Armani Exchange gets in the smartwatch game with new line of hybrids

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Published 4 Jan 2017

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The smartwatch market may be in a state of flux, but that hasn’t deterred Fossil Group from dipping its toes in the water. The timekeeping giant released dozens of models in 2016 from well-known brs such as Kors, Diesel, Chaps, Kate Spade, now Armani Exchange is joining the party.

The new line of Armani Exchange Connected hybrid smartwatches promise to stay linked to your Android phone or ione from up to 84 feet away, require a separate app to customize notifications access activity features. ke Fossil’s other hybrids, the watches feature stard faces that incorporate smart touches that elevate them above their “dumb” peers. In the case of Armani Exchange, the watches’ most notable features are auto time, which mirrors the G-set time on your phone, the ability to view a second time zone at the press of a button.

Additional features include support for notifications, activity sleep tracking, alarms, music controls, the ability to wirelessly take a photo using your smartphone’s camera. As with the rest of Fossil’s hybrids, the Armani Exchange smartwatch uses a stard coin cell battery that should last six months before it needs to be replaced. The watches, which are being unveiled at CES this week, are available in white, black, blue, orange, will be available for $175 through the company’s website beginning in February.

y it matters: Armani Exchange’s hybrid smartwatches might not fit your specific tastes, but that’s not really the point. The future of smartwatches is hazy at best, but even if fully connected wearables never pan out, hybrid watches are likely to stick around for a while. It’s sort of the best of both worlds, blending the classic style of a wristwatch with the modern features of a smartphone with a long-lasting battery.