Fossil Gen 5'S Sleep Tracking: How Effective Is It?

Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches have undergone a series of updates, including the addition of sleep tracking. This feature allows users to record sleep history, monitor restfulness, and set sleep goals. While the Fossil Gen 5 watch does not have native sleep tracking, users can download third-party apps to enable this functionality. These apps include Sleep as Android for Android phones and Smart Alarm and Sleep Tracker for Wear OS for iPhones. With these updates, Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches offer improved sleep tracking capabilities, providing users with insights into their sleep patterns and helping them set sleep-related goals.

Fossil Gen 5 smartwatches have sleep tracking capabilities

Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches have sleep-tracking capabilities thanks to a software update. This update includes a sleep tracker app that allows Gen 5 watches to record sleep history, monitor restfulness, and set sleep goals. The update also includes new battery management features, such as personalized profiles that help users quickly toggle their processor performance and battery life. With these updates, Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches are a legitimate challenger to the Apple Watch.

The sleep-tracking feature on the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatches is exclusive to Fossil and is not available on broader Wear OS models. The update is compatible with Android 6.0 or newer phones, as well as iOS 10 or newer iPhones. To use the Gen 5 smartwatch on either smartphone platform, users need to download the free Wear OS by Google app.

While the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatches have built-in sleep tracking capabilities, some users have reported that they prefer to use third-party sleep tracking apps. These apps can be accessed and downloaded by visiting Google Play. For Android phones, users can download the "Sleep as Android" app, while for iPhones, the "Smart Alarm and Sleep Tracker for Wear OS" app is available. However, some users have reported difficulties finding and using these third-party apps.

In addition to sleep tracking, the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatches also offer a variety of other features such as VO2 max estimates, cardio fitness tracking, and improved activity tracking. The update promises better real-time fitness tracking, including heart rate, pace, distance, steps, and calories, while consuming half the power compared to the central processor.

Sleep tracking is only available via third-party apps

Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches do offer sleep tracking, but this feature is only available via third-party apps. This is because the watch's standard Google Wear OS does not support sleep tracking. However, Fossil has released updates for the Gen 5 that enable sleep tracking, along with other features such as VO2 max estimates, cardio fitness tracking, and improved activity tracking.

To access sleep tracking on the Fossil Gen 5, you will need to download a third-party sleep tracking app. You can find these apps on the watch's Play Store or the Apple App Store, depending on your smartphone. For Android phones, you can download the "Sleep as Android" app. For iPhones, you can download the "Smart Alarm and Sleep Tracker for Wear OS" app. These third-party apps will allow you to track your sleep and monitor your sleep patterns.

It is worth noting that some users have reported issues with the "Sleep as Android" app, stating that it can be confusing to use with the watch and that it prompts users to purchase the pro version after a while. Additionally, the battery life of the Fossil Gen 5 may be impacted when using sleep tracking, as it already has limited battery life. You may need to charge the watch multiple times within a 24-hour period if you use the sleep tracking feature overnight.

Overall, while the Fossil Gen 5 does offer sleep tracking through third-party apps, there are some limitations and considerations to keep in mind. The need for third-party apps and the impact on battery life may be factors to consider when deciding whether to use the sleep tracking feature on the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch.

Fossil Gen 5 has improved battery modes to enable sleep tracking

Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches have received a major upgrade with the addition of sleep tracking, which was a highly requested feature. Fossil has introduced improved battery modes to enable sleep tracking on these year-old watches, ensuring that users can get a full 24 hours of battery life per charge. This is a significant improvement, especially for those who plan to use the sleep tracking feature, as it is known that battery life in general is limited with smartwatches, and sleep tracking will consume more power.

The improved battery mode settings allow users to create custom profiles for specific tasks and automatically prompt them to enable "extended mode" to help ensure a full day's use. These personalized profiles give users control over their processor performance/battery tradeoffs, allowing them to quickly adjust settings to match their usage needs. With these improvements, Fossil has addressed a common concern with smartwatches: the need for frequent charging. Now, users can go about their day without worrying about their watch dying halfway through.

In addition to the improved battery modes, Fossil has also added a new sleep tracker app that works in tandem with the battery optimizations to enable sleep tracking. This app lets Gen 5 watches record sleep history, monitor restfulness, and set sleep goals. This comprehensive approach to sleep tracking sets Fossil apart from competitors and positions it as a legitimate challenger to the Apple Watch. While the Apple Watch has similar features in watchOS 7, Fossil's software update for Gen 5 watches was released first, giving them a brief lead in the market.

The sleep tracking feature on the Fossil Gen 5 smartwatches is accessible through third-party apps or by using the Google Fit app, which has a section for sleep tracking. However, some users have reported that Google Fit does not always track sleep reliably. Additionally, users can access the Play Store on their watch to download sleep tracking apps, such as "Sleep as Android" for Android phones or "Smart Alarm and Sleep Tracker for Wear OS" for iPhones. With these apps and the improved battery modes, Fossil Gen 5 users can effectively track their sleep patterns and set sleep goals without constantly worrying about battery life.

Google Fit and Cardiogram apps have sleep sections but don't track sleep

Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatch does not have native sleep-tracking capabilities. However, users can download third-party apps to track their sleep.

The Google Fit app, which is available on the Fossil Gen 5, has a dedicated section for sleep tracking. However, it does not track sleep by itself. Instead, it can be used to view sleep data from connected third-party sleep-tracking apps. For example, users can sync their sleep data from the "Sleep as Android" app to Google Fit and then view their sleep charts and details such as time taken to fall asleep, sleep quality, and room temperature.

Similarly, the Cardiogram app, which comes pre-installed on the Fossil Gen 5, also has a sleep-tracking feature. However, this feature is currently in the Beta testing phase. While it can track sleep duration, it does not record any sleep data natively. Instead, it relies on third-party apps to write the sleep data, which can then be read and displayed within the Cardiogram app.

Therefore, while the Google Fit and Cardiogram apps have sleep sections, they do not directly track sleep. They serve as a central platform to view sleep data collected by other dedicated sleep-tracking apps.

Fossil Gen 5 has new heart rate sensors

Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches have received a major update, introducing sleep tracking and improved fitness features. The update includes a new sleep tracker app that allows Gen 5 watches to record sleep history, monitor restfulness, and set sleep goals. This new functionality is a welcome addition for users who have been waiting for sleep tracking to be added to their Fossil devices.

While Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches have always offered fitness tracking capabilities, the new update enhances these features and introduces new ones. One notable improvement is the addition of new heart rate sensors, which enable more accurate real-time fitness tracking. This includes tracking heart rate, pace, distance, steps, and calories burned. By offloading these tasks from the main processor to the QCC1110 co-processor, Fossil has achieved better performance while consuming half the power.

The update also introduces VO2 max tracking, which estimates cardiorespiratory health and overall fitness levels. This feature combines a user's resting heart rate with self-provided details such as age, gender, and weight. Additionally, Fossil has improved the battery mode settings, allowing users to create custom profiles for specific tasks and automatically prompting them to enable "extended mode" to ensure a full 24 hours of battery life per charge.

These updates are exclusive to Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches and are not available on broader Wear OS models. The updates are compatible with Android 6.0 or newer phones, as well as iOS 10 or newer iPhones. With these new features, Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatches offer improved functionality and a more comprehensive tracking experience for users who prioritize fitness and sleep monitoring.

Frequently asked questions