Ditch the Daily Charge: Why the Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid is a Smartwatch Game Changer
Modern premium smartwatches are packed with features, but their abysmal battery life is a major drawback. The Apple Watch, for instance, only lasts a day. Many people avoid smartwatches altogether because of this constant need to charge. But what if you could have the best of both worlds – smart functionality and the timeless elegance of a traditional watch – all while enjoying two weeks of battery life? That’s the promise of hybrid smartwatches, and the Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid is a perfect example.
Priced at Rs. 18,495 in India, the Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid combines an E Ink display with health and fitness tracking capabilities, Alexa voice assistant functionality, and a remarkable two-week battery life. Is this the future of smartwatches for budget-conscious buyers who want style and longevity? Read on to find out.
Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid Smartwatch: Design and Features
A Classic Look with Modern Touches
Like most hybrid smartwatches, the Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid boasts analogue timekeeping with mechanical hour and minute hands. But don’t be fooled – these aren’t entirely mechanical. The time is synced with your smartphone, and the hands move to support the watch’s smart features.
Instead of a crown, the Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid has three physical buttons for navigation. The middle button is the main control, while the top and bottom buttons are used for scrolling. The left side features a microphone for Alexa voice commands.
The Beauty of E Ink
The real star of the show is the E Ink display located under the hands. This power-efficient display is responsible for the smartwatch’s impressive battery life and is also easier on the eyes. While it’s not backlit, a double-tap activates lights that illuminate the display for five seconds. It’s a clever solution that balances usability and power conservation.
A Sophisticated Build with Comfort in Mind
The 45mm case of the Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid is sophisticated and versatile, suitable for formal or casual occasions. The stainless steel mesh strap adds a touch of elegance but can feel heavy. Thankfully, the straps are replaceable with any 24mm quick-release watch strap for a more comfortable fit.
The bottom of the watch houses optical sensors for heart rate and blood oxygen levels along with the magnetic charging system. This system allows for charging in any direction, making it incredibly convenient.
Water resistance, Connectivity, and Power
The Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid is 3ATM water resistant, making it suitable for everyday wear, including light rain. Bluetooth 5 ensures a reliable connection with your smartphone, and the Fossil Q Intel Atom processor powers the device. It has 16MB of internal storage (for internal functionality, not user access).
Software: Seamless Navigation with Alexa Integration
A Surprisingly Sophisticated Interface
The Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid’s interface boasts a delightful blend of simplicity and functionality. Despite the lack of a touchscreen, it offers a plethora of smart features including notifications, music controls, weather reports, timers, and more. The E Ink display renders text clearly, making it easy to read notifications and data.
Clever Solutions
The watch hands move out of the way to ensure an unobstructed view of the display while viewing notifications. A shake of the wrist will move the hands to reveal complications on the display. This makes navigating the interface easy and efficient.
Alexa on Your Wrist
One of the most impressive features of the Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid is its seamless Alexa integration. You can set the top button to invoke Alexa or access her through the app menu. Alexa responses appear on the screen, making it a truly hands-free experience. The device is linked to your Amazon Alexa account for personalized responses and control over other smart home devices.
Fitness Tracking
The Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid offers various workout modes, including walking, running, cycling, and elliptical, along with detailed data accessible within the app. It’s important to remember that the watch needs to be connected to your smartphone for these features to work, and your smartphone needs internet access. While I was able to control my IoT devices, I couldn’t control music playback on my smartphone or Echo speakers.
Performance: Accuracy and Endurance
Beyond Battery Life: Accurate Fitness Tracking
The Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid’s fitness tracking capabilities pleasantly surprised me. Heart rate and blood oxygen levels were accurate when compared to a pulse oximeter and my Apple Watch Series 5.
While the loose fit of the metal strap made heart rate measurement during walking slightly challenging, step tracking was remarkably accurate. The watch measured 1,001 steps where I counted 1,000 manually. During a longer walking workout, the Fossil measured only 30 steps more than my GPS-enabled Apple Watch – an error margin of less than 1%.
Other Features: Efficient and Reliable
Beyond fitness tracking, other core features such as music remote, stopwatch, timer, and the weather app all worked as expected. Notifications, including caller identification and text messages, pushed reliably.
An Unrivaled Two Weeks
The Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid’s battery life is its true stand-out feature. The company claims up to two weeks of battery life, and I was able to match that estimate with moderate use, including regular notifications, walking workouts, and frequent smartphone notifications.
Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid: The Verdict
Bridging the Gap Between Old and New
The Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid proves that hybrid smartwatches are no longer just novelty devices. It offers the classic aesthetic of a traditional watch with the modern functionality of a smartwatch.
A Smart Choice for Style and Longevity
For individuals looking for a sophisticated and versatile timepiece that won’t constantly need charging, the Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid is a compelling choice. It combines accurate fitness tracking, seamless Alexa integration, reliable notifications, and exceptional battery life, all at a price point under Rs. 20,000, making it an excellent value for money.
The Fossil Machine Gen 6 Hybrid is proof that the future of hybrid smartwatches is bright, offering a perfect blend of old-school charm and modern technology.
