Fossil Group has officially announced their departure from the smartwatch market. This pivot marks a significant shift for the company, renowned for its extensive Wear OS smartwatch lineup. The decision leaves a notable void in the smartwatch landscape and signals a strategic realignment towards their traditional strengths.
Jeff Boyer, Fossil’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, told The Verge, “As the smartwatch landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years, we have made the strategic decision to exit the smartwatch business.” He said the company’s refocused commitment to their primary forte—creating and distributing traditional watches, jewelry, and leather goods under their proprietary and licensed brands.
The Gen 6 smartwatch, launched in 2021, will now stand as Fossil’s final foray into the smartwatch world. Boyer assures that the company will continue to support existing Wear OS watches with updates for the next few years, ensuring that current users are not left in the lurch.
The news isn’t unexpected Speculations and rumors have been circulating in the Reddit community, with some users citing conversations with Fossil retail employees and others claiming insider information about the company’s future plans. Despite Fossil’s resilience through the challenging phases of Wear OS’s history and their regular appearances at CES, their absence from the show earlier this month was a telltale sign. Additionally, expectations were high for an announcement regarding a new Gen 7 featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Plus platform in 2023. However, the anticipated news never materialized, leading to increased speculation about Fossil’s commitment to smartwatches.
