Moto 360 (2020) vs. Fossil Gen 5: Which Wear OS smartwatch should you buy?

Fossil Gen 5

The Gen 5 is one of Fossil's best smartwatches yet. There are various designs to choose from. It's affordable and loaded with features, like GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity tracking, Google Assistant, Google Pay, a mic and speaker, and battery-saving modes.

Moto 360

After a few years with no activity, the Moto 360 is back. This third-generation smartwatch is new and improved. It has all of the key sensors you need for health and activity tracking. You also get Google Assistant, Google Pay, a stunning design, and better performance.

If you're a fan of Wear OS smartwatches, you know that the lineup never stops growing. Two additions that we've received in the last year include the third-generation of the Moto 360 and the Fossil Gen 5. Considering they run on the same operating system and they both have the latest Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, they share many of the same features.

Although there are a few subtle differences that might make or break your decision. If you're a frequent Google Assistant user and enjoy hearing audible responses to your requests, then you'll prefer the Fossil Gen 5 for its built-in speaker. Additionally, if you want the option of activating battery-saving modes to get more juice out of your watch, you'll also prefer the Fossil Gen 5.

Wiser than ever

The long-awaited Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor is one of the reasons that the latest Wear OS smartwatches are so much better. You'll enjoy faster and smoother performance as well as better battery life. As you may know, battery life could always be better on these wearables. The Fossil Gen 5 comes prepared to the battle with battery saving modes, like Extended mode and Time Only mode. This helps you get more usage between charges. Granted, if you want to take full advantage of what your watch has to offer, then you should expect to charge it daily.

The Fossil Gen 5 has both a microphone and a speaker, which is not the case on the Moto 360. This is ideal for those who want to hear responses from Google Assistant, listen to music, or take calls from their watch. Some of the other main features include 3 ATM water resistance, onboard GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity tracking via Google Fit, mobile payments via Google Pay, and 8 GB of storage.

The Fossil Gen 5 is available in multiple designs, all of which are appealing to the eye. You'll have a hearty 44 mm stainless steel case and bright 1.3-inch AMOLED display. It has three side buttons, one of which is a rotating crown for easy navigation. The other two buttons can be programmed to your liking. The 22 mm bands are interchangeable, so you can always switch up your style.

By now, you've gathered that the new Moto 360 is lacking in some areas when compared to the Fossil Gen 5. However, it's made quite the comeback for a smartwatch that's been hibernating for nearly five years. Much of these improvements are thanks to the new Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor that we mentioned earlier. It doesn't have battery saving moves, but it does offer fast charging so you can juice up to 80% under an hour. This somewhat makes up for the estimated 1-day battery life.

If you prefer the luxurious feel of the Moto 360, you'll have three different color options. It comes in a solid 42 mm stainless steel case that's available in steel gray, phantom black, and rose gold. The 20 mm bands are interchangeable, so if you don't like leather or silicone, it's an easy fix to choose something that you like better. This watch also has a digital rotating crown, but you only get one additional side button rather than two.

As for features, the Moto 360 is almost identical to the Fossil Gen 5. You'll have 3 ATM water resistance, GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity tracking with Google Fit, 8 GB of storage, mobile payments with Google Pay, and Google Assistant. Again, there's no speaker present so that you won't hear any audible responses or notifications, nor will you be able to take calls from your wrist. These might be small potatoes to many users, so if you can get past the hefty price tag, the Moto 360 is a wearable worth considering.

Bottom line

If cost is a significant factor in your decision, then it makes much more sense to opt for the Fossil Gen 5. If the addition of battery-saving modes and a speaker weren't enough to sell you, the lower price tag might just seal the deal. It also has more design options than the Moto 360. The Fossil Gen 5 lineup includes the Carlyle, Julianna, and Garrett smartwatches, so there are plenty of variants to choose from.

Those who are set on having a very specific design with a premium aesthetic might prefer the Moto 360. That's not to say the Fossil Gen 5 isn't stylish, but its competitor is definitely aimed toward the fashion crowd. You'll have all of the same essential features except for a speaker and battery-saving modes. These are minor details, but they do matter to some users. You'll also want to keep in mind that the Moto 360 is notably more expensive than the Fossil Gen 5. If that's no bother, then you'll love this new third-gen smartwatch.