On Axial is the latest addition to Diesel’s collection of smartwatches. Developed in collaboration with Fossil and sharing features with other watches manufactured under the same umbrella – including the Puma smartwatch or the Fossil Gen 5 – this is a fashionable wearable that certainly impresses with its unmistakable style.
Like everything Diesel, the On Axial exudes personality and looks perfect on the modern man’s wrist. Furthermore, a wealth of features and outstanding design make it a winner. Want to find out more? Read our review…
Background
Diesel On Axial is the third smartwatch in the brand’s collection of smart wearables. Launched in October 2019, it runs Google’s Wear OS and sports a bold, masculine design.
Building on its predecessor, the On Full Guard 2.5, it features new colour combinations and original strap options.
Like the other Gen 5 smartwatches manufactured in collaboration with Fossil, the On Axial comes with NFC for contactless payments, access to Google Assistant, and built-in GPS for distance tracking.
Features
The Diesel On Axial features the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset and boasts 1GB of RAM. This memory boost means increased performance and has allowed the manufacturer to incorporate some of the watch’s most acclaimed features, such as the built-in speaker.
Thanks to the speaker, you’ll be able to answer phone calls on the wrist from both Android or iPhone and seamlessly interact with the Google Assistant.
A generous 8GB of internal memory gives you plenty of storage space for your favourite apps or tunes. Combined with the built-in speaker, you can listen to your favourite music even when you’re not carrying your phone.
Expect about 24 hours of battery life in smart mode, or simply switch to the new extended battery mode for several days of seamless use. You won’t be able to use all the smart functions in power saving mode, but you can still use the heart rate monitor and get notifications on your wrist.
Design
What is striking about the Diesel On Axial is its strong, masculine personality, highlighted by smart design details. This is one watch that won’t go un-noticed. The Diesel style shines through, following the same rugged, industrial looks of the brand’s traditional watches.
It features rivets and metallic accents, alongside fresh colour options such as gunmetal, bronzed stainless steel, and silver. You’ll also be able to choose from an array of stylish bands such as black leather, stainless steel, and blue denim.
Exterior personalisation apart, also expect bespoke dials, including the futuristic-looking Information Tunnel option that’ll give a 3D-like effect to the face. If you’re not a 3D fan, there are a wealth of other dial styles to choose from.
Customisation options include displaying information such as weather forecasts or dual time zones. The heavy-engineered look of the bezel and utilitarian buttons complete the strong visuals.
Fitness Tracking
Like most Wear OS watches, the Diesel On Axial is more of a smartwatch than a fitness tracker. If you need a wearable to keep your performance under control, you’d be better choosing a Garmin or Fitbit.
This model packs multi-sports profiles and is waterproof to 3 ATM. It can be used to set and track fitness goals, monitor your heart rate, and it even incorporates a stroke counter for swimming.
Built-in GPS makes it easy to track your steps accurately, while the generous storage space and built-in speaker make it an excellent jogging mate for those times when you’d like to listen to your motivational tunes but don’t feel like carrying your phone. It also provides detailed activity reports.
Main Advantages
- Masculine style and stunning design details
- Impressive range of bezel colours and strap materials
- Enhanced storage space compared to other Gen 5 smartwatches
- Improved RAM and processor
- Customisable watch faces and themes
- Accurate fitness tracking
Main Disadvantages
- Rather pricy for a Wear OS watch
- No Wi-Fi connectivity or cellular mode
Competition
| Diesel On Axial | Michael Kors MKGO | Puma Smartwatch | Fossil Gen 5 | |
| Display | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 328 x 328 pixels | 390 x 390 pixels | 328 x 328 pixels | – |
| Size | 44 x 44 x 12 mm | 43 x 43 x 17 mm | 44 x 44 x 11 mm | 44 x 44 x 12 mm |
| Weight | – | – | 28 g | – |
| Band material | Leather / Fabric / Metal | Silicone | Silicone | Silicone / Stainless steel |
| Water resistance | 3 ATM | 3 ATM | 3 ATM | 3 ATM |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth |
| GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | No | No | No | No |
| NFC Payments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calorie count | No | No | No | No |
| Multi-sport profiles | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (Smart mode) | Up to 24 hours | Up to 36 hours | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours |
Summary
Diesel On Axial is the most visually stunning fashion smartwatch currently on the market. It might be more expensive than its peers but comes with an improved chipset, more RAM, and impressive storage space compared to most branded smartwatches manufactured by Fossil.
Steampunk details and utilitarian lines make it look good on most wrists.
A speaker and greater iOS support for calls are two of its most attractive features, while the smartwatch is a great fitness tracker too. Undoubtedly, your best bet if you’re looking for a great-looking timepiece capable of combining tech with exciting style.
Last Updated on July 27, 2021
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