Just in case Google-loving fashionistas didn’t have
enough mediocre but stylish Apple Watch alternatives, yet another brand
associated with “dumb” watches and swanky clothes is joining the (doomed)
mission to prove Wear OS deserves to live on.
If it feels like you’ve heard the Armani name before
in a similar setting as today’s, that’s probably because of the Emporio Armani
Connected collection. The new Armani Exchange Connected comes from the same
Italian luxury fashion house, as well as the same Fossil Group licensee.
The main differences between this gadget and other
Fossil-made wearables like the Q Gen 4, Skagen Falster 2, and Diesel Full Guard
2.5 are of cosmetic nature, so if you dig the way the Armani Exchange Connected
looks, you can buy it without fear of missing out on anything essential.
The feature-packed new smartwatch comes with a heart
rate monitor, built-in GPS technology for standalone location tracking, wrist
payment-enabling NFC connectivity, and yes, even full-on swim protection.
We’re talking a 3 ATM or 30-meter water resistance
rating, which is pretty impressive, but oddly enough, Armani Exchange has yet
to announce a comfier, sportier option of its first Connected timepiece with a
touchscreen.
In addition to being quite large, thanks to a 46 mm
case, this thing can only be purchased in combination with metal bracelets at
launch. Those four colors (gold, black, silver, and coal) are definitely
handsome, but the material and build look far too elegant and cumbersome for
casual exercising.
Unsurprisingly, the Armani Exchange Connected packs
an archaic Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor instead of the newly unveiled 3100,
making humble promises as far as battery life is concerned, and starting at a
largely predictable US$ 295 price point.
