Fossil and Mobvoi are two of the biggest names still keeping faith in Google’s Wear OS platform which popular opinion believe still lags behind the likes of Samsung’s Tizen and Apple’s WatchOS with regards to user experience. However, these two companies have produced some of the best Wear OS smartwatches that have no doubt kept the platform alive even in the face of lower patronage from smartwatch fans. Qualcomm makes chips for Wear OS smartwatches, and their most recent Snapdragon 4100 chip which has the same fabrication process of 12nm as Samsung’s Exynos powers Mobvoi’s most advanced smartwatch, Ticwatch Pro 3. While the outdated Snapdragon 3100 powers Fossil Gen 5. These two smartwatches share a lot of features in common and are some of the best Wear OS smartwatches on the market. This comparison review will compare the design, battery life, media, and fitness tracking features of both Gen 5 and Ticwatch Pro 3 to find out which is a better smartwatch for you.
Fossil Gen 5 vs Ticwatch Pro 3 Technical Specs Comparison
| Product Info |
 Fossil Gen 5 Calyle Specifications, Features and Price |
 Ticwatch Pro 3 - First Wear OS Snapdragon 4100 Smartwatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $21.99 | $296.85 |
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device name | Fossil Gen 5 Calyle | Ticwatch Pro 3 |
| Device type | Fitness/Classic smartwatch | Fitness/Classic smartwatch |
| Gender | Men | Men |
| Predecessor | Fossil Gen 4 Explorist | Ticwatch Pro 2020 |
| Successor | — | — |
| Models | — | — |
| Date released | August, 2019 | September, 2020 |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display size | 1.28 inch | 1.4 inches |
| Display type | AMOLED, Full color | AMOLED, FSTN, Full color |
| Resolution | 416 x 416 px | 454 x 454 px |
| Pixel density | — | — |
| Customizable watchface | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | 3 Physical buttons, Touchscreen | 2 Physical buttons, Touchscreen |
| Always-On | Yes | Yes |
| BODY | BODY | BODY |
| Shape | Circular | Circular, Curved |
| Case material | Stainless steel | Glass Fiber, Polyamide |
| Strap material | Stainless steel | Silicone |
| Bezel material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Strap size | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Color | Black, Brown, Smoke | Black |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Dimension | 44 x 44 x 12 mm | 47 x 48 x 12.2 mm |
| Weight | — | 41.9g |
| Waterproof rating | 3ATM | IP68 |
| Swim-proof | Yes | Yes |
| Durability test | — | MIL-STD-810G |
| CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE |
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY |
| RAM | 1GB | 1GB |
| ROM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
| CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
| Network technology | None | None |
| SIM type | None | None |
| NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Reply messages | - | - |
| MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA |
| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No |
| SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS |
| GPS | Yes | BEIDOU, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| HRM | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Ox. | No | Yes |
| Altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | No |
| Thermometer | No | No |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes |
| HEALTH & FITNESS TRACKING | HEALTH & FITNESS TRACKING | HEALTH & FITNESS TRACKING |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen | No | Yes |
| Blood Pressure | No | No |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | No | No |
| Fall detection | No | No |
| Menstrual cycle | No | No |
| VO2 Max | Yes | — |
| Onscreen workout | No | No |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes |
| BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | non-removable Lithium-polymer |
| Battery capacity | 310mAh | 577mAh |
| Battery life | Regular: 24hrs+ | Regular: 3 – 45 days |
| Charging type | Charging dock | Charging dock |
| Charging duration | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar power | No | No |
| PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM |
| Operating system | Wear OS | Wear OS |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 3100 | Snapdragon 4100 |
| CPU | 1.2GHz Quad-core 4x ARM Cortex A7 | 1.7GHz dual core |
| GPU | Adreno 304 GPU | Adreno 504 |
| MISCELLANEOUS | MISCELLANEOUS | MISCELLANEOUS |
| Companion app | Fossil Q App | Ticwatch App |
| Compatibility | Android 6.0+, iOS 10.0+ | Android, iOS |
| Payment system | Google Pay | Google Pay |
| Customizable strap | 22 mm, Yes | 22 mm, Yes |
| Voice Assistant | Yes, Google Assistant | Yes, Google Assistant |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Box content | Charger, Fossil Gen 5 Calyle, Manual, Straps | Charger, Manual, Straps, Ticwatch Pro 3 |
| Price | $21.99 | $296.85 |
Features on Both Smartwatches – Which is Better?
- Design
- Fitness Tracking
- Media and Connectivity
- Snapdragon 3100 vs 4100
- Battery Life
Both Gen 5 and Ticwatch Pro 3 are durably built with tough materials, each of these two has a design that can go the extra mile. Both smartwatches also have relatively near-similar dimensions, and straps come in different materials. You can always change the straps if you don’t like the one that comes with the watch.
AMOLED power the display of both smartwatches which is very rich in color and easy to read. Although, Ticwatch Pro 3 has a screen size of 1.4 inches which is slightly bigger than the Gen 5’s 1.2 inches display size. Ticwatch Pro 3 has a dual display mode consisting of a smart and essential mode. AMOLED powers the smart mode, while FSTN powers the essential mode. The essential mode will see all Wear OS features become inactive leaving only the date, time, and other related complications, this elongates the battery life to a great extent.
Going further, Ticwatch Pro 3 has an IP68 waterproof rating which Mobvoi says is suitable to wear for pool swimming, on the other hand, Gen 5 has a higher 3ATM waterproof rating which can be worn while swimming.
When you talk about fitness tracking, although both smartwatches are well equipped with sensors such as heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and altimeter which allows any of these two to track your steps, heart rate, sleep, calories, floors climbed, and more. Both smartwatches also have inbuilt GPS that allows you to track your outdoor activities like routes and locations. You will also get preset support modes on both smartwatches which will allow you to choose your preferred workout mode depending on the activity you wish to engage in.
However, Ticwatch Pro 3 has blood oxygen tracking, guided breathing, and hearing protection which Fossil Gen 5 lacks. In other words, Ticwatch Pro 3 is a more comprehensive fitness smartwatch.
Both smartwatches have a microphone and loudspeaker inbuilt which will allow you to make and receive calls directly from any of these two. Google Assistant is also available on Ticwatch Pro 3 and Fossil Gen 5 which will allow you to use your voice to do simple tasks with your voice. You also get 1GB RAM and 8GB of storage, and with Google Pay available on both smartwatches, you can make payment directly from any of these two.
The main difference between Ticwatch Pro 3 and Gen 5 is the different chip that powers each of these two. While the advanced 4100 chip powers Ticwatch Pro 3, the 3100 chip powers Fossil Gen 5. The 4100 chip brings a faster and smoother experience and longer battery life to Wear OS smartwatches with its higher CPU, GPU, and storage. Although, Gen 5 still performs very well.
Due to the dual-display design of Ticwatch Pro 3, it has a variable battery life that allows it to last up to 3 days on smart mode or about 45 days with essential mode activated. Meanwhile, Gen 5 has proven to last just over a day. However, with the battery saver mode activated, it can go up to 3 days or more depending on your settings and usage.
Fossil Gen 5 Review
Our Verdict
I go with Ticwatch Pro 3 singularly because it has the 4100 chip under the hood which seems like a big deal for upcoming Wear OS smartwatches. Its no doubt a sophisticated smartwatch that has compared favorably with the likes of Galaxy Watch 3 and Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro.
Ticwatch Pro 3 Review
Otherwise, Fossil Gen 5 is still one of the most popular Wear OS smartwatches. It has a prestigious design and nice features.
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