The best Fossil smartwatches you can buy

Fossil has always made great watches, but the company didn’t start getting into the smartwatch game until a few years ago. Initially starting with hybrid smartwatches, Fossil eventually transitioned to full-fledged smartwatches running Google’s Wear OS platform. In fact, Fossil is one of the big brands that still relies heavily on Wear OS. That’s why we’re rounding up the best Fossil smartwatches you can buy.

Buying the right Fossil smartwatch for your needs

Fossil Group, the Fossil brand’s parent company, owns popular accessory brands like SKAGEN and Misfit and licenses products from Puma, Emporio Armani, Diesel, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors. Many of these brands’ smartwatches share the same specs and receive updates simultaneously, which is why we’re going to include these companies on our list in addition to other Fossil smartwatches.

Fossil is generally not known for its depth of health tracking smarts. If you’re seeking a runner’s watch with built-in GPS and VO2 max readouts, you’ll have to look elsewhere. But as for smartwatch features, Fossil devices have those in spades.

Finally, we should also mention that Fossil devices based on the Gen 6 platform are now receiving their long-awaited Wear OS 3 update. Gen 5 products won’t make the jump to the latest software platform, so keep this in mind if gaining the latest software features is important to you.

The best Fossil smartwatches

• The Fossil Gen 6 is the best Fossil smartwatch you can buy. It shares aesthetic cues with its predecessor but brings big upgrades to its internals.
• The Michael Kors Gen 6 Bradshaw is the best Michael Kors smartwatch. It’s based on the original Fossil Gen 6’s technology while offering a classier (and pricier) aesthetic.
• Fossil’s Gen 5 is no longer the best Fossil smartwatch, but it’s still worth your time at the right price.
• The Fossil Gen 5 LTE is the best Fossil smartwatch with LTE. It shares several design traits with the Fossil Gen 5.
• The SKAGEN Falster Gen 6 is the best SKAGEN smartwatch you can buy. It’s arguably one of the more attractive watches on this list but shares similar internals to its Gen 5 cousin.
• Skagen’s Jorn Hybrid HR is the brand’s best hybrid smartwatch. Thanks to that e-ink display, this watch has battery life in spades.
• Want an alternative hybrid watch? The Fossil Hybrid HR is the best choice. You do trade the Jorn’s build quality for a lower price, though.
• The Fossil Gen 5E is the best cheap Fossil smartwatch. It’s based on Fossil’s pared-down hardware platform but still offers the style synonymous with the brand.

Fossil Gen 6: The best Fossil smartwatch

The Fossil Gen 5 has long stood out as the best Fossil smartwatch, and one of the best Wear OS watches you can buy. However, the Fossil Gen 6 is a marked upgrade that we can’t ignore.

It’s the first Fossil smartwatch to feature the faster Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus SoC, which should bring considerable improvements to the performance. With that upgrade comes the promised upgrade to Wear OS 3 next year. The Gen 6 also sees a new heart rate and SpO2 sensor combo and faster charging, albeit with a smaller battery than the Gen 5.

While we’re big fans of the Gen 6’s colorways, design, and display, battery leaves much to be desired. On top of that, it’s now running software on par with Google and Samsung’s finest.

Our verdict: Fossil Gen 6 review

Michael Kors Gen 6 Bradshaw: The best Michael Kors smartwatch

The Michael Kors Gen 6 Bradshaw smartwatch is built on the same platform as the Fossil Gen 6 lineup. That means it runs on the same Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor and comes with the same amount of RAM and storage. You’re also getting the Wear OS 3 update to bring the best out of the platform.

The biggest reason to buy the Michael Kors Bradshaw over Fossil’s smartwatch is its design. There are multiple colorways and styles available. If you’re after the glitziest Wear OS watch you can buy, the Michael Kors Bradshaw is it.

Related: The best Michael Kors smartwatches you can buy

Fossil Gen 5: The best last-gen Fossil smartwatch

The Fossil Gen 5 was once the best Fossil smartwatch you can buy and one of the best Wear OS watches, too. However, since the Fossil Gen 6 is here, we have to relegate this venerable model. That said, it’s still a decent option for those who don’t mind older hardware or software.

A sleek design, good performance, a beautiful display, and plenty of color options are all factors in the Fossil Gen 5 once topping our list. Thanks to Fossil’s custom battery modes, it also has decent battery life. This feature has since made their way to all Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100-powered smartwatches in Fossil Group’s lineup.

You can regularly snag the watch under its list price, which still makes it a viable alternative for Fossil fans. However, the Fossil Gen 5 will not receive the Wear OS 3 update in 2022, so software support will be limited from here on out.

Our verdict: Fossil Gen 5 review

Fossil Gen 5 LTE: The best Fossil smartwatch with LTE

Looking for a Fossil smartwatch with cellular connectivity? The Fossil Gen 5 LTE is the smartwatch you’re looking for. It’s essentially the same watch as the Gen 5 Carlyle (above), only you can activate it on Verizon’s network to receive calls and texts on your wrist without a nearby phone.

There are some limitations. It’s only available in the US, can only be activated on Verizon’s network, and is only compatible with Android phones.

Our verdict: Fossil Gen 5 LTE review

SKAGEN Falster Gen 6: The best SKAGEN smartwatch

The Falster Gen 6 draws plenty of design inspiration from the SKAGEN Falster 3 but loads its body with Fossil’s Gen 6 tech. This means an SpO2 sensor, on-wrist phone calls, and quick charging all feature. Some fan-favorite traits also return, like Fossil’s custom battery modes that help the device sip power when needed.

Like the Fossil Gen 6, the SKAGEN Falster Gen 6 is now running Wear OS 3 making it a much better smartwatch, even if its fitness tracking credentials leave much to be desired. The GPS is inaccurate, heart rate monitoring is erratic, and sleep tracking lags well behind the likes of Fitbit.

Our verdict: SKAGEN Falster Gen 6 review

SKAGEN Jorn Hybrid HR: The best SKAGEN hybrid smartwatch

Fossil Group has brought its Hybrid HR platform to the SKAGEN brand with the SKAGEN Jorn Hybrid HR. This is our favorite hybrid smartwatch from the company due to its improved design over the Fossil Hybrid HR (below), long battery life, and of course, the innovative e-ink display.

The Jorn Hybrid HR’s e-ink display is bigger than the tiny screens found on most other hybrid smartwatches. This allows you to see more information on your wrist at one time without the need to interact with the watch. Again, there are some usability issues with SKAGEN’s watch, but we’re big fans of the platform overall.

Our verdict: SKAGEN Jorn Hybrid HR review

Fossil Hybrid HR: Fossil’s best hybrid smartwatch

The Fossil Hybrid HR is nearly identical to the SKAGEN Jorn Hybrid HR in functionality. The main differences are the overall build quality, the companion app, and the price.

While our Fossil Hybrid HR (Collider model) looks wonderful, its build quality is noticeably lacking compared to SKAGEN’s offering. However, you might find this one on sale more often. The watch was announced in 2019, so it receives regular discounts on Amazon and Fossil’s website.

Our verdict: Fossil Hybrid HR review

Fossil Gen 5E: The best cheap Fossil smartwatch

If you’re after the Fossil Gen 5 but want something slightly smaller, look no further than the Fossil Gen 5E. Available in 42mm and 44mm sizes, the Gen 5E smartwatches boast many of the same Gen 5 features at just $250.

The Fossil Gen 5E has the same processor, RAM, custom battery modes, built-in speaker, and NFC for Google Pay as the Gen 5. However, the Gen 5E has a slightly smaller display, 4GB of storage instead of 8GB, and you only get connected GPS instead of built-in GPS. Also, it has a physical pusher on the side, but it’s not rotatable to scroll through Wear OS.

While the Gen 5E sounds like a decent smartwatch overall, we’d recommend buying the standard Gen 5 if you can find it on sale or investing in the Gen 6 if you’re looking for something more future-proof.

Top Fossil smartwatch questions and answers