Fossil is one of the few brands that focuses on combining smart fitness tracking features in fashionable designs for its smartwatches. Most wearables from the brand blur the line between functionality and style, bringing the best of both worlds.
But the Fossil Sport is an exception. This fitness-centred wearable doesn’t look as good as its peers nor does it have the same fitness tracking capabilities as Fitbit. So, want to know if it’s worth the hype? Continue reading to find it out.
Background
Fossil Sport is the brand’s fitness tracker, an alternative to Fitbit or the acclaimed Puma smartwatch. It runs Google’s popular Wear OS and is compatible with both iPhone and Android smartphones.
It was certainly designed with the fitness junky in mind, and Fossil appears not to have been bothered about the aesthetics. The result is a rather minimalist device that looks a bit anonymous on your wrist.
What it lacks in terms of design it packs in terms of capabilities, though. Fossil Sport is a functional smartwatch that comes as a more affordable alternative, in comparison, to most sports watches out there.
Features
Fossil Sport is a mid-range smartwatch primarily focused on fitness, so it isn’t really packed with high-end features. Nevertheless, it’s one of the first Fossil watches to pack the Snapdragon 3100 chipset so the interface is responsive and navigation is fluid.
Furthermore, its 4GB storage means you’ll have plenty of space to download the latest apps or update the features.
While the device technically pairs with both iOS and Android smartwatches, you might struggle to sync your apps if you’re an iPhone enthusiast. And while this watch can satisfy the avid runners or fitness fanatics, you might want to look elsewhere if you’re after a premium accessory.
Design
Positioning itself as the perfect workout companion, Fossil Sport is lightweight and durable. While it doesn’t have a noteworthy design, due to its smaller dimensions and unisex lines, it’s a good fit for both men and women.
Made to withstand harsh gym environments, it sports an aluminium body and lightweight silicone strap. Two buttons, one above and one under the dial, give access to the menu and various functions, including Google Fit.
Like most Fossil smartwatches, the Sport comes with customisable buttons, so you can set them to open whatever app you wish. The software also lets you save various configurations, and you can also customise the watch face.
However, pressing the buttons can be a bit of a challenge, at least until you get used to their stiffness. Although they’re designed like this so you don’t accidentally press them during a workout, they can still be annoying.
Fitness Tracking
While Fossil doesn’t shine in terms of looks and smarts, it does when it comes to its fitness tracking features. It’s one of the most accurate mid-range trackers we’ve used and packs all you could wish from a wearable designed for an active lifestyle.
The watch comes with built-in GPS and is perfect for running and swimming. You can still snorkel with it and even explore the seabed so long as you don’t dive deeper than 50 metres.
A wealth of pre-loaded workouts also allow you to get the most out of this watch for both indoors and outdoors training. However, you won’t be able to control every minute of your workout nor get detailed activity reports. This is a pity, but it wasn’t aimed at serious athletes.
Main Advantages
- Lightweight, utilitarian sports watch design
- Wear OS features including built-in GPS and Google Pay
- Customisable commands and watch faces
- Waterproof at 5 ATM
Main Disadvantages
- Doesn’t pair well with iPhones
- The GPS might get lost sometimes
Competition
| Fossil Sport | Diesel On Axial | Puma Smartwatch | Fossil Gen 5 | |
| Display | OLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | – | 328 x 328 pixels | 328 x 328 pixels | – |
| Size | 41 x 41 mm or 43 x 43 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 | Silicone | Silicone / Stainless steel |
| Water resistance | 5 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 | Yes | No | No | No |
| Multi-sport profiles | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (Smart mode) | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours | Up to 24 hours |
Summary
Fossil Sport might not be the highest-performing smartwatch out there, but it is definitely a capable fitness tracker. It’s so lightweight you’ll forget you’re wearing it, and it can track your workouts to help you improve your metrics.
Sure, if you’re looking for the utmost performance or ultimate design in terms of fashion, this isn’t the smartwatch for you. But if you want a capable sports watch at a price that won’t break the bank, Fossil Sport fits the bill beautifully.
Last Updated on June 3, 2021
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