A week ago, we told you to head on over to Fossil’s online store to grab one of their last-remaining Wear OS smartwatches that had been dropped to $79. While we made sure you understood to not expect much going forward should you buy one, the price was so good that... #Fossil #Smartwatches
Fossil didn’t particularly impress me with their smartwatches, so a sales decrease doesn’t surprise me. I had a Skagen Falster 2 (a Fossil by another name) for a bit and it was annoyingly slow with not enough battery to leave the screen on, and eventually did the Fossil thing of the time where the back falls off the watch. I replaced that with a Fossil hybrid HR as I was chasing something more like the Pebble Time Round I liked before its battery lost usable capacity. I liked the concept and battery life of the hybrid but it had a horribly slow interface (galling to me since Pebble had shown you could do much better with e-ink), the e-ink screen ended up fading, it kept getting moisture inside the face, and as a last straw Fossil decided to be a dick and remove the left handed button mode.
Pebble was the best smartwatch maker to date. It’s unfortunate no one is capable of replicating the features, battery life, and community support like them. I like snazzy fast displays like anyone else. But, I also like weeks long battery life. A pebble like smartwatch with E-ink displays should be resurrected in the near future some day.
Me too! I had to replace the battery in my Pebble Time Steel a couple years ago, but it’s still going strong! Sometimes I think about getting something new, but everything new is worse!
I ended up getting a Fenix 6s about a year and a half ago and I think it’s about as close to a Pebble successor as things get these days. I get a comfortable week out of the battery, and a responsive e-ink screen with the basics covered plus a few more fitness related things (and a party trick of topo maps) the Pebble didn’t have. I don’t feel like it has quite the community support that Pebble had in terms of software (or the enabling thereof from Garmin), so it’s not 100% the same but it’s been working well for me so far.
Unfortunately yes. They do put some models on sale occasionally so if you want one it can be worth waiting - I got mine at close on half RRP which made the cost somewhat more palatable.
Same here, Fenix 6 for a couple of years and definitely nearly as good as pebble, but I still miss the comfort and size of pebble. The screen is a bit better I think though and the battery seems to last me more but I barely use any of the fancy useless stuff like gps and what not.
I doubt the community that pebble built can be replicated by any other company… I really miss how simple it was to start creating software for the pebble and talking with other devs.
I got a fossil Hybrid HR with eink display 3 years ago to replace my pebble and it’s the only thing that comes close. Doesn’t sound like the hyrbid series are included in the above cancelations
I have a Bip watch as well. I actually bought a fancier one, but the Bip has a display that is on all the time, and after 5 years of use still has a battery life of about 5-6 weeks!
It tells the time, buzzes when I get a phone call, and tracks my steps. That’s about all I need.
Fossil didn’t particularly impress me with their smartwatches, so a sales decrease doesn’t surprise me. I had a Skagen Falster 2 (a Fossil by another name) for a bit and it was annoyingly slow with not enough battery to leave the screen on, and eventually did the Fossil thing of the time where the back falls off the watch. I replaced that with a Fossil hybrid HR as I was chasing something more like the Pebble Time Round I liked before its battery lost usable capacity. I liked the concept and battery life of the hybrid but it had a horribly slow interface (galling to me since Pebble had shown you could do much better with e-ink), the e-ink screen ended up fading, it kept getting moisture inside the face, and as a last straw Fossil decided to be a dick and remove the left handed button mode.
Pebble was the best smartwatch maker to date. It’s unfortunate no one is capable of replicating the features, battery life, and community support like them. I like snazzy fast displays like anyone else. But, I also like weeks long battery life. A pebble like smartwatch with E-ink displays should be resurrected in the near future some day.
I love my Pebble! I still use my Pebble Time to this day.
Me too! I had to replace the battery in my Pebble Time Steel a couple years ago, but it’s still going strong! Sometimes I think about getting something new, but everything new is worse!
Mine is still on my original battery. While it doesn’t last 7 days anymore, it lasts long enough for me, and I’m okay with that.
Mine was down to lasting about 12 hours lol
That sucks.
Yeah, the battery replacement wasn’t too hard, though. Just some light soldering and sugru to seal it back up
I ended up getting a Fenix 6s about a year and a half ago and I think it’s about as close to a Pebble successor as things get these days. I get a comfortable week out of the battery, and a responsive e-ink screen with the basics covered plus a few more fitness related things (and a party trick of topo maps) the Pebble didn’t have. I don’t feel like it has quite the community support that Pebble had in terms of software (or the enabling thereof from Garmin), so it’s not 100% the same but it’s been working well for me so far.
That looks nice, but dear god is is expensive
Unfortunately yes. They do put some models on sale occasionally so if you want one it can be worth waiting - I got mine at close on half RRP which made the cost somewhat more palatable.
Same here, Fenix 6 for a couple of years and definitely nearly as good as pebble, but I still miss the comfort and size of pebble. The screen is a bit better I think though and the battery seems to last me more but I barely use any of the fancy useless stuff like gps and what not.
I doubt the community that pebble built can be replicated by any other company… I really miss how simple it was to start creating software for the pebble and talking with other devs.
The Pebble UI was also just plain fun while also being so functional. I loved the timeline concept.
I got a fossil Hybrid HR with eink display 3 years ago to replace my pebble and it’s the only thing that comes close. Doesn’t sound like the hyrbid series are included in the above cancelations
AmazFit BIP series watches are pretty good. It’s amazing how horrible the Android OS is for watches but Apple set the tone saying 18 hours is enough.
I have a Bip watch as well. I actually bought a fancier one, but the Bip has a display that is on all the time, and after 5 years of use still has a battery life of about 5-6 weeks!
It tells the time, buzzes when I get a phone call, and tracks my steps. That’s about all I need.
Don’t forget ads on the home screen after a major version update.
Good riddance.