The extensive Michael Kors Access collection of
stylish Wear OS smartwatches is getting a somewhat discreet new addition at CES
2019 in Las Vegas. The Access Sofie 2.0 follows in the footsteps of the fashion
brand’s popular first female-oriented device compatible with Android handsets
and iPhones.
At first glance, not much seems to have changed, but
under the familiar glamorous hood, the second-gen smartwatch actually hides
plenty of major upgrades and important feature add-ons. In a nutshell, the Michael Kors
Access Sofie 2.0 does a significantly better job than its predecessor at
bringing the fashion and tech worlds together. With standalone GPS and NFC
support, owners of the refreshed device will be able to track their location
during the occasional run (no connected phone needed), as well as pay for stuff
directly from the wrist.
A heart rate monitor is another welcome addition to
Sofie’s list of features, proving healthcare and fashion are not mutually
exclusive, while the modest IP67 water resistance rating of the original model
is improved to 3 ATM, meaning you can also take this beaut for a quick swim
with no worries whatsoever.
If there’s something to be disappointed about,
that’s definitely the ancient Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor powering the
Access Sofie 2.0. For some reason, Qualcomm’s hot new Snapdragon Wear 3100
chipset is not catching on as quickly as you may have expected.
Let’s at least hope that compromise will allow the
Fossil Group, which is the actual company behind Michael Kors-branded
smartwatches, to sell this thing at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, there
are no words on that or a release date yet. For reference, the original Sofie
lineup is currently available at US$ 249 and up with no GPS, NFC, or a heart rate
monitor.
