The corporation announced its decision to “leave the smartwatch business” on Friday.
From this point forward, Fossil will no longer be involved in the smartwatch industry. In response to months of speculation on the future of its Wear OS wristwatch lineup, which has not seen a new model since the release of the Gen 6 in 2021, the company announced to The Verge on Friday that it is completely abandoning the category. Despite the fact that there will not be a successor to the Gen 6, Fossil smartwatches that are already in existence will continue to receive upgrades “for the next few years.”
The Fossil Group has “made the strategic decision to exit the smartwatch business,” according to a representative who talked with The Verge. The spokesperson cited the changing environment of the industry as the reason for the decision. The Fossil Group is refocusing its resources in order to support our fundamental strengths and the core sectors of our business that continue to provide us with strong development potential. These core segments include the creation and distribution of attractive traditional timepieces, jewelry, and leather goods under our own brand names as well as licensed brand names.
Fossil has been very silent about its smartwatch ambitions as of late, following an initial few years of consistent releases. The decision is going to come as a disappointment to anyone who has been holding out hope for a Gen 7 smartwatch. Fossil smartwatches are generally considered to be some of the most attractive designs available, despite the fact that they were notorious for having a short battery life.