Skip to main content

Android Wear alert: Fossil’s first-class new smartwatches are ready to buy

fossil q marshal wander motion
Fossil has grown its range of Q smart wear devices to 20, after finally providing the launch details for the Q Wander and Q Marshal smartwatches, which were announced earlier this year. Fossil promised to add 100 new smart devices to its lineup before the end of 2016.

There was something for everyone in the company’s March announcement of new wearables, including two new Android Wear devices, as well as a few “smarter analog watches” and fitness trackers.

Android Wear Watches

Fossil Q Wander Q Marshal

The Q Wander (on the right in the picture above) and Q Marshall Android Wear devices follow in the footsteps of the Q Founder, which was released towards the end of 2015 and offers smart features wrapped in a classic-looking watch body. Prices for both start at $295, depending on the strap you choose, and pre-orders begin on August 12, with release coming on August 29.

While the Q Founder was a pretty hefty device, the Q Wander and Q Marshal are aimed at those who want something a little more subtle. They both have 45mm cases, but the Q Wander has a more feminine look, depending on which color you choose, while the Q Marshal is more rugged.

Both watches are compatible with a wide range of Fossil straps, made from leather, silicone, or stainless steel. Once you’ve settled on your strap of choice, it’s easy to customize the Android Wear watch face to match the style and colors.

As far as functions go, the devices are very similar to the Q Founder. Using Android Wear, they track steps, distance, and calories. The Wander and Marshal both function pretty much the same as every other Android Wear watch on the market, so you’ll get notifications and be able to use your favorite apps on your wrist. Both watches feature an always-on display and voice control.

Find the Q Wander and Q Marshal at Fossil.com.

Smart Analog Movement

smart-analog-watches

Fossil also teased what it calls “smarter analog watches,” as part of its Smart Analog Movement. They’re like the Q Grant, which means an analog movement, no touchscreen, and features like fitness tracking and notifications. We’re still waiting for these to be fully revealed, but when they do arrive, they’ll appeal to anyone who wants a regular watch that still has some of the major advantages of a smartwatch.

Much like the Withings Activité and the Runtastic Moment, these are watches first and smart trackers second.

Fitness Trackers

fossil-fitness-tracking

The watches are great, but what about devices for the fitness junkies among us? Fossil has a range of fitness tracking devices called Q Motion that will be disguised as attractive bracelets. They will start at $95, and offer water resistance, but best of all they don’t require charging, just to swap out the coin cell battery every six months or so.

We also wrote about it here: Fossil’s $95 Q Motion activity tracker can also track sleep

These fitness trackers also receive notifications and alert you with haptic feedback and LED pulses. You can even control music by tapping on the device a certain number of times.

All of these devices will arrive at varying points of the year, so keep an eye out for more information and our reviews.

Article originally published on 03-15-2016. Updated on 08-09-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in the launch dates and price for the Q Marshal and Q Wander.

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 vs. Fitbit Sense
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 smartwatch, worn on a person's wrist.

The Galaxy Watch 4 is Samsung's take on a modern, hi-tech wearable that doesn't imitate an old-school analog wristwatch. It eschews the classic design of its predecessors for a sleeker, more streamlined look, while also providing some excellent hardware and features. These include a Super AMOLED touchscreen, 16GB of internal storage, generous battery life, and some great health-tracking software.

It's certainly one of the best smartwatches out there, but in a market saturated by Apple Watches and various Android equivalents, it certainly isn't without competitors. One of these is the Fitbit Sense, which in 2020 emerged to offer a premium version of the core Fitbit experience, replete with an ECG sensor, a choice of virtual assistants, and a wealth of fitness features.

Read more
This $4,000 titanium beauty is the ultimate square G-Shock
The G-Shock MRG-B5000B.

Do you want the very best Casio offers in manufacturing, design, and technology from your new G-Shock, all wrapped up in that highly recognizable square case? In other words, the ultimate version of a truly classic G-Shock watch? If so, the new MRG-B5000B is exactly the model you will want, provided cost is no object. We’ve been wearing it.
What makes MR-G so special?
Although Casio is best known for tough watches that won’t break the bank, Casio also has decades of watchmaking experience, and it showcases its talents most effectively in its highly exclusive MR-G family of watches. These models, its most luxurious, are assembled by hand on Casio’s Premium Production Line located in the Yamagata factory in Japan, where only the company’s most experienced, specially certified technicians work on the top MT-G and MR-G models.

The square G-Shock is one of the most popular models, having been around since the G-Shock brand first started in the early 1980s, and bringing it to the luxury MR-G range is going to see a lot of people reaching for their wallets. What makes it so special? It’s the first time the classic, beloved square G-Shock has been given the MR-G treatment, with most other MR-G models over the past few years featuring an analog dial. There's a huge section of an already large fan base waiting for this.

Read more
Fitbit recalls Ionic smartwatch after several burn reports
best walmart deals on apple watch garmin and fitbit ionic smartwatch adidas edition ice gray silver

Fitbit Ionic smartwatch users need to stop using their devices right now. The company has recalled its Ionic wearable after over 150 reports of the watch’s lithium-ion battery overheating, and 78 reports of burn injuries to the users. It will offer a refund of $299 to the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch users who return the device.

Fitbit has received at least 115 reports in the United States and over 50 reports internationally about the Ionic smartwatch's battery overheating. It is recalling the device as there are two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns out of the 78 total burn injuries report.

Read more