Fossil adds a bunch of hybrids with different colored e-ink displays

A bunch of new Fossil Hybrids are about to be launched. They come with different colored e-ink displays, and one of them in a small 38mm case.

In early October we saw the release of Gen 5E devices. These pack the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor but are missing some Gen 5 features such as built-in GPS, altimeter, the 3 programmable buttons on the side and the slightly larger screen. They do offer a form-factor, though, that might appeal to those with smaller wrists.

The other day Fossil posted a banner advertisement on their website for Gen 5 LTE watches. These look only to be a cellular upgrade, nothing more. One could always speculate the fashion designer and manufacturer wants to shift current hardware before moving to the next generation. Or the coronavirus situation may have delayed the launch of Gen 6 watches.

New hybrid watches

Now we’ve got a bunch of new Fossil hybrids. They have already been registered by the FCC and Bluetooth SIG so the launch is imminent. The original Hybrid Smartwatch HR was released in November last year. The timepiece is the first product of Fossil’s collaboration with Google and generated a lot of excitement at the time.

Fossil has already added the new hybrids to some of its regional sites. They seem to be the same generation as the original, but with different designs.

The stand-out feature is still there. This is a power-efficient hybrid thanks to an always-on e-ink display. These types of watches don’t run on WearOS. Instead they have Fossil’s proprietary operating system, presumably to preserve battery life.

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One of the devices in the new range is called Monroe. This one has a sophisticated look with a black and white e-ink display packed in a 38mm case. It comes in a number of different color options and a 219 euros price tag.

The functionality includes activity and heart rate tracking, visualized workout routes, music control, customizable buttons and the ability to customize the dial. As far as notifications, you can get app alerts, calendar alerts, email, social media and more. There’s also an alarm clock function and multiple time zones.

Then we have the beautiful Charter Brown Leather HR. This one has a rose gold casing, a blue watch face and a $195 price-tag.

Finally, we come to the $195 Neutra Brown Leather Hybrid HR. That one has a green watch face and a more masculine design.

The watches can be found on some of the Fossil regional sites but they are listed as out of stock. We are guessing, the fashion giant will make them available before the holiday shopping period.

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