Fossil Gen 5 VS TicWatch Pro 4G: Which WearOS Watch is the Best?

Both Fossil and Mobvoi currently offer some of the best WearOS watches that you can get at the moment. But if we make a Fossil Gen 5 VS TicWatch Pro 4G comparison, which one will end up being the best choice? 

That is precisely what we are here to find out. So, without any further ado, let us get right into it!

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases using links in this post.

Fossil Gen 5 VS TicWatch Pro/4G: Two Powerful Smartwatches

First things first, if you are not familiar with them, both the Fossil Gen 5 and TicWatch Pro are two full-fledged smartwatches with all the bells and whistles you can expect to find on such devices. 

We are talking about support for 3rd party apps, built-in GPS, LTE support (For the LTE variants), built-in storage, and all that good stuff. They are premium devices for those who are willing to pay a premium for them. 

If that’s not your cup of cake, feel free to leave now. Otherwise, keep on reading!

1. Design and Pricing

The first two things you see when checking out a watch are its price tag and style. They are undoubtedly two of the most important things, so let us start with that. 

Fossil’s offering is priced at $295, while the TicWatch Pro 4G is at $299. Not much of a difference here. But the exact pricing may differ depending on the time of purchase. 

However, it’s worth keeping in mind that the LTE variant of the Fossil Gen 5 comes in at $349. That’s a small downside for U.S residents who want LTE connectivity on their watch – more about that later. 

When it comes to design, though, very few manufacturers can compete with Fossil, if any at all. 

At the moment of writing this article, there are 9 different options to choose from on Amazon. And we are not just talking about colors. Fossil offers different, unique designs for the same watch that change the whole feel of the watch. Both the straps and the build of the watch differ fundamentally. 

So, when it comes to design, that’s a straightforward win for Fossil. And while both watches are equal in pricing, if you absolutely want LTE, the Ticwatch Pro 4G is a cheaper pick. But there are more things to consider apart from that. 

Design: Fossil Gen 5 wins in terms of styling and design options
Pricing: TicWatch Pro 4G wins for LTE connectivity. Otherwise, it’s a tie (But keep in mind that the Fossil Gen 5 can often be found much cheaper when on discount)

2. Hardware and Display

Hardware-wise, the Fossil Gen 5 gets an easy win. It comes with the newer, Snapdragon 3100 and 8 gigabytes of storage – which is twice as much as what the TicWatch Pro 4G offers. 

Other than that, the two watches don’t differ all that much. Both come with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, LTE, support for 3rd party apps, NFC, a built-in mic and speaker, and a heart-rate sensor. 

At this point, it’s worth noting that the Snapdragon 2100, which the TicWatch Pro 4G is using, isn’t all that different in terms of performance. It’s just not as power-efficient—more about that in the “battery life” section. 

You’d think that due to the more power-hungry chipset, Mobvoi’s offering would be much worse in terms of battery life. However, thanks to its secondary, power-saving display, it’s actually even better than the Fossil Gen 5. 

See, when it comes to the main display, both smartwatches are using an AMOLED screen of 1.28 inches on the Fossil and 1.39 inches on the TicWatch Pro 4G. Not much of a difference there. 

However, the TicWatch Pro 4G also offers a secondary, low-power LCD that kicks in when you need to save on power. And it’s fully transparent when turned off, which means that it won’t mess with day-to-day use in any way. 

Other than that, though, the LCD doesn’t offer any other advantages. 

Hardware: Fossil Gen 5 wins due to both its newer processor and superior storage
Display: TicWatch Pro 4G reigns superior thanks to its secondary, power-saving display and slightly larger main display as well

3. Durability and Battery Life

Durability is a weird subject here. When it comes to water resistance, the Fossil Gen 5 has a 3 ATM rating – which means that it can be submerged up to 30 meters. The TicWatch Pro 4G, on the other hand, only has an IP68 certification – which means that it can withstand being submerged up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. 

So, when it comes to waterproofing, the Fossil Gen 5 wins the fight. 

But things are a bit different when we are talking about durability, in general. That’s because the TicWatch Pro 4G comes with MIL-STD-810G certification – which means that it can withstand extreme temperature, rain, solar radiation, physical shocks, pyroshocks, and more. 

Overall, Mobvoi’s offering is certified as a rugged watch that can withstand extreme physical conditions, whereas Fossi’s offering is not. So, that’s one solid point for the TicWatch Pro 4G. 

Battery life is another aspect where the TicWatch Pro 4G gets an easy win. While both watches typically last a day or two with everything enabled and up to 5 days on average by disabling some features, the TicWatch Pro 4G offers an Essential Mode that can theoretically give you up to 30 days. 

But it’s worth remembering that Essential Mode turns on the LED display while disabling WearOS. This means that you are basically turning your expensive smartwatch into a normal watch. 

And while most people are probably not going to do that, it’s certainly a nice option to have. 

Durability: The Fossil Gen 5 is better in withstanding water – but the TicWatch Pro 4G should handle extreme temperatures and shocks better
Battery life: TicWatch Pro 4G comes ahead here thanks to its secondary, power-saving display that can offer up to 30 days of battery life (But don’t forget that under normal conditions, the two watches don’t differ that much)

4. Features and Connectivity

When it comes to features, both watches are kind of similar. And that’s no surprise considering how both use the same operating system, which, by the way, is much more restricted than Android for smartphones. 

The TicWatch Pro has some built-in proprietary apps for workout tracking or sleep tracking and other things like that. But you can get similar 3rd party apps with the Fossil or any other WearOS smartwatch. 

So, when everything is said and done, both watches are on a tie as far as features are concerned. 

Connectivity is more or less a similar story. Both smartwatches support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, and LTE as well. Just don’t forget to look specifically for the Fossil Gen 5 LTE variant or the TicWatch Pro 4G LTE. 

The problem is that both watches only work with Verizon’s network. So, if you absolutely must have LTE on your smartwatch, you can either register on Verizon’s network or look for a carrier-unlocked smartwatch. 

If you are interested in that, some alternative options to check out are the LTE versions of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3. 

Features: Tie. Both smartwatches are very similar in terms of features. (Except the secondary display of the TicWatch Pro – but that’s under the “Display” category)
Connectivity: Another tie. Both devices are locked to Verizon’s network on the LTE versions while offering all the basic stuff such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC.

Fossil Gen 5 VS TicWatch Pro 4G: Wrapping Up

To wrap things up quickly, here is who beats who and on what category: 

• Design: Fossil Gen 5
• Pricing: TicWatch Pro 4G (Unless you find the Fossil in a big discount – which is not uncommon)
• Hardware: Fossil Gen 5
• Display: TicWatch Pro 4G
• Durability: Fossil Gen 5 for waterproofing – TicWatch Pro 4G for shock and temperature resistance
• Battery life: TicWatch Pro 4G
• Features and Connectivity: Identical

Fossil Gen 5: 4 points
TicWatch Pro 4G: 5 points

Mobvoi’s offering comes ahead with one extra point. But does that mean it’s better? We’d say it depends on what you prefer. In the end, both watches are so similar in day-to-day use that it mostly comes down to what looks better.

If you want a fashionable, sleek watch that can withstand being submerged underwater with no fear, the Fossil Gen 5 is a great choice!

If you want a more rugged and bulky alternative that’s bold looking and maybe more resistant to extreme temperatures and shocks, not to mention better battery life in times of need, definitely check out the TicWatch Pro 4G!

FAQ

Can the Fossil Gen 5 and TicWatch Pro Make Calls? 

Yes. If you have the 4G/LTE versions, you can make calls without being connected to your phone. However, the non-LTE variants need to be connected to a smartphone with Bluetooth. 

What can the Fossil Gen 5 and TicWatch Pro Do? 

Both are full-fledged smartwatches that can get 3rd party apps, answer calls, reply to texts, track workouts, heart-rate, steps, play offline music, connect to Wi-Fi networks, and more. 

Does a Smartwatch Need a SIM Card? 

No. If you are interested in an LTE version of a smartwatch, know that they work with e-SIMs. This means that you don’t need a physical SIM card, but you will have to use some activation code or pairing with your smartphone. But be wary of carrier restrictions. Most LTE smartwatches work with limited carriers. Both the Fossil Gen 5 LTE and TicWatch Pro 4G are locked to Verizon’s network. 

Does the TicWatch Pro Have a Speaker?  

Yes. And the same goes for the Fossil Gen 5. That’s one of the reasons why you can make phone calls and send voice messages – even if you are not connected to a pair of Bluetooth headphones (only with the LTE variants).

We sometimes use affiliate links in our content from Amazon and others. It doesn’t cost you anything but helps us pay our expenses. Thank you for the support! Last update on 2024-12-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API