Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle

Small tweaks to the Wear OS user experience, paired with improved specs, markedly better performance and enhanced power management collectively render the Fossil Gen 5 an excellent all-rounder. Despite becoming more expensive than its predecessors in the process, the improvements made to the Fossil Gen 5 mean it's the first of the company’s smartwatches that we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend, namely because it finally addresses one of the biggest shortcomings that’s plagued Wear OS offerings up until this point.

The Fossil Gen 5 watches can last through a day, look good, and run much better than previous generations. I would have no major qualms about making the Fossil Carlyle my daily watch. However, I do have qualms suggesting that anybody purchase one — not at $295.

The Fossil Gen 5 hits (almost) all of the right notes. It has a simplistic yet stylish design, feels great on the wrist, and surprisingly good performance with a healthy set of features. Battery life is adequate at best and the price is a bit steep, but all-in-all, this is an excellent package.