The Emporio Armani smartwatch is now available to buy. It’s a hybrid and it’s called the EA Connected.

Designer wearables in the form of hybrid smartwatches are arriving in numbers, mainly thanks to the Fossil Group who have the fitness tracking expertise of Misfit under their giant wing, plus a partnership with Intel to take care of the tech.

Another collaboration that’s bringing designer wearable tech onto the scene is between HP and Movado. Their latest entry is Tommy Hilfiger hybrid smartwatch.

The Emporio Armani Connected watches are available in five color variations with different chain link and leather straps. We have seen some classy looking hybrid smartwatches released over the last year or so, and the EA Connected is up there with the best of them. The watch case is made from stainless steel, measures 43mm, and has a water-resistance rating of 3 ATM (30 meters).

The EA Connected uses Bluetooth to connect with iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. It offers the essential fitness tracking features: steps, distance, calories, and sleep quality. It also has a vibrating alarm and automatic time zone updates. There’s no touchscreen, instead the EA Connected has a stylish analog display with quartz movement and a built-in activity tracking dial so you can see you goal progress.

The stylish connected watch keeps you in touch with your smartphone notifications: text, email, ect, with the ability to customize which ones get through to your wrist. You can also use the buttons on the side of the watch to control your smartphone’s music playlist, camera shutter, and to ring your phone if you misplace it.

It uses a replaceable coin cell battery, which means no charging is required. It’s not clear exactly how long the battery lasts, but if it’s anything like the recently released Skagen Hagen which also uses Fossil and Intel’s platform, it will be around 4 to 6 months.

The Emporio Armani Connected app is compatible with iOS 8.2 + and Android 4.4 +.

Prices for the EA Connected range from $295 – $395 USD, and £199 to £359 in the UK. The seriously stylish smart analog number is available now from Armani.com

   

 

Full touchscreen smartwatch sales are in decline, but Hybrids, or smart analogs if you prefer, won’t suffer the same fate, as they offer a combination of modern, connected features and the style of classic watches. Plus, a battery that doesn’t need charging ever 48 hours.