Airwallex raises US$300 million to push forward global banking expansion
Airwallex has secured US$300 million in Series F funding, bringing its valuation to US$6.2 billion. The round includes US$150 million in secondary share transfers and lifts Airwallex’s total funding to over US$1.2 billion. Investors in this latest round include Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine Capital, Blackbird, Airtree, Salesforce Ventures, and several Australian pension funds. […]
Airwallex has secured US$300 million in Series F funding, bringing its valuation to US$6.2 billion. The round includes US$150 million in secondary share transfers and lifts Airwallex’s total funding to over US$1.2 billion. Investors in this latest round include Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine Capital, Blackbird, Airtree, Salesforce Ventures, and several Australian pension funds. Visa Ventures has also joined as a strategic investor.
The funding will be used to expand the company’s global financial infrastructure, enter new markets, and refine its platform that helps businesses manage cross-border operations. Jack Zhang, co-founder and CEO of Airwallex, said, “The global financial system wasn’t built for today’s borderless economy. Too many businesses are held back by legacy infrastructure that’s slow, costly, and fragmented. At Airwallex, we’re building a new foundation for the global economy – one that’s fast, seamless, and built for scale. This investment marks a major milestone in our journey to redefine global banking, and to empower businesses everywhere to grow without limits.”
Strong momentum in key regions
Airwallex reported US$720 million in annualised revenue as of March 2025, a 90% year-on-year increase. The company also crossed US$130 billion in annualised global payments volume and expanded its customer base by 50% to 150,000 businesses worldwide. It expects to reach US$1 billion in annualised revenue later this year.
Growth has been especially strong in the Americas and Europe, with gross profit in both regions increasing at a compound annual growth rate of over 250% over the past four years. In 2024, the company established a permanent U.S. headquarters in San Francisco and opened new offices in New York and Toronto. It also secured a payment institution licence in Brazil and gained approval to acquire MexPago in Mexico, enabling its upcoming expansion into Latin America’s two largest economies.
In Europe, Airwallex opened a new office in Paris and bolstered its teams in London and Amsterdam with senior hires. In the Middle East, the company began hiring in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and saw strong growth in Israel. With this latest funding, Airwallex plans to further its presence in Japan, Korea, the UAE, and Latin America, while also accelerating its go-to-market strategies in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
Building the infrastructure for modern global banking
Airwallex has developed its own tech-driven financial infrastructure with direct connections to local clearing systems and card networks. It also holds one of the most comprehensive licensing portfolios in fintech. This infrastructure allows customers to generate local account numbers in over 60 countries and send or receive funds in more than 150 markets, offering a much faster alternative to traditional banks. Currently, 95% of Airwallex transactions are completed on the same day, with 68% processed instantly.
Beyond payments, Airwallex provides a range of financial tools for growing businesses. These include Global Business Accounts that support multi-currency banking, foreign exchange, and international transfers, as well as online and in-store payment options through over 160 local payment methods. The platform also supports company spending with AI-powered tools for managing corporate cards, expenses, and bill payments. In addition, Airwallex offers APIs for embedded finance, enabling companies and marketplaces to integrate financial services into their own products.
The company’s continued growth and investment underline its ambition to become a key enabler for businesses looking to operate without the constraints of traditional financial systems.
The Galaxy Watch 7 plummets back to its lowest price yet – get it for as little as $124
The Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the best smartwatches around at the moment, but the problem with it being so good is that it costs more than most people are prepared to pay. That’s why we’re glad to tell you about Samsung’s newest deal on the popular smartwatch. For a limited time only, you […]
The Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the best smartwatches around at the moment, but the problem with it being so good is that it costs more than most people are prepared to pay. That’s why we’re glad to tell you about Samsung’s newest deal on the popular smartwatch.
For a limited time only, you can pick up the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for $199.99 (was $299.99) at the official Samsung site. That’s a match for the record low price, and if it’s not cheap enough, you can instead trade in an old device and get it for as little as $124.99!
Note that the trade-in requires an eligible smartwatch from Samsung, Apple, Fitbit, or Garmin. The biggest $175 saving is given for the Watch6 Classic and Watch5 Pro, however, so you may prefer to simply opt for the upfront discount if your watch is a little older.
Today’s best Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 deal
We love the signature, sleek, bezel-free circular design that you find with the Galaxy Watch 7. The smartwatch has a beautiful AMOLED display and a newer, more powerful Exynos chip than its predecessor, which keeps everything moving smoothly.
In addition, the Galaxy Watch 7 features personalized suggestions to improve your health and an AI-calculated energy score based on your metrics from the day before at the start of each day. These metrics give fitness nerds more information to work with and help those still learning on their fitness journey get even closer to their goals.
Read all this and more in our comprehensive Galaxy Watch 7 review.
We have guides to the best smartwatches for the iPhone and the best Android smartwatches so you can decide which is best for you. If you’d like a device more suited to tracking exercise, then you might like one of our best fitness trackers instead.
Huawei Ranks No.1 in Global Wrist-Worn Market in Q1
Huawei wearable devices Surpassed 200 Million Cumulative Shipments SHENZHEN, China, June 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — According to the latest IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker data, Huawei ascended to the top position in the global wrist-worn device market in Q1 2025, while maintaining robust growth momentum and retaining its leadership in shipment volume within China. Additionally, as […]
Huawei wearable devices Surpassed 200 Million CumulativeShipments
SHENZHEN, China, June 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — According to the latest IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker data, Huawei ascended to the top position in the global wrist-worn device market in Q1 2025, while maintaining robust growth momentum and retaining its leadership in shipment volume within China. Additionally, as of 5 June 2025, Huawei’s cumulative global wearable shipments have exceeded 200 million units.
Five Product Series Catering to Global Users’ Diverse Scenario Needs
HUAWEI WATCH 5
HUAWEI WATCH FIT 4 Pro
Huawei wearables integrate fashionable design, professional and comprehensive sports and health features, and efficient, practical smart experiences. Tailored to different user needs, Huawei has developed five product series to fulfil the diverse scenario requirements of all user groups—spanning smart living, scientific exercise, and health management.
The HUAWEI WATCH Series incorporates cutting-edge smart technology, featuring standalone calling capabilities and smart vehicle control functions to enable an efficient, intelligent lifestyle. The newly launched HUAWEI WATCH 5 delivers enhanced intelligence, efficiency and convenience. Equipped with the innovative multi-sensing X-TAP technology, it unlocks new dimensions in health monitoring and tactile interaction. The HUAWEI WATCH FIT Series fulfils lightweight wear needs through its slim design and extensive sports functions, allowing users to fully enjoy daily life. Meanwhile, the HUAWEI WATCH GT Series combines exceptional battery life with fashionable aesthetics and professional sports health features, serving as a comprehensive wrist-worn fitness coach.
For users who push boundaries and challenge extremes, the HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Series delivers ultimate reliability with its rugged construction, advanced sports modes including 100-metre professional diving and outdoor expedition features, as well as advanced golf course mode, to bring cater to users’ needs.
Additionally, addressing hypertension management challenges, Huawei innovatively broke through wrist-based blood pressure technology to launch the HUAWEI WATCH D Series. Through its breakthrough 24-hour dynamic blood pressure monitoring function, it helps users measure and manage blood pressure anytime, anywhere, integrating professional-grade blood pressure health guardianship into daily life.
Technological Innovation Driving Breakthroughs in Sports Health Technology
Behind the satisfaction of users’ sports health management needs lies Huawei wearables’ continuous innovation investment. Huawei has established three Health Labs globally, leveraging capabilities from over ten Huawei research institutes to relentlessly explore the frontiers of sports health technology.
In 2024, Huawei launched its new digital health & fitness paradigm—TruSense System—achieving higher accuracy and speed in vital sign data monitoring. In 2025, the TruSense System was upgraded again, fusing the advantages of fingertip and wrist detection to deliver a fuller, more accurate, and faster health monitoring experience, including 10-second fingertip blood oxygen readings and an increase in micro-body measurement indicators to 17 items.
In the field of blood pressure management, Huawei pioneered the launch of the HUAWEI WATCH D, a wrist-based blood pressure monitor that obtained Class II medical device registration certification in China. Now this innovation included in the “Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension (2024 revision)”.
As of now, Huawei wearable devices have obtained 7 domestic medical certifications and medical device certificates in 13 overseas countries/regions, with nearly 1000 patent applications in the smart wearables field.
Huawei has collaborated with over 160 global professional institutions, conducted 300+ health research projects, and attracted over 17 million users to participate in health studies.
ActiveRings: Where Huawei and Users Unite to build Sports Health Lifestyles
Huawei accompanies global users to build sports health lifestyles together. In September 2023, Huawei initiated the “Light Up Your Rings” campaign, which has seen over 6 million global users participate, lighting up rings over 300 million times. In 2025, the fully upgraded “Active Rings” initiative was introduced, inspiring global users to move joyfully anytime, anywhere with Huawei wearables.
The Active Rings campaign has already been held in Germany, Spain, and China, and beyond, where consumers jointly enjoyed active moments. It will progressively launch in APAC, Latin America, the Middle East, and other regions in the future.
Gen Z, Personal Training Drive Continued Growth for HVLP Gyms
Gen Z’s interest in fitness should grow the overall market for high-value, low-price (HVLP) gyms in the years ahead, analysts say The Gen Z fitness boom is here, and low-price gyms figure to be among the biggest beneficiaries. According to a research note from TD Cowen, Gen Z is expected to expand the market for […]
Gen Z’s interest in fitness should grow the overall market for high-value, low-price (HVLP) gyms in the years ahead, analysts say
The Gen Z fitness boom is here, and low-price gyms figure to be among the biggest beneficiaries.
According to a research note from TD Cowen, Gen Z is expected to expand the market for high-value, low-price (HVLP) gyms in the years ahead, leading to even more growth for the red-hot category.
Personal training is also likely to drive growth for HVLPs – again, thanks in part to Gen Z.
Gen Z Loves Gyms, Especially HVLPs
Gen Z might not be the most active generation of all time, but the Gen Z-ers who are active tend to love going to the gym, data has shown.
“Longer-term, Gen-Z’s focus on fitness should grow the addressable market despite greater competition,” TD Cowen analysts Max Rakhlenko and Amanuel Seife wrote in a research note that was based on a panel discussion featuring executives from HVLP chain YouFit Gyms and CR Fitness, the top franchisee in the Crunch Fitness system.
“Both operators pointed to a study which cited that 38% of Gen-Z have a gym membership vs. 25% for all age groups,” Rakhlenko and Seife noted.
To win over Gen Z consumers, HVLPs are investing in adding strength training equipment, turf areas, group fitness classes and recovery modalities, all of which are highly popular with young gym-goers.
According to TD Cowen, YouFit president and chief operating officer Josh Rider estimated that the cardio mix at YouFit clubs is now under 40%, with strength taking the lead. Other HVLP gym brands are making similar moves, including category leader Planet Fitness, which has made a big push to add more strength equipment.
“Importantly, shifting to strength and functional training is economically advantageous as it is cheaper,” the analysts wrote.
HVLP gym brands including Vasa Fitness are investing in strength training equipment (credit: Vasa Fitness)
Small Group Classes, Personal Training On the Rise
Personal training is also on the rise at HVLP gyms. Here again, operators might want to thank Gen Z, at least in part. Gen Z is highly interested in small group fitness classes, which could serve as a gateway to personal training.
“Small group workouts remain a growing part of new gym models as younger gym goers look for community in their fitness experience,” the TD Cowen analysts wrote.
As more and more Gen Z-ers engage in small group classes, there’s hope that they’ll decide to also purchase personal packages, which is a key revenue driver for clubs.
YouFit reported that it’s seen a 10% conversion rate from group classes to personal training, according to TD Cowen. Overall, both YouFit and CR Fitness reported that they’re seeing a strong year-over-year growth in new sign-ups for personal training (so much so that YouFit has removed childcare rooms and converted them into personal training facilities).
“The growth is attributed to strong execution anchored on proper compensation structures for staff, diligent assessments bookings, and less ‘sales-y’ tactics,” the analysts wrote.
See Also
credit: Crunch Fitness/CR Fitness
If Congress passes the PHIT Act, which would allow Americans to use pre-tax HSA and FSA funds on fitness expenses, personal training sales could really blow up.
“Having specific funds available for personal training would be the next catalyst for growth,” Rakhlenko and Seife wrote.
What the Rise of HLVPs Means for the Gym Industry
The TD Cowen report is the latest bit of good news for HVLP gyms, which offer everything from saunas to group fitness classes to massage equipment for prices that typically range between $10 and $30/month, making them attractive to young fitness consumers, especially amid recession fears
Private equity firms are betting big on the future of HVLPs: in April, Leonard Green & Partners acquired a majority stake in Crunch Fitness, a fast-growing HVLP brand with over 500 locations. The value of that deal wasn’t disclosed, but reports said Crunch was being valued at around $1.5 billion.
Last month, TSG Consumer Partners acquired EoS Fitness, an HVLP chain with over 175 locations open or in the pipeline. That deal came on the heels of a report that EoS had been exploring a sale valuing the company at around $1 billion, including debt
The rise of HVLPs isn’t good for the entire gym industry, though. Mid-priced gyms, which typically charge between $40 and $70/month for a membership, are finding it increasingly hard to differentiate themselves from HVLPs in terms of equipment, amenities and overall member experience. As a result, experts expect to see some mid-priced clubs get swallowed up by HVLPs in the years to come as the fitness industry consolidates around fewer, but larger, gym brands.
Apple Watch’s New AI “Workout Buddy” Gets Real‑Time Coach‑Style Pep Talks in watchOS 26
Apple unveiled Workout Buddy, a major new fitness feature powered by AI in the upcoming watchOS 26, at WWDC 2025. Tailored to enhance everyday workouts—like running, walking, cycling, HIIT, and strength training—it brings a virtual fitness coach directly to your wrist. Real‑Time Spoken Motivation Utilizes heart rate, pace, distance, and workout history to deliver timely audio insights—celebrating achievements […]
Apple unveiled Workout Buddy, a major new fitness feature powered by AI in the upcoming watchOS 26, at WWDC 2025. Tailored to enhance everyday workouts—like running, walking, cycling, HIIT, and strength training—it brings a virtual fitness coach directly to your wrist.
Real‑Time Spoken Motivation
Utilizes heart rate, pace, distance, and workout history to deliver timely audio insights—celebrating achievements like “Your last mile was your fastest yet!”
Authentic Trainer Voices
Employs voice profiles modeled on Apple Fitness+ trainers, giving a natural, human feel to your workout guidance
Milestone Alerts & Summaries
Announces real‑time progress (e.g., splits, reps), and offers end‑session summaries like pace, heart rate, and whether goals were hit.
Seamless Music Integration
The Workout app now offers quick-access buttons for music control, with Apple Music suggesting personalized playlists matched to your workout and tastes
Privacy‑Focused On‑Device AI
All data processing happens on the watch, ensuring your heart rate, pace, and fitness history stay private.
Fresh User Interface & Gestures
watchOS 26 debuts the “Liquid Glass” redesign, improved Smart Stack intelligence, and a wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications without breakpointing your flow.
Release Timing: Public beta in July, full release expected this fall.
Supported Devices: Apple Watch Series 6 or newer (including SE and Ultra) paired with iPhone 11 or later. Wrestling with AI features requires Series 9 or newer with Apple Intelligence on iPhone.
Language Support: English at launch, with workout type coverage expected to expand over time.
Workout Buddy elevates the Apple Watch from a passive fitness tracker to an active coaching companion. Whether you’re a casual exerciser or training for milestones like a 10K run, having real-time encouragement, milestones-based feedback, and workout recaps can significantly boost motivation and adherence. Operated privately and powered by advanced AI, it reflects Apple’s strategy to integrate intelligence deeply across its devices.
With Workout Buddy, Apple Watch brings a smart, privacy-first personal trainer right to your wrist—pushing, praising, and tracking you through every stride, rep, and beat. Alongside refreshed UI, gestures, and Apple Music integration, watchOS 26 proves to be a robust fitness and lifestyle update.
I wore the Whoop 5.0 for a month – it gave me the best of Oura Ring, Apple Watch, and more
Nina Raemont/ZDNET Four years after the launch of the Whoop 4.0, Whoop finally launched two new health trackers, the Whoop 5.0 and the Whoop MG. last month. While Whoop is mainly considered a health tracker used by pro athletes and fitness enthusiasts, the launch of the new wearables caters to a more general, health-minded customer […]
Four years after the launch of the Whoop 4.0, Whoop finally launched two new health trackers, the Whoop 5.0 and the Whoop MG. last month.
While Whoop is mainly considered a health tracker used by pro athletes and fitness enthusiasts, the launch of the new wearables caters to a more general, health-minded customer base willing to pay a high price for cutting-edge health tech.
Also: Garmin unveils its Apple Ultra Watch 2 competitor, the Venu X1
The latest health bands track your sleep, activity, and recovery like the rest of the health trackers on the market. However, the bands also deliver innovative new features, like a blood pressure monitor that provides data right from your wrist, an ECG monitor that detects atrial fibrillation, and clinician-reviewed reports for blood testing and vitals monitoring.
It seems like Whoop picked its favorite features from other smart wearable devices, like Apple Watch, Withings, Oura, and Samsung Galaxy, to create its latest lineup.
Functionalities differ based on the band, with the 5.0 supporting more general activity and health tracking and the MG, which stands for Medical Grade, supporting features like ECG and blood pressure monitoring.
Also: I tested an AI-powered glucose monitor against a traditional monitor for two weeks. Here’s my verdict
The most interesting feature of this launch is Advanced Labs, which allows users to schedule blood tests and interact with a clinician for reports and recommendations using the data collected through the device. Advanced Labs has an additional cost and is not available at launch.
Those interested in trying the feature out upon launch will be added to a waitlist. The feature is similar to Withings’ Cardio Check-Up feature, which allows members to connect with a doctor who evaluates their heart health data and sends back a personalized report.
The patent-pending blood pressure monitoring feature is similar to other health trackers with this functionality. Using a traditional arm blood pressure monitor, the Whoop calibrates data with the band three times. Then it begins monitoring systolic and diastolic ranges from your wrist, with no armband needed.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 has the same capability and calibration requirement, while Huawei’s Watch 3 includes an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, with no calibration necessary.
Nina Raemont/ZDNET
Whoop also introduced Healthspan, a feature developed with the Buck Institute’s Research on Aging’s CEO, that assesses your overall health through nine biometrics to quantify your physiological age.
Healthspan will tell users whether their physiological age is lower, higher, or on pace with their actual age for a holistic picture of their health and habits. Oura has this feature in the form of cardiovascular age, and I enjoy checking to see if my habits are helping or hurting my longevity.
Also: Your next Apple Watch could have a feature that transforms healthcare
The Heart Screener feature adds ECG monitoring to the Whoop MG. This feature can detect high or low heart rates, and atrial fibrillation, an often undetected condition. Users can take this collected data to their doctor for diagnosis and condition maintenance. Other health trackers, like the Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, and Samsung Galaxy Watch, already have this feature.
The newly added health features reflect a growing shift in fitness trackers as they become health companions. Oura recently launched a continuous glucose monitor integration for users who want to track their glucose and other biometrics all in one app. Meanwhile, Withings launched its Cardio Check-Up service to connect people quickly and directly to a clinician.
Other improvements include a 14-plus-day battery life, a smaller, sleeker build, updates to sleep-tracking for a more accurate picture of bedtime quality, a ten times more efficient processor, and enhanced data capture.
The price breakdown
Whoop offers three subscription tiers: One, Peak, and Life. One is the most affordable and least feature-rich. The tier offers sleep, strain, and recovery tracking, and features V02 max and heart rate zone monitoring, alongside hormonal health insights.
Peak is a mid-tier option with all the aforementioned features, plus Whoop’s new Healthspan and Pace of Aging feature, a Health Monitor feature, and stress monitoring.
Also: Bose re-enters the premium earbuds game, promising small but mighty upgrades to its Ultra earbuds
Life tier is the most expensive tier, adding blood pressure and ECG monitoring, and advanced health sensor tech, which is why it comes with the Whoop MG band, unlike the One and Peak tiers, which come with the Whoop 5.0 band.
The health band brand has always been more expensive, and the latest launch is no different. The Whoop One subscription tier costs $199 per year, Whoop Peak costs $239 per year, and Whoop Life costs $359 per year.
Workout Buddy: Apple Watch’s New AI Fitness Coach Explained | Technology News
New Delhi: Apple is about to make working out with your Apple Watch a lot more fun and inspiring. With the forthcoming watchOS 26 update, Apple is introducing a new feature called Workout Buddy. Here’s a simple breakdown of what it does, how it works, and what you’ll need to use it. What Is Workout […]
New Delhi: Apple is about to make working out with your Apple Watch a lot more fun and inspiring. With the forthcoming watchOS 26 update, Apple is introducing a new feature called Workout Buddy. Here’s a simple breakdown of what it does, how it works, and what you’ll need to use it.
What Is Workout Buddy?
Workout Buddy is a brand-new feature for Apple Watch users, launching later this year with watchOS 26. Think of it as your own personal fitness coach that talks to you during your workouts. Using Apple’s latest AI technology, called Apple Intelligence, Workout Buddy gives you real-time encouragement and feedback based on your workout data and fitness history.
For example, when you start a run, Workout Buddy might say something like, “Way to get out for your run this Wednesday morning.” As you continue, it’ll let you know when you hit milestones—like running a certain distance or picking up your pace. At the end, it will recap your stats, such as your heart rate and average speed, and congratulate you on your achievements.
How Does Workout Buddy Work?
Workout Buddy uses Apple Intelligence to analyze your workout stats—like heart rate, pace, distance, and your progress on Activity Rings. It then uses a text-to-speech AI model to create a voice that sounds like a real coach, inspired by voices from Apple’s Fitness+ trainers. This voice gives you individualize feedback and motivation throughout your workout, making the experience feel more human and encouraging.
All of this happens right on your device, so your data stays private and secure.
What Workouts Does It Support?
At launch, Workout Buddy will work with the most popular types of exercise, including:
Outdoor and indoor running
Walking
Outdoor cycling
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
Traditional and functional strength training
The feature will be available in English first and will expand to more languages in the future.
What Devices Do You Need?
To use Workout Buddy, you’ll need:
An Apple Watch that supports watchOS 26
Bluetooth headphones (for the voice feedback)
An iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence (required for the AI features)
Supported iPhones include:
iPhone 16 series (16e, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max)
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
The Apple Watch and iPhone need to be near each other for Workout Buddy to work.
What’s New in watchOS 26?
Apart from Workout Buddy, watchOS 26 brings a fresh new look with the Liquid Glass design, smarter notifications, and more personalized music suggestions for workouts. The Workout app itself is getting a simpler interface with bigger buttons and easier controls, plus automatic music suggestions based on your workout and listening habits.