Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version assessment: Well being-focused however missing

Fossil’s Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version boasts a sublime construct, upgraded options, and a smooth mix of conventional appears to be like with health monitoring smarts. Its e-ink show additionally retains the gadget’s battery life as much as Fossil’s spectacular requirements. Nonetheless, whereas the hybrid watch could also be a category act, it’s not the proper companion for a gymnasium class. Briefly, the watch lands in an unlucky limbo between a timepiece and a well being instrument, with out essentially nailing both one.

Earlier than getting forward of myself, I’ll lay the disclaimer that appears are subjective. Most individuals store for a hybrid smartwatch as a result of they wish to prioritize aesthetics. The Gen 6 Hybrid wellness version echoes conventional Fossil smartwatch design cues, and in some ways delivers a pretty product. In comparison with a full-blown smartwatch, the gadget is refined, modest, and much much less tech-forward. 

It’s out there in three colorways: navy, black, and blush. I examined the black mannequin and located the monochromatic impact interesting. The navy choice has a preppy, nautical vibe, and the blush choice is pretty effeminate. What I struggled with personally is that the watch doesn’t really feel fairly elevated sufficient for dressy events. Admittedly, the choice colorways strike a more in-depth chord with shiny metallic accents, however the black choice appears to fall someplace awkwardly between sporty and informal. 

General, the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version is okay for day-to-day put on, but when this have been my solely watch, I’d not really feel glad. There have been a couple of events when sporting it felt misplaced (i.e. when dressed up for a celebratory dinner out). That is vital as a result of I’ve examined different hybrid watches that didn’t really feel unfit for night put on. Likewise, the watch face itself is customizable, however no matter which choice I selected, I nonetheless ended up with an overtly athletic impression. 

Shifting on from subjective appears to be like, the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version is comfy, light-weight, and refined. Although it solely is available in a single 45mm case measurement, it didn’t really feel cumbersome or outsized. The band, sadly, is about one notch wanting an excellent match for my wrist, so anybody with dainty limbs may have to regulate. This proved particularly problematic for health monitoring, however extra on that under.

The strap additionally collected mud excessively and I really discovered myself lint-rolling it for images. The picture on the prime of this part reveals what the band appears to be like like on a typical day sans particular consideration. Fortunately, the gadget makes use of 20mm quick-release bands, so it could be simple for consumers to seize a third-party different if wanted.

The 1.1-inch E-ink show is a lot seen in daylight, however much less ideally suited after hours. Although you possibly can double-tap the display screen to gentle up the watch face, I typically struggled to see knowledge at nighttime. Extra particularly, within the wee hours of the morning, I discovered the battle to light up the time significantly cumbersome. If I’m making an attempt to find out whether or not I’ve any time left to sleep, I don’t wish to waste valuable moments fiddling in frustration.

Name me a stickler, however I are likely to have excessive expectations when merchandise embrace key phrases of their naming conference. On this case, I hoped Fossil would ship a robust wellness instrument. The Gen 6 Hybrid does provide SpO2 monitoring, Vo2 Max, coronary heart charge monitoring, exercise monitoring, and fundamental sleep monitoring. It additionally boasts automated exercise detection for the most typical actions, which I discovered typically profitable. I had one stroll fail to register on day one, however I had a number of others work simply effective.

Sadly, I didn’t have a fantastic expertise with the gadget’s coronary heart charge sensor, which was most definitely because of the match being too free. My day by day highs and lows hardly ever matched up with these stats recorded by my Apple Watch Sequence 8 throughout this assessment interval. Nonetheless, after I took on-demand readings with my wrist flat and the sensor making strong contact, the numbers have been extra correct. I additionally continuously discovered my SpO2 readings differed from my Apple Watch in addition to from my fingertip pulse oximeter. 

As on many hybrids, GPS on the Gen 6 Hybrid shouldn’t be built-in however depends in your cellphone’s sensor. For that motive, accuracy isn’t actually an element. On the runs I recorded, the Fossil gadget recorded comparable distances and knowledge to different wearables, however once more, this was due to my cellphone relatively than something inherent concerning the watch. Most importantly, this implies you’ll must take your cellphone with you for GPS-based exercises, which is rarely ideally suited. Regardless of my greatest efforts, most of my working gear doesn’t have pockets and I like my arms free to clutch at my chest throughout uphills.  

3ATM water resistance can also be the bottom I’ve seen in a very long time. I discovered this score shocking on what I anticipated to be a workout-focused hybrid. Based on Fossil, the watch can stand up to splashes of water however shouldn’t be worn for bathing or swimming. This interprets to disappointment for anybody seeking to cross-train in a pool, and for me, considerably paranoid dishwashing experiences. Whereas I often take off my wearables to bathe anyway, the truth that you must with this gadget is another factor to fret about forgetting.

The character of a hybrid is that it’s solely half smartwatch. Consequently, you received’t encounter all of the options you would possibly count on on a devoted wearable. On the Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version, you’ll discover onboard music controls, (although no music storage), smartphone notifications, and the power to preview incoming calls. The watch additionally shows climate particulars and may entry Amazon Alexa when related to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. A built-in microphone permits you to pose queries and the solutions arrive typed on the display screen, giving off actual magic 8-ball vibes. The method isn’t fast but it surely works effective sufficient. The solutions have been largely useful, and the textual content could be very legible.  

Not like on the common Gen 6 Wellness, you received’t discover Google Pay or the Google Play Retailer. Fossil’s Gen 6 smartwatches have lastly tapped into the most recent Put on OS platform and the expertise is way more strong than what you’ll discover on the Hybrid version. The Hybrid doesn’t run on Put on OS, and usually doesn’t provide an particularly snappy software program expertise. Navigating may be sluggish, with a delayed refresh charge similar to that of a Kindle.

However, the advantages of a hybrid are easy person navigation and great battery life. Relating to the previous first, the gadget shouldn’t be a touchscreen, so that you’ll use three push buttons to tour its options. The center button acts as a house button, whereas the others function up and down arrows inside menus. You may customise the highest and backside buttons to something you need, and I discovered setting mine to Exercises and Alexa served me greatest all through this Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version assessment.

One spotlight of this version is the Wellness Dashboard the place you possibly can try at-a-glance well being stats. You can too springboard from this display screen to take on-demand coronary heart charge and SpO2 rankings. These readings are sluggish in comparison with these on different gadgets, and as talked about, the SpO2 wasn’t at all times correct. My on-demand coronary heart charge readings tended to be extra dependable than these throughout exercises as a result of the readings weren’t hindered by the free match of the watch.

With out additional sensors, good options, or a flashy, colourful show, the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version additionally delivers unbelievable battery life. It simply lasted the complete two-week declare throughout my assessment, even with GPS exercises and sleep monitoring. After I lastly wanted to cost again up, getting from 0 to 100 took below 90 minutes. 

The Fossil Smartwatches app takes some getting used to when you’re transitioning from a special ecosystem. In comparison with the Fitbit companion app, for instance, it’s fairly naked. Beneath a generic picture of your gadget, you’ll spot a scrollable “For You” banner chock stuffed with adverts. In the course of the preliminary setup, this generally is a irritating alternative by Fossil. I saved considering I used to be tapping to be taught one thing concerning the hybrid, and as an alternative, I’d find yourself on Fossil’s web site being prompted to purchase one other gadget. 

Beneath the For You part is a second horizontal menu labeled Wellness. This menu accommodates icons for all of your fundamental well being particulars starting from steps to coronary heart charge to sleep knowledge. You may assessment the at-a-glance stats or faucet every class to entry extra particulars. Usually, I used to be stunned by the restricted depth of the app’s wellness part. Every class provides the fundamentals with weekly and month-to-month views, however little or no perception or complexity. Given its title, I’d hoped the watch would supply extra well being steerage and evaluation.

I spent probably the most time on the companion app customizing my button shortcuts, preferences, and watch faces. As talked about, you possibly can select to set your prime and backside buttons to a spread of shortcuts relying in your private use. Within the app, you can too set alarms, set transfer targets, and hyperlink your watch to third-party apps akin to Google Match.

You can too customise your watch face. Along with the unique Wellness Gentle and Wellness Darkish watch faces, there are a selection of utilitarian choices. You may add or take away problems, customise using black and white, choose fonts, and way more. You may even create faces from scratch with private photographs. I had lots of enjoyable importing photographs to see how they’d look on the e-ink show.

It might sound like a cop-out but it surely’s arduous to say whether or not the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version is the best gadget for each (or any) shopper. For me, the function set is simply too restricted and the sensors are too unreliable to justify the associated fee. I additionally personally don’t discover the aesthetic dressy sufficient to warrant a spot on my wrist over my Apple Watch. Likewise, in comparison with a hybrid just like the Garmin vivomove Sport ($149.99 at Amazon), the wellness moniker doesn’t ship sufficient punch. The companion app is oversimplified and the well being and health knowledge lacks depth.

However, if you’re a long-time Fossil fan who desires a smartened model of your favourite analog, this would possibly match the invoice. It’s clearly a well-designed watch with a couple of handy extras like notifications and fundamental health monitoring. Particulars akin to transfer reminders and customized objective setting are impactful for customers seeking to maintain wellness prime of thoughts. Plus, the wellness dashboard is digestible and will get to the purpose effectively. I can’t advocate the gadget for severe athletes, however these people are unlikely to be studying this assessment within the first place. If the styling of the gadget serves your accent wants, you possibly can seize one now for $229.