There are a lot of options available when you are looking for a new smartwatch and while it might be an easy option is always to go for Apple Watch to link with your Apple phone or Galaxy Watch to link with your Samsung, there are other options that don’t get talked about enough and to be honest they are probably better suited to your needs.
One option that has made a massive difference for me is Withings “ScanWatch 2”.
The latest incarnation of the device is known as a hybrid smartwatch, due to it looking and feeling like a more traditional timepiece while simultaneously delivering 24/7 body temperature tracking, heart rate monitoring, on-demand ECG heart tests, blood oxygen levels and other advanced respiratory insights. It’s perfect for workouts and I’m seeing it on wrists more and more during the ski season as it’s being used by skiers wanting to track health at high altitudes.
The smart watch links to the impressive Withings app, which is available on all phones, so you aren’t locked into an ecosystem. The connection is super easy to establish and gives you up-to-date access to all your personal stats like steps, average heart rate and an in-depth look at your sleep quality.
One of the biggest complaints of all smartwatches is Battery life and the Withings ScanWatch 2 has a perfect reply to the other brands boast about a “full day’s battery life”. SanWatch 2 gives you 30 days of battery life! Yeah, I didn’t mistype and you didn’t miss-read that’s 30 days until you have to charge it.
Why this is a game-changer for me is sleep tracking, I’ve owned both an Apple Watch and a Samsung Galaxy Watch and both devices would charge by my bed overnight. This meant that I found the sleep-tracking features were useless. With the ScanWatch 2 I have a perfect readout of my sleep insights when I wake up, and still another month til I need to charge it. Sleep stats include giving you a sleep quality score when you are in REM sleep or in a light snooze and any breathing disturbances.
Another cool feature to note is the display, as it’s a traditional watch face with a small circular screen you’d think it would be hard to read, but it isn’t, it’s simple, clear and bright, even for glancing at text messages that come through. If the hands cover the digital part of the display you just give the crown on the side a quick tap and the analogue hands will automatically move out of the way and then return to the correct time when you finish looking. It’s an amazing feature and one to show off.
As timepieces, I like the various designs of the ScanWatch 2, they have a modern classic look and the digital screen blends nicely into the background until you activate it. The silver and black version looks great with anything and is the one I used for review, the stylish white and gold is also quite striking but the digital display does stand out just a little more on that model.
I’m embarrassed to admit that it took a little bit to get used to reading the time by just glancing at the hands with no numbers, I’d clearly been on fully digital watches for far too long and Smart Watches make you dumb.
The premium watch design is also a great size for my tastes, I don’t like them too big and bulky and it’s a more sleek look with a comfortable band.
When you eventually do have to charge the device there is an included USB charger in the box that attaches by clipping around the watch covering the crown. This component is unique to the watch so don’t lose it.
The Withings SmartWatch 2 is a stylish hybrid smartwatch that has reminded me a lot about what I find important in a timepiece, and how easy it is to be caught up in other technical ecosystems that might not be delivering what I want. It has every feature you’d want without looking like a cheap toy.
