Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version overview: 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 system’s battery life as much as Fossil’s spectacular requirements. Nevertheless, whereas the hybrid watch could also be a category act, it’s not the right companion for a fitness center class. Briefly, the watch lands in an unlucky limbo between a timepiece and a well being software, 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 system is refined, modest, and much much less tech-forward. 

It’s obtainable in three colorways: navy, black, and blush. I examined the black mannequin and located the monochromatic impact interesting. The navy possibility has a preppy, nautical vibe, and the blush possibility 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 possibility appears to fall someplace awkwardly between sporty and informal. 

Total, the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version is ok for day-to-day put on, but when this have been my solely watch, I might not really feel glad. There have been a couple of events when carrying 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 possibility 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 dimension, it didn’t really feel cumbersome or outsized. The band, sadly, is about one notch wanting a great match for my wrist, so anybody with dainty limbs may have to regulate. This proved particularly problematic for health monitoring, however extra on that beneath.

The strap additionally collected mud excessively and I really discovered myself lint-rolling it for pictures. The photograph on the high of this part reveals what the band appears to be like like on a typical day sans particular consideration. Fortunately, the system makes use of 20mm quick-release bands, so it might be simple for customers to seize a third-party various if wanted.

The 1.1-inch E-ink show is loads seen in daylight, however much less excellent after hours. Although you may double-tap the display to gentle up the watch face, I typically struggled to see information in the dead of night. Extra particularly, within the wee hours of the morning, I discovered the wrestle to light up the time notably 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 inclined to have excessive expectations when merchandise embrace key phrases of their naming conference. On this case, I hoped Fossil would ship a strong wellness software. The Gen 6 Hybrid does provide SpO2 monitoring, Vo2 Max, coronary heart price monitoring, exercise monitoring, and primary sleep monitoring. It additionally boasts computerized exercise detection for the commonest actions, which I discovered usually profitable. I had one stroll fail to register on day one, however I had a number of others work simply fantastic.

Sadly, I didn’t have an important expertise with the system’s coronary heart price sensor, which was most probably as a result of match being too free. My each day highs and lows hardly ever matched up with these stats recorded by my Apple Watch Sequence 8 throughout this overview interval. Nevertheless, after I took on-demand readings with my wrist flat and the sensor making stable contact, the numbers have been extra correct. I additionally regularly 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 will not be built-in however depends in your telephone’s sensor. For that purpose, accuracy isn’t actually an element. On the runs I recorded, the Fossil system recorded comparable distances and information to different wearables, however once more, this was due to my telephone moderately than something inherent in regards to the watch. Most importantly, this implies you’ll have to take your telephone with you for GPS-based exercises, which isn’t excellent. Regardless of my finest efforts, most of my working gear doesn’t have pockets and I like my palms free to clutch at my chest throughout uphills.  

3ATM water resistance can be the bottom I’ve seen in a very long time. I discovered this ranking shocking on what I anticipated to be a workout-focused hybrid. In line with Fossil, the watch can face 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 it’s a must to with this system is yet one more factor to fret about forgetting.

The character of a hybrid is that it’s solely half smartwatch. In consequence, 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 flexibility 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, giving off actual magic 8-ball vibes. The method isn’t speedy however it works fantastic sufficient. The solutions have been largely useful, and the textual content could be very legible.  

In contrast to 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 rather 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 could be gradual, with a delayed refresh price similar to that of a Kindle.

Alternatively, the advantages of a hybrid are easy consumer navigation and fantastic battery life. Relating to the previous first, the system will not 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’ll be able to customise the highest and backside buttons to something you need, and I discovered setting mine to Exercises and Alexa served me finest all through this Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version overview.

One spotlight of this version is the Wellness Dashboard the place you may try at-a-glance well being stats. You can even springboard from this display to take on-demand coronary heart price and SpO2 rankings. These readings are gradual in comparison with these on different gadgets, and as talked about, the SpO2 wasn’t all the time correct. My on-demand coronary heart price 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 incredible battery life. It simply lasted the complete two-week declare throughout my overview, even with GPS exercises and sleep monitoring. Once I lastly wanted to cost again up, getting from 0 to 100 took underneath 90 minutes. 

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

Under the For You part is a second horizontal menu labeled Wellness. This menu accommodates icons for all of your primary well being particulars starting from steps to coronary heart price to sleep information. You’ll be able to overview the at-a-glance stats or faucet every class to entry extra particulars. On the whole, I used to be shocked by the restricted depth of the app’s wellness part. Every class affords the fundamentals with weekly and month-to-month views, however little or no perception or complexity. Given its identify, I’d hoped the watch would supply extra well being steering and evaluation.

I spent probably the most time on the companion app customizing my button shortcuts, preferences, and watch faces. As talked about, you may select to set your high and backside buttons to a variety of shortcuts relying in your private use. Within the app, it’s also possible to set alarms, set transfer targets, and hyperlink your watch to third-party apps corresponding to Google Match.

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

It might sound like a cop-out however it’s laborious to say whether or not the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version is the proper system for each (or any) shopper. For me, the function set is just too restricted and the sensors are too unreliable to justify the 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 information lacks depth.

Alternatively, if you’re a long-time Fossil fan who needs 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 primary health monitoring. Particulars corresponding to transfer reminders and customized aim setting are impactful for customers seeking to preserve wellness high of thoughts. Plus, the wellness dashboard is digestible and will get to the purpose effectively. I can’t advocate the system for severe athletes, however these people are unlikely to be studying this overview within the first place. If the styling of the system serves your accent wants, you may seize one now for $229.