With technology majors like Apple, Samsung, and LG giving consumers the alluring option of a much more interactive or smart device on their wrists, it was only a matter of time before traditional watch majors forayed into the smartwatch segment. Fossil Group’s Fossil brand launched its Q Founder last year, and the group made a slew of smart wearable launches across its brands last month, the Fossil Q Marshal being one of them.
The first thing that strikes you about the Marshal is its chunky look. The review unit was a black Marshal with a 22mm silicone strap, and it could have been easily mistaken for any rugged conventional timepiece that the brand is famous for. The chunky black casing along with a jagged bezel gives the watch a heavy feel as well, and being used to wearing big timepieces, I loved the design. It also has a button on the side disguised as a conventional watch crown.
Any first impressions of it being a regular timepiece are dismissed when the round screen comes to life. Though you would do well to note that it isn’t a completely round display, and the design gives it a flat bottom, which I personally found unappealing. The watch, running on Android Wear, pairs with the Wear app on your phone via Bluetooth and syncing is seamless. The Fossil Q app on the watch also gives you different attractive watch face options to choose from and customise. The display is quite clear even under sunlight and it also has a brightness boost option.
The watch is prompt with notifications and it buzzed almost in tandem with the phone when I got them. Voice recognition helps you give it commands like making calls and setting alarms easily.
The 360mAh battery in this one delivers an average performance, by lasting less than a day with a little more than moderate usage. However, with limited use, I stretched it to a day and a half. Fossil gives you an Apple style magnetic wireless charger that takes about four hours to juice up the battery completely.
The Marshal has an activity tracker that lets you track number of steps taken and calories burnt, and along with the Google Fit app, lets you choose your workout mode. Although, owing to its size and weight, it can be a little uncomfortable when you work out while wearing it.
However, it doesn’t have a heart rate monitor. It is IP67 water resistant so you don’t have to worry about those occasional splashes. It also has a flashlight feature than can illuminate small spaces well.
The Fossil Q Marshal scores on the looks factor and it has some handy features. However, the price is a bit of a letdown, especially with Motorola and Asus offering cheaper models. If you want the look and feel of a conventional timepiece and the functionality of a smartwatch, it is a good buy.
Price: ₹21,995
Love: Looks, rugged feel, seamless sync
Hate: Flat bottom display, battery, price