Fossil Announces Its Gen 6 Smartwatch, The First Pure Wear OS 3 Watch

Fossil just opened pre-orders for its new Gen 6 smartwatch, one of the only non-Samsung wearables that will actually support Google’s landmark Wear OS 3 update. With its cutting-edge Snapdragon 4100+ processor, upgraded display, and unique battery features, the Fossil Gen 6 looks light a bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming Android smartwatch market, especially if you want to avoid all of the proprietary software on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4.

At least, that’s the feeling we get from Fossil’s PR. It’s no secret that the Fossil Gen 6 is a major upgrade over its predecessor, which (like 99% of Android watches) ran on a 7-year-old chip and lacked a blood oxygen sensor, quick charging (Gen 6 gets to 80% in 30 minutes), and a bright AMOLED display. But we don’t really know how well this watch will run Wear OS 3, as it’s less powerful than the Galaxy Watch 4 and won’t even gain Wear OS 3 support until mid-2022.

If you tend to blow through smartwatches, then all of this Wear OS 3 uncertainty may not be a big deal. You might be drawn in by the Fossil Gen 6’s beautiful design, customizable control dials and buttons, and swim-proof microphone that lets you talk to Google Assistant while dodging strangers at a public pool (a very neat feature).

But if you like to hold onto your expensive devices for a long time, you might want to wait for more info on Wear OS 3 (or at least read reviews for the Gen 6 watch to see if it suits your taste). After all, the Gen 6 watch starts at $300 for the 42mm case option and climbs up to $320 for the 44mm option. It’s not a cheap device.

You can pre-order the new Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch in silver, black, dark stainless, or pink colorways on Fossil’s website. Fossil also plans to sell a Michael Kors version of this watch, which you can learn about on the company’s website.