Will there be a Fossil Gen 7? What we know so far

Fossil’s core smartwatch series hasn’t changed much over the years. The Fossil Gen 6 launched with the traditional rounded face and large pushers. Still, considerable advancements were made beneath the skin over the Gen 5 by adding a blood oxygen sensor and new Snapdragon silicon. While these improvements were welcome, the Gen 6 ultimately fell short of its contemporaries in several arenas. But will the Fossil Gen 7 put up more of a fight, or will it even happen at all? Here’s what we know about the Fossil Gen 7.

Will there be a Fossil Gen 7?

In short, it’s highly unlikely that we will see a Fossil Gen 7 model.

In January 2024, Fossil CEO Jeff Boyer confirmed to The Verge that the company is exiting the smartwatch space and is redirecting those resources to “traditional watches, jewelry, and leather goods.” This suggests that there will not be a Fossil Gen 7 release and that the Gen 6 will stand as Fossil’s last smartwatch.

For the record, Boyer confirmed that Fossil will nonetheless provide updates for its current watches “for the next few years,” which should bring some degree of comfort to Gen 6 owners.

Should you wait for the Fossil Gen 7?

Judging by the latest events, you absolutely shouldn’t wait for the Fossil Gen 7. If Fossil was working on a product and released it as a last hoorah, there’s no telling when this might occur. Instead, plenty of smartwatches are on the market, running Wear OS and beyond, well worth your time.

For starters, the best Wear OS model on offer is Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 ($299.99 at Samsung). It’s a more rounded alternative with a keen focus on wellness monitoring and smart features. It also has a clear update roadmap and two sizes for larger and smaller wrists. If budget is a consideration, the Galaxy Watch 5 ($162.57 at Amazon) remains a solid option and does not have many downgrades compared to its newer sibling.

Seekers of a purer Wear OS experience can take a punt on the Google Pixel Watch 2 ($349.99 at Amazon) — one of the best-looking smartwatches available right now and a much-improved version of Mountain View’s wearable. Alternatively, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 ($349 at Amazon) is an outsider’s choice but a great one considering its frequent price drops and dual display functionality.

There’s also the Withings ScanWatch 2 ($349.95 at Amazon) for those bent on monitoring their health with a watch that oozes analog style.

Fossil Gen 7: What we want to see

Let’s put our positive hats on for a moment. Should Fossil bow out with a bang and not a whimper, I have a list of upgrades and changes I’d love to see on its next model. Below is my Fossil Gen 7 wishlist.

A clear software update roadmap (with commitments)

It might seem obvious that the Fossil Gen 7 will launch with the latest version of Wear OS, but Fossil’s lengthy Wear OS 3 update rollout made us a little skittish. We understand that Google required manufacturers to develop new companion apps to facilitate the upgrade. Now that the Fossil app is available, we should hope for more rapid OS updates when they’re ready. However, we would like Fossil to issue a software update commitment — like Samsung has done with the Galaxy Watch — should it ever launch the Gen 7.

Better battery life

While the Fossil Gen 6 did see a charging speed upgrade over the Gen 5, it also packed a slightly smaller battery. This is the wrong way to go, even with the more efficient chipset in use. During our review, the Fossil Gen 6 lasted for a full 24 hours with conservative usage, and when employing the GPS, that number plummets. Either way, that’s not nearly enough compared to devices from Garmin and Fitbit, or longer-living Wear OS alternatives like the Galaxy Watch 6. I’d like to see Fossil Group focus on its next model’s battery life, matching its well-known battery-saving modes with capable hardware.

More accurate sleep tracking

Plenty of smartwatches track sleep and do it well, but the Fossil Gen 6 is not one of them. In our review, we found that the watch frequently glossed over light sleep and moments of restlessness — two phases that are as important in understanding sleep quality as deep sleep and REM. Sleep is important when gauging day-to-day health, so having reliable data to make an informed decision is vital.

A larger display

I’ve no real problem with the Fossil Gen 6’s display. However, we’d like to see some advancements in this area. The Fossil Gen 6 uses the Gen 5’s 1.28-inch screen with minor upgrades. It’s a fine display, but larger options wouldn’t go amiss. Screen upgrades to match the chipset bump would make the next model an attractive, smart alternative to the Samsung Galaxy series.

Upgraded water resistance

For general use, 3ATM water resistance is just fine. If you’re a swimmer or snorkeler, you might not feel comfortable with the Gen 6’s shallow rating. I’d like more useful 5ATM certification on the next device, in line with its contemporaries, much cheaper watches, and other devices in the Fossil Group stable. It’s not a major issue, but if other watches in the same price range pack a better rating, why settle for the Fossil?