Fossil Gen 6 starts receiving Wear OS 3 update with no Google Assistant, Google Fit and iOS compatibility problems

Last week, the Fossil Group announced plans to upgrade some of its product portfolio to Wear OS 3.0, a version of Wear OS that Google has since replaced with Wear OS 3.5. As we discussed at the time, only Fossil Group smartwatches running the Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus platform would move from Wear OS 2 to its successor. In other words, only smartwatches released from 2021 onwards are eligible, such as the Fossil Gen 6.

As promised, the Fossil Group has now begun its Wear OS 3 rollout. Seemingly starting with the Fossil Gen 6, the update should also soon reach the Michael Kors Gen 6, Razer x Fossil Gen 6 and Skagen Falster Gen 6. To recap, you must factory reset your smartwatch to upgrade to Wear OS 3. Additionally, Fossil has updated its companion app, another requisite of installing the OS update on the likes of the Fossil Gen 6.

While there have been reports that Wear OS 3 works smoothly on the Fossil Gen 6, it is worth stressing that there are numerous missing features. On the one hand, the new Google Assistant does not work, which is the case on the Montblanc Summit 3 too. Instead, Fossil offers Amazon Alexa, a Gen 6 smartwatch exclusive that scores a 1.6/5 rating on the Google Play Store.

On the other hand, Google Fit no longer works with the Fossil Gen 6. Although not a Fossil Gen 6-exclusive issue, Fossil explained on Reddit that Google has not updated the service to support Wear Health Services. Supposedly, Google Fit data syncing still remains possible via the Fossil phone app; you can read more details about the workaround and missing features on Fossil's Reddit post, such as the Google Wallet failing to work when pairing the Fossil Gen 6 to an iOS device.

Purchase the Fossil Gen 6 (44 mm/Bluetooth) on Amazon