The analog needle and e-ink's Fossil "HYBRID HR" were more comfortable smartwatches than expected (Masaichi Honda): 2020 Gadget Review

It is almost the end of 2020.A lot of gadgets were also announced this year, and reviews were published in our magazine.Among such an article, the author and the editorial department will pick up the products that they consider to be recommended and deliver it again.

This is a reprint of the article published on February 15, 2020.The prices, functions, images, etc. that appear in the article are at the time, and it may be different now.

What I tried by trying Fossil's "HYBRID HR" was a smart watch more than I expected, but it was also a "watch" than I imagined. This may seem inconsistent, but in my own interest, it seems to be a more realistic product than a model equipped with Wear OS as "options other than Apple Watch". As a high -performance smartwatch equipped with an OLED display, Apple Watch shows global and overwhelming sales. The degree of perfection is overwhelming, but on the other hand, many people may not be able to leave the conventional watch, or the frequency of charging is almost every day, and many smartphones can be used in combination, such as the iPhone only. not. "I don't need the functionality as Apple Watch," but the information that gathers on a smartphone should be reached in the wristwatch. "HYBRID HR" meets such needs. The ease of viewing the display and analog guidelines that can convey detailed information by using electronic paper. Once charged, a smart watch that can be used without charging for about two weeks has appeared. We are also reviewing video, so please join us.

Hybrid Smart Watch HR Black (checked on Amazon)

Hybrid Smart Watch HR Silver (checked on Amazon)

Hybrid structure of "analog guidelines" and "display display"

Fossil, a American watchmaker, has been a company that has provided original watches to many fashion brands, not in -house brands, as a pioneer in casual fashion watches that create a large amount of various designs. For example, Diesel, Scagen, Michael Course, Emporio Armani, etc. are all designed and produced by Fossil. In other words, it is a Gachi watch manufacturer (we also handle fashion accessories such as bags), but as the "tools that know the time" such as the spread of smartphones are diversified, the casual watch market has shrunk. Therefore, the development of smartwatches has been promoted, and the wearable device maker "MISFIT" has been acquired and entered the wearable market. Fossil calls a product using Quarcom as a Google Wear OS and SoC as a "touch display martwatch", and has introduced the fifth generation hardware last fall. On the other hand, the company called "Smart Hybrid Watch" combined with Missfit's technology and the company's watch technology. This is also appearing several times in this magazine, so many people may know. Watches were supported by those who were looking for fashion, visibility, and battery duration in watches, but it was undeniable that smartwatches were the weakest notification function. The information such as "email has arrived" and "a phone call" can be understood by vibration and guidelines, but you can not know the content, so even if you know that there is something, which information is. There was no room to choose if it was important.

However, Hybrid HR uses electronic paper to supplement the weakness of such notification functions, but is decisively concerned with looks as a watch.The building as a product that balances the fashionability, battery sustainability, visibility, and convenience of smartwatches of analog guidelines is unique to the company that has survived the watch industry.

Adopt electronic paper for board display

The advantage of Hybrid HR is consolidated by adopting electronic paper as a display.The structure that is placed on the base part of the board and layers of scale and bezel layers there is a structure that looks like a normal watch.Currently, there are six models, including men's and ladies, but as far as the company's direct sales site, a sporty line with dial -style bezels will be developed.

You can make use of the advantages of electronic paper to change the atmosphere of the board, and by combining the design of the entire case including bezel there, it seems that various fashionability can be obtained. In the past patterns, brand products such as diesel and scagen may appear using the same system as Hybrid HR, so I would like to expect them. In any case, the value of this unit is that it has an electronic paper, which has almost no power consumption. The "notification", a basic function of smartwatch, is rich as a model equipped with an OLED display. Who's contact or the message? It will be displayed tightly to such a place, and it will definitely convey the information in combination with a sharp -sensitive vibration.

Hybrid Smart Watch HR Black (checked on Amazon)

Hybrid Smart Watch HR Silver (checked on Amazon)

Interactive operations that make full use of three buttons make many functions required for smartwatches.The incoming telephone, SMS, SNS messages, etc. are linked to the settings on the smartphone side, notifying by vibration, displaying on electronic paper, and calling the connected smartphone and automatic adjustment of the time.

Sleep tracking and workout measurement

In addition, we have a heart rate monitor and always perform regular heart rate measurement.When working out such as running or eleptical (cross trainer), monitoring is increased and monitored, but it is also measured even in normal times.Record more accurate activities.This is the same during sleep.The automatic sleep measurement function records the depth of sleep during sleep and the heart rate at the same time.

Looking at the actual measurement results, recent sports bands are distinguished by the fact that sleep measurements are slow to detect sleep (such as starting about one hour after the actual sleep) or only shallow sleep and deep sleep.It is a simpler impression compared to, but there is almost no problem.

By the way, I tried using it when running, but it is a slightly longer measurement result than the actual mileage, and the calories consumption are also recorded accordingly. However, if it is enough to look back on how much workouts have been done, you will not need to be too stuck. If you want to do more detailed measurements and records with workouts such as running, we also recommend products from manufacturers that specialize in sports measurement wearable, such as Garmin and Polar, but when you think of it as a watch to be installed every day. If you don't need to specialize in sports so far, I think this product is your favorite. The combination of "visibility as a clock" based on the simple guideline of the double arm and the functionality as a smartwatch is moderate for those who are not familiar with "electronic device -related" products such as Apple Watch and Wear OS. is.

Get enough, not many

There is no need to have a map function, so I wish I could measure it only when running or walking.......What a request will surely come out. I think that it is possible to equip GPS while using electronic paper and analog guidelines to reduce the power consumption of basic functions, but I think it is possible to equip GPS, so I look forward to evolution in the future. However, the function of this unit is necessary. You may not be able to reply to the notification you received, but the role of this product is "Do you need to pick up your smartphone and do something?" You should think of it as notifying users to the user. In other words, if you want to reply, the user can take out the smartphone and reply. According to the ability of the current wearable device, there are many people who think that a good relationship is better. If you know the time, get the necessary notifications, and know the outline with an electronic paper, the majority of smartwatches will satisfy you. Wristwatches and the calm texture unique to electronic paper, and layered board design are exactly "normal evolutionary watches". If you take into account the battery driving time, which is said to last for two weeks, there is a reason to actively choose this product. I hope that Fossil himself will evolve this product and that a variety of variations will appear from the fashion brand they contract. I think there is a space that can make use of the goodness of "HYBRID HR" in fusion of fashion and functionality.

Hybrid Smart Watch HR Black (checked on Amazon)

Hybrid Smart Watch HR Silver (checked on Amazon)

Source: fossil