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

The Armani Exchange Hybrid smartwatch will be available to buy from the start of February 2017.

It’s called the AX Connected (AX is the Armani Exchange logo) and offers a casual, urban look – emblematic of AX designs. The watch’s smart features are backed up by Fossil and Intel who are on a mission to rule the hybrid watch world.

The AX is available in four colours: white, black, blue and orange. As for its smarts, it brings onboard many of the same features we’ve seen across the rest of the Fossil line including step and sleep tracking, smartphone notifications, and the ability to take selfies and control music playback using the pushers.

There’s a sub-dial, used in conjunction with the clock hands, to help you see your set alarm, second time zone, the date, and any incoming notifications. This also provides a progress gauge for your daily activity goal.

The watch is water resistant to 5ATM, making this a good one for surviving the elements (or just a bit of swimming), while the coin cell battery will last for up to six months, depending on usage. The Armani Exchange Connected will be available from February, marking the ninth of Fossil’s owned/licensed brands to move into the wearables market.

The hybrid watch connects wirelessly with Android and iOS smartphones and tablets using Bluetooth within a range of 84 feet. It features automatic time sync with your phone, and a Second Time Zone feature enables you to quickly check the time when you’re off traveling. The watch will keep track of your activities – steps, goals, etc, and monitor your sleep. It also features a silent alarm and smart notifications for calls, texts and app alerts.

The AX Connected can be used to ring your phone in the annoying instance of misplacing it, plus you can use it to remotely control your smartphone’s music player and camera.