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Techgoondu > Blog > Mobile > Goondu review: Fossil Hybrid HR
Mobile

Goondu review: Fossil Hybrid HR

Wilson Wong
Last updated: August 13, 2020 at 6:42 PM
Wilson Wong Published April 11, 2020
5 Min Read
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The Fossil Hybrid HR FTW7018. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

The Fossil Hybrid HR is the latest attempt by a watchmaker to crack the smartwatch market with a conventional-looking design that has the digital smarts built in.

What’s different is the lack of the many faux watch faces that you can change on most smartwatches. Instead, you get physical dials that complement the e-ink display at the back, which works great in bright sunny Singapore.

This combination works well when it comes to battery life. I can read the time using the dials, without having to “wake up” the smartwatch each time.

The e-ink screen also uses up much less power to show important information and messages pushed from your smartphone. That’s different from the usual colour screens on smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch.

During my tests, the Hybrid HR lasted two weeks before needed to be recharged, which is certainly impressive. Usually, these watches last just a few days, max.

The dials get out of the way for you to read the information on the screen with a flick of your wrist. VIDEO: Wilson Wong

The highlight of this watch is the marriage between analogue timekeeping and modern conveniences via smartphone notifications.

The Fossil watch will feel right at home for both work and leisure, unlike a fitness tracker that often feels and looks plainly utilitarian on the wrist.

The watch face can be customised to show various types of information as well. You can show workout data, wellness data, a stopwatch, a timer, the weather and commute time. For someone who is not a fitness freak, that’s enough information on a small screen.

The dials are straightened to show your WhatsApp messages. The e-ink display makes them easy to read as well. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

One of the main grouses I have with fitness trackers is how messages from the phone are oddly truncated. The Fossil watch’s screen is like most in terms of size, but it is more readable with the e-ink display even in bright sunlight.

As a fitness tracker, the Hybrid HR is no slouch, either. Perhaps Fossil has built up experience through Misfit, a wearable maker that it had bought over in 2015.

The Hybrid HR is able to track your heart rate too. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

I did a series of tests with the Hybrid HR along with the fitness tracker provided by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board.

Good news is, the pedometer on the smartwatch just varies slightly with the fitness tracker. It tracks your workout times, heart rate and calories burnt, and should work well with the Fossil app for both Android and iOS devices.

You do have to be careful with handling the watch, though. Fossil says it is dust and water resistant but I’d say it’s not something you’d want to immerse in water for too long.

Incidentally, the Hybrid HR does not run on Google’s Wear OS and uses Fossil’s own platform. So, the functions and feature will not be comparable to Google’s offering.

Unfortunately, I cannot charge this watch wirelessly and that means having an additional charging cable on my already messy desk. Its bigger size over a typical fitness tracker also makes it tough to use if I want to track my sleep patterns.

The Fossil Hybrid HR FTW7018. PHOTO: Handout

With five models costing between S$349 and $389, the Fossil Hybrid HR is on the expensive side of things. However, I can see its appeal.

If you have been asking why smartwatches are so sports-centric, then this is something different to look out for. It will look fine in a more formal setting, while still performing health tracking like a casual-looking wrist band.

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TAGGED: Fossil, Hybrid HR, review, Singapore price and availability, smartwatch

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Wilson Wong April 11, 2020
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By Wilson Wong
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Wilson is a self-taught photographer whose passion started with his father’s old Canon L Rangefinder camera. He now leads the 12,000+ strong Singapore Photography & Imaging Network group. His photos have won acclaim from Nikon and Fujifilm, and are featured in various books and exhibitions.
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2 Comments
  • Zhaolin says:
    April 11, 2020 at 8:59 pm

    Could you type replies

    Reply
    • Wilson Wong says:
      April 15, 2020 at 8:05 pm

      It is just a notification. Usually i will not use voice to reply because the speech to text for me is not accurate.

      Reply

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