The situation in the wearables market is uncertain. On the one hand, there is some slack (partly software-related) as manufacturers emphasize the design of their products and some hardware features. On the other hand, there are some steps from Samsung and Google joining forces to create a unified system for Wear OS-based smartwatches. The company Fossil, which supports its own developments, stands out. The new watch Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition stands out from the rest.

The innovation from Fossil does not work on Wear OS and does not have a regular screen like other smart watches. It is a hybrid watch with a 1.1-inch backlit E Ink display and a regular classic dial. Time, date, weather, battery level, heart rate and various physical activity indicators (steps, calories, sleep and blood oxygen level) are displayed on the screen. Pretty much for such a 170p screen.

The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition case is made of stainless steel with a water resistance of 3 ATM. Standard straps of the watch with a diameter of 44 mm and a width of 20 mm are suitable. Physical controls for certain configurations include a Home button and two side buttons. There’s also a microphone for making calls and communicating with the Alexa voice assistant, the aforementioned SpO2 sensor, and a heart rate monitor. There’s also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. The manufacturer also emphasizes the autonomy of the gadget. The charge of the internal battery is sufficient for two weeks of operation. Wireless charging takes 60 minutes.

Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Wellness Edition connects to a smartphone via the Wellness app. There, users can get all the necessary information from the sensors, as well as an advanced analysis of some indicators. The device automatically selects workouts based on the user’s physical activity level.

The new Fossil watch will be available in three color options. The sale starts on January 5th, the price will be $229. For a branded belt, you will have to pay $ 30.