Last Updated on October 11, 2020 by Jude Simeone
Fossil has announced the Gen 5e which is set to be released early next month, It not a successor to Gen 5 that was released last year, but a lower-end version with fewer features for a cheaper price. The Gen 5e is still powered by Snapdragon 3100 chip despite the release of a more advanced Snapdragon 4100, it has a lower 4GB storage capacity compared to Gen 5 with 8GB. Beyond this, the Gen 5E is still a decent smartwatch that’s designed to track your active life, keep you connected to all that matters to you with multi-battery saver modes that allow you to go more than one day from a single charge. It comes in two sizes; 44mm and 42mm, and this post brings you the full specifications and features review of Fossil Gen 5E.
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Fossil Gen 5E (44mm) Full Specifications
Fossil Gen 5e (44mm) | |||||||||||||
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EDITOR'S RATING |
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WHERE TO BUY | ![]() |
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ABOUT DEVICE |
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Device name | Fossil Gen 5e (44mm) | ||||||||||||
Device type | Classic/Fitness smartwatch | ||||||||||||
Predessesor | Fossil Gen 4 Q Explorist | ||||||||||||
Successor | -- | ||||||||||||
Released date | November, 2020 | ||||||||||||
Ideal for | Men | ||||||||||||
DISPLAY |
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Display type | AMOLED (Always-on) | ||||||||||||
Display size | 1.2 inches | ||||||||||||
Display resolution | 416 x 416 pixels | ||||||||||||
Pixel density | -- | ||||||||||||
Input type | Touchscreen plus 1 rotating crown | ||||||||||||
Always-on | Yes | ||||||||||||
BODY |
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Shape | Circular | ||||||||||||
Dimension | 44 x 44 x 12 mm | ||||||||||||
Weight | -- | ||||||||||||
Casing material | Stainless steel | ||||||||||||
Strap/band material | Stainless steel Leather Silione |
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Bezel Material | Stainless steel | ||||||||||||
Strap size | 22mm | ||||||||||||
Screen protection | Corning Gorilla glass | ||||||||||||
Water resistant/Protection | Yes, 3ATM | ||||||||||||
Swim-proof | Yes | ||||||||||||
Color(s) | Black steel/silicone Black steel/black steel Black steel/brown leather |
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MEMORY |
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RAM | 1GB | ||||||||||||
Internal storage | 4GB | ||||||||||||
Memory card slot | No | ||||||||||||
CONNECTIVITY |
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Bluetooth | Bluetooth smart v4.2 LE | ||||||||||||
Bluetooth calling | Yes | ||||||||||||
Wi-Fi | Yes | ||||||||||||
NFC | Yes | ||||||||||||
GPS | Yes | ||||||||||||
CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY |
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Technology | No | ||||||||||||
SIM | No | ||||||||||||
Band | No | ||||||||||||
NOTIFICATIONS |
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Email alert | Yes | ||||||||||||
SMS alert | Yes | ||||||||||||
Calls alert | Yes | ||||||||||||
Event reminder | Yes | ||||||||||||
Weather | Yes | ||||||||||||
Third-party apps | Yes | ||||||||||||
FITNESS TRACKING |
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Sleep apnea | No | ||||||||||||
Sleep tracking | Yes | ||||||||||||
Steps | Yes | ||||||||||||
Floors climbed | Yes | ||||||||||||
Heart rate monitoring | Yes | ||||||||||||
Calories | Yes | ||||||||||||
Distance | Yes | ||||||||||||
Stress | Yes | ||||||||||||
VO2 Max. | Yes | ||||||||||||
Blood oxygen | No | ||||||||||||
Blood pressure | No | ||||||||||||
Menstrual cycle tracking | No | ||||||||||||
Swim tracking | Yes | ||||||||||||
Under-water heart rate tracking | No | ||||||||||||
Preloaded maps | No | ||||||||||||
On-screen workout modes | No | ||||||||||||
Triathlon mode | __ | ||||||||||||
ECG Tracking | No | ||||||||||||
Preloaded sport modes | Yes | ||||||||||||
Safety tracking | No | ||||||||||||
MEDIA |
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Audio | mp3/mp4 | ||||||||||||
Music streaming | Yes | ||||||||||||
Bluetooth music | Yes | ||||||||||||
Radio | No | ||||||||||||
Loudspeaker | Yes | ||||||||||||
Microphone | Yes | ||||||||||||
Camera | No | ||||||||||||
SENSORS |
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Accelerometer | Yes | ||||||||||||
Barometer/Altimeter | Yes | ||||||||||||
Heart rate monitor (HRM) | Yes | ||||||||||||
Compass | No | ||||||||||||
Gyroscope | Yes | ||||||||||||
Ambient light | Yes | ||||||||||||
Pulse Ox. | No | ||||||||||||
ECG | No | ||||||||||||
Thermometer | No | ||||||||||||
Other sensors | __ | ||||||||||||
PLATFORM |
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Operating system (OS) | Wear OS | ||||||||||||
Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 | ||||||||||||
CPU | -- | ||||||||||||
GPU | -- | ||||||||||||
BATTERY |
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Type of battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | ||||||||||||
Battery capacity | __ | ||||||||||||
Battery life | Standby: 3 days+ Mixed usage: 1 day+ |
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Charging type | Inductive charging magnet | ||||||||||||
Charging time | About 1-2 hours | ||||||||||||
Battery saver mode | Yes | ||||||||||||
Solar power | No | ||||||||||||
Rapid charging | Yes | ||||||||||||
CLOCK FEATURES |
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Time/Date | Yes | ||||||||||||
Stopwatch | Yes | ||||||||||||
Alarm | Yes | ||||||||||||
OTHER FUNCTIONS |
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Control camera | Yes | ||||||||||||
Music control | Yes | ||||||||||||
Find phone | Yes | ||||||||||||
Text response | Yes | ||||||||||||
MISC |
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Payment system | Google pay | ||||||||||||
Compatibility | Android 6.0 (excluding Go edition)+ iOS 10.0+ |
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Companion app | Fossil Q app | ||||||||||||
Customizable watch face | Yes | ||||||||||||
Interchangeable band | Yes, 22mm | ||||||||||||
Voice command | Yes | ||||||||||||
BOX CONTENTS | |||||||||||||
Fossil Gen 5e (44mm) | |||||||||||||
Straps | |||||||||||||
Inductive charging magnet | |||||||||||||
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 |
Fossil Gen 5E Features
- Solid Design
- Music Storage – Loudspeaker and Microphone
- Fitness Tracking Features
- Manage Notifications and Make Payment with Google Pay
- 1 Day+ Battery Life and Multi-days With Battery Saver Modes
- Snapdragon 3100 Powers Gen 5e
The Gen 5e has a solid and durable design made of strong materials. It has a stainless steel case and straps that come in silicone, stainless steel, or leather straps. It comes in a 44mm or 42mm case size which is quite compact when compared to Galaxy Watch measuring 46mm. I don’t know the thickness size, but it doesn’t look bulky from the videos I watched. The straps measure 22mm for the 44mm and 18mm for the 42mm which are both interchangeable, so you can swap with any other band of your choice if you don’t like the ones that come with the watch. The Gen 5e is available in three variants; black with black steel straps, black with black silicone straps, and black with brown silicone straps, while the 42mm model comes in four variants; rose-gold/mesh steel, rose-gold/steel straps, rose-gold/silicone and two-tone.
Navigation on Gen 5e is through the single rotating button and touchscreen support unlike the Gen 5 that has three buttons. And there are lots of watch faces to choose from as well as other options from third-parties who make watch faces for Wear OS smartwatches.
Gen 5e is rated 3ATM which makes it waterproof up to 30 meters, you can wear it to the shower, pool and if you get caught up in the rain, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Like Gen 5, Gen 5e has a microphone and loudspeaker that allows you to make calls directly from this watch when it’s connected to a paired smartphone. You can answer and as well make calls directly from the Gen 5e. You can also play music aloud with the built-in speaker, and the microphone also allows you to access Google Assistant that enables you to carry out simple tasks simply with your voice.
Although Gen 5e has a lower 4GB storage capacity, it allows you to take your favorite tracks with you. You can also stream and save playlists from popular services such as Spotify.
Gen 5e is equipped with a heart rate monitor, accelerometer, inbuilt GPS, and gyroscope which enables it to track your heart rate, calories, sleep, sedentary reminders, steps, distance, and more. With inbuilt GPS, you can track outdoor activities like routes, locations, and pace. You will get access to third-party sports apps like Cardiogram, Nike Run Club, and more.

Just like most smartwatches, the Gen 5e when paired with a compatible smartphone allows you to manage notifications received on the phone. The Wear OS app requires Android 6.0 or iOS 12.0 to setup notification for the Gen 5e. When you receive a notification, you get the alert and you can also reply to messages from the watch.
There’s Google Pay that allows you to make payment directly from Gen 5e in regions where this service is supported. You need to set this up with a debit card for it to work.
Gen 5e doesn’t have a very impressive battery life, especially when compared to Versa 3 and Active 2 which lasted multiple days from a single charge. It’ll last over a day and with the battery saver modes you can get more than a day battery life with some smart features deactivated.
With the release of Snapdragon 4100 a few months back, Fossil smartwatch fans had expected a smartwatch powered by the new chip but that is not the case. And when you consider that Fossil and its subsidiaries released the most smartwatches under the Snapdragon 3100, it’s quite surprising that the Gen 5e is powered by the 3100 chip. Hopefully, the next smartwatch from the brand will be powered by the 4100 chip just like Ticwatch Pro 3.
Pros
- Durable and sturdy design.
- A fitness focused smartwatch.
- Moderate price.
Cons
- Battery life isn’t so impressive.
- Snapdragon 3100 chip is outdated.