Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch, An In-Depth Review of Features, Design, and Performance
by Samuel Kalenga on Oct 08, 2024
The watch market is growing an overwhelming pace especially when we talk about smartwatches. Large brand names, like Fossil decided to enter this market and create watches that will comply with any wardrobe while providing useful features. Fossil is one of these brands and in 2021 it’s moving forward in style, tech and most importantly health tracking, with its latest creation named Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch. In this article, we are going to review everything you need to know about this watch, from design, features, performance, comparison with the previous model, and more.
An Overview of the Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch
The Fossil Gen 6 is one of the Generation 6 smartwatches that aims to bring in the best user experience via smarter features in an elegant form factor. Powered by the latest Wear OS 3, signed in by Google, the smartwatch comes with a cleaner and optimised Operating system, as compared to its previous iterations, which makes it swifter and enables better app compatibility as well. If you are someone who wants that perfect smartwatch appearance along with an equally strong smart point of view, then the Fossil Gen 6 is the perfect device for you.Available Models and Variants
Fossil offers a variety of models within the Gen 6 range, including:
- Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid: Combines traditional watch aesthetics with smartwatch functionalities.
- Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition: Emphasizes health-tracking features for fitness enthusiasts.
- Fossil Gen 6 Men’s Smartwatch. A larger watch, with a male-oriented design.
- Fossil Gen 6 Women's Smartwatch: Offers a more delicate design with feminine finishes.
Design and Display
Stylish and Functional Aesthetics
With a new design and an all-around look and feel that’s sleek and sophisticated, the Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch is the perfect view for all occasions - whether you want to use it in casual or formal settings. Users can choose a watch with either a 42mm or 44mm case, so there’s something for everyone on the wrist size preference spectrum. The watch lightweight cool, available in gold, silver or smoke finishes to suit your style. It has a suave stainless steel case that feels sturdy, not cheap, and interchangeable straps can be ordered in leather, silicone or metal so that you can change up your look depending on your outfit du jour.Vibrant AMOLED Display
The Fossil Gen 6’s AMOLED display has gorgeous vibrant colours and excellent contrast, and the always-on display feature gently nudges your notifications toward your attention so you don’t have to tap the screen to find them every time you look at your watch, which is a few dozen times per day. Text and images in the apps look sharp at that size and pixel density.Performance and Features
Powered by Wear OS 3
The Fossil Gen 6 runs Android’s latest digital operating system, Wear OS 3, which is designed for smoother performance and minimised energy consumption. Now working more seamlessly with Google services including Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Pay and more, the enhanced processing power delivers smoother operation, quick app startup, and improved touch responsiveness.Comprehensive Health and Fitness Tracking
Some of the main features of the Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch are related to users keeping **track of their health and fitness**. Users of this smartwatch can use the health and fitness-related features by accessing an integrated suite of sensors. It collects and monitors information about the health and fitness of the users. The suite records their **heart rate**, as well as **calories burned**. It also **prompts users to take the stairs** instead of using the elevator. Moreover, it allows users to track their **sleep** and keep it within a healthy range.- Heart Rate Monitoring: Continuous heart rate tracking helps users keep tabs on their heart health for the duration of a workout, and – through use of the SmartWake alarm – all day long.
- SpO2 Monitoring: Oxygenation is a critical consideration not only in intravascular pathology but also in respiratory health. Many endurance athletes continuously monitor blood oxygen levels.
- Sleep Tracking: monitors sleep patterns; tells users about sleep duration and advice on sleeping habits.
- Fitness Modes: With more than 80 sport modes, the watch can recognise specific workout types such as golf, running or cycling, etc, providing accurate data for your different sports activities.
Smart Features and Customization Options
The Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch is a stylish fitness and health tracker, not to mention that it comes with a ton of smart options:- Alerts: Have a call, text or app notice arrive directly on your wrist so you can leave your phone in your pocket or bag and still hear the notifications.
- Tailored: Various watch faces can be chosen to make the display as intuitive as possible for each user.
- Complications to display the desired information at a glance can also be selected and rearranged. Different straps can also be selected to suit one’s preference.
- Adaptable: When things are not configurable automatically, the band can be adjusted.
- Music Control – control music playback from popular 3rd party streaming apps directly from the watch interface, while on the move.
Battery Life and Charging
Under normal usage circumstances, the battery life of the Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch is about 24 hours. The actual battery usage may differ depending on the respective circumstances of the usage and the selected operating settings. The Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch offers an incredibly convenient fast-charging feature, which enables one to charge its battery level up to 80% in approximately 30 minutes. This feature is incredibly convenient for individuals who are busy and do not have the time to spend on charging.User Experience and Interface
Intuitive Navigation
Loving my fossil gen 6 and how to navigate through it is one of the wonderful things about its crisp clear user interface, powered by Wear OS 3, such a delight to see the simple interface where I just have to swipe left or right to access any menu or any notifications, too often I buy watches that require me to tap on menues to navigate around a watch, but with Fossil Gen 6, I can actually swipe or just swipe down and pull out any notifications without having to tap anywhere, really makes using this awesome watch fun, I love how Wear OS 3 operates without having to tap on confusing menues.Voice Assistant Integration
The newest feature is integration with Google Assistant, giving smartwatch users the option to check the weather, set a reminder or even control other devices when connected to Google’s smart home line with a simple voice command.Comparisons with Previous Generations
The new Fossil Gen 6 improves over the previous version, the Fossil Gen 5, in the following ways:- Operating System: Wear OS 3 provides more reliable performance, better app compatibility and better battery handling than the earlier version.
- Health features: SpO2 monitoring and fancied-up sleep tracking makes the Gen 6 a whole lot better as a fitness tracker.
- Customisation: the Gen 6 has more possible watch faces and interchangeable straps. Here, there is greater potential for expression.
Fossil Gen 6 vs. Fossil Gen 7
Consumers might be interested in the rumored release of the Fossil Gen7 but what will be the difference between the Fossil Gen6 and the rumored Gen7? This watch is truly an amazing watch. The Gen6 has a beautiful and sleek look to it. The customisable watch faces that can change with phone and activity notifications, heart-rate monitor, ECG, blood oxygen level reading, respiration alerts, and sleep quality monitors. A built-in speaker that can project "Google Assistant" responses and a built-in microphone for Google Assistant and taking calls.
Compatible with both Apple and Google versions of "Google Pay" for tap, pay and order purchases. The WearOS by Google OS. Calling, texting, and removing your phone from your trouser or shirt pocket. The Gen6 has a very long life because of its large capacitor and the fact that the OS powers down both Wi-Fi and the OS internal 300mAh rechargeable battery when not in use to conserve the battery charge.
The only drawback is that the display turns off because the OS does not restore it when you press the button to turn the watch on. Therefore, you cannot always tell the time, but you save battery power but lose the ability to see the time on your watch. The buttons can be used to restart the OS and power back up the Wi-Fi for you. The battery can be charged using any current cell phone charging cable and is charged at 1 amp, which takes about two hours for a complete charge.
Since the Fossil Gen6 is a fantastic looking and functioning watch, we suspect that the Gen7, which might not be released until December of this year, will come out with more effective health-tracking ability with possibly more features than the Gen6, a faster and more effective app engine, and the ability to have a change in external watch design treatments. However, we will have to wait and see as it supposedly will not be released for a few months. For those potential buyers looking for a really beautiful and functional watch in the meantime, the Fossil Gen6 is really your best option.