Fossil’s Hybrid Gen 6 is the hybrid smartwatch version of the Wear OS-powered Fossil Gen 6. Here’s how it compares to Garmin’s Vivomove Sport.
Fossil’s newest smartwatch is the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid, but how does it compare to Garmin’s own hybrid smartwatch, the Vivomove Sport? Fossil and Garmin are two of the more popular smartwatch brands in the US. However, there are some notable differences between their wider watch portfolios and products.
Fossil’s full-fledged smartwatches are powered by Google’s Wear OS, while Garmin’s smartwatches run a proprietary operating system. Garmin’s wearable product lineup not only includes smartwatches and hybrid smartwatches but also fitness trackers as well. While Fossil doesn’t make fitness trackers, it does have a healthy selection of traditional watches to choose from.
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Fossil’s Gen 6 Hybrid is available in two different variants — Machine which has a 45mm case and Stella which has a 41mm case. Both have an e-ink display that’s 1.1. inches on the larger model and 0.94 inches on the smaller watch. For controls, two push buttons and a crown/home button are on the right side of the stainless steel case. Depending on the variant purchased, the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid is available with silicone, leather, or steel straps. The Garmin Vivomove Sport is available in one size – 40mm – and packs an OLED display that’s 8.6mm x 18.5mm in size. There are no buttons and the case is made from fiber-reinforced polymer. It comes with 20mm silicone straps and has a 5 ATM water-resistance rating, an improvement on the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid’s 3 ATM rating.
Always-On E-Ink Vs Hidden OLED
Fossil and Garmin have taken different approaches to how the smart features of their watches work. While both are capable of measuring heart rate, blood oxygen, steps, calories, and sleep, the information is provided in different ways. On the Gen 6 Hybrid, these stats are available on the always-on e-ink display. On the Vivomove Sport, users need to tap on the dial to reveal the hidden OLED touchscreen and then swipe across the display to show tracked health metrics. While Fossil’s implementation isn’t bad, Garmin’s is more intelligent.
The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid does come with built-in Amazon Alexa support, although the connected smartphone must be within range. It also supports data syncing with Google Fit and Apple HealthKit. In addition, there’s support for music playback, weather, a built-in timer, alarms, and notifications. The Garmin Vivomove Sport can track stress, women’s health, hydration, respiration, and breathing exercises. There’s also a built-in timer, alarm clock, calendar, weather, and stopwatch, as well as support for notifications and music playback.
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Neither of the smartwatches come with GPS support but can latch on to a connected smartphone. They both also have a Find My Phone feature and are compatible with Android and iOS devices. The battery life on both smartwatches is significantly better than their Wear OS counterparts, although the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid wins this round. Its battery life can last as long as two weeks on a single charge for the 45mm version, while the 41mm version can last up to one week. In contrast, the Vivomove Sport only provides up to 5 days of usage on a single charge.
The table turns when it comes to pricing. The Garmin Vivomove Sport is the cheaper hybrid smartwatch with a $179.99 price tag and can be purchased in Black, Cocoa, and Mint. Fossil’s Gen 6 Hybrid costs more with a starting price of $229 for models with a silicone strap and this increases to $249 for models with a stainless steel or leather bracelet. Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid smartwatch buyers can also choose between six styles for the 41mm version and seven for the 45mm version.
