If it weren’t for traditional fashion brands like
Emporio Armani, Fossil, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, or Tag Heuer, you
probably wouldn’t know Google’s Wear OS platform, recently renamed from Android
Wear, is still a thing.
Of course, that’s set to change soon, when a new
Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear processor and first-ever Google Pixel Watch will
attempt to give the Apple Watch Series 4 a run for its money. Until then, the latest addition
to the ultra-fashionable Michael Kors Access collection is unlikely to catch
the eye of many hardcore tech enthusiasts. But as nichey style-focused
smartwatches go, this one is quite feature-packed.
As the name suggests, the Runway smartwatch (or
rather the Michael Kors Access Runway Fall 2018 Collection) borrows its iconic,
flashy look from the company’s Runway family of conventional “dumb” watches.
But you also get brand-new digital dial designs
showing your heart rate and other essential health info, as well as silicone
strap options for those interested in a more casual look and lower price tag
than any of the three “classic stainless steel platings.”
Apart from heart rate tracking, the modern Michael
Kors Runway can do wrist payments with built-in NFC connectivity, as well as
untethered GPS, enabling accurate monitoring of your runs even when you leave
your smartphone behind.
By the way, this elegant new smartwatch is obviously
compatible with both iPhones and Android handsets, packing an old but fast
Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC, and perhaps most excitingly, featuring a fully
“swimproof” design. We’re talking resistance against immersion up to 30 meters,
aka 3 ATM, which is not something fashion-first smartwatches typically offer.
Not at a starting price of US$ 295, anyway. Granted, that’s with a silicone band,
while sleeker stainless steel models will set you back upwards of US$ 350
beginning later this month.
