Michael Kors is launching swanky new Gen 5E smartwatches, starting at $250

The new SKAGEN Jorn Hybrid HR isn’t the only Fossil Group smartwatch launching at CES 2021. Michael Kors has just unveiled two new Wear OS smartwatches that are suited for those who want something a bit flashier than many of the standard techie-looking Wear OS watches we’re used to.

The new Michael Kors Gen 5E Darci and Gen 5E MKGO both carry the same Gen 5E branding introduced last October with the Fossil Gen 5E. The ‘E’ is supposed to stand for Essential. While that may be the case under the hood, these do not look like pared-down smartwatches in the slightest. Both are quite swanky, with sparkling bezels accented by gold, silver, rose gold, or dark grey cases.

The only real differences between the two come down to design. The MKGO variant (above) has an aluminum case and silicone strap, which will be better suited for workouts. The Darci (below) has a stainless steel case and comes with a seven-link bracelet.

Both watches share the same specs. They have a 1.19-inch AMOLED display, a built-in speaker for receiving Bluetooth calls, NFC for Google Pay, custom battery modes, an estimated 36 hours of battery life, and 4GB of RAM. We also assume these are powered by the Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset, though that was not confirmed to us before press time.

If you do want to take your new watch for a workout, both will be able to track your steps, caloric burn, heart rate, sleep, and distance via connected GPS. They’ll both also show your estimated cardio fitness level using a combination of your resting heart rate, age, gender, and weight. This is becoming a popular metric with fitness trackers, so it’s nice to see Fossil Group implement it here.

Interested? The Michael Kors Gen 5E Darci will be available in three colors for $350, while the MKGO will come in four colors and cost $250. Both go on sale Spring 2021 at MK Boutiques, Amazon, Macy’s, Dillard’s, and Best Buy.