Comparisons

Fossil Men\'s Gen 4 Explorist vs Garmin 010-02172-21

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Fossil Men\'s Gen 4 ExploristGarmin 010-02172-21
Title Fossil Men's Gen 4 Explorist HR Heart Rate Stainless Steel and Silicone Touchscreen Smartwatch, Color: Black (Model: FTW4018)Garmin 010-02172-21 Vivoactive 4S, Smaller-Sized GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Ox Sensors And More, Rose Gold With White BAnd
Model Fossil
Men\'s Gen 4 Explorist
Garmin
010-02172-21

Basic Info

Suggested Price $198.84$239.98
Sale Price Check Price*Check Price*
Release Feb 2019Sep 2020

Overview

DescriptionMonitor your health constantly with this white and rose gold Garmin vívoactive 4S activity tracker. The Pulse Ox sensor feature measures your blood oxygen saturation levels and keeps you updated on how well your body is absorbing this life-sustaining gas. This Garmin vívoactive 4S activity tracker regularly checks your heart rate and lets you know the intensity of your workouts.
Top Features
  • Smartwatches powered with Wear OS by Google work with iPhone and Android Phones
  • Heart Rate & Activity Tracking using Google Fit; Built-in GPS for distance tracking; Swimproof design 3ATM; Google Assistant built in - it’s your own personal Google, always ready to help; Speed through checkout with your watch using Google Pay
  • This is one smart watch - receive smartphone notifications and app alerts, manage your calendar, control your music, download third party apps (your favorite ride-sharing or music apps), and customize your watch face; touchscreen functionality, built-in fitness tracker, microphone, music storage & controls, custom goal & alarm settings, calendar alerts, multiple time zones, weather, LED flashlight, wireless syncing
  • Estimated 24 hour battery life, based on usage plus 2 additional days in low-power mode; magnetic USB rapid charger included; charge up to 80% in under an hour
  • Classic Design. Modern Tech. This 45mm Explorist HR (Heart Rate) touchscreen smartwatch lets you track your heart rate, receive notifications, customize your dial and more; Case size: 45mm; Band size: 22mm; interchangeable with all Fossil 22mm bands; easily change your watch band with quick release pins; imported
  • Keeps track of your energy levels, Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition), respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, estimated heart, hydration and more
  • Easily download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon music or Deezer (may require a premium subscription with a third-party music provider), and connect with headphones (sold separately) for phone-free listening
  • Record all the ways to move with more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, swimming and more. Get easy-to-follow, animated workouts right on your watch screen, including strength, cardio, yoga and Pilates
  • Fits wrists with a circumference of 110-175 millimeter
  • Battery life: Up to 7 days in smartwatch mode; Up to 5 hours in GPS and music mode
  • Personalize your watch with thousands of free watch faces, apps and widgets from our Connect IQ store
  • Garmin Pay contactless payment solution (not all countries and payment Networks are eligible) lets you pay for purchases with your watch
  • Safety and tracking features include incident detection (during select activities) and assistance (when paired with a compatible device), which both send your real-time location to emergency contacts
  • Stay connected with smart notifications (when paired with a compatible device), for incoming calls, text messages, calendar reminders and more
  • Garmin coach provides free 5K, 10K and half-marathon training plans that guide you to reach your race goal and adjust based on your performance in the plan

Reviews

Walmart Rating3.5 (out of 171 reviews)4.3 (out of 215 reviews)
BestBuy Rating4.7 (out of 29 reviews)
Latest Reviews

I'm Totally Satisfied
Rating: 5
I fell in love with this watch since the first day I bought it. I really love all the features on the watch.
by Alwayz Hungry on 2020-03-21T17:00:00

I like this
Rating: 5
Goos watch, amazing design
by Alberths28 on 2020-02-02T16:00:00

Really great with a few minor setbacks
Rating: 4
It's a good watch and well-rounded. However, the touch screen can be a little sluggish as well as some of the fitness apps. It's very usable, though, and if anyone wants an affordable and usable watch, I would recommend this one.
by Sierra on 2019-12-31T16:00:00

A solid upgrade
Rating: 4
So far, I've had a gen 2 Wander (LOVED), a gen 3 Explorist, and have just upgraded to the exact same in gen 4, (another black Explorist)--so this is a real apples-to-apples review. (I'm 5'3", 150lb F & love my chunky watches!) Something I noticed immediately was how much lighter the gen 4 Explorist was compared to gen 3. The case is just slightly thinner, with a more platicky back to accommodate the HR monitor. So the profile is just a little thinner. The case looks bigger, because the metal frame is narrower, but the bezel under the glass is still pretty big--the screen itself is no bigger, but it looks really nice. I DO miss the speaker a little bit--I never used my watches for phone calls, but liked to have a sound go with the vibration when getting an alert or alarm. However the change in weight has made the vibration feel better on this watch than the last generation, so I've been pretty comfortable with having it gone. The three hardware buttons are still one of my favorite things--the two side buttons are still re-mappable, and that's very handy! I'm finding that this watch isn't scooting down on my wrist as much as the heavier gen 3, so I'm not accidentally hitting the buttons with the top of my hand when bending my wrist nearly as much. Battery life at first was pretty awful, but that's par for the course on a new watch. Remember to give your watch a few days to fully update. One thing I did that immediately improved my battery life was clear the data from the fossil app on the watch so that the "Fossil" app was no longer reading HR. That was an unfortunate loss for me--I really liked seeing my heart rate on my watch faces, and that was one of my reasons for upgrading. But the Fossil app was killing my battery life. I was able to turn on constant monitoring in Google Fit, and I'm consistently getting 20-24 hours of battery. I get better stats, and all I have to do is scroll over to the HR tile. Happy with my upgrade!
by Lolo on 2019-06-20T17:00:00

Very good
Rating: 4
I love what options I have with this watch and the compatibility. However not all the apps work how I expected they would, which is understandable as I am not familiar with smartwatch tech. I purchased this for work so that I could answer texts and look at work email. I can in fact do those things, but there are apps that simply do not work the same as you would expect. In summary, it does depend on your phone and its service and it seems to be more of an incoming message reciever rather than making a quick text outgoing.
by Amanda on 2018-12-07T16:00:00

Watch is good, strap not so much.
Rating: 3
The watch itself is very nice and easy to use. I would not get the silicone band again. It ripped off on the third day of use from simply reaching into my pocket. Get the leather or a metal band and you should be good to go.
by BrokeBandBobby on 2020-01-10T16:00:00

Still getting the hang of it, not 100% yet.
Rating: 3
Over all i really love the watch. Its really nice and fits my wrist well. I am still getting the hang of it though so theres a few things that either are glitches or its just me. But, the battery does not last as long as i thought it would. Im wearing it by 5am and it will definitely be dead by midnight. Also it does not seem to be able to be connected to my phone and my headphones at the same time, so i have to disconnect it from my phone so i can play music at the gym. This was a huge hassle to then reconnect. Other than that its been good. Still not 100% loving it yet though. Time will tell.
by Brie Brie on 2019-12-09T16:00:00

Don't buy this watch if you wear on left wrist.
Rating: 2
I'm left handed and I wear watches on my left wrist. Every time I bend my wrist it presses all the buttons and the watch goes crazy. I thought when it said adjustable watch face it meant you could invert it to wear on your left wrist with the buttons facing away from your hand. Plus it's hard to figure out if you don't use google apps.
by Cptn Rich on 2020-07-04T17:00:00

Step count between Explorist HR Gen 4 and Fitbit versa 2
Rating: 2
I have this model, I like all its design. What I do not like is the way of counting steps, I have compared it with the fitbit versa 2, I have walked them at the same time and at the end of the day the fibit counts almost 5,000 more steps. I have taken steps and seeing both smartwatch. I still don't know the reason why
by Aldemar on 2020-06-11T17:00:00

I wouldn't recommend this watch.
Rating: 1
The battery dies like in 8 hours it's crazy. I have the wifi and that feature allowing you to make payments turned off and this battery still does not last. I'm wondering how can I get my money back but I think I threw away the return slip.
by Bre the gullible on 2020-04-11T17:00:00

Beautiful
Rating: 5
I only had this for a week
by Diane on 2020-08-08T17:00:00

Great features ,light weight !
Rating: 5
My husband bought this watch for me about a month ago and I absolutely love it he got one for himself and he loved his so he bought me one I love that we can see each other‘s progress when it comes to working out it helps with accountability and pushes you Meet goals Every day there’s something new that I figure out about my watch and I’m absolutely in love with it!!
by Nikki12 on 2020-09-01T17:00:00

Just what I was looking for
Rating: 5
Needed a new tracker and this has everything I need! Screen is easy to read- even with sunglasses on! Buttons are simple and the screen is very responsive. GPS is great to use on bike rides and runs with quick and easy links to strava. Still need to play around with the music feature and some others but so far the watch has performed great! Lightweight and fits nicely on my wrist.
by Shepbar on 2020-08-18T17:00:00

Satisfied customer!
Rating: 5
After getting into running outside due to covid, I decided I wanted to get a fitness watch so I didn't have to carry my phone anymore. I really love the Vivo 4s and have not had trouble downloading my music with Spotify (though you do need a premium account). Would recommend!
by Garminvivo4s on 2020-08-12T17:00:00

Super Powerful!
Rating: 4
I am loving my vivoactive 4s so far! I am impressed with being able to have an accurate GPS reading and listen to music from my watch without needing my phone with me on a run. The only reason it's 4 stars instead of 5 is I don't find it as intuitive to use right out of the box as other smart watches I have used before, so it has taken me a little bit longer to figure out all the features and how to best use the applications on the watch. I think after another couple of days I'll have it all figured out! Excited to use this watch to train for my first full marathon.
by firstmarathon2021 on 2020-09-09T17:00:00

Perfect for almost any workout!
Rating: 4
I use this for running/walking (outdoor and treadmill), yoga, pilates, biking, and cardio. There are so many workouts which can be tracked as well as sleep, heart rate, and steps. I got pregnant after I already had this watch and I love it even more now since I can keep track of my heart rate and sleeping habits. I only wish the battery would live longer.
by Angela75 on 2020-09-13T17:00:00

So far, so good
Rating: 4
After much deliberation, I switched from a Fitbit to my Vivoactive 4S. And I am super impressed with Capture of my walking and running. Definitely is not as accurate with sleep. I wish (hint hint) I could store music through Rock my Run. But every other feature is remarkably excellent.
by LeighAnne on 2020-08-09T17:00:00

Having a hard time
Rating: 3
Can’t figure out how to use the activity items. Once I start a pool swim, for instance, I can’t figure out how to stop and save the activity. The check mark and x do not seem to respond when I press them. I have gone to the detailed instructions but they are not helpful, considering contacting Garmin by phone for some assistance
by Joyce C on 2020-09-01T17:00:00

Great except for a few things
Rating: 3
The sleep tracking doesn’t work right. I’ll sleep for 7 or eight hours and it says I slept for 10+. Also my calories I burn are different than Fitbit, not sure if it’s more accurate or less but it’s different. One more thing, I thought there would be a way to show people where I am so they can make sure I’m ok if I’m hiking and I haven’t found that either 🙁 I sort of feel like I should have just gotten a Fitbit
by Sara7111989 on 2020-08-29T17:00:00

Like the style but controls are clunky
Rating: 3
I just got this watch in the last week. I love the size and round face. The controls and shifting through programs is clunky... meaning take multiple steps. It's also difficult to do a running program and change your music playlist. I don't like that you have to pay for watch faces. The ones that they provide for free offers a lot to be desired. Fitbit had more options. Similar functionality to Fitbit alternatives... not sure yet that I like this watch more yet.
by NewToGarmin on 2020-09-15T17:00:00

All Features

Assembled Product Weight8 oz40.00 g
Features45mm case 22mm interchangeable strapAlarm, Timer, Stopwatch, Calendar, Music Player, Scorecard
releaseFeb 2019Sep 2020
Size40 mm
Assembled Product Dimensions (L x W x H)1.57 x 1.57 x 0.50 Inches
SensorsAccelerometer
Battery Strength IndicatorYes
Product Weight1.41 ounces
Display TypeMIP LCD
Color DisplayYes
Case Size40 millimeters
Customizable Watch FacesYes
Form FactorWristwatch
Backlit DisplayYes
Metrics MeasuredActivity vs. inactivity
Music PlayerYes
Product Width1.57 inches
Battery TypeLithium-ion
Charging Interface(s)USB
Touch ScreenYes
Manufacturer's Warranty - Parts1 Year
Maximum Wrist Size6.89 inches
Clock DisplayYes
Multi-Sport TrackingYes
ColorRose Gold With White Case And Silicone Band
Maximum Depth of Water Resistance164 feet
RechargeableYes
Product Depth0.5 inches
Wi-Fi CompatibilityWireless N
Minimum Wrist Size4.33 inches
Mobile NotificationsYes
Case MaterialPolymer
Case Thickness0.5 inches
Case Width1.57 inches
Screen MaterialCorning Gorilla Glass 3
Bluetooth EnabledYes
Adjustable Band LengthYes
Screen Size27.9 millimeters
Band MaterialSilicone
Band TypeStrap
Mobile Payment Service SupportedGarmin Pay
Clasp TypeBuckle
Global PositioningGLONASS
Color CategoryWhite
Model Number010-02172-21
Operating System CompatibilityAndroid
Water ResistantYes
Product Height1.57 inches
Screen Resolution218 x 218
Product Namevívoactive 4S Smartwatch 40mm Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
Display ScreenYes
Band Width18 millimeters
Case ShapeRound
Manufacturer's Warranty - Labor1 Year
BrandGarmin
Operating SystemGarmin
App CompatibleYes
Vibration AlertYes
Band ColorWhite
Product TypeSmartwatch

More Information

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