When it comes to the smartwatch market, we see them as a whole different ball game. They’ve got their own set of software and hardware quirks to think about. I mean, think about it, we strap them on our wrists instead of shoving them into our pockets like our phones. Plus, they gotta be tiny enough to sit comfy on your wrist, right? But, like, can they truly stand out when there’s basically just three options to pick from? And to top it off, they’re all from the same companies that pump out smartphones too.
This is a question we gotta tackle in 2024. Fossil, you know, used to be a big player in the Wear OS smartwatch scene, but they’ve decided to bow out of the wearables game. So now, it’s basically just Samsung and Apple holding down the fort as the top dogs in the smartwatch world, while Google trails behind in a distant third place.
The other players left in the game cater to specific tastes or mainly target the Asian market. It’s a big shake-up that not only narrows down choices for folks hunting for a watch to go with their Android device but also might impact the overall quality of wearables out there. It seems like the definition of what a smartwatch is has shrunk, and chances are, it won’t be expanding anytime soon.
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Fossil tried locking horns with Apple and Samsung
Fossil might not be as big a deal in the smartwatch scene as Apple or Galaxy Watch, but they’re definitely not flying under the radar either. You can spot them all over the place if you pay attention, with their analog watches being super popular. They’re in department stores and all over the web.
Fossil’s smartwatches were the ones my mom noticed first when she ditched her clunky Garmin watch for something more versatile. Their strong ties to the fashion world as a jewelry and accessory brand helped them get into stores without needing to buy their way in like other companies.
It’s also worth noting that Fossil has been a loyal partner with Wear OS up until this point. They kicked things off by rolling out their first Wear OS (back then it was called Android Wear) watch back in 2015. In a similar way to how Pebble set the tone with their colorful plastic and E Ink screens back in 2013, Fossil made a mark by creating smartwatches that resembled regular watches, complete with round faces, bezels, crowns, and metal details.
Back when Samsung was rocking those chunky, square screens, it was definitely noticeable. And Fossil? They kept on rollin’ with Google’s wearable OS even when it seemed like Google had kinda lost interest in it. They weathered through underpowered Qualcomm chips and a serious lack of new features for years.
Seems like the company’s call to pull the plug on their smartwatch lineup is all about the money. Jeff Boyer, the exec VP and COO, told The Verge as much in a statement, “Fossil Group is redirecting resources to support our core strength and the core segments of our business that continue to provide strong growth opportunities for us.”
Well, it turns out Fossil was already deep into stuff like jewelry and leather goods before they even got into smartwatches. Can’t really blame them for pulling the plug if folks ain’t buying them. The competition’s fierce out there, and not every smartwatch maker is dealt the same cards.
Only Google and Samsung benefitting from Wear OS 4?
So, this latest version of Wear OS (which is technically Wear OS 4) is all about Google and Samsung getting cozier. The whole thing started with Wear OS 3, which basically piggybacked off the Tizen platform that kicked off with the OG Galaxy Gear. While it does have some design bits and features that feel like they’re straight outta Android, it’s mostly Samsung’s software jazzed up with Google’s services. And with the One UI layer on today’s Galaxy Watches, it’s even more Samsung-esque.
Samsung’s been in the smartwatch scene for a minute now. Remember that OG Galaxy Gear? It dropped around the same time as the Pebble. Since then, they’ve been tweaking and refining their features, like ditching the camera (yep, the first Galaxy Gear had one built-in) and moving towards those sleek round displays and bezel controls you see on today’s Galaxy Watches.
Google jumping into the smartwatch game is kinda recent. The Pixel Watch 2 hit the shelves last year, and it didn’t really shake things up too much from the first-gen model. They focused more on boosting performance and battery life. Just like Google’s Pixel phones, it’s not as hyped as the competition, but the Pixel Watch is cool because it gives us a glimpse into Google’s take on smartwatches.
Even if you think Google is a solid option compared to Samsung, their partnership on the platform itself shows that Google might not really sweat how many smartwatches they move. As long as Samsung keeps rocking Wear OS, Android, and Google’s services, Google’s probably chill with it.
Apple’s winning formula for the smartwatch market
What sets the Apple Watch apart, besides being a solid smartwatch, is how much it complements the iPhone. We’ve talked about how Apple’s been giving their watches more freedom, like with the Apple Watch Ultra, but from what I’ve seen, folks who own them aren’t out there running ultramarathons or ditching their phones for weekends. They just dig having a bigger, brighter screen and a battery that lasts longer.
The reason the Apple Watch is such a hit isn’t just because it’s top-notch; it’s because it’s exclusively for your iPhone. It’s like an extension of all the cool stuff you love about your phone, plus a few more sensors thrown in. Apple really plays up that connection to give you some neat features. With your smartwatch, you can locate your iPhone and other Apple gadgets; it’s basically a mini version of your phone, handling calls, texts, smart home control, and even running apps.
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The need for more smartwatches in the market
You could argue that Apple’s approach to making smartwatches and smartphones is what pushed Fossil out of the game. But truth is, it likely made it tough for them to stay competitive. If there were more choices out there, maybe it wouldn’t sting as much that one company stuck to its guns, but other Android smartwatches just don’t have that same widespread appeal.
Yeah, you’ve got options like Mobvoi’s Ticwatch and Garmin’s smartwatches that can link up with Android phones, but their main focus is on athletes, and they don’t roll with Wear OS. Then there’s Huawei and Oppo, but their watches mainly stay in Asia. And hey, maybe OnePlus drops that follow-up to the OG OnePlus Watch, but I wouldn’t hold my breath just yet.
So, when you’ve got no other options, it’s basically Apple, Google, and Samsung calling the shots on how most folks’ smartwatches function and look. It’s not exactly a bustling ecosystem, especially when you consider that their smartwatches are mostly designed to keep you hooked on their smartphones.
