Fossil Gen 5 vs Gen 4 Sport – What’s New?
Fossil have announced their new generation of smartwatches, the Gen 5 series which includes the Calyle and Juliana. These two join the Gen 4 sport on the list of smartwatches from Fossil that are powered by the Snapdragon 3100 chip. The new Gen 5 series also come with additional hardware upgrades that make these two more outstanding smartwatches. We’re comparing the Fossil Gen 5 vs Gen 4 Sport specs and features – which is better?
Fossil Gen 5 vs Gen 4 Sport Specifications Compared
| Fossil Gen 5 Calyle | Fossil Gen 4 Q Sport Smartwatch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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EDITOR'S RATING |
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WHERE TO BUY |  Check at Amazon | Check at Amazon |
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ABOUT DEVICE |
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| Device name | Fossil Gen 5 Calyle | Fossil Gen 4 Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Device type | Classic/Fitness smartwatch | Sport/Fitness smartwatch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predessesor | Fossil Gen 4 Q Explorist | Fossil Gen 3 Sport (Q Control) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | -- | __ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Released date | August, 2019 | November, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ideal for | Men | Unisex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DISPLAY |
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| Display type | AMOLED (Always-on) | AMOLED | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Display size | 1.28 inch | 1.2 inch (41mm) 1.3 inch (43mm) |
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| Display resolution | 416 x 416 pixels | 390 x 390 pixel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pixel density | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Input type | Touchscreen plus 3 physical buttons | Touchscreen 3 physical buttons (1 digital crown, 2 programmable) |
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| Always-on | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BODY |
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| Shape | Circular | Circular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dimension | 44 x 44 x 12 mm | 43 x 43 x 12mm 41 x 41 x 11mm |
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| Weight | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Casing material | Stainless steel | Aluminum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strap/band material | Stainless steel | Silicone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bezel Material | Stainless steel | Ceramics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strap size | 22mm | 22mm (43mm) 18mm (41mm) |
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| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla glass | Corning Gorilla glass | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water resistant/Protection | Yes, 3ATM | Yes, 5ATM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swim-proof | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Color(s) | Black silicone/steel Dark Brown/black steel Smoke stainless steel | Black Gray Red Green Blue |
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MEMORY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RAM | 1GB | 0.5GB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Internal storage | 8GB | 4GB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memory card slot | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CONNECTIVITY |
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| Bluetooth | Bluetooth smart v4.2 LE | Bluetooth smart v4.2 LE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NFC | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GPS | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technology | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SIM | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Band | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
NOTIFICATIONS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Email alert | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weather | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third-party apps | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
FITNESS TRACKING | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sleep apnea | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steps | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calories | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stress | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VO2 Max. | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blood oxygen | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blood pressure | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Menstrual cycle tracking | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swim tracking | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under-water heart rate tracking | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preloaded maps | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On-screen workout modes | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Triathlon mode | __ | __ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ECG Tracking | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Safety tracking | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
MEDIA |
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| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Music streaming | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Radio | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loudspeaker | Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microphone | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Camera | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
SENSORS |
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| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barometer/Altimeter | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heart rate monitor (HRM) | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compass | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pulse Ox. | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ECG | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thermometer | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other sensors | __ | __ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
PLATFORM |
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| Operating system (OS) | Wear OS | Wear OS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CPU | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GPU | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BATTERY |
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| Type of battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battery capacity | 310mAh | __ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battery life | Standby: 3 days+ Mixed usage: 1 day+ | Standby:2 days+ Mixed usage: ~ 24 hrs |
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| Charging type | Inductive charging magnet | Inductive charging magnet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charging time | About 1-2 hours | About 1-2 hours | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battery saver mode | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solar power | No | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rapid charging | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CLOCK FEATURES |
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| Time/Date | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alarm | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
OTHER FUNCTIONS |
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| Control camera | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Music control | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Find phone | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Text response | Yes | __ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
MISC |
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| Payment system | Google pay | Google pay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compatibility | Android 6.0 (excluding Go edition)+ iOS 10.0+ | Android 6.0 (excluding Go edition)+ iOS 10.0+ |
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| Companion app | Fossil Q app | Fossil Q app | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customizable watch face | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interchangeable band | Yes, 22mm | Yes, 22mm, 18mm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voice command | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BOX CONTENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fossil Gen 5 Calyle | Fossil Gen 4 Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Straps | Straps | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inductive charging magnet | Inductive charging magnet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quick start guide | Quick start guide | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: We can't guarantee that all the information on this table are 100% correct. Read full disclaimer. Please, report an error. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Official Site | Official Site | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Fossil Gen 5 vs Gen 4 Sport Features Compared
- Design
- Storage/Media
- Fossil Gen 5 vs Gen 4 Sport: Battery Life
Just like the Gen 4, the Gen 5 Calyle and Juliana have sophisticated aesthetics that define true premium smartwatches. So, the Gen 5 is clearly a more beautiful and sturdy smartwatch than the Gen 4 Sport.
However, the Gen 4 sport having a lighter aluminum case weighs less than Gen 5, it’s also more moderately sized than Gen 5 – these are attributes of a sports watch which makes the Gen 4 sport more befitting wear for sports activities and perhaps casual wear.
On the other hand, Gen 5 with its classic appearance made of steel is sturdier than the Gen 4 sport and has that prestigious appearance that makes it more befitting wear for official outings.
Gen 5 Calyle and Juliana have bigger 1GB RAM which as noticed with the Ticwatch 4G pro even though with the older 2100 chip improved performance significantly. This’ll eliminate those glitches encountered on the Gen 4 Sport which had a rather small 0.5GB RAM.
In addition, Gen 5 has a higher 8GB storage capacity than the Gen 4 sport with 4GB storage space. So, you get to take more music with you as well as more apps.
Moreover, the Gen 5 now has a loudspeaker – a feature that the Gen 4 Sport lacks. With loudspeaker onboard, you get more value from the much improved Google Assistant, as well as being able to play your music anywhere. Also, you can now answer calls right on the Gen 5 and as well can initiate a call via Bluetooth calling. The Gen 5 is also the first Wear OS smartwatch to support voice calling to iPhone.
We’re familiar with the time-only mode of the Gen 4 Sport which significantly elongate it’s battery life. However, the Gen 5 also features the time-only battery saver mode with additional three battery saving modes.
With the time-only mode Wear OS features are shut down, but the Gen 5 has the extended battery saver mode that will see the device last longer for a couple of days without compromising notifications and heart rate tracking.
There’s also the custom battery saver mode that enable you create custom battery saver modes, in addition to the daily mode that will see the Gen 5 last just over a day unlike the Gen 4 Sport that last just about a day.
Moreover, the higher RAM and overall improved hardware will see the Gen 5 last a little longer than the Gen 4 sport.
Which is Better?
Clearly, the Gen 5 Calyle and Juliana are better choices than the Gen 4 Sport. These two have more features and a longer battery life that lets you go longer on a single charge.
The Calyle and Juliana have higher RAM sizes that improve performance greatly compared to Gen 4 which lagged. While not forgetting the higher storage space and loudspeaker that adds more value to Google Assistant and the ability to make and answer calls via Bluetooth calling (supported on Android and iOS devices).
Moreover, Gen 5 Calyle and Juliana with the classic appearance of a traditional watch make these two more befitting wear for official outings.
The Gen 4 Sport on the hand, weighs less, has a higher water resistance rating of 5ATM compared to the 3ATM of the Gen 5, and is also more compact which makes it more befitting wear for sports activities.
Here’s how they stack up;
| FOSSIL GEN 5 CALYLE | A premium classic smartwatch with improved performance and remarkable battery saver modes that significantly elongate its battery life. A great choice for men. |
| FOSSIL GEN 5 JULIANA | Another premium classic smartwatch, a befitting wear for women. |
| FOSSIL GEN 4 SPORT | A lightweight sport smartwatch. |
Our Pick
The Fossil Gen 5 with a topnotch design, remarkable battery saver modes and loaded with features is no doubt an outstanding smartwatch. The Calyle and Juliana are our preferred choice.
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