Wilson's new smart football arrives September 8 for $200
The Wilson X Connected Football can measure the speed, distance and spiral efficiency of your throws. It can even detect if your buddy catches the ball or drops it.
Sporting goods giant Wilson has created the world's first smart football. The company, which released a connected smart basketball last year, will begin selling the ball on September 8 for $200 in both official and junior sizes. That's a lot of money to pay for a football, but this isn't an ordinary ball.
You wouldn't know from looking at it, or even holding it, but the Wilson X Connected Football includes a built-in sensor that can measure throw speed, distance, spin rate and spiral efficiency. The ball can even detect if your buddy catches it or drops it.
Data recorded by the ball is synced to the Wilson X Football app on Android and iOS. In addition to viewing your stats and comparing them to others, the app lets you choose from a variety of game modes to test your efficiency under pressure. Game modes include Red Zone, Game Day and an Elimination challenge. You can even play for or against your favorite NFL team.
As was the case with the Connected Basketball, the football doesn't have to be charged. Before the ball starts recording, it has to be held vertically for two seconds to enable the sensor. This helps preserve battery life, which will last for approximately 200,000 throws or up to 500 hours of connected usage.
The Connected Football is available now for preorder from Wilson's website. Included in the box is a wrist sleeve for your smartphone, giving you quick and easy access to plays and stats mid-game.
I will be testing the ball over the next few weeks and plan to have a full review posted prior to the launch on September 8.