HTC Desire 10 Pro and Desire 10 Lifestyle: Deco design adorns two very different devices

HTC has made the anticipated update to its mid-range devices with the launch of the HTC Desire 10 Pro and HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle.

The biggest thing that stands these two handsets apart from other devices already available is design. HTC always likes to make its mark on design and here the Desire 10 picks up on a classic deco contrast design, in some very classic colours.

Pairing with gold detailing, the Desire 10 handsets comes in four colours: royal blue, black, polar white and valentine lux. These colours are designed to be emotive and break away from the normal run of silver or rose gold, but still carry some of the feel of the namesake, the HTC 10.

So far these devices are the same: both offer a 5.5-inch display and land with Android Marshmallow with HTC Sense and have Micro-USB, rather than USB Type-C, but there the similarities end. 

HTC Desire 10 Pro: Hitting hardware highpoints

The HTC Desire Pro fits its name with the better specs of the pair, in most areas. The 5.5-inch display is 1920 x 1080 pixels (400ppi), and is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 chipset, with 3 or 4GB RAM and 32 or 64GB storage (configuration varies by territory). MicroSD is supported for storage expansion. 

The rear camera is a 20-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture and it offers laser autofocus. HTC says this is the best Desire camera ever, although it sounds like it has the camera from the old HTC One M9.

The front camera is 13-megapixels, offering a wide 150-degree mode for wide selfies.

There’s a fingerprint scanner on the rear that can unlock the phone, as well as acting as a shutter for the camera. 

There’a no BoomSound speakers however. You get the BoomSound profile for your headphones, but you only get a mono speaker on the bottom.

• HTC Desire 10 Pro preview: A smartphone named Desire

HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle: Graced with audio goodness

Although the Pro and Lifestyle handsets look similar, you’ll notice that there’s a slight difference in design, as well as the Hi-Res Audio logo on the back. The Lifestyle’s big push is in music, offering support for Hi-Res, as well as featuring BoomSound Hi-Fi speakers. 

Outside of that, the Desire 10 Lifestyle takes a step down the specs ladder. The 5.5-inch display makes a move to 1280 x 720 pixels, it’s powered by an entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. 

The camera moves to a 13-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture and the front camera drops to 5-megapixels. The Lifestyle doesn’t get the fingerprint scanner, either.

• HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle preview: A Desire handset never sounded so good

So, although these handsets look similar, there’s a big difference. The Desire 10 Pro sits in the lower mid-range, while the Desire 10 Lifestyle is closer to an entry-level spec, aside from the boosted audio offering. We’ve given the two devices the full comparison treatment, if you want to know more.

• HTC Desire 10 Pro vs Desire 10 Lifestyle: What’s the difference?

The HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle will cost £249 available at the beginning of September. The HTC Desire 10 Pro pricing will be confirmed closer to launch in November.

HTC Desire 10 Pro vs Desire 10 Lifestyle: What’s the difference?

HTC has pulled the old trick of launching two devices with the same sort of name, but with very different specs.

The HTC Desire 10 is the latest addition to HTC’s mid-range. One of the distinctive things about the Desire 10 is the design, with gold trim framing the distinct colours, giving a contrast finish reminiscent of art deco classic design. 

But aside from the option for a “valentine lux” coloured handset these are two very different devices. So just what is the difference? 

HTC Desire 10 Pro vs Desire 10 Lifestyle: Design

As we’ve just mentioned, the design of these handsets is essentially the same, or it is in terms of overall colour, build and finish.

The HTC Desire 10 Pro measures 156.5 x 76 x 7.86mm and weighs 165g; the official specs for the Desire 10 Lifestyle read out as 156.9 x 76.9 x 7.7mm and weighs 155g. That’s 10g of weight, but an otherwise negligible difference in footprint.

There are some key differences, however, as the Desire 10 Lifestyle offers BoomSound speakers, so there are speakers in the top of the display and base of the handset which are much more pronounced. The Lifestyle also offers a lanyard attachment point on the bottom. 

Finally the Pro has a SIM and SD card tray released with a pin, the Lifestyle has a flap.

HTC Desire 10 Pro vs Desire 10 Lifestyle: Display

When it comes to the display, things start to be more radically different. 

The HTC Desire 10 Pro has a 5.5-inch IPS display topped with Gorilla Glass, with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. This full HD resolution means a pixel density of 400ppi. 

The Desire 10 Lifestyle also has a 5.5-inch display, which HTC says is Super LCD and also topped with Gorilla Glass. The resolution drops to 1280 x 720 pixels. Spread across this large display, that means it offers 267ppi, which is pretty low. 

Undoubtedly, between the two, the HTC Desire 10 Pro display is going to look sharper. 

HTC Desire 10 Pro vs Desire 10 Lifestyle: Hardware specs

Not only is the display different between these two handsets, but the hardware specs are too.

The Desire 10 Pro has a MediaTek Helio P10 chipset and is supported by either 3 or 4 GB of RAM depending on the region you buy it. Either way, there should be plenty of power for everyday tasks. 

The Desire 10 Lifestyle has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It’s certainly lower spec than the Pro handset and although we’ve seen devices on Snapdragon 400 that run just fine, we suspect it will be outclassed by its sibling handset.

There’s also a difference in the battery: the Desire 10 Pro has a 3000mAh battery, the Desire 10 Lifestyle has a 2700 mAh battery. Both offer fast charging. 

HTC Desire 10 Pro vs Desire 10 Lifestyle: Audio stylings

While the Desire 10 Pro is shaping up to be the better handset, the Lifestyle does have itself a solid skill in the audio department. 

As we’ve mentioned the Desire 10 Lifestyle has a slightly different design to accommodate the BoomSound speakers. BoomSound has been a massive hit for HTC and the latest iteration – BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition – carries on the stellar stereo performance. 

On the Desire 10 Lifestyle, the headphone experience is boosted by the inclusion of a 24-bit DAC and Hi-Res Audio certification, as well as Dolby Audio. Plug in and you’ll be getting great audio. 

The HTC Desire 10 Pro has a mono speaker and lacks this boosted BoomSound performance. 

HTC Desire 10 Pro vs Desire 10 Lifestyle: Cameras

The Desire 10 Pro fights back with boosted cameras. There’s a 20-megapixel sensor on the back, offering a f/2.2 lens and supported by laser autofocusing and a dual LED flash. There’s a 13-megapixel camera on the front, which offers a wide-angle selfie capture so you can fit all your friends in. 

The Desire 10 Lifestyle has a 13-megapixel rear camera, also with f/2.2 lens. Less megapixels doesn’t necessarily mean lesser performance, although there’s no laser autofocus and only a single LED flash.

The Desire 10 Lifestyle has 5-megapixel front camera. Again, the resolution is probably perfectly adequate for your selfies.

HTC pitches the Desire 10 Pro as the superior camera handset, but the difference may not be as big as the difference in pixels suggests.

Conclusions

The missing part of this puzzle is price. We know that the Desire 10 Lifestyle will £249, but the Pro will cost more, priced between the Lifestyle and the HTC 10. 

That could see the HTC Desire 10 Pro looking expensive for the money, especially if it runs into the price brackets of some of those upper mid-range handsets. 

As for this comparison, the Desire 10 Lifestyle only really has audio on its side. If you’re looking for an affordable handset boasting superior audio performance, then the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle may well be it. 

The HTC Desire 10 Pro on the other hand offers a collection of reasonable mid-range specs. If you’re looking for a day-to-day phone that looks a little different, then go Pro.

HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle: A Desire handset never sounded so good

As you might gather from the title, the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle has a trick up its sleeve. Launched alongside the HTC Desire 10 Pro, the Lifestyle version offers the same body design as the “Pro” version, but makes some key changes.

Pitched into the mid-range, this is an affordable handset, with HTC confirming that it will hit a £249 price point, making it pretty much entry-level, except in one area: audio. 

Here’s how the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle breaks down.

HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle preview: Design

Designed to look the same as the Pro version, the 156.9 x 76.9 x 7.7mm chassis carries a deliberately classic design. Coming from HTC’s Desire family, plastics are expected and that’s what you get, unlike the metal One devices. 

To make things stand out, however, the design of the Desire 10 devices adopts some of the hallmarks of art deco. Pairing the coloured bodies with gold trim, the antenna bars neatly blend into the detailing an emotive high-contrast effect.

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There’s a high degree of quality to the finish, although it lacks the premium solidity of the HTC 10. Importantly, the Desire 10 Lifestyle is interesting. It comes in black, white, a unique “valentine lux” and royal blue. 

HTC told us that the aim was to create something that had an emotional tie. These colours are designed to trigger memories of key moments in your life. We just think it’s nice to have something different.

Talking of difference, one of the key design differences from the Desire 10 Pro that it launches alongside is the speakers. The “pro” handset misses out on BoomSound – HTC’s signature audio addition – but the Lifestyle handset comes rocking stereo speakers, with full BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition skills.

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That shifts some of the design around a little, with the larger punctuations at the top of the display, and the classic drilled speaker holes at the bottom.

There’s a lanyard attachment point off to the left and Micro-USB off to the right. If those minor details don’t mark the Desire 10 Lifestyle out to you, the adornment of the Hi-Res Audio logo on the rear should make it abundantly clear.

HTC Desire 10 Pro preview: Hardware and display

The audio story continues in the internal hardware, with the Desire 10 Lifestyle carrying the same 24-bit DAC as the HTC 10. That means your music will be upscaled for better performance and there’s more power to drive more demanding headphones. We listened to the same track on the Desire 10 Pro and the 10 Lifestyle and the latter handset has the edge is delivery, if you have the quality of headphones to exploit it. It also offers Dolby Audio.

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The audio credentials are very much a sugar frosting on an entry-level cake, however, as this phone is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, with 3GB and 32GB storage. There is a microSD card slot for expansion of the storage, and the version we saw was dual SIM, which we’re unlikely to see in the UK. 

The lower-spec tale continues with the 5.5-inch display, which has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixel for 267ppi. At this size the step down to an HD display means things aren’t as sharp and crisp as they are on many other devices. This move has been made in the name of keeping the cost down and the upshot may be a longer battery life. 

A 2700mAh powers the handset and offers fast charging; with a limited hardware load-out, the battery should last a fairly long time.

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HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle preview: Cameras

The Desire 10 Lifestyle dips the resolution of the cameras compared to the Desire 10 Pro, although that might not be a bad thing. On the Lifestyle you have a 13-megapixel rear cameras with f/2.2 lens. You miss out on the laser autofocusing that the Pro model offers, however. 

The front camera is 5-megapixels rather than the 13 of the Pro, but that might not matter: just how big do you need photos of your face to be?

The proof of a good camera is in the shooting and sadly we’ve not had the time to see how the Lifestyle will perform in the real world. 

First Impressions

With a software experience comprising of Android Marshmallow and HTC Sense, the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle will have many of the slick features found on the HTC 10 flagship, such as custom themes. But it’s also a fuss-free approach, ditching a lot of bloat and only changing the things that HTC can make better.

Priced at £249, the Desire 10 Lifestyle pulls off the act of giving you a handset with distinctly different design and pairing that with audio performance that’s rare on a lower-spec device. If you’re a music fan, then the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle might well be the phone for you.

With that said, the entry-level specs compared to something like the cheaper Moto G4, might see this handset with little to shout about, other than the audio performance.

HTC Desire 10 Pro preview: A Smartphone Named Desire

HTC has announced a pair of new handsets, going under the name of HTC Desire 10.

The name is designed to evoke memories of the HTC 10, the company’s excellent 2016 flagship handset and the colourways are designed to stir your passions.

HTC Desire 10 pro: Designed to be different

Dropping the splatter design that adorned some of HTC’s earlier Desire handsets, the Desire 10 is designed to be more elegant and classic.

Picking up on a theme of art deco, the handset matches gold trim with classic colours for a high contrast finish. The gold of the trim, which HTC tells us takes 8 layers of coating, finished with laser cutting, means that the antennae bands blend into the design.

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It’s a finish that shouldn’t work, but it does. The HTC Desire 10 Pro is different. With so many handsets dropping into the mid-range with metal unibodies, it’s nice to see something with a little character. 

HTC will be offering four different colours of the HTC Desire 10 Pro. The matte black is fairly conventional, offsetting that gold detailing for a classic deco finish. The most distinct colour is that which HTC is calling “valentine lux”. It looks like the sort of colouring you get on some vintage porcelain, or those mints your Grandma always had.

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The white is fairly conventional and HTC told us that it’s designed to be easy to clean and finally we have royal blue. This we really like as it evokes memories of that solid colouring that’s used for things like school prospectuses and badges, or a university graduation day programme. 

The HTC Desire 10 Pro is a big handset, measuring 156.5 x 76 x 7.86mm and weighing 165g.

HTC Desire 10 Pro preview: Hardware and display

With the design of the Desire 10 Pro and the Desire 10 Lifestyle, the lower-spec device launched in parallel, it’s the hardware where the difference really lies. 

The HTC Desire 10 Pro features a 5.5-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, for 400ppi. That size of display on a device this size sets it out as firmly in the mid-range.

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First impressions are reasonable, but on the pre-production samples we saw we couldn’t judge what the final display performance will be like. The display is topped with Corning Gorilla Glass to keep scratches away. 

Sitting at the heart of the Desire 10 Pro is a MediaTek Helio P10 chipset. This is a 64-bit octa-core chipset and one that’s used in a number of mid-range devices, because it’s cheaper than a similar Qualcomm chipset, while still enabling slick performance. 

There will be 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB storage (varying between regions), with support for microSD, although strangely HTC has opted to stick to the older Micro-USB connection, rather than USB Type-C that’s becoming more established.

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There’s a 3000mAh battery with support for fast charging, although at this stage we have no idea of what the endurance will be like. Equally, aside from some quick hands-on time with the new device, we’ve not had the chance to gauge its long-term performance. 

The readout of the specs matches the Desire 10 Pro’s positioning, although don’t be fooled by the Pro moniker. Unlike the iPad Pro, for example, this isn’t flagship and then some, the name is really just a counterpoint to the Lifestyle framing of the other Desire 10 handset.

One of the nice additions is the fingerprint scanner. Moving from the front (as found on the HTC 10 and HTC One A9), the Desire 10 Pro puts the scanner on the back for quick unlocking, as well as providing a shutter button for the camera, so you can tap to snap.

HTC Desire 10 Pro preview: The BoomSound puzzle

One thing that the Desire 10 Pro doesn’t get is BoomSound. HTC’s signature sound system is omitted on this handset, whereas the Lifestyle version gives you Hi-Res Audio support with a 24-bit DAC and twin speakers for stereo sound.

Instead you have the BoomSound headphone profile to give your headphones a lift, but in terms of audio, the Desire 10 Pro takes a backseat to the Desire 10 Lifestyle. If you’re looking for the best of everything, the Pro doesn’t quite deliver it in the audio department.

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HTC Desire 10 Pro preview: Camera

Where HTC really wants you to pay attention is in the camera department. The HTC Desire 10 Pro has a 20-megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 lens. If that sounds familiar, it might be because the specs of this camera look the same as those for the HTC One M9, 2015’s flagship, except that it doesn’t offer 4K video capture.

HTC is saying that this is the best camera in a Desire handset yet, but we haven’t had the chance to test that. Megapixels alone don’t make a great camera, but the inclusion of laser autofocusing at this level is a point of difference and should mean that the camera is fast to lock on and bring you sharp shots.

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Boosting the control of the camera, you’ll get full manual controls as well as RAW shooting, if that’s what you’re after. Through the advanced pro mode you’ll be able to select the type of photo you want to take too, like macro, as well as tweak individual settings like IOS, exposure length or focus.

The front camera doesn’t want to be left out of the action, with a 13-megapixel sensor. This also offers a range of features, like live makeup and the ability to take ultra wide selfies so you can fit all your friends in.  

First Impressions

Launching with Android Marshmallow with HTC Sense, the HTC Desire 10 Pro offers the same sort of software features as you’ll find on the HTC 10, with freestyle themes and a range of launch gestures. That means a fairly uncluttered version of Android, free from a lot of the bloat that you’ll find on mid-range devices from other quarters.

Although we’ve not tested the handset to a great degree, we’d expect the day-to-day performance to be good. Importantly, the Desire 10 Pro is a handset that looks different and distinctive and we like that.

We’re still awaiting pricing, which will be crucial, and the availability, which HTC is saying will be determined later in November.

Google is releasing Chromecast updates early. Here’s how to get them

If you’re a Google Chromecast owner and want to get the very latest features as soon as possible, then you’ll be pleased to know Google has released the Chromecast Preview Program. Google says the Preview Program is a “user opt-in channel that updates your Chromecast device with the latest version of Chromecast’s firmware before it is made broadly available”.

And if you think the early features will be in beta mode then think again, Google has confirmed any firmware updates released through the program will be the full production version.

• Chromecast 2 review: make any TV smart, effortlessly

To update your Chromecast to receive early updates, head to the Google Cast app for iOS or Android, go into the settings of the device you want to update and select Preview Program.

There’s a slight chance you won’t see the Preview Program option available, in which case it means Google isn’t accepting new members, but says to keep checking back regularly to ensure you don’t miss out.

The Preview Program was released last week and since then, no updates have been issued, but with Google’s I/O event happening on October 4th, we could see some new features being added.

• Google Chromecast 4K: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know
• Google Chromecast tips: Ten ways to enhance your streaming experience
• Chromecast Audio explained: What is the new Chromecast with Spotify?

Chromecast is a dongle that plugs into an HDMI socket on your TV and lets you stream, or cast, content from a number of compatible audio and video apps. Any content you do cast is streamed via the cloud, so you don’t need to worry about burning through your smartphone or tablet’s battery. Supported apps include Netflix, Now TV, Google Play Movies, Spotify and All 4.

Fossil Q Founder review: More Qs than As for this fashion smartwatch

Once gadget manufacturers started producing smart, connected watches, it was never going to be long before traditional watch brands got on board. Companies like Tag Heuer, Casio, Nixon and Michael Kors have all launched Android-powered smartwatches, as has one of the most popular fashion watch brands around: Fossil.

The Fossil Q Founder is the company’s first foray into the full-in Android Wear smartwatch market, a device which has since been joined by the unveiling of Marshal and Wander devices. Elsewhere in the Q-range are some basic connected gadgets with fitness and health tracking benefits.

But we’re here to talk about the Q Founder, the foundation of the company’s smartwatch offering. A watch that, just like the Motorola 360, has a black-out “flat tyre” bar in its design. Does that singular design feature cost this fashion brand dear, or is this the Android Wear watch to go for?

Fossil Q Founder: Design

Fashion brands and watchmakersare benefitting the smartwatch hype-train by producing products that look a lot more like a “proper” watch. So much that it’s started to influence the electronics manufacturers – you just take a look at the Samsung Gear 3 to see that.

READ: Best smartwatches to look forward to in 2016

That’s not to say companies like Motorola, LG and Huawei haven’t given it a good go. But the fixtures, clasps and overall look of the Fossil Q Founder seems a little more watch-like. It feels more like the real deal.

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The large 47mm circular casing has a polished, bevelled edge, while the metal link strap has a reassuring heftiness and opens and closes using a familiar-styled one-button clasp.

If a chunky metal link bracelet isn’t to your taste, you can buy the Q Founder with a leather strap. What’s more, you can easily swap out the strap for another that you like thanks to the addition of the quick release pins on the strap lugs. The watch will accept any 22mm watch strap, so whether you prefer leather, canvas or a milanese-style bracelet, you’ll be able to fit your own.

Fossil opted to decorate the single button on the side of the casing in a housing that looks and feels like traditional crown. The textured finish tempts you to try turning it, but sadly it’s just a push-button. And just like virtually every other Android Wear smart watch available, it’s the only button.

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Underneath the watch’s main bod is a matte black disk which sits very comfortably on the arm. There’s no heart-rate monitor here, so it’s completely smooth and comfortable to wear.

Fossil Q Founder: Display

On the whole, the quality of the round 360 x 326 resolution screen is great. Details are sharp at this size, meaning there’s no obvious fuzziness or distortion at arm’s length. What’s more, gradients and colours show up really nicely on the display, meaning it’s great for colourful watch face choices.

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There is one big drawback, though, which can’t be ignored: the “flat tyre” black-out bar to the bottom, which we’ve already mentioned, stops the watches round face from being truly “round”, as nothing displays in this bottom section.

The second minor complaint is to do with screen tech choice: the Q Founder uses an LCD panel, not AMOLED, so the always-on ambient screen isn’t very high contrast, making it hard to see the time when the watch is inactive, especially in bright daylight.

Fossil Q Founder: Software

At the moment, the Q Founder runs Android Wear v1.5. With Google having a fairly tight grip on the Android Wear ecosystem, it’s no surprise that the software experience is pretty much identical to every other watch loaded with the wearable operating system.

Like other watch makers, Fossil has added its own unique flavour by pre-loading it with its own bespoke watch faces. These can be customised using either the on-watch setting options, or you can download and install the Fossil Q app from the Google Play Store on your Android phone. Android Wear does also support iOS for Apple users, but it’s rather limited.

READ: What’s Android Wear really like on iOS?

The Fossil Q app for Android allows you to adjust colours and styles of the watch faces, plus choose what information should show up in the onscreen widgets. The only problem with the smartphone app – and it’s a major one – is that more often than not it either forgets your watch exists or pretends it’s not connected. Whoops.

Often when launching the Q app, we were met with a screen asking us to setup a watch as if it never had been, or leading us to the watch overview screen with a notice saying it wasn’t connected. When it works, however, it offers a great number of customisation choices.

That’s without mentioning our general frustration with parts of Android Wear that still seem unintuitive. Sure, that’s Google’s fault, but it’s an ongoing issue we feel with all such devices. For example: the cards that come up to show part of a notification aren’t well designed, often showing the same Google Now cards over and over again, even after being dismissed.  

Fossil Q Founder: Performance

Rather than go with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips, Fossil partnered with Intel, with the result generally decent. Cards swipe away easily, while scrolling through the list of apps and the settings is speedy and mostly stutter-free.

The one area of performance we found weak was the automatic raise-to-wake feature. If it worked, there was a noticeable delay between lifting an arm and the screen activating. Sometimes it didn’t wake up the screen at all. We also experienced a delay when using the “Ok Google” voice search feature. But we’ve found that to be the case with many other Android Wear watches out there – again, Google’s fault.

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The 4GB of onboard storage ensures that if you do want to save a few albums onto your Fossil watch for offline listening via Bluetooth earphones, you can do – and not worry about having to take your phone with you. 

Other hardware features include the usual collection of fitness-tracking sensors for counting your steps. But as there’s no heart-rate monitor, as previously mentioned, and no GPS built-in, this watch isn’t really designed with fitness fanatics in mind. Not that you’d take a watch like this on a run anyway.

Fossil Q Founder: Battery Life

With an Android Wear watch it’s generally considered good if the wrist-worn device can make it through a full day without dying. With the Q Founder, that’s certainly the case.

Even with a long, busy day beginning at 7am and ending after 10pm, we still found the 400mAh battery made it to bedtime with around 30 per cent charge remaining. Sadly, it never made it to the end of a second day in testing, even with minimal use. 

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Once depleted, the watch battery can be recharged using the charging stand which – although seeming cheaply made – is far more attractive than most of the docks or cradles that usually come in smartwatch retail boxes.

The main middle section of the cradle is cushioned and coated in a PVC-like material, while the translucent charging disk glows red or blue during charging. It’s a secure fit, it keeps the watch protected and looks good on a bedside table. 

Verdict

What Fossil gets right with compared to traditional electronics manufacturers’ smartwatches, as you might expect, is in the overall design of the Q Founder. The casing, the strap and the fixtures ensure this fashion wearable hit enough points of difference to standout from the otherwise similar Android Wear crowd.

Except for one major problem: that black-out “flat tyre” to the bottom of the design. It stops the circular watch face from being properly round, just as it’s an issue with the Moto 360 and some other models. That alone sees the Tag Heuer Connected a far more enticing prospect, despite its considerable added expense (and we mean considerable).

Speaking of price point, we would take the Fossil over the competition as it’s competitively priced, in a similar bracket to the Moto 360 and Huawei Watch, yet the better looking option overall. Assuming, of course, you’re ok to ditch the heart-rate sensor.

As with any Android Wear smartwatch, the other downside is the software, which still feels clunky to use with its card-based notification system and graphics that still aren’t well suited to a (sort-of) round display.

Overall, it’s that “flat tyre” and Android Wear’s current state that leave the Fossil Q Founder with more questions than answers. And that only helps to open the door for proper round displays and other operating system prospects, sych as the Samsung Gear S3.