Fossil Q Grant full review

Fossil is really getting into the smartwatch market and following the Q Founder with Android Wear we've got our hands on the Q Grant, an counterpart watch with smart features. Here's our Fossil Q Grant review. See too: Best smartwatches 2016.

Also run across: Best Black Fri Smartwatch Deals

What is a semi-smartwatch? Simply put, it's the name we give to an counterpart picket which as well has smart features. It gives consumers the choice to article of clothing a 'normal' watch but still benefit from modern tech like Bluetooth connectivity. Fossil puts information technology quite nicely maxim it's "A smartwatch for counterpart spotter lovers."

Fossil Q Grant review: Price and rivals

You might be surprised to hear that the Fossil Q Grant price is a rather reasonable £165 which is a lot cheaper than the house'southward £259 Q Founder which runs Android Wear.

That price is for the 'night brown leather' model which nosotros looked at but there are more expensive options. It's still our favourite of the bunch but you can also opt for a stainless steel model, sand leather (which has a rose aureate finish) or black leather (which has a black metal terminate. All of these are yours for £185 which is however affordable.

There are cheaper semi-smartwatches out there such equally the Martian Notifier (£129) and the Elephone W2 Smart Watch (£59), but they stake in comparing to the Fossil Q Grant. If you can stretch to a higher budget, the Guess Connect semi-smartwatch (£289) adds phonation commands and the ability to read out texts and answer calls on your watch.

Fossil Q Grant price

Fossil Q Grant review: Design and build

As mentioned, a semi-smartwatch ways the device looks and works like a regular analogue watch. It is one afterward all and the Fossil Q Grant is leagues alee of the competition when it comes to blueprint and build.

Information technology may be more expensive than some rivals we've tested simply you're buying a well-known and respected brand in watches.

The Q Grant is a real head-turner with it gorgeous watch face, in this instance in a stylish foam color with roman numerals and a sunken section in the middle which houses three more dials (nosotros'll explain what they exercise later).

We love the chunky 44m metal frame on the Q Grant which has a chrome finish where information technology meets the glass and a bushed finish circular the edge for a 2-tone look. There's besides the matching buttons and crown on the right-side. The leather strap is comfortable and starts to expect weathered after a while, calculation grapheme – information technology's 22mm and quick release so information technology's easy to change it.

Conduct in mind that the more feminine 'sand leather' option is still a 44mm case which will be too large for a lot of women. It'south also non the about slender of watches at 15mm making it all the more manly.

Fossil Q Grant colours

The sad thing is that the back of the sentry is made from a light greyness coloured plastic, and while the back doesn't actually matter much this does go a reasonable amount upward the side of the lookout where is meets the metal. It'south conspicuously visible when the watch is on your wrist detracting from the overall mode somewhat. Fifty-fifty the FFC ID and another long series of digits are visible if yous look hard plenty.

Concluding but non to the lowest degree on the design and build front is the 3ATM rating which means its splash proof and water resistant but you shouldn't dunk it fully and so don't wear it pond.

Fossil Q Grant review: Specs and features

In that location's not a massive amount to talk nearly when information technology comes to the Fossil Q Grant specs since the watch doesn't have a touchscreen and therefore the need for serious components although there is an Intel logo on the back indicating the supplier of the tech element.

Fossil Q Grant plastic back

Instead, the smart features come in the simplistic course of a vibration motor and LED lights (i on either side of the case). Continued to an iPhone (five or later with iOS 8.2 or later) or Android (version 4.4 or later) over Bluetooth (4.ane LE) you can get notifications through to the Q Grant.

A note on connectivity is due every bit we had bug using the Q Grant with Android with frequent drop outs and sometimes even had to pair it with the telephone as if it was the outset time. Other reviewers seem to have had the aforementioned result but not with iOS. We've seen some software updates since receiving our sample but cipher has fixed it sadly.

Using the Fossil Q app, you tin can customise the notifications yous become starting with contacts. You tin can set up to five favourite contacts, each with a different colour (choose from seven options) and vibration patterns and so you know who is calling or texting y'all. It'southward merely a shame y'all can't take a setting for all other contacts so you're limited to simply the favourites.

Fossil Q Grant LED

The LEDs (run across above under the left-push button) can also be used to notify you of other things such every bit when certain apps have a notification on your phone or even when a particular hashtag or emoji is used.

Customisation includes how strong the vibration is and the length of filibuster between the vibration and the LED coming on – handy if you lot demand more time to glace at the color. You lot can but have one or the other if you similar, also. At that place's also the choice of which LED to utilize or have both flashing.

The Fossil Q Grant can as well rail your activity thank you to its 3-axis accelerometer providing bones information via the app such as steps taken, distance covered and calories burned. At that place's nil fancy like a centre rate monitor, elevation or sleep tracking.

Information technology's a shame so, that one of those iii small-scale dials on the watch face isn't linked to your activity progress. We imagined that i would be your pace count (or pct of goal) similar the Withings Activité merely sadly none are. Instead they are for (left to right) stopwatch minutes, stopwatch seconds and 24 hour count. You control the chronograph stopwatch with the two buttons either side of the watch crown.

Fossil Q Grant charger

Battery life is quoted at a week but we found the sentinel tin can go for longer if you don't go too many notifications. Information technology's easy to charge information technology though as the supplied stand is also a wireless charger.

Specs

Fossil Q Grant: Specs

  • Android iv.iv or later
  • iPhone 5 onwards, with iOS 8.2 or later
  • Bluetooth 4.1 LE
  • 3-axis Accelerometer
  • Vibration/Haptics engine
  • Wireless charging with included dock
  • 3ATM water resistant
  • 27mAh bombardment
  • 44mm case
  • 15mm thick
  • 72g
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Author: Chris Martin, Reviews Editor

Chris Martin

Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for nearly 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.