And finally: Apple Watch automatic low-power mode revealed by patent

Welcome, one and all, to another big slice of And finally goodness. That's right, it's your place to find out about the smaller stories that didn't make the cut on our main news page but still warrant your attention.

Before we get into that, let's recap on the big wearable news of the week, kicking off with the rumour that LG Watch Libre could be the name of the Korean company's next generation Wear smartwatch. Apple is also tipped to launch noise cancelling AirPods in 2019, Qualcomm is going big on kids smartwatches and Xiaomi has some good news about the Mi Band 3.

For everything else that happened in the wonderful world of wearables, read on and catch up on the best of the rest.

Apple's automatic power-saving Watch

It's Apple patent time (again), and we're talking about the possibility that a future edition of the smartwatch potentially getting an additional power-saving mode.

The patent for a low-power mode that was filed back in February, and granted on 28 June, hints that the device would display basic details like the time and date, as well as how much battery is left before you need to reach for the charger. If you're thinking of how this low-power mode differs from Apple's current Power Reserve mode, it sounds like this version would automatically jump into action when you're running low, letting you know how much time you have left to use it based on current usage. Sounds like a good one for the Apple Watch Series 4, we reckon.

Samsung Gear S4: It's coming...

Another week, another piece of evidence that Samsung's next smartwatch is on the horizon. This time, model numbers we've seen previously leaked tied to the next-gen Gear has been spotted on the ECC (Eurasian Economic Commission) website. The listing doesn't drop the Gear S4 name or reveal any details, but it appears to fall in line with other recently leaked info that point to an imminent announcement. Samsung has just sent out invites to an event where we expect its Note 9 smartphone to be unveiled, and the new Gear could join the launch party, too.

RIP modern buckle Watch band

It's back to Apple and news that we need to pour one out for the modern buckle Watch band after it was quietly discontinued. While Apple has in the past ditched different colored bands, this signals the first time it has decided to stop offering a material you can clip onto your Apple smartwatch.

It's perhaps not all that surprising considering the buckle band was only available for the smaller 38mm Watch and was pricey at . It seems like outside of the US, you can still get hold of one, including from Apple's UK Store, but who knows how much longer it'll be around. If you want it, you should probably go grab one while you can.

Is this the Mi Band 3 Explorer edition?

Photos from an official Xiaomi Band Weibo account has shown off a Mi Band 3 with a translucent strap that seemed to suggest that the company could be planning to offer a different version of the fitness tracker it announced back in May. The standard Mi Band 3 is currently available with either black, orange or blue straps. It seems though that Xiaomi doesn't have any plans to sell this new-look model and it will instead be up for grabs for free in a draw.

And finally... look who got an upgrade

Having spent many years as a dedicated Fitbit Surge wearer, it looks like former president Obama has upgraded to the Fitbit Ionic. About time too, we think.

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