Is Fossil a good smartwatch

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 17, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch review

Fossil has a solid reputation for its smartwatches, making it a reliable source for anyone contemplating a Wear OS timepiece. Its latest entry - the Fossil Gen 5 - is the best of the bunch.

That doesn't mean that it's perfect, as it lacks a few finer features that would make it an absolute must-buy, however when it comes to general all-purpose use, it's an attractive proposition for Android users.

It's been a couple years since the Fossil Gen 5 came out, but its strong physical design and Wear OS software make it a serviceable wearable that you can probably get for cheaper this long after release.

The Fossil Gen 5 may also be cheaper during Amazon Prime Day 2021, when many Wear OS watches are expected to go on sale. Check our review to see how this venerable design is considered in 2021.

Here's our full verdict on the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch and what works and doesn't work for it.

Fossil Gen 5 price and availability

Priced at 279/$295/AU$499
Many strap options available
Available in several color variants

Available in a few different variants, the Fossil Gen 5 seems ripe for price cuts in future. Our review unit was the Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle HR with a black silicone strap, however it's also possible to buy a brown leather strap version or stainless steel strap variant for the same price.

The Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle HR is aimed at the male market, but there's also the Julianna HR which is a little more feminine in appearance.

In all cases, it's possible to remove and replace the 22mm strap with any other similarly sized strap you might have lying around. Immediately, the Fossil Gen 5 is an attractive option for fashionista tech fans.

It's currently available in the US, UK, and Australia, priced at 279 in the UK, $295 in the US, and AU$499 in Australia.

Design

Stylishly subtle design
Chunky display
Easy to change straps

The Fossil Gen 5 blends into whatever you're wearing or doing quite admirably. Its fully circular display is large at 44mm so it looks quite bulky on small wrists, but it means you can easily see the display at all times with minimal hassle.

The watch we were sent had a black silicone strap which we'll admit feels a little cheap and basic to the touch. However, it does the job well enough. For the same price, you could get a stainless steel strap or leather version - both of which we'd suspect the average user would favor.

Whichever you go with, at least you can easily swap out straps without any concerns surrounding proprietary connections here.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The Fossil Gen 5 has three buttons on the side. There's the larger middle button which is a rotating crown for easily scrolling through options or the apps menu.

In addition, there are two other buttons on either side of it that can be set as shortcuts. By default, one goes straight to the Fossil app while the other activates Fossil's Category setting, which tweaks the style and look of your watch at the touch of a button. We'd suggest immediately changing these around to more practical options such as Google Pay or Google Fit.

On the back of the Fossil Gen 5 there's the optical heart rate monitor which sticks out slightly than with most smartwatches. It's not noticeable in use and also doubles as the perfect resting place for the magnetic charging puck.

Display

Fully circular watch face
1.28-inch AMOLED display
Bright and vibrant

The Fossil Gen 5's display is the most eye-catching thing about it. It's bigger than most at 1.28 inches with a resolution of 416 x 416 and a pixel density of 328ppi. It's consistently sharp to look at, although we did find bright outside light made it trickier to see, with glare being an issue.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Besides being bigger than some smartwatches at 44mm (the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 for example can be had in a 40mm size), it's also quite thick at 12mm. On a small wrist, that makes a noticeable difference and means the Fossil Gen 5 doesn't lend itself to more delicate fashion requirements.

It feels quite heavy too, weighing just under 100g, presumably because of its chunkiness. Still, it looks good.

Those looks are further enhanced by Wear OS's consistently easy way of switching between watch faces. Like with other Wear OS watches, you can just press and hold on to the watch face to switch between different options.

In the case of the Fossil Gen 5, the options are fairly varied, and you can easily find a mixture of stat heavy displays or those that look a bit more fashionable and stylish. And if you don't like any of the options you can always download more.

Best Fossil smartwatch 2024

If you're in the market for a new smartwatch and own an Android or iOS smartphone, then you'll want to take a look at Fossil's selection of smartwatches. The company offers a selection of styles under its various brands like Skagen, Diesel, and Michael Kors, which means there's bound to be something that fits your personal style.

Many of these smartwatches run Wear OS, which includes the latest and greatest Wear OS 3. This means smoother animations, support for apps on Google's ecosystem, and features like calling, texting, and more. Plus, Fossil's selection of smartwatches features a bevy of sensors to help you keep track of your health and fitness progress.

Fossil has some other great choices as well. Whether it's a sports focus, fashion, or even a hybrid watch Fossil has an option for you.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition

Fossil's first Wear OS 3 watch

Reasons to buy

Great design

Wear OS 3

Good performance

Helpful fitness features

Fast charging

Reasons to avoid

Wellness features are a bit lacking

No Google Assistant support

Weak battery life

One size

No LTE option

The Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition is the first Fossil smartwatch with Wear OS 3. The new update gives the watch a bit of an edge thanks to its improved UI, sleeker animations, app support, and overall performance improvements. In addition, Fossil keeps its additions to Wear OS relatively minimal, meaning you get a pure experience.

But aside from the software, the Gen 6 Wellness has the best design of any Fossil-branded watch we've reviewed. It has rounded edges and a relatively seamless chassis that reminds us of the Pixel Watch. It also has a sleek rotating crown for navigating the UI and is a joy to use.

Underneath the hood is the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipset, which performs admirably. You also get tons of health sensors to keep track of heart rate, blood oxygen, VO2 Max, and sleep. The watch will automatically track certain workouts like walks or running and log them into the Fossil Smartwatches companion app so you can view all your metrics in one place or sync them with Google Fit. Plus, there's GPS to keep track of your route without taking your phone with you.

And whenever you run out of juice, Fossil has you covered with some of the fastest smartwatch charging we've ever seen. You can get plenty of charge in the time it takes to get ready for the day.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Skagen Falster Gen 6

Classic out, future in

Reasons to buy

GPS, HRM, NFC, SpO2

Snapdragon 4100 and 1GB RAM

Stylish

Updated to Wear OS 3

Fast charging

Reasons to avoid

Battery life could be better

Finish can get dirty easily

No LTE option

Receiving Wear OS 3 after other models

While Wear OS may have some shortcomings, the Skagen Falster Gen 6 does a fantastic job making the best of an okay situation. From a style standpoint, this Skagen model is one of the best-designed smartwatches from Fossil Group, thanks to its simple and sleek Scandinavian look. You have a rotating crown that lets you scroll through notifications and apps, as well as make selections for navigating the OS. Programmable buttons flank the crown on either side that maps to specific apps or functions of your liking.

Back to the case for a moment, the 41mm watch comes in a few color choices with a stainless steel silver and a black steel option. They can each be customized with a standard 20mm watch band that allows for a bit of flexibility to better mesh with your style. And while the device may look hefty, it's still suitable for smaller wrists thanks to its one-size-fits-all case.

As for the tech inside, you'll get a vibrant AMOLED display that offers an always-on view. The main drawback of this display is that you may struggle to see it in direct sunlight. Inside, the watch comes with the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, NFC for payments, and GPS. Along with the GPS for tracking, there is also a heart rate monitor and SpO2 sensor to aid in fitness tracking. Throw in 5 ATM water resistance, and the Skagen Falster Gen 6 is a complete package of style and performance that helps make this one of the best Fossil has to offer.

The best part is that it is for Wear OS 3 and is set to receive the update soon.

(Image credit: Android Central)

Fossil Gen 6

Sweatin' with tech

Reasons to buy

GPS, HRM, NFC, SpO2

Many color options

Snapdragon Wear 4100+ processor

Wear OS 3 ready

Reasons to avoid

Battery life could be better

Crown can get in the way sometimes

A few key factors need to be met when it comes to a fitness-focused watch. The watch needs to have sensors for data tracking, be lightweight, and have a battery that will get you through your training sessions. The Fossil Gen 6 has all of that and then some. Fossil has come up with a watch that not only runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+ processor but looks good while keeping up with your workouts.

The design of the Gen 6 features a 42mm or 44mm case with multiple designs to suit your style. You get a more standard and classy stainless steel with grey or dark grey colorways, or if you wish, a more vibrant rose gold. Utilizing the same three-button layout that Fossil is known for, the Gen 6 has the style and functionality to keep up with you in any situation.

As far as internals go, the Gen 6 matches the Skagen Falster in nearly every way, from the RAM to the internal tracking features. You get the same 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, a vibrant AMOLED display, and an upgraded sensor for SpO2 tracking. There's also GPS, heart rate tracking, 5 ATM water resistance, an altimeter, NFC for payments, and custom battery modes. So if you want a watch with some pizzazz while you get your sweat on, the Fossil Gen 6 is just the ticket.

(Image credit: Source: Fossil)

Michael Kors Gen 6

Look good while staying connected

Reasons to buy

GPS, HRM, NFC, SpO2

Unique fashion style for the case

Snapdragon Wear 4100+ and 1GB RAM

Reasons to avoid

Expensive

Unsatisfactory battery life

No smaller option

Well-known fashion brand Michael Kors gets its own version of the Fossil Gen 6, taking the same great smartwatch and adding a unique two-tone style that will definitely turn heads. Not to mention that there are multiple different Gen 6 models to pick from, so you can select the one that best matches your aesthetic.

With the Michael Kors Gen 6, Fossil has packaged everything the standard Fossil Gen 6 has to offer into a wearable with just a bit more fashion sense. You get the same Snapdragon Wear 4100+ processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, microphone, speaker, and all the other excellent internal specifications and sensor options while wrapping them up in a stand-out package.

The Michael Kors Gen 6 offers two case styles for its 44mm in gold, rose gold, and two-tone. The watch also includes Fossil's three-button layout and a standard interchangeable watch band. This is a smartwatch for a person who wants to avoid FOMO while looking great doing it.

(Image credit: Fossil)

Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid

All the essentials

Reasons to buy

Long battery life

Alexa support

Built-in mic

Improved health tracking

Reasons to avoid

No Google Assistant support

Lacks onboard GPS

We've listed plenty of Wear OS smartwatches for those who want the full experience, but Fossil has its hybrid smartwatch line for anyone looking for something a bit simpler. The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid is the latest edition to its lineup, offering a classic design with physical hands and an improved e-ink display.

But what's so great about hybrid smartwatches? Well, they offer many of the features you'll find on fully-features smartwatches, but everything is toned down. You can still check notifications, measure heart rate, track workouts, control music, and more, but you won't find an app store to download your favorite apps like Spotify. The benefit of this is that the simplified UI and e-ink display allow the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid to last up to two weeks on a single charge. That's much longer than you'll find on any Wear OS watch.

The new Gen 6 Hybrid also comes with an SpO2 sensor to measure blood oxygen levels. And in case you want some additional smarts, you can bark commands to Alexa from the watch using the built-in microphone.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Fossil Gen 5 LTE

Get your LTE on

Reasons to buy

GPS, HRM, NFC

Attractive design

Activity/health tracking

Untethered calling/texting

Reasons to avoid

Old Snapdragon 3100 processor

Only compatible with Verizon Wireless

Only two color options/variants

No Wear OS 2 on the way

Nowadays, more and more companies are coming out with connected tech, changing the wearable industry as we know it. One example is smartwatches with LTE connectivity, like the Fossil Gen 5 LTE, for example. This is the first LTE smartwatch from Fossil, so it's kind of a big deal. Or, at least it was. Or, it was supposed to be.

This one is more of an honorable mention due to the fact that it's the only Fossil model with LTE. If you're expecting a major change from the original Gen 5 models, you might be disappointed. The main difference is that your smartwatch will have LTE connectivity through Verizon and only Verizon. This means you'll have the option of leaving your phone at home when you go for a run or hit the gym. You'll still receive calls, texts, and notifications on your watch, and your smartphone won't get in the way. You also get a 45mm stainless steel case with interchangeable bands. The only two color options right now are smoke and rose gold.

To recap, the core features of the Gen 5 models that carry over to the Gen 5 LTE include GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity/health tracking, Google, Pay, and Google Assistant. Once again, Fossil has opted for the outdated Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor. The performance is still decent on the Gen 5 LTE models, but it could be worlds ahead with the 4100 chipset. If you're set on a Fossil smartwatch with LTE connectivity, you might not mind these drawbacks or the high asking price.

There's a Fossil smartwatch for you

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There are so many great Android smartwatches on the market. It should come as no surprise that many of them are running Google's Wear OS software. However, not all Wear OS devices are created equal. The good news is that Fossil has a wide variety of smartwatches for you to pick from.

The Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition is a clear choice as it's the latest model and the first to run Wear OS 3. While there are some shortcomings, it's still a mighty fine watch and one you should consider, especially if you can find it on sale.

While not yet running Google's latest software, the Skagen Falster Gen 6 is one of the best smartwatches you can buy from Fossil Group. There's so much to enjoy, including elevated style with excellent performance. This is why the Michael Kors Gen 6 is also a fantastic pick if you want a high-performing watch with some added fashion flair.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Of course, there are many other options to consider. If your performance demands aren't too high and you want to save some money, then you'll likely be happy with the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid, which gets you through the basics with a few added AI smarts, along with a long-lasting battery.

If you don't mind spending a pretty penny and want a model with LTE connectivity, you'll appreciate the new Fossil Gen 5 LTE models, particularly if you're a Verizon customer. That said, you might consider holding off until a new LTE model gets launched, but for now, this is the only one in Fossil's arsenal.

No matter what type of experience you're seeking, there's no shortage of options. You can rest assured that you'll receive a solid wearable that's packed with features when you buy a Fossil smartwatch.