14 DAY TRIAL // Apple Watch SE is finally here, and needless to say, it’s a device that perfectly makes sense, especially as Apple needs a way to expand its reach beyond the premium market.
And while the SE retains the high-quality approach of its more expensive siblings, it comes with downgraded specs powered by previous-generation hardware, something that allowed Apple to cut the price and make it available for much less as compared to the new Series 6.
And this is an approach that Fossil seems to be using too.
Many have claimed that the Fossil Gen 5 is one of the best, if not actually the best, Wear OS smartwatch on the market, coming with a nearly perfect mix of latest-generation capabilities and top-notch build quality.
Available from $295, the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch has indeed received praise from most people across the world, and now Fossil wants to go after more buyers with an even more affordable model.
Enter Fossil Gen 5E Smartwatch.
As you could easily figure out by simply reading its name, this new model isn’t an entirely new smartwatch, but a version that’s based on the main Fossil Gen 5.
The differences between the two start with the screen, which is a little bit smaller on the new model and measures just 1.19 inches. However, Fossil didn’t want to impact the actual quality of the screen, so the pixel density remains the same at 328 ppi, while also offering a stainless steel chassis for a premium product feel.
The biggest change, however, happens under the hood, where the Gen 5E is powered by the 2018-launched Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset paired with 4GB of storage. The Gen 5 features 8GB storage, so this is quite a difference.
Here are the main specs of the Fossil Gen 5E smartwatch:
- Case: 44MM, Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22MM, Interchangeable
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100
- Memory: 1GB RAM, 4GB Storage
- Display: 1.19" AMOLED / 390 x 390 / 328ppi
- Input: Home Button, Touchscreen, Voice
- Sound/Actuator: Loudspeaker, Microphone, Vibration
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 LE, NFC, Wi-Fi
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Off-body IR, PPG Heart Rate
- Battery: 24 hours + multi day Extended Mode
The Gen 5 is available today for $295, and the Gen 5E can be yours for $249. The nearly $50 price cut isn’t huge, but Fossil for some reason believes that people would actually give this model a chance, especially if they’re not interested in getting more storage and a newer processor. If this product can succeed is something that remains to be seen, but for tech enthusiasts, it’s pretty clear that paying the $50 extra is almost mandatory given the upgraded specs.
Fossil is already taking pre-orders for the new watch, and according to the information posted on the website, it will ship beginning with November 3.
In the meantime, everybody expects Fossil to come up with the Gen 6 model, though nobody knows exactly when this device is supposed to go live. The good news is that the company has become very committed to wearables in general, and smartwatches in particular, and this can only help the Wear OS ecosystem grow even further, especially since Apple Watch keeps dominating this sector.
