Fossil Gen 5 Vs Samsung Active 2
- Last Update On February 13, 2022

One running on WearOS and the other on Tizen, the Fossil Gen 5 and Samsung Galaxy Active 2 -respectively- are two of the smartwatches that give you plenty of value for your money.
At first glance, both the Fossil Gen 5 and Samsung Galaxy Active 2 seem to have pretty much the same features and specs, including fitness, health, and smart features, in addition to an incredible design as well as clear displays. So, how can you end up with the better smartwatch?
With all the similarities, it might be a little tough to make a choice between the Fossil Gen 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy Active 2, and that’s why I prepared this comparison to help you reach a final decision and start enjoying the one that suits you better.
Fossil Gen 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy Active 2: Specs Comparison
Fossil Gen 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy Active 2: Full Comparison
Display and Design
The Fossil Gen 5 actually comes in two models: Carlyle HR for men and Juliana HR for women. In terms of functionality, both are the exact same, but the difference lies in the looks of each and that the Carlyle weighs 3.5 ounces while the Juliana weighs 2.8 ounces.
This difference is meant to create options that are male and female-oriented and gives you more options over the single model that the Samsung Galaxy Active 2 offers. In terms of weight, this one is heftier than both at 4.8 ounces. And while it’s not a major difference, if you’re a woman, you can benefit from the 2-ounce difference.
As for the build, the Galaxy Active 2’s case is made from either stainless steel or aluminum, which gives you more options than the Fossil Gen 5’s sole stainless steel construction.
Also, the strap gives you more options as the Active 2 has a fluoroelastomer strap with the aluminum case and a leather one with the stainless steel one, while the Gen 5 only comes with a stainless steel strap material.
In terms of screen protection, the Samsung Galaxy Active 2 comes with Corning Gorilla Glass DX+ coating, while the Gen 5 comes with just Corning Gorilla Glass. And while the Active 2 is tested for MIL-STD-810G durability, the Gen 5 isn’t.
Fossil Gen 5
Display
While both the Fossil Gen 5 and Galaxy Active 2 have AMOLED displays, the Active 2 has a 1.4-inch one, which isn’t that much bigger than the Gen 5’s 1.3-inch display, despite the noticeable difference in weight.
Still, none of the watches are bulky. In fact, they’re all quite slim and don’t feel out of place on your wrist.
As for the resolution, the Galaxy Active 2 comes with a 360x360p resolution, while the Fossil Gen 5 boasts a much higher 416x416p resolution.
Fossil Gen 5
Performance
The Fossil Gen 5 runs on WearOS, which isn’t as advanced as Tizen 4.0, the operating system on which the Samsung watches run.
While the Exynos 9110 (on which the Samsung Galaxy Active 2 runs) is a more powerful chip, the Snapdragon 3100 (the one on which the Gen 5 runs) has a lot of potential with well-developed software. Not to mention, the Exynos 9110 may not play as well with Android operating systems if connected to a non-Samsung smartphone.
The Active 2 comes with 4 GB ROM on which you can store your music, while the Gen 5 comes with 8 GB ROM.
As for how you can navigate the watch, the Active 2 comes with a digital rotating bezel and a touchscreen, which is a combination that gives you very smooth navigation with a very luxurious feel.
On the other hand, the Gen 5 comes with 3 physical buttons and a touchscreen, which seems like a more practical combination as you may not be able to use the touchscreen effectively all the time. However, it doesn’t feel as luxurious and smooth as the Galaxy Active 2.
Samsung Galaxy Active 2.
Fitness and Health Features
Both watches come with calorie-tracking, heart rate monitoring, an accelerometer and gyroscope to track steps and distance covered, an altimeter to measure elevation and steps climbed, and an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the display to match the environment.
Admittedly, the Active 2 is superior in this area as it comes with a barometer to make readings more accurate and an ECG for better heart health tracking. And though the Fossil Gen 5 comes with a compass, it’s not as functional as the barometer or ECG except for a better ability to determine your position and provide more accurate navigations.
And because both of them can monitor heart-rate, both are capable of sleep-tracking, but the Active 2 is probably more accurate in its readings.
Not to mention, the Active 2 comes with blood oxygen and blood pressure measurement sensors that give it the ability to provide more comprehensive reports on your health and activity. And while both watches come with sport modes, the Active 2 comes with 39 extensive and personalized ones.
The Samsung Galaxy Active 2 comes with a 5ATM water-resistance rating, which means that you can dive with it down to 165 feet with no worries. On the other hand, the Fossil Gen 5’s water-resistance is rated at 3ATM, which means that it only suits swimming down to 100 feet.
This means that if you enjoy water activities like kayaking, canoeing, or relatively shallow swimming, you should opt for the Samsung Galaxy Active 2.
Samsung Galaxy Active 2.
Smart Features
Both the Fossil Gen 5 and Samsung Galaxy Active 2 are labeled as smartwatches as opposed to fitness trackers, and this explains why both are equipped with plenty of helpful smart features.
You can use either to make online payments, though the Gen 5 uses Google Pay, and the Active 2 uses Samsung Pay. While both are very functional, Google Pay is a lot more enjoyable, popular, and easy to use. This is as opposed to Samsung Pay, which needs a phone with MST to function properly.
Moreover, both watches enable you to give them voice commands. The Samsung Galaxy Active 2 offers Bixby voice dictation, while the Fossil Gen 5 comes with Google Assistant, which is evidently more well-integrated with Google’s Home ecosystem, has broader compatibility with smartphones of different operating systems, and is more responsive.
If you’re opting for the Active 2, bear in mind that Bixby is specific to Samsung devices and apps, so it may not be as inclusive and advanced as Google Assistant.
Fossil Gen 5
Connectivity
In terms of connectivity, there isn’t much difference between the capabilities of both watches as they’re both equipped with WiFi 802.11, b/g/n wireless protocols, and NFC technology, but the Active comes with a more advanced v5.0 Bluetooth technology, as opposed to the v4.2 on the Gen 5.
Still, since the Fossil Gen 5 runs on WearOS and uses Google services for its functionality, it’s generally smoother and more reliable than the Active 2, whose Tizen software makes it oriented toward Samsung devices.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that only the Active 2 comes with an LTE model that gives you an incredible advantage of being able to use your smartwatch as a partial or temporary replacement for your smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Active 2.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Active 2 comes with a 2-day battery that can be extended to 5 days or more when set to Standby mode. On the other hand, the Fossil Gen 5 can only last a little over 24 hours with regular or medium-duty use.
Both watches take around an hour or two to reach their full charge, which means that you can steal those couple of hours during the day and wear them during the night for sleep-tracking.
Samsung Galaxy Active 2
Price
In terms of price, the Fossil Gen 5 is a bit more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Active 2, and for a good reason.
Though the Samsung Galaxy Active 2 is superior when it comes to battery life, some fitness and health features, LTE availability, and chipset, the Fossil Gen 5 beats it in every other way.
So, despite the Active 2 being more affordable, the Gen 5 gives you a lot more value for the money. Still, if we’re talking in terms of upfront price and which of them won’t create a hole in your pocket, it’d definitely be the Samsung Galaxy Active 2.
Samsung Galaxy Active 2.
Pros and Cons
Fossil Gen 5
Pros:
- Built-in GPS
- Two models for different tastes
- Uses Google Assistant and Google Pay
- Smooth performance
- Wider compatibility
Cons:
- Short battery life
- No LTE model
- Comes in only one size
- Fitness features aren’t as extensive
- Pricier than the Active 2
Samsung Galaxy Active 2
Pros:
- Available in two sizes
- ECG sensor
- Has more sensors than the Gen 5
- Built-in GPS
- Longer and adjustable battery life
Cons:
- Uses Samsung Pay, which isn’t as popular
- LTE model is very pricey
- Limited compatibility except with Samsung devices
Final Thoughts
The Fossil Gen 5 and Samsung Active 2 are both smartwatches that have a lot of features in common. They can both track your heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned. They also have built-in GPS tracking and can be used to control music playback on your phone.
Now that we’re done with our comparison between the Fossil Gen 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Active 2, we hope you’re a step closer to finalizing a decision.
If you’re looking for a wearable that acts as more of a smartwatch, the Fossil Gen 5 is the better version of Gen 4 as it has less of a sporty design (especially the Juliana for women) and is equipped with a more appealing and responsive touchscreen.