New Fossil Gen 5 Smartwatch launches for $295
The newly redesigned Fossil Gen 5 Smartwatch drops on the scene today and introduces – new tech that’s audible, lasts longer and optimizes performance.
Aside from some welcome spec improvements, this is the first Wear OS watch that will be able to take calls from an iPhone. Actually Fossil’s latest smartwatch will let you listen to and answer calls through the watch itself. Unfortunately, this functionality will arrive OTA in the form of a proprietary app sometime this fall.
Fossil is also focusing on longer battery life, with new modes that it claims will let the watch last for multiple days on a single charge. An “Extended Battery Mode” setting allows multiday battery life while keeping notifications and heart rate monitoring active. “Time-Only Mode,” which displays just the time, can be switched on when the battery is running low or just to avoid distractions.
The Gen 5 watch runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100, the wearable chipset that was said to improve battery life and general performance in Wear OS watches when it launched in late 2018.
Fossil will offer six color options for the Gen 5. Three of them fall under the “Julianna HR” moniker, featuring a golden ring surrounding the watchface. The other three are called the “Carlyle HR.” Both have the same overall look and dimensions, including a 1.28-inch AMOLED screen (328ppi) inside of a 44mm case that’s 12mm thick. Every Gen 5 watch is compatible with 22mm straps.
Some other highlights include 8GB of onboard storage and 1GB of RAM. The Gen 5 watch has NFC for contactless payments via Google Pay, a heart rate sensor, standalone GPS, and a speaker for taking calls or listening to music. It’s built with waterproofing that Fossil says will cover you up to 30 meters deep.
Check out the new Gen 5 – select styles available for purchase in various colors for $295 – by visiting Fossil.com or dropping in to select Fossil retail stores globally. All styles are currently available for pre-order in the U.S. and EMEA and coming soon in APAC. All styles will be available for immediate purchase beginning 8/26.