Fossil Q Machine in the Review: Analog watch with a digital heart

The current generation of Fossil's hybrid smartwatch has no display and uses pointers to provide information about messages and their senders, calls and more. The successful design and the many functions are convincingly good.

design

The Q Machine comes to the customer in a relatively simple packaging. The watch itself looks very high quality: Both the real leather strap and the stainless steel case are first-class workmanship. Even when you look closely, you can't see the smart interior: the dial and the luminescent hands are classic-analog. Instead of a simple crown for adjusting the time, the hybrid smartwatch has a total of three pushbuttons on the right side of the case.

The design is of course a matter of taste; we find it very successful. In our Review model, the case and dial are black, with gold hands and numerals and a brown bracelet with a black metal pin buckle.

The bracelet has a quick release like the previous models. It can be exchanged easily. As an alternative, there are numerous different models to choose from in nylon, cotton, silicone or metal.

Equipment and function

The Q Machine scores with its analog watch design and a wealth of smart health watch functions. Looking at the setting options, we are pleasantly surprised at what has been going on since the Fossil Q Grant Review of nine months. The added value is considerable and shows that Fossil is developing its software in an exemplary manner.

In order to use all functions, a smartphone with the free one is required Android or iOS app Fossil Q. The buttons on the watch can be used, for example, to change the volume of the smartphone, start and stop music playback, activate and deactivate the ringtone, use the stopwatch or display a second time zone or the date. Or they trigger the smartphone's camera. Here, too, the further development of the software can be seen positively: if a button is pressed, for example, a photo is triggered, the watch confirms this with a short vibration. We have criticized the lack of such feedback at Q Grant.

The Q Machine displays notifications by vibrating the clock and moving the two large hands towards a number. After ten seconds, the hands move back to the current time. Which notification stands for which advertisement is conveniently stored in the app. The function is a possible notification SMS from everyone. The watch then signals that a new text message has been received – regardless of the sender. Another one is Calls from everyone; If you want to know more precisely who is calling, you can also assign individual contacts to the numbers on the watch. Then you can see at a glance who wrote the SMS or who is calling. Have been Apps stored as a notification type, the Fossil watch shows as soon as something happens in this app. For example, anyone who uses WhatsApp sets this app to eleven o'clock. As soon as a message arrives in Messenger, the pointers move quickly to the elf.

It is possible to store up to twelve different types of notifications. Several contacts and apps can also be combined, for example, to combine calls from the family. However, you have to learn what number stands for what.

The bottom line is that the watch offers significantly more functions than the Q Grant three quarters of a year ago. Here and there, the additional pointer can be individually configured below and shows, for example, the progress of the preset fitness target. Speaking of which: GPS or heart rate sensors are not available, but there is a pedometer.

An alarm function via vibration is also integrated. For deep sleepers, however, it is more suitable as a reminder function in addition to a loud alarm clock, because the vibration alarm is very subtle even at maximum strength. If you can't find your watch after you put it down, you can use the app to locate it via Bluetooth.

The watch has a water resistance of 5 ATM. It is therefore not suitable for swimming or diving, but the shower can remain on your wrist with a clear conscience.

The battery life specified by Fossil is one year, which is twice as long as that specified by the Q Grant. The button cell sits on the underside and can be replaced without special tools or a visit to the watchmaker, replacement costs around 6 to 8 euros. Fossil provides us with the Review device for a longer period of time so that we can Review the runtime in practice.

App

We cannot check whether all changes to the software also work with the older Q Grant. According to the manufacturer, the hardware installed is almost identical; accordingly, the innovations should also work with the previous model.

variants

The Q Machine is available in six versions with different colors and wristband types.

Q Machine brown / black

Q Machine black / silver

Q Machine gray / gray

Q machine black / black

Q Machine brown / silver

Conclusion

The hybrid watch combines numerous advantages of an analog watch and a smart health watch. Due to the simple operation and the sophisticated software, the Q Machine gets a clear purchase recommendation. With the hybrid model, analog watch wearers get a piece of jewelry with a classic look and a mass of functions.

However, it must be clear: a full-fledged smartwatch does not replace the Q Machine. If you are looking for a watch with a display, GPS and heart rate sensor, you should take a look at the Huawei Watch 2 (Review report), for example. When it comes to app connection and display, the smartwatches from Hugo Boss (Review report) or Skagen (Review report) also cut a fine figure.

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AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW