Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 certainly isn’t a smartwatch for everyone. With its bold looks and a plethora of features, it’s aimed at the confident man who’s not afraid to make a statement.
Big and bulky, this wearable is made for those who like Diesel’s imposing style and want a wealth of tech features include Google Pay capability as well as fairly accurate fitness tracking functionality.
Background
Firstly, the 2.5 is the upgraded version of the Diesel On Full Guard. It retains most of its predecessor’s features but brings some noteworthy improvements – notably built-in GPS. You’ll also get Wi-Fi connectivity and will be able to make contactless payments via Google Pay.
Features
Released in 2018, the Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 won’t wow you with its responsiveness, but it works well and delivers all the smart functions you’d expect from a fashion smartwatch.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset, it feels a bit tired in terms of day-to-day performance, but can still handle most tasks with ease. It probably won’t blow you away with its speed, but it’s quite easy to use.
Like most smartwatches out there, it delivers notifications on your wrist. Running the Wear OS, it’s compatible with both Android and iPhones. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC for contactless payments via Google Pay.
However, the watch doesn’t come in an LTE variant, so you’ll need to keep it close to your phone if you want to get notifications and the like.
Design
The On Full Guard 2.5 maintains the characteristic Diesel lines. So there’s nothing else quite like it on the market – good news if you’re looking for something different. With its traditional analogue face with hands and hour marks it looks nothing like a smartwatch.
It’s big and heavy, so it won’t suit those with smaller wrists wanting a more discreet device. But the circular display is enhanced by a thick bezel and three utilitarian buttons that are extremely easy to use. The three buttons make it easy to navigate through the menu and access the various apps, and you can customise the commands according to your needs.
A variety of colours and strap choices let you customise the looks. The basic version comes with a silicone strap that feels like a second skin on the wrist, but you can choose from leather, fabric, or metal straps at additional cost.
Fitness Tracking
Like most fashion smartwatches manufactured by Fossil, the Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 isn’t the most accurate fitness tracker. Your activity will be monitored by Google Fit, but the size of the timepiece might make it slightly uncomfortable to wear while training.
The watch is waterproof to 5 ATM and boasts a wealth of health features. The built-in GPS provides accurate tracking of your pace and distance, while the heart rate monitor helps you ensure effective burning of those nasty calories.
Don’t expect a wealth of multi-sports profiles or highly detailed reports, but it’s still a capable fitness tracker.
Main Advantages
- Outstanding, original design
- Large display and easy to navigate menu
- Accurate heart rate monitoring
- Contactless payments via Google Pay
Main Disadvantages
- Unsatisfactory battery life
- Rather slow compared to other smartwatches in its range
Competition
| Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 | Diesel On Axial | Puma Smartwatch | Fossil Gen 5 | |
| Display | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 400 x 400 pixels | 328 x 328 pixels | 328 x 328 pixels | – |
| Size | 47 x 56 x 13 mm | 44 x 44 x 12 mm | 44 x 44 x 11 mm | 44 x 44 x 12 mm |
| Weight | – | – | 28 g | – |
| Band material | Silicone / Leather / Fabric / Metal | Leather / Fabric / Metal | Silicone | Silicone / Stainless steel |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 3 ATM | 3 ATM | 3 ATM |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | 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 | Yes | No | No | No |
| Multi-sport profiles | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (Smart mode) | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours |
Summary
Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 is not the smartwatch for everyone, but it wasn’t built for everyone either. As long as you’re more concerned about the looks than the functions – and can put up with lacklustre battery life – this wearable will surely satisfy you.
However, if you’d like more performance, the Puma Smartwatch or even the newest Diesel On Axial will undoubtedly be a better choice.
Last Updated on December 13, 2019
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