The smartwatch you put on to dinner

I’ve by no means actually revered hybrid smartwatches. Firms slap analog fingers on a digital watch and name it a hybrid, however the design nonetheless appears like a bit of tech in your wrist. To be a real hybrid, traditional watchmaking and aesthetics have to be given greater than a passing nod. Nobody is anticipating excessive horology, however extra may be completed to win the respect of watch fans. Withings makes an attempt to strike that steadiness with the ScanWatch 2. It encompasses a premium construct high quality and an formidable array of smartwatch options, however that doesn’t essentially imply it ought to wind up in your wrist.

Value and availability

Amazon and Withings are the locations to go

The Withings ScanWatch 2 is out there via Withings for $349. The value is similar whether or not you select the 42 or 38mm diameters, with further leather-based, fluoroelastomer, and chrome steel bands obtainable for an extra price. You’ve a number of dial colours and case mixtures, with Black and Pearl White provided on the 42mm silver case again model. Along with Black and Pearl White, Withings provides Sand and Blue dials, with a rose gold case end for the 38mm variant.

Design and show

It is a mix of latest and outdated

It’s clear from the design that Withings needed to lean into the analog watch aesthetic with the ScanWatch 2. Other than the discreet grayscale show on the 12 o’clock place, nothing concerning the system screams “smartwatch.” Regardless of being a tad thicker than your common costume watch, the ScanWatch 2 is simple to put on — at simply over 52g (35 for the 38mm model), it felt snug on my seven-inch wrist. For comparability, it’s the identical weight because the smaller Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional. Weight is very vital if you wish to use your look ahead to sleep monitoring, as nothing is extra distracting than a cumbersome watch when you’re making an attempt to get your slumber.

I like that Withings selected sapphire crystal to guard the dial. It’s a development that has reached sub-$500 analog watches, and I’m glad to see that being mirrored with smartwatches. It provides the wearer further peace of thoughts, and any watch-wearer is aware of the sudden pang of horror while you scrape your watch face in opposition to a floor with simply mineral crystal defending you from scratches.

Sadly, the sapphire is barely domed with none anti-reflective coating, creating fairly just a few reflections in nearly any lighting. Viewing may be significantly difficult outdoor, particularly in opposition to the black watchface. I hope Withings considers an AR coating for future variations, because it’s pretty widespread on watches utilizing sapphire crystal.

Easy utilized indices mark the time, with solely an hour and minute hand on the dial. I like that Withings took the time to lume the fingers. It’s not precisely the Tremendous Luminova you’ll discover in your favourite Seiko, however its delicate blue hue will get the job completed in the dead of night. I’m disenchanted that the sub-dial on the 6 o’clock place solely tracks steps. It was a missed alternative to characteristic a working secondhand, giving the watch much more of an analog really feel.

The crown at 3 o’clock handles all watch features. It’s strong chrome steel, with a satisfying rotation as you cycle via the menus. The ScanWatch 2 rotates its fingers to the ten and a couple of o’clock place everytime you entry the menus, permitting for simple visibility. It’s a small characteristic however proof Withings put thought and care into the system’s design. The chrome steel case feels premium, and the ScanWatch 2 provides 50 meters of water resistance.

Haptics are excellent on the ScanWatch. I extremely advocate muting them in a single day or leaving the watch on a delicate floor as a result of it’ll sound like a ‘90s pager vibrating in opposition to your nightstand in case you don’t put on your look ahead to sleep monitoring. Both manner, you’ll by no means miss a notification or be uncertain of an incoming name together with your ScanWatch.

The 0.63-inch grayscale LCD handles notifications and readouts. It will get moderately vivid, and I by no means had a difficulty seeing textual content in daylight. It’s a pixelated expertise, however I used to be pleasantly shocked by how readable even X (artist previously often called Twitter) notifications have been as they scrolled by. I might even learn Whatsapp messages — useful for realizing which queries wanted a direct response.

Software program

A primary app but it surely will get the job completed

The Withings companion app handles information assortment and settings for the ScanWatch 2. It’s half of a bigger ecosystem that includes numerous well being and life-style tech. All informed I discovered the app comparatively inoffensive, with data and information displayed clearly. Though it labored effectively, it’s not probably the most intuitive expertise. Some sensors and monitoring information are turned off by default, with notifications not allowed both. I discovered myself digging via the menus to make sure all the watch’s options have been working.

Whereas it wasn’t my expertise, some Android customers have complained of battery drain due to the Withings app, with Pixel customers seeing probably the most impression.

Like most corporations with well being monitoring units in 2023, Withings has a subscription service that unlocks further utility. The corporate did a superb job of limiting the extra content material to insights, permitting customers to higher perceive the well being information they’re seeing and giving folks extra recommendations for dwelling a more healthy life-style. Nothing is extra irritating than placing further sensors behind a paywall, so I’m glad Withings made the ScanWatch 2 completely usable with out the subscription. If you would like the extra insights, it’ll price you $10 a month or $100 for a complete yr.

Health and well being

Loads of monitoring choices in a costume watch package deal

Though the ScanWatch 2 does a superb job of maintaining appearances as an analog watch, it encompasses a full vary of well being and exercise sensors. Sleep monitoring felt correct, with my rating and durations of sunshine and deep sleep highlighted on a chart. I saved monitor of once I awoke throughout the night time, and the ScanWatch 2 precisely recognized all of the interruptions.

It’s going to preserve monitor of your physique temperature all through the day, displaying any variations. At first, the watch displayed variations between my temperature whereas sleeping and throughout the day, which resulted in a better studying. Nonetheless, lately, it looks like the values have returned to regular, with the ScanWatch 2 displaying the right variations. It additionally makes use of the temperature information that will help you keep away from warmth exhaustion throughout exercises.

The ScanWatch 2 has loads of built-in actions to select from, starting from ice hockey to kitesurfing. Should you’re a runner, the watch will match physique temperture that will help you enhance restoration time, providing you with data on when your temps return to regular. General, it is a powerful lineup of health monitoring and options, particularly given the watches’ design.

The ScanWatch 2 additionally has a wide range of heart-related screens. It’s going to monitor coronary heart fee, with warnings for low or excessive values. ECG performance is out there, however the Withings app requested for 2 information releases I wasn’t snug with. The app claims it’s as a result of I reside in New Jersey, however I’ve by no means needed to consent to a launch of knowledge for ECG readings earlier than. When requested, Withings talked about that the disclosures are region-specific and solely have to be accomplished as soon as — hardly reassuring.

VO2 Max is monitored, together with steps, energy burned, and an altimeter to gauge what number of flooring you’ve traveled. Blood oxygen ranges are on demand, with further readings taken in a single day throughout sleep. Menstrual monitoring can also be obtainable via the ScanWatch 2, permitting customers to trace cycle phases and even moods. Extra options, comparable to respiratory fee monitoring and exercise temperature zones will probably be added in future updates. In contrast to the inexpensive ScanWatch Mild, the ScanWatch 2 options an upgraded multi-channel PPG sensor, offering extra correct blood oxygen readings.

Battery life

Can final nearly a month

Withings claims the ScanWatch 2 can final for as much as 30 days on a single cost. And whereas that quantity is likely to be a bit beneficiant, the battery life is unquestionably spectacular. I discovered that a complete night time’s price of sleep monitoring took lower than 3% of the battery — examine that to the near 30% wanted for the Google Pixel Watch 2 to trace a complete sleep cycle. Standby drain was subsequent to nothing, and I might simply see going over 3 weeks without having a cost.

Withings included a proprietary charger for powering again up. It’s a bit slower than different smartwatches I’ve used, taking up an hour to get a full cost, however given the outsized battery life in comparison with the competitors, I didn’t thoughts the additional time.

Competitors

Not the one Withings to think about

The Withings ScanWatch Mild gives the identical analog appear and feel at a lower cost. It’s solely obtainable in 37mm, and the ScanWatch Mild is lacking just a few options of its greater brother. As well as, it doesn’t characteristic the analog step counter at 6 o’clock, however it’s obtainable in additional shade variants than the ScanWatch 2. The smaller diameter is limiting relying in your wrist dimension, but it surely is likely to be price contemplating with its $250 worth level.

Should you’re on the lookout for one thing a bit greater, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional for $349 is an effective different. It options the return of the rotating bezel, giving it a little bit of a conventional watch really feel, and a sapphire crystal protects the show. You’ll be able to obtain many apps not obtainable on the ScanWatch 2, however you sacrifice the feel and appear of an analog watch.

Do you have to purchase it?

I discovered that I loved the ScanWatch 2 after a few weeks on the wrist. At first, I used to be confused by what it needed to supply, however as soon as I tweaked the notification settings and turned on options within the app, the ScanWatch 2 got here alive. As somebody who loves conventional analog watches, I recognize what the ScanWatch 2 brings to the desk. I can get the aesthetic I need with out sacrificing the health-tracking options I’d anticipate from a smartwatch.