Expert Rating

93

As a watchmaker that has been around for a good amount of time, Fossil has created a name for itself as a reliable manufacturer, so we can only expect good things out of its foray into the smartwatch space. The Fossil Gen 5 is already proving to be a decent alternative for anyone that doesn’t feel ready to spend their cash on one of the top-shelf picks from the Apple watch series, as it seeks to charm a good section of the market into using Google’s Wear OS. If you’ve never tried out any wear OS watches before, then the Fossil Gen 5 would be a great one to start with. Go ahead and read this smartwatch review to find out why it takes the 4th spot on our best android smartwatch list. Could it be one of the best smart watches available? Read on to find out.

Why We Like It – Fossil Gen 5 Smartwatch Review

As the name might suggest, the Fossil Gen 5 Smartwatch is the 5th smartwatch release from the renowned watch manufacturer, and with Google’s wear OS onboard, the watch is a great alternative for anyone who’s already a fan of Google products. You may also want to check out the 3 in one smartwatch Telson TWC 1150 camera/phone/watch.

Pros
  • Works with both Android & iOS
  • Third Party App Support
  • Interchangeable 22mm straps
Cons
  • A bit pricey

Performance

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, the Fossil Gen 5 watch runs quite smoothly, so you’ll always be able to use Google Assistant to set up alarms, reminders or ask questions without it freezing up on you. It’s battery life can also be set to last a day or slightly longer thanks to the different battery modes that are available to choose from. With the “Daily Mode” switched on, the watch will be able to last through a day, or slightly more when set to the “Extended Mode”. The Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch is also well equipped to monitor your health, and has a heart rate sensor on the underside just like the samsung galaxy android smartwatch that feeds its data to apps such as Google Fit. Unlike the Apple watch though, the Gen 5 watch supports third party apps, so you won’t only be restricted to what Google has to offer. If you prefer smart watches with a circular design, another brand you should check out is described in our Fossil gen 5 smartwatch review.

Design

This being the Carlyle model of the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch, it features a stainless steel strap and a nice 1.28-inch AMOLED screen that displays your chosen watch face quite well, with 5 brightness levels for you to choose from. The rose gold Julianna model is more of a women’s pick, and at 12mm thick and 44mm wide, both watches aren’t big enough to be considered obtrusive. They both weigh around 0.18 pounds, but if you’re looking for a lighter alternative, the Fossil Sport might be worth your consideration. Similar to the ticwatch pro smartwatch, there’s a large collection of watch faces that you can choose from, and with the option to customize them to your own unique taste, you’ll have your watch looking as personal as you’ll need it to be. Lastly, the straps are also interchangeable, so you can look around and get a new set if the stainless steel ones aren’t good enough for you. A different brand of smart watches that is compatible with iPhones is featured in our Cookoo connected watch for iPhone review.

Value

As with most wear OS smartwatches that have NFC capabilities, you won’t need to leave your home with your wallet or credit card thanks to the Gen 5’s support for Google Pay. You will need to carry your phone around though, but since the watch is fitted with a microphone and a speaker, you’ll be able to make phone calls without getting it out of your pocket. To guarantee customers of its high quality, the Fossil Gen 5 Smartwatch comes with a 2-year warranty (better than the 1-year warranty you’ll get from the Garmin Vivoactive 3 GPS Android Smartwatch), and offers a 6 day customer service contact number that you can reach them through incase of anything.

Fossil Gen 5 Smartwatch Review Wrap Up

Bottom line is, the Fossil Gen 5 Smartwatch can be a great Wear OS watch to go for especially if the Samsung Galaxy watch doesn’t really match your expectations, and with many reviewers lauding it as the best wear OS to go for right now, it’s definitely worth checking out.