After more than a year of silence, Fossil announced that it is exiting the smartwatch space and will no longer produce devices running Google Wear OS, or any smartwatches for that matter.
Fossil has been a mainstay in the Wear OS space for years and has stood out during the platform’s difficult times. But with the launch of Wear OS 3 in 2021, Fossil finds itself influenced by Samsung and then Google’s own Pixel Watch. Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition is the company’s latest Wear OS release, but it received only negative reviews.
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Last year, reports emerged that Fossil was downsizing the size of its remaining watches, and some Gen 6 models were omitted from the lineup. work. Meanwhile, rumors were circulating among Fossil store employees that the company had no plans to release any more smartwatches.
The rumor has now been confirmed by Fossil. In a statement to The Verge, the company announced its decision to exit the smartwatch market entirely, including Wear OS watches and “hybrid” models that combine modern watches with email.
Sample Strategy Fossil said: “As the smartwatch industry has changed significantly over the last few years, we have decided to exit the smart market. Fossil Group is developing resources to support our core strengths and core businesses that continue to provide us with strong growth opportunities: creating and distributing exciting heritage, jewelry, and leather products under our own and licensed brands. “
Fossil reassures existing smartwatch owners that it will continue to support their devices “for years to come.” Although the Wear OS 3.5 update was released late last year, the company admitted that the update had bug issues.
Fossil Group’s Wear OS products span brands like Fossil, Citizen, Skagen, Diesel, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and more. Surprisingly, Best Buy is offering deep discounts on select models for existing Fossil smartwatch owners looking to upgrade.