The market situation for wearable devices is ambiguous. On the one hand, there is a certain stagnation (partly related to software), in connection with which manufacturers focus on the design of their products and some hardware features. On the other hand, certain shifts are planned from Samsung and Google, which have teamed up to create a unified system for smartwatches based on Wear OS. The Fossil company, which promotes its own developments, keeps aloof. Her new watch – Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition – stands out from other devices.
The watch from Fossil does not work on Wear OS and does not have a regular display, like other smartwatches. This is a hybrid watch that features a 1.1-inch backlit E Ink screen and a regular classic watch face. The screen displays time, date, weather, battery level, heart rate and various indicators of physical activity (steps, calories, sleep and blood oxygen levels). That’s plenty for a 170p display like this.
This is an advanced hybrid device that combines elements of a smart gadget and a classic watch.
The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition is made of stainless steel with 3 ATM water resistance. Watch diameter 44mm, fits standard 20mm wide straps. Of the physical controls, there is a home button and two side buttons for certain configurations. In addition, there is a microphone for making calls and communicating with the Alexa voice assistant, the aforementioned SpO2 sensor and a heart rate monitor. There is also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. The manufacturer separately focuses on the autonomy of the gadget. The charge of the built-in battery will be enough for two weeks of work. Wireless charging takes 60 minutes.
Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition connects to your smartphone through the Wellness app. There, users can get all the necessary information from the sensors, as well as advanced analysis of some indicators. The device automatically selects workouts based on the user’s activity level.
The new Fossil watch will be available in three color options. Sales will start on January 5, the cost will be $ 229. You will have to pay $ 30 for a branded strap.