Fossil's next premium smartwatch will get the new Wear OS, older watches won't

Fossil is one of the biggest proponents of Google’s Wear OS platform. Some of the best Wear OS smartwatches that exist right now — the Fossil Gen 5 and the SKAGEN Falster 3 — are made by the company or its sub-brands. So it’s only natural that Google’s revamped Wear OS software should land on a wearable made by Fossil.

In an interview with CNET, Fossil’s Chief Commercial Officer Greg McKelvey and Senior VP of connected devices Steve Prokup confirmed that the brand will launch a high-end smartwatch running the new Wear OS version created by Google and Samsung.

The first wearable from the company to take advantage of the reworked Wear OS should be the Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch. It will launch this fall with “some pretty major hardware upgrades,” Prokup confirmed.

The report goes on to say that Fossil will have a single flagship smartwatch in the new wave of Google watches. Its other brands would likely develop their own versions with the new Wear OS on board.

Unfortunately, Fossil will not be upgrading its existing Wear OS devices with the new software.

Also read: By your powers combined: Is it too late for Google’s wearable alliance?

What will Fossil’s new Wear OS smartwatch cost?

As far as the pricing of Fossil’s new Wear OS watch goes, the company referred to the device as “premium.” This suggests that we might see a costlier price tag on the new smartwatch compared to Fossil Gen 5.

“We’re bringing great branded design to our customers that commands a premium price,” McKelvey said in the interview.

Regarding Fitbit’s presence on Wear OS, McKelvey said that the integration “is going to be a huge improvement and something our customers are going to love.”