Fossil Gen 6 Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Fossil Gen 6 | |||||
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Awards | Best Smartwatch for Samsung Phones | Best Battery Life | |||
Price | $299 List $163.01 at Amazon | $310 List $143.99 at Amazon | $280 List $243.00 at Amazon | $350 List $349.99 at Amazon | $200 List $119.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Generally unimpressive and underwhelming with a poor battery life to boot | Android users will not be disappointed with this product. Samsung improves upon previous models while maintaining what they have done well | Google's first smartwatch has a lot going for it but lacks a competitive edge | A worthy choice if you are looking for a top-tier Android-compatible option, but definitely not the best model we have tested | This wearable doesn't have much going for it, we recommend looking at other options |
Rating Categories | Fossil Gen 6 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 | Google Pixel Watch | Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 | Mobvoi Ticwatch E3 |
Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
Smart Function (30%) | |||||
Display (15%) | |||||
Health (20%) | |||||
Battery (20%) | |||||
Specs | Fossil Gen 6 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 | Google Pixel Watch | Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 | Mobvoi Ticwatch E3 |
Water Resistance | 3 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | IP68 and pool swimming suitable | IP68 and pool swimming suitable |
NFC (contactless payment) | Google Pay | Samsung Pay | Google Pay | Google Pay | Google Pay |
GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Built-in Speaker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Display | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED with DCI-P3 color | Dual Display LCD over Retina AMOLED | HD 2.5D curved |
Resolution | 416 x 416 pixels | 396 x 396 pixels | 450 x 450 pixels | 454 x 454 pixels | 360 x 360 pixels |
HR Monitor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Other Sensors | Accelerometer Altimeter Ambient Light Compass Gyroscope Blood Oxygen |
Accelerometer Gyroscope Barometer Ambient Light Compass ECG Blood Oxygen |
Compass Altimeter Blood Oxygen Multi purpose electrical ECG Accelerometer Gyroscope Ambient Light |
Accelerometer Gyroscope Blood Oxygen Low Latency Off-Body Sensor Barometer Ambient Light |
Accelerometer Gyroscope Blood Oxygen Low Latency Off-Body Sensor |
Processor | Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 4100+ | Exynos W920 (Dualcore, 5nm) | Exynos 9110 SoC · Cortex M33 co-processor | Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear™ 4100 Platform and Mobvoi dual processor system | Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear™ 4100 Platform and Mobvoi dual processor system |
Operating System | WearOS | WearOS | WearOS | WearOS | WearOS |
Available Sizes | 42 mm (women), 44mm (men) | 40mm, 44mm | 41mm | 48mm | 47mm |
Size Tested | 42 mm | 40mm | 41mm | 48mm | 47mm |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Whether you choose the 42mm or 44mm version, this wearable will bring style and convenience into your life. The WearOS 2.3 is an easy-to-understand user interface (UI), especially if you are familiar with WearOS products. If you find that the preinstalled WearOS UI is too finicky, there is an option to upgrade to WearOS 3.
Performance Comparison
Smart Functions
The Gen 6 started out with a disappointing performance in our smart functions metric. We tested popular app selection and support, taking phone calls, controlling music, and making wireless payments. We also considered and evaluated standalone GPS and cellular capability.
As a WearOS device, the smartwatch comes with a host of preinstalled applications and an extended app library from the google play store. Calling and testing are alright, although the call quality could stand to improve in clarity. Music control and NFT options are available, but it is necessary to have a phone nearby as this smartwatch does not have an autonomous cellular option.
Health
Smartwatches often pair as fitness trackers, but do they get the job done? Our experienced testers assessed the Gen 6 in step counting, heart rate (HR) monitoring, workout tracking, safety, and other related health tracking in an attempt to answer this.
Fossil added a new host of sensors that help improve health-related tracking features. Our tests, however, found that there is still much room for improvement. HR monitoring was lackluster, and so was workout tracking. We found that there were several features missing, like skin temperature readings and menstrual tracking, which are common in other top-tier brands.
Step counting was solid, only averaging a step differential of 1.7 across three identical trials. Unfortunately, there is no safety feature like SOS or fall detection, which should be a given in any smartwatch at this price point.
Battery
Our last metric looked at battery performance, both lifespan and charging capabilities. The Gen 6 performed exceptionally well in our recharging tests; recharging to a full charge was significantly faster than any other watch we tested. This is fortunate because users will be recharging the watch frequently as it has terrible battery life under normal use — one of the worst we have ever tested.
Ease of Use
For this metric, we evaluated the screen responsiveness, crown scroll quality, charging setup, and water resistance rating of the Gen 6.
For the most part, the Gen 6 is decently responsive. Subtle movements like slowly rotating your wrist or slight finger swipes are a bit finicky. The crown scroll works as expected, although we wish it were higher up on the bezel. The charging setup is similarly adequate but not exceptional. We found that the charging adapter was like any other, except it had a weaker magnetic pull. Lastly, the water resistance rating comes out to only 3 ATMs, two below the norm.
Display
We interact with most modern smartwatches through the touch interface, so this is a critical component. For this metric, we rated screen quality and the ability to easily and clearly read text on the watch in the presence or absence of light. We also tested auto-brightness and always-on settings and abilities.
Equipped with an AMOLED 464x46x pixel display, the Gen 6 showcased an inspiring display that combines a dynamic color profile with a simplistic but classy aesthetic. Navigating through the applications in this smartwatch felt like polished granite, especially considering how naturally the auto-brightness shifts in changing environments.
Should you buy the Fossil Gen 6?
There is no need for most people to purchase this smartwatch. Even if you exclusively prefer WearOS devices, there are many better alternatives that can be found at a similar price point. If style is more important to you, then the Gen 6 will bring some utility.
What other Smartwatches should you consider?
For the best smartwatch available, check out the Apple Watch Series 8. Those who do not have iPhones should check out the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 as this is the best watch on the market for Android. If you need a watch that has a strong battery, check out the TicWatch Pro 3.