Watch 10, and the Watch 10 with the Watch 9. Turns out that streak might not break in 2026 either.

So what's actually changing this year?

Wearables

Apple’s smart glasses are running late because they don’t want to stir a privacy storm

Apple is taking extra time to make sure its smart glasses do not inherit Meta’s creepy reputation

Meta Glasses

Apple could unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC in June 2027, followed by a consumer release toward the end of the year, according to Bloomberg. The device, internally codenamed N50, had reportedly been scheduled for an introduction in late 2026 and a launch in early 2027.

Part of the delay reportedly stems from Apple’s engineering and marketing teams spending more time refining the product and deciding how to address the privacy concerns that come with putting cameras on someone’s face. Privacy is said to be the top priority for the teams working on the glasses.

Wearables

Shopping for back-to-school? These are the smartwatches I’d actually wear to class

From a $69 wrist companion to the newest Apple Watch, these are the smartwatches worth strapping on this semester.

Different smartwatch models with displays illuminated.

Between early classes, evening workouts, late study sessions, and everything in between, a smartwatch can do a lot of the mental math a student doesn't have time for. Whether it's tracking sleep, reminding you to move, or keeping notifications off your phone during lectures, a good smartwatch can be both a silent organizer and a health tracker for students.

If you’re in the market for a new smartwatch this back-to-school season, I’ve got seven recommendations for you, each with a few unique aspects. From a $69 budget pick to the newest Apple Watch, every one of them earns its keep, so the only real decision left is which features matter most to you.