Diesel shrinks the size and ups the style with new unisex Fadelite smartwatch

CES 2020: The new range joins the bulkier Axial launched last fall
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Not content to sit on the Axial smartwatch it launched last fall, the Fossil Group has revealed the new Diesel Fadelite series at CES 2020.

Designed to be a unisex device, the Fadelite takes the typical bulky look from Diesel's On past smartwatches and shrinks it down into a 43mm case.

Related reading: Best smartwatches for Android

It still runs through Google's milquetoast Wear OS and is powered the latest Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, with the design being the true selling point here.

Diesel shrinks the size and ups the style with new unisex Fadelite smartwatch

Essentially, if you've always been a fan of the Diesel brand or bulkier look, but were put off by the giant case sizes, this is the first opportunity to get a more standard feel on the wrist.

We would still class 43mm on a round case quite large for those with smaller wrists, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. To add some context, the Apple Watch Series 5 comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes.

The four Fadelite models are also some of the only smartwatches we've seen to feature a transparent strap and a translucent hard shell bezel that fades the colors, hence the moniker.

Diesel shrinks the size and ups the style with new unisex Fadelite smartwatch

Aside from this, the experience will be pretty familiar to Wear OS users. The smaller size and more sporty design does make it more appealing to exercise with, and can be paired with GPS tracking and the full suite of pre-installed Google fitness apps.

Google Pay, Google Assistant, heart rate tracking, customizable watch faces, music control (Wear OS' Spotify app comes pre-installed) and smartphone notifications are all here, too.

If you're interested in picking up Diesel's latest wrist creation, it's also cheaper than what we've seen from previous models, including the Diesel On Axial.

The full Fadelite range will release in March for .


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Conor Allison

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Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.

Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides. 

He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror. 


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