Disclaimer: I was provided with the Michael Kors Access Runway Smartwatch for purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.
I wasn’t sure I was even interested in owning a smartwatch. I average about 600 to 700 emails a day so I know I didn’t want a watch telling me each time an email arrived. My social media is pretty busy as well so – I didn’t want any notifications there either. I know you can turn them off, but why bother having a smartwatch if you aren’t going to use it to it’s full potential – right?
When Best Buy asked if I wanted to experience this watch, I thought – what the heck! Let me give it a try!
The watch comes in gold-tone or rose gold-tone finish and lets you take selfies (I have not yet been able to figure out how), ring your phone, access music, keep track of personal goals, and access your social media accounts.
The watch is compatible with both android (4.4 or later) and iOS 9.3 or later operating systems.
From OS by Google
- Make every minute matter with smart help and health coaching, from the convenience of your wrist.
- Proactive Help From the Google Assistant: Keeps you ahead of your day with proactive, personalized help from Google Assistant, even before you ask.
- Smarter Health Coaching from Google Fit: Motivates you towards a healthier life with coaching and activity tracking based on guidelines from the American Heart Association & World Health Organization.
- Maximizes Your Time: Get more done and maximize your time with more glanceable, easy to manage notifications, with smart replies to respond quickly on the go.
- Compatible with iPhone/iOS and Android.
From Michael Kors
- Makes it easier to be healthy with the Google Fit app’s two new activity trackers—Heart Points and Move Minutes—which were designed in partnership with the American Heart Association and the World Health Organization. These evidence-based metrics measure activity intensity, and smarter health coaching makes your fitness goals more achievable by motivating you to stay active throughout your day, everyday. (Additional background.)
- Provides proactive help from Google Assistant—from viewing upcoming flight info to dinner reservations.
- Quick access to Google Pay—so you can pay with a wave at almost anyplace that accepts credit cards.
- Fashion meets function with this designer brand: fresh, eye-catching design is perfect for transitioning from a workout to a night out with ease, and you can customize your dial (watch face).
Let’s jump right in with what I think about this product.
PROS:
Setting up the Michael Kors Access smartwatch was simple. There is a “quick start” manual included but no full manual or guide. The easiest way to set up your watch is through the Michael Kors Access website which features step by step instruction videos for each area of the watch.
The look of the watch is beautiful and you can easily change the dial/face with a few clicks to match your current outfit or mood.
Has an elegant design but is durable at the same time.
You can purchase changeable bands. All watches come with a separate changeable clasp to go with other bands.
The watch is water resistant.
Compatible with all of your Google accounts.
Michael Kors has done an excellent job with the design of their charger. It’s constructed so that it makes it more difficult for the watch to slide/fall off when charging. It almost feels like a magnet grabs on to the watch.
Easy to use Google Fit – You can control Pandora – Sync with Google Calendar – Continuous heart monitoring
Cons
Unfortunately for me, the cons sort of out-weigh the pros. The smartwatch is a bit heavy but it’s definitely manageable.
The 24 hour advertised battery life is not great. The battery life depends on your usage so in order to maintain your battery you have to turn off notifications to everything or by noon the battery is at 50%. The battery life drops quickly with usage.
You can put the watch on battery saving mode but this is basically putting the watch into airplane mode so it disables location services, wi-fi, mobile data, vibrations, etc.
Inconsistent performance. The necessary app to sync with your phone doesn’t always work well. I found that I often had to re-sync after charging.
The watch is not fully compatible with your i-phone. There are some limitations between Wear OS and iOS.
You can see notifications of text, emails and calls but cannot reply to text or emails. You can answer the call but will need to use your phone to talk as opposed to speaking into the watch.
The “Google Fit” feature is very easy to use when you’re doing basics but any other type of workouts, you have to scroll through ALL of the variety of “activities” you can choose from.
You can only control Pandora if it’s running on your phone.
There is a several second delay or longer for each function/button to kick in. .
Alarm feature is standalone and does not sync with iPhone’s alarm. When the alarm goes off, you have to go into the alarm and turn it off as opposed to having it pop up on the screen to snooze/turn off.
Although you can sync with your Google calendar, you cannot edit the calendar – only view.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I have to say that the Michael Kors Access Runway Smartwatch is elegant and beautiful, yet durable. It will definitely have your friends and family asking you about it. But try as I might, I’m having a hard time staying excited about some of the features.
I had so much trouble trying to use the smartwatch with my iPhone, that I most likely won’t use it regularly. Although it’s stylish, it won’t fit the needs of someone that NEEDS a “smartwatch” and uses an iphone.
Michael Kors might sell plenty of Access watches based on the strength of its brand alone.
These watches are truly gorgeous and, bugs aside, generally do what they promise. But there’s nothing here that sets it apart from being yet another smartwatch. It’s difficult to fault Michael Kors for the functionality of the Access line since it’s limited by what Google offers for this sort of accessory.
I can’t say I would deter anyone who is thinking of purchasing this watch. If you want style, this watch is for you. If you aren’t concerned with immediate functionality this watch is for you. If you use an android, this is the smartwatch for you.
It all works as it should but a bit slow and glitchy.
