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 with health monitoring smarts. Its e-ink show additionally retains the machine’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 health club class. In brief, 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 beautiful product. In comparison with a full-blown smartwatch, the machine 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 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 better 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 okay for day-to-day put on, but when this had been my solely watch, I’d 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 important 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. 

Transferring on from subjective appears, 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 very good 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 pictures. The photograph on the prime of this part reveals what the band appears like on a typical day sans particular consideration. Fortunately, the machine makes use of 20mm quick-release bands, so it could 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 preferrred after hours. Although you’ll be able to double-tap the display screen to mild up the watch face, I typically struggled to see knowledge at nighttime. Extra particularly, within the wee hours of the morning, I discovered the wrestle to light up the time notably cumbersome. If I’m attempting to find out whether or not I’ve any time left to sleep, I don’t wish to waste treasured 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 strong wellness software. The Gen 6 Hybrid does supply SpO2 monitoring, Vo2 Max, coronary heart fee monitoring, exercise monitoring, and primary sleep monitoring. It additionally boasts computerized exercise detection for the commonest 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 superb.

Sadly, I didn’t have an excellent expertise with the machine’s coronary heart fee sensor, which was most probably because of the 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. Nonetheless, after I took on-demand readings with my wrist flat and the sensor making strong contact, the numbers had been extra correct. I additionally incessantly 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 just isn’t 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 machine recorded comparable distances and knowledge to different wearables, however once more, this was because of my telephone relatively than something inherent concerning the watch. Most importantly, this implies you’ll have to take your telephone with you for GPS-based exercises, which is rarely preferrred. Regardless of my greatest efforts, most of my operating gear doesn’t have pockets and I like my arms 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 score stunning on what I anticipated to be a workout-focused hybrid. In keeping 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 you must with this machine 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 may 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 means that you can pose queries and the solutions arrive typed on the display screen, giving off actual magic 8-ball vibes. The method isn’t speedy however it works superb sufficient. The solutions had 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 far more sturdy than what you’ll discover on the Hybrid version. The Hybrid doesn’t run on Put on OS, and customarily doesn’t supply an particularly snappy software program expertise. Navigating might be sluggish, with a delayed refresh fee similar to that of a Kindle.

Then again, the advantages of a hybrid are easy consumer navigation and great battery life. Relating to the previous first, the machine just isn’t 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 greatest all through this Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version overview.

One spotlight of this version is the Wellness Dashboard the place you’ll be able to take a look at at-a-glance well being stats. You too can springboard from this display screen to take on-demand coronary heart fee and SpO2 rankings. These readings are sluggish in comparison with these on different units, and as talked about, the SpO2 wasn’t at all times correct. My on-demand coronary heart fee 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 further 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 overview, even with GPS exercises and sleep monitoring. Once 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 distinct ecosystem. In comparison with the Fitbit companion app, for instance, it’s fairly naked. Beneath a generic picture of your machine, you’ll spot a scrollable “For You” banner chock filled with adverts. Throughout the preliminary setup, this is usually a irritating selection by Fossil. I stored pondering I used to be tapping to be taught one thing concerning the hybrid, and as a substitute, I’d find yourself on Fossil’s web site being prompted to purchase one other machine. 

Beneath the For You part is a second horizontal menu labeled Wellness. This menu comprises icons for all of your primary well being particulars starting from steps to coronary heart fee to sleep knowledge. You’ll be able to overview the at-a-glance stats or faucet every class to entry extra particulars. Generally, I used to be shocked by the restricted depth of the app’s wellness part. Every class gives 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 offer extra well being steering and evaluation.

I spent essentially the most time on the companion app customizing my button shortcuts, preferences, and watch faces. As talked about, you’ll be able to select to set your prime 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 equivalent to Google Match.

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

It could sound like a cop-out however it’s onerous to say whether or not the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Version is the suitable machine for each (or any) shopper. For me, the function set is just 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.

Then again, in case you are a long-time Fossil fan who needs a smartened model of your favourite analog, this may match the invoice. It’s clearly a well-designed watch with a couple of handy extras like notifications and primary health monitoring. Particulars equivalent to transfer reminders and customized objective setting are impactful for customers seeking to preserve wellness prime of thoughts. Plus, the wellness dashboard is digestible and will get to the purpose effectively. I can’t suggest the machine for severe athletes, however these people are unlikely to be studying this overview within the first place. If the styling of the machine serves your accent wants, you’ll be able to seize one now for $229.