Smartwatches at Baselworld: Michael Kors sides with Android Wear, Tissot goes its own way
It's not Google all the way, but premium is still the name of the game
Smartwatches are always big news at Baselworld, and this year there are more than ever.
We’ve already seen the ultra-rugged Nixon Mission, but if you’re after something a little more traditional, Michael Kors has got you covered.
It just announced two new models running Android Wear; a black model with a silicone wristband, better suited to sports and fitness, and a gold model complete with jewels encrusted on the strap.
There’s not much info in terms of hardware, but seeing how Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 CPU is turning up in all the other smartwatches on show at Baselworld, it seems like a lock here.
Michael Kors is following Motorola’s ‘flat tyre’ approach, with an almost fully circular screen that cuts off towards the bottom.
Each watch will have an exclusive Michael Kors display face, with a mix of digital and chronograph styles, and you’ll be able to swap out the strap for official leather or silicone replacements.
Prices are set to start from US$349, and should start shipping towards the end of the summer.
Not everyone is jumping on board with Android Wear, though. Tissot is sticking with a familiar look for the Smart-Touch.
It’s very similar to the T-Touch Solar, with a titanium case, ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal face. It’s got traditional watch hands as well as an LCD display underneath, with the hands pointing you in the right direction when using navigation or maps on your phone.
The watch battery will recharge fully if you leave it out all day in the sun, but it’s not clear if that also applies to the smart functions as well. That includes your basic alarm and timer, along with a compass, barometer, temperature and altimeter readouts.
You can also hook up to a smartphone for weather updates, synchronising the time and change settings onscreen rather than on the watch.
It should ship with connected accessories too, including a weather station and a tracking tag to stop you losing things.
The Smart-Touch should be launching towards the end of the year, with prices expected to hover around £700.
Tom Morgan-Freelander
Deputy Editor 
