Fossil Gen 5 vs Gen 6: Is It Time To Upgrade?

Fossil are leaders in the watch industry, especially when it comes to producing fashion-forward watches with smartwatch features. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the brand or not, they’re worth considering when you’re investing in a new smartwatch. This article looks at the Fossil Gen 5 vs Gen 6.

The Fossil Gen 6 was released in September, and it has quickly become a popular watch, but how does it compare to the previous Gen 5 watch? We’ve compared the two popular smartwatches to help you decide which is best for you.

Keep reading to learn more!

About Fossil

Fossil is a brand known for its watches, amongst other accessories and leather goods. Though they offer a range of products, their watches are of great quality, and they’re known as one of the best retailers to buy fashionable watches from. 

This brand offers a range of different timepieces, including minimal designs, traditional chronographs, and smartwatches. The Fossil Gen 5 and Gen 6 are two modern interpretations of the smartwatch that feature classic design features too. These options also offer users high-tech services, fitness trackers, and more. 

Key Feature Comparisons

Here’s a rundown of the similarities and differences between the two Fossil watches!

Design

The overall design of the Gen 6 watch hasn’t changed much from the Gen 5 model. You can now purchase the Gen 6 in two sizes – 44mm and 42mm, whereas the Gen 5 was only available in a 44mm size case. Both watches are designed in stainless steel, and their watch straps come in a range of different sizes. 

Both watches are available in an extensive range of colors, designs, and straps too. Fossil offers designs aimed at men and women, giving customers a lot of choices when it comes to style. Whether you want a bejeweled watch or a more minimal look, there are options for both with Fossil. 

Display

The Gen 6 and Gen 5 watches both feature an AMOLED display that allows users a clear view and vivid colors. Both displays can be controlled via touch, and there are also three buttons on the side of the watches too. The middle button acts as a rotating crown, giving wearers a choice in how they use the watch.

Health & Fitness Trackers

Standard smartwatch health and fitness trackers are available on both watches. These include heart rate trackers, sleep trackers, calories, steps, and other daily trackers. Both watches also feature built-in GPS and altimeters, which help count floors climbed. 

The Gen 6 model boasts additional health and fitness trackers, putting it ahead of the previous Gen 5 watch. With the new release, users can measure their blood oxygen with SpO2 monitors, perfect for those who want to be more health-conscious. Many have commented that this advanced feature is long overdue, but it’s here now, and it’s good news for fitness fans!

Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, both watches have a shorter span of around a day due to the premium features on the watches. When GPS is running, and trackers are on, users can expect a shorter life span, but luckily, Fossil has changed charging time. 

Fossil have decreased the Gen 6 charging time by double the speed, allowing users to recharge up to 80% in approximately 30 minutes. The Gen 6 watch also has a 30% boost in battery performance, giving you a slightly longer lifespan than the Gen 5 model. This is thanks to the added 4100+ chip and 1GB ram. 

Watch Storage & Media

Storage is another key feature to investigate when buying a new watch. Fossil has equipped both models with 8GB of storage, allowing users flexibility when saving music, etc. Both watches also enable users to access a built-in mic for Google Voice assistant, and you can use the watch’s loudspeaker to play stored music out loud. 

Communications

If you want the ability to check your messages on the go, you’re in luck! The Fossil Gen 5 and 6 smartwatches allow users to manage notifications received from their smartphones. Users will get to choose which notifications are shown, including Gmail, Whatsapp, and more apps. Replying to notifications via the watch is supported, but only for Android smartphones. 

Both watches also can allow users to receive and make calls directly from the smartwatch – just ensure your mobile phone is nearby. One key difference between the two models is that Gen 6 uses Bluetooth 5.0, allowing faster connectivity, and saving battery life.

Other Features

Here are some other interesting features to note:

• Google Pay is available on both watches.
• Gen 6 is now powered by Snapdragon 4100+
• The Gen 6 watch includes an “always-on” display.
• Both watches have a range of preset sports modes.
• Sedentary reminders are sent by both watches when the user has been inactive for a long period of time. 
• The Gen 5 and Gen 6 models are waterproof to 3 ATMs.

The Takeaway

When you compare the Gen 5 vs Gen 6, it may not seem like there’s a dramatic difference. However, the new Gen 6 model offers a boosted Wear OS performance, SpO2 blood oxygen monitors, and faster charging times. If you’re considering an upgrade, it is worth it for the more advanced fitness features, but if you’re not bothered about this, you could stick with the Fossil Gen 5 watch. 

Are you upgrading to the Fossil Gen 6 watch? Have you tried the Fossil Gen 5? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

Not sure if either watch is for you? Take a look at how it compares to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 here.

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Last Updated on December 20, 2021