Fossil Gen 6 Review
Verdict
With Wear Os 3 missing at launch and merely the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ to write dwelling well-nigh, the Fossil Gen half-dozen simply isn't the upgrade I was anticipating. Nevertheless, the watch remains a capable device with a sleek design, a fast processor and impressive GPS speeds – but there just isn't plenty here to warrant buying the Fossil Gen vi over the Samsung Milky way Sentry 4.
Pros
- Article of clothing 4100+ is exactly what Wear OS needs
- Varied options to conform different styles
- Speedy GPS tracking
Cons
- No Clothing Bone three at launch
- Minor upgrade over the Gen 5
- Fossil'southward fitness tracking is a letdown
- Dull array of watch faces included
Availability
- UK RRP: £279
- Usa RRP: $299
- Europe RRP: €299
- Canada RRP: CA$429
- Commonwealth of australia RRP: AU$499
Cardinal Features
- Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipset A ability boost from the latest Snapdragon Wear processor
- SpO2 tracking Keep tabs on your blood oxygen levels
- Bluetooth v Up to 4x stronger connectivity than the Fossil Gen 5
Introduction
Fossil brings its flagship smartwatch range back to the market place with the Fossil Gen 6 – but does it offer a marked comeback over the delightful Fossil Gen five?
Information technology'due south been a long time since a new entry in the Fossil Gen serial hit store shelves. The Fossil Gen v debuted in late 2019, which, as far as the yearly cycle of tech goes, feels similar a different era. This was before the much-needed Snapdragon Wearable 4100 chipset made an appearance, and the concept of Article of clothing OS three – which now powers the outstanding Samsung Milky way Sentry 4 – was merely a pipe dream.
Having remained active in the smartwatch space by developing wearables for other fashion brands, Fossil has clearly been paying attending to the manufacture movements – and the Fossil Gen 6 packs several noteworthy updates.
The only problem is that, for the time being, Wear OS three is nowhere to be seen on the Fossil Gen 6, with an update expected for sometime in 2022. Until that update arrives, nevertheless, does the Fossil Gen 6 do plenty correct to warrant an upgrade? Having put the watch through its paces, nosotros at present have an answer.
Pattern and screen
- Small updates over the Fossil Gen 5
- Display is easy enough to read outdoors
- Several options available to suit unlike styles
One of the best things Fossil has going for information technology in the smartwatch space is its credentials in the globe of way. Given that the Fossil Gen 5 was already a bit of a looker, only a few refinements have been made for the design of its successor, as opposed to a consummate overhaul.
The top and bottom lugs take been made slightly thicker than on the Gen 5, while the rotating crown is now protected by a minor layer of housing on either side. There's also texturing around the rim of the lookout man itself – which, unfortunately, hints at a rotating bezel that isn't there. This all adds up to a slightly more than confident design than the previous generation device.
Unfortunately, where the screen is concerned, Fossil has opted to stick, when an update actually would take helped. The returning 1.iii-inch AMOLED brandish isn't bad by any stretch, merely next to the higher resolution and top brightness of the Milky way Sentry iv, the Gen 6 starts to experience like less of the upgrade it needs to exist in order to earn its place in 2021.
Still, the screen is easy enough to read outdoors and the rotating crown feels as premium as ever, although I volition say that the Blackness silicone version of the watch – the one featured in this review – is probably the least centre-communicable choice available. So if you want something with a bit more than flare, then I'd look at the other designs Fossil's putting out in that location.
Features and performance
- Wear 4100+ makes for a polish experience
- Wear Os three is a no-show at launch
- Connecting to GPS but takes a moment
In what feels like the slowest rollout of a chipset yet, the Snapdragon Wearable 4100+ has finally made its mode to a Fossil lookout man, making the Gen half-dozen the get-go smartwatch non fabricated by Mobvoi to include information technology. Compared to the Wear 3100, the newer chipset helps to show off Wear OS in its all-time low-cal – even Habiliment OS 2, for that affair.
Jumping between multiple apps is a cakewalk, and I've rarely noticed whatever slowdown on the lookout. From a technical standpoint, it's a not bad upgrade. However, from a consumer's point of view, this chipset is the only major feature that'southward changed since the Fossil Gen 5.
It just seems slightly absurd that, roughly a year since the TicWatch Pro 3 hit the market place as the first Wear 4100 watch, Fossil is trying to pull the aforementioned trick with the Gen 6 – even though everyone'southward attention has since moved over to the prowess of Wear Bone 3. If the Fossil Gen 6 had launched with both the 4100+ chipset and Vesture OS 3 to boot, then it could accept easily been one of the all-time smartwatches of the yr. Yet, it'due south merely the quondam that's here at launch, while the latter isn't scheduled to arrive until belatedly 2022.
Some people may fence that the knowledge of Wear OS 3 somewhen coming to the Fossil Gen 6 is enough – merely, for the time being, information technology ways that there's very fiddling reason you'd favour this smartwatch over the Galaxy Watch 4. The latter device feels similar it has its mindset squarely on the future of wearables, while the Fossil Gen 6 still has ane pes stuck in the past – for now, at to the lowest degree.
It isn't all bad, notwithstanding. After a long absence of whatever means of downloading music to a Article of clothing Os sentinel (RIP Google Play Music), Spotify has finally enabled offline music playback – and, when paired with the Habiliment 4100+, the updated app works like a charm on the Fossil Gen 6. I was eager to run into if the aforementioned could be said for the new Amazon Alexa app baked into the watch, simply to observe that it's "coming soon".
GPS tracking is surprisingly fast – and I mean unbelievably fast. During multiple tests, the Fossil Gen half-dozen was able to plant a GPS connection instantly – something I've never seen on whatsoever other article of clothing before. I'grand non quite certain what witchcraft is at work behind the scenes to make this happen, but the fact that information technology's happening to such a degree has me impressed.
The Fossil Gen 6 has also taken a leaf out of the Apple Watch'south book by adding a blood oxygen sensor into the mix. My feelings on the SpO2 craze oasis't really changed – for some people information technology'south a handy characteristic, only unless yous have a medical condition that requires your blood oxygen to exist in check, or yous enjoy hiking every other weekend, it isn't something you'll rely on quite every bit frequently as a heart charge per unit monitor.
What is a chip disappointing is the collection of watch faces available on the Fossil Gen six. Watch faces have typically been a badge of honour for Fossil watches, leaning on the company's sense of style to create impactful designs that go out a lasting impression. For whatever reason, the same can't be said of the collection constitute on the Gen 6.
There's an affluence of analogue lookout man faces to be constitute here, which isn't necessarily a problem in itself – just it'due south an issue here because in that location'southward very little to set them apart from one another. When you lot've seen i, yous've pretty much seen them all. In that location'southward a fun selection of digital faces cached under several menus, only they just aren't as inventive as what you'd await from Fossil, and I'd argue that none of them comes close to matching those found on the Galaxy Sentry 4.
Fitness tracking
- Fossil'due south born fitness software is a mixed handbag
- Slumber tracking is a nice addition
- Heart rate results are adequately authentic
To circumvent the somewhat middling fitness feel that Article of clothing OS offers through Google Fit, companies such equally Mobvoi and Montblanc have sought to install their own fitness software on summit of the Wearable Os experience, and at present Fossil follows in their footsteps. You lot can tell as much from the default watch face on the Gen 6 that adorns the time with various metrics including your heart charge per unit, ongoing workout recovery, center rate and even your slumber.
To see slumber tracking built-in from the get-get is not bad, and while it isn't anywhere near as robust as what y'all'll find on Huawei watches (at that place'southward no written communication to proceed with your sleep data), its presence is withal welcome. The same goes for conditioning recovery, which is typically found on more expensive watches from Garmin and Coros – merely its inclusion here is a helpful nod to the fact that rest and recovery is just as important as your workout operation.
What is a missed opportunity is the congenital-in fitness tracker itself. Broken down into two options (indoor and outdoor workouts), this exclusive software – whether intentional or not – would but register everything I did every bit a run. Stints on the cycling and rowing machines were for nought – equally far the Fossil Gen 6 was concerned, I'd been on the treadmill the entire time. Knowing a lost cause when I see 1, I somewhen swapped over to using Google Fit and found a much more authentic fitness tracking experience there.
Compared to an accompanying chest-strap heart rate monitor, the Fossil Gen 6 was able to record some fairly authentic results. For case, during an outdoor run I hitting a loftier of 181BPM and an average of 140BPM. By comparison, the Fossil Gen 6 recorded a solid 182BPM loftier and a 139BPM average, while additional tests threw back similar results.
Bombardment Life
- An unimpeded user experience will simply nab one-mean solar day battery
- Not quite every bit robust equally its competitors
- Additional battery modes exercise make a departure
One of the things that Fossil can exist credited for is the push for improve bombardment life across Wear Os devices. The Gen v brought along several battery modes to aid yous make the most of each charge, only in the time since then, massive strides have been fabricated – notably by Mobvoi and the roughly two-day battery life of the TicWatch Pro 3.
Information technology was because of this that I wanted to see what strides Fossil had made in the ii years since the Gen five. Unfortunately, it's not a lot. Using the 'daily' battery mode, which sees the watch firing on all cylinders, I was able to make it from 6:30am to eleven:30pm with almost 18% left in the tank. This is from having the screen at total brightness (which I recommend, since the medium setting is a just a bit too dim), tracking a workout ,and receiving a agglomeration of notifications throughout the day. While that was enough to become me home safely, information technology dashed any hopes of having a Fossil smartwatch get for gold on a ii-24-hour interval stretch.
If you lot do want to meet the 2-day mark then some sacrifices will have to be made. By swapping over to the 'extended' battery mode, information technology is possible for the Gen 6 to concluding for two days, but it ways giving up the always-on screen, tilt to wake, step tracking and other features.
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Should you buy it?
You admire Fossil Unless you're the blazon of person who only wears Fossil branded products, there'due south very piddling reason to nab the Gen vi equally your adjacent smartwatch.
You desire the best Wear Os experience Until Wear OS 3 makes its way to the Fossil Gen half-dozen, the Galaxy Watch 4 will always be a much meliorate alternative to almost any Wear OS watch.
Final thoughts
Fossil has e'er been one of the few companies prepared to deport the Article of clothing Bone torch, simply with the Fossil Gen half-dozen, it'south starting to experience like that enthusiasm is wavering. The Gen 6 isn't an outright terrible watch – information technology delivers perfectly respectable performance thanks to the Wear 4100+ bit, and information technology has some of the fastest GPS connect times I've ever seen. The problem is that equally an upgrade that's been gestating for two years, there isn't that much to write home about.
The congenital-in fitness overlay is a mixed experience, and there's a singled-out lack of style to be constitute in the onboard watch faces. The battery life has now fallen behind many of its competitors, but the egregious sin is that Habiliment Os 3 is nowhere to be seen. The Fossil Gen 6 might be a completely dissimilar watch in a year's time – just until then, it just isn't as appealing as the Galaxy Lookout man 4 or even the TicWatch Pro iii.
How we test
Nosotros thoroughly test every smartwatch we review. Nosotros use industry standard testing to compare features properly and nosotros apply the sentry equally our main device over the review menstruation. We'll ever tell yous what we find and we never, e'er, accept money to review a product.
Worn as our main smartwatch during the testing flow
Middle charge per unit data compared against dedicated heart rate devices
Side-past-side GPS comparison with our best scoring smartwatches
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FAQs
Does the Fossil Gen 6 have Article of clothing OS 3?
No, the Gen 6 doesn't have Wear Os iii at launch.
Does the Fossil Gen 6 work with iPhone?
Yes, you can connect the Gen 6 to an iPhone via the Wear Os app.
What chipset is inside the Fossil Gen half dozen?
The Fossil Gen 6 uses the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chip.
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