Smartwatches and connected watches are beginning to grow and this year we’ll likely be seeing many more receive announcements than we saw in 2014. There are already a good number of smartwatches to choose from at this point from various tech OEM’s we’re used to seeing digital technology from, like Samsung, Motorola, LG and others. More and more actual watch brands are starting to come out with their own offering for the tech and connected crowds, and well-known swiss luxury watch brand Breitling just threw their watch into the mix with their announcement of the Breitling B55 Connected.
The B55 Connected isn’t your typical smartwatch, in fact it’s not really a smartwatch at all, as it really isn’t capable of doing all of the things a smartwatch can do. Breitling is calling this a connected chronograph, which is exactly what the B55 Connected is. It’s a Swiss-made luxury chronograph watch that sports maybe just a few connected features that can be linked with and controlled from the Breitling companion app that is available on smartphones. Breitling is still targeting pilots with the B55 Connected, as they always have with other watches they offer, and the B55 will allow buyers to log flight times, share stats, and change time zones using the application which turns the watches analog hands and change the digital face to match the time zone selected.
The B55 Connected features a rechargeable Li-Ion battery inside and it charges via a magnetic connector which plugs into any USB port or wall adapter. As far as other connected features go the B55 will also allow pilots to set a countdown to mission start and countup for elapsed time, as well as set alarms, and take advantage of the electronic tachometer. Breitling hasn’t announced the prices or the availability for the B55 Connected yet, but those are said to be expected sometime next week, although this is a luxury watch, and it is a Breitling, so although it may be a little smarter than their other watches it’s still going to come attached with a fairly high price tag. This is a reinvented version of the Breitling Cockpit B50 which was introduced last year that originally retailed for around $7,200, so it’s likely the B55 Connected will be close to the same cost.
https://youtu.be/gkFXJVCh8jA