With technology changing and advancing faster than ever, Michael Kors’ designer watches for ladies are rapidly carving themselves a niche in smartwatch world.
Michael Kors Access Runway
The stylish and attractive Access Runway smartwatch builds on the success of its predecessor, the Access Sofie – see below. Three buttons on the side control different functions the middle one is the central control to open the apps menu and scroll through the various features available, while the two smaller buttons are customizable in the watch settings.
Display design is taken from the Sofie, with a rounded face and an easy-to-read 1.19-inch AMOLED display with 390 x 390 px resolution. The screen is ‘always on’, but darkens when inactive. Charging, via a small magnetic puck attached to the back, is straightforward. It comes in a choice of colors and the option of a cheaper silicone strap isntead of the standard metal bracelet. The Access has a 3 ATM rating, making it splash-resistant but unsuitable for swimming.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset, the Runway has the same configuration as the Access Sofie with 4GB of storage and a similar speed. The Runway reintroduces the Michael Kors Access app, adding features to the already durable design. Users can switch to different watch faces at different times of the day, enabling a ‘work look’ or a casual display, with the option to add a photo from Instagram or Facebook.
For health-conscious users, the watch monitors the heart rate every 20 minutes or on demand when in Google Fit. It has the ability to track workouts on apps such as Google Fit and Move Minutes and is probably best suited for lighter fitness activities. Unlike other Access watches, there’s the bonus of built-in GPS and Google Pay.
The Runway is compatible with iOS and Android, though the Wear OS app must still be running in the background to receive notifications on iOS and iMessage or SMS messaging is currently unavailable through iPhones. Google Assistant is a useful feature – using the activation phrase “Ok, Google” and opens Google apps for both IOS and Android users. The battery has a user-friendly magnetic charger and lasts about a day.
The Michael Kors Access Runway watch is a stylish, high-end smartwatch, but isn’t really designed for those who wish to use the watch for fitness tracking. It’s certainly more elegant than other competitors and is sure to attract attention.
What we like
- Built-in GPS
- High-quality display
- Slimmer lightweight design
- Easy to see in sunlight
- Heart rate sensor
What we don’t like
- Battery-life could be improved
- Not suitable for gym use or swimming
- Strap challenging to swap and adjust
- Small icons
Michael Kors Access Sofie
The Access Sofie watch is a good quality smartwatch with an excellent display. Unlike its successor, it does not support Apple Pay and is probably best considered as more of a fashion accessory than a fitness tracker. The design uses Michael Kors’ classic signature style with gemstones embellishing the bezel and the stainless-steel strap at regular intervals. It’s quite heavy and the strap can be difficult to change without professional adjustment.
On the right-hand side of the face, a single button provides the sole means of operating the watch and can be used to scroll through the apps available on the device. The face is 42mm in diameter with a bulky stainless-steel casing. The watch has a circular display with a 1.19-inch AMOLED screen and 390 x 390px resolution. The screen is clear in different light levels, helped by a adjustable brightness. It can be left on the ‘always on’ setting, allowing the watch to darken when not in use.
The Access Sofie is an oversized smartwatch. It is possible to change the original gemstone strap, but it’s fiddly and may require specialist tools, but the standard strap is something to admire on a stylish night out.
What we like
- Stylish design
- Excellent display with 390 x 390 resolution
- Adjustable straps
What we don’t like
- No GPS
- Not suitable for fitness
- Heavy
- The battery could be improved
Earlier editions
The Michael Kors Access Bradshaw watch has significantly lesser appeal than the later Access designs. The brightness automatically adjusts to different conditions and it’s compatible with both Android and IOS devices, but only the basic features are available when paired with an iPhone. The screen resolution isn’t as good and there is no GPS, but it’s still worth a look if you’re not after too many features.
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