If you want to buy a watch in 2024, there are a couple of different directions you can take. The most modern route is to buy an Apple Watch (if you are in the ecosystem or a WearOS watch if you are in the Android world). There are also other cheaper smart watches, like a Xiaomi, Huawei or any of the smaller brands which are available at a much lower price point. On the other end of the scale there is the watches you buy for their looks. Either you are a retro nerd and go with a traditional Casio digital legacy watch or you buy a more traditional “timepiece” like a Rolex, Breitling, Tag Heuer or any of the other luxury watch brands. The you can take the fitness and training route and buy a watch that is more of a utility that you use for training and workouts and that is packed with sensors that tells you how you are performing, your vitals and when you should rest. I know people who want it all… training, smarts and good looks… who doesn’t :-). In the watch space this is not possible… or is it?

For a couple of weeks now I have been testing the Withings ScanWatch 2, which looks like a traditional analog watch, but it is also packed with a lot of smart functionality for connection to your watch and working out.

Design and Build Quality: The ScanWatch 2

The watch I got sent from Withings was the ScanWatch 2, which is a 37 mm traditional analog. It is a really nice looking, discrete, watch. Someone described it as a watch “my grandfather would wear”. It is not flashy, it is just a basic black watch with a basic black band. Then you look at the watch face, you can see two circles, one that is just black at the top and one that has a single hand at the bottom. The dial one is for showing your steps progress, meaning that a full revolution means that you have achieved your step goal.

The top circle is a display which is turns on when you either click the crown or when your watch has a notification for you. I really like this setup because it means that the ScanWatch 2 is a very distraction free, smart watch experience. The bottom circle has one analog hand that shows you the progress towards your step goal. Even this is a step towards giving you a more stress free experience of the watch and not letting you focus on the actual numbers of your step count but instead only showing you if you are on the right track. The watch is water resistant and has a rating of 5 ATM which means that it is water resistant down to 50 meters.

Models and Pricing

The Withings ScanWatch 2 lineup offers several options to suit different preferences and budgets:

• ScanWatch 2 (38mm or 42mm): Starting at $349.95/3190 SEK Available in classic black or silver finishes
• ScanWatch Nova (42mm): Starting at $599.95/6700 SEK Features a more premium design with traditional diving watch aesthetics
• ScanWatch Nova Brilliant: Similar pricing to the Nova but with alternative design aesthetics
• ScanWatch Light: Entry-level option at $249/2500 SEK Note: Lacks some features including elevation tracking, temperature sensor, atrial fibrillation detection, and blood oxygen monitoring

This review focuses on the standard ScanWatch 2 38mm model, though most features discussed apply across the entire range except where noted.

Battery Life and Charging

One of the ScanWatch 2’s strongest selling points is its exceptional battery life. Unlike traditional smartwatches that require daily charging, the ScanWatch 2 can last up to 30 days on a single charge with normal use. This long battery life is made possible by the hybrid design – the traditional analog display requires minimal power, while the small OLED screen only activates when needed. When you do need to charge, it takes approximately 2 hours to reach full battery using the included magnetic charging puck. The watch will give you a low battery warning when you have about 3 days of use remaining, giving you plenty of time to plan for a recharge. Keep in mind that heavy use of features like continuous heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking for workouts, and frequent ECG measurements will impact battery life. Even with all features enabled, you can still expect about 20 days between charges – significantly better than most smartwatches.

Health Features: More Than Just Step Counting

While the watch’s classic design might suggest simplicity, the ScanWatch 2’s true strength lies in its comprehensive health monitoring capabilities. The watch includes several advanced sensors that work together to provide a detailed picture of your health:

• Heart Rate Monitoring: The watch provides 24/7 continuous heart rate tracking, with the ability to alert you to irregularities and unusually high or low readings. The PPG sensor offers improved accuracy over the previous generation, particularly during workouts.
• ECG (Electrocardiogram): On-demand ECG readings can be taken in just 30 seconds, helping detect signs of atrial fibrillation. The process is straightforward – simply sit still and place your finger on the watch bezel when prompted.
• Blood Oxygen (SpO2) Monitoring: The watch can measure your blood oxygen levels both on-demand and automatically during sleep, helping identify potential breathing disturbances. This feature is particularly useful for those interested in sleep quality and high-altitude activities.
• Temperature Sensor: New to the ScanWatch 2 is a temperature sensor that tracks your body temperature variations throughout the day and night. This can help identify potential fever, stress, or changes in your menstrual cycle.
• Sleep Tracking: The watch offers detailed sleep analysis, including sleep stages (light, deep, and REM), breathing disturbances, and a sleep score. The small display shows your previous night’s sleep score each morning, making it easy to track your sleep quality trends.
• Activity Tracking: Beyond basic step counting, the watch can automatically detect and track over 40 different activities. The discrete analog dial showing progress is complemented by more detailed metrics in the app, including distance, pace, and calories burned.

What sets the ScanWatch 2 apart from other health-focused smartwatches is its approach to data presentation. Instead of bombarding you with constant updates and notifications, it quietly collects data in the background, allowing you to review it when convenient through the Withings app. This “measure but don’t stress” philosophy makes it particularly appealing for those who want comprehensive health tracking without the anxiety that can come from constant health metric updates.

The sensors’ accuracy appears to be on par with medical-grade devices for many measurements, though Withings is careful to note that the watch is not a medical device. During my testing, I found the heart rate measurements to be consistent with my chest strap heart rate monitor, and the sleep tracking aligned well with my subjective experience of sleep quality.

Smart Features: Balancing Notifications and Distraction

Beyond health tracking, the ScanWatch 2 offers essential smart features that enhance its daily usability while maintaining its minimalist approach.

A long time ago when I looked to a watch, long before the era of the smartwatches I wanted an analog watch, but one of the features I was really looking for was to have an alarm on the watch… This was next to impossible. There were some niche watch brands that had this but they were really expensive. The option of having my watch wake me up in the morning, without waking my spouse, next to me in bed or having the watch remind me of something, even when I am not close to my phone is one of the best features of a smart watch, in my opinion. Also being able to get my most notifications on the from my phone to my watch means that I can have my watch set to silent all day and not having to worry about missing calls from the family or some other urgent thing.

While the Withings watches give you notifications, the little screen (approx. 15 mm in diameter and round) is small enough that it is “almost useless” to read on, but big enough to “get an understanding of what is happening” and that is a good thing. It makes you choose if you need to pick up your phone without at the same time allows you not to miss an important reminder or message. There is something to be said for not having a too rich experience that might take you out of the moment.

The Withings Ecosystem: A Holistic Approach to Health

The ScanWatch 2 doesn’t exist in isolation – it’s part of Withings’ broader vision for connected health monitoring which all comes together in the Withings App (I have used it on Android). Scales that measure body fat percentage, diagnose you heart health as well as weight. Blood pressure monitors and thermometers that gives you a diagnose of how you are. Sleep sensors that you put, under the mattress in you bed, to more closely monitor your sleep quality. In short, they are a company that has focused on health for a long time. The watches are no exception. All the newest watch gives you Electrocardiogram (ECG), a blood oximeter, temperature, sleep monitoring, activity tracking, step counting and heart rate monitoring. All these sensor reading is available on your phone in the Withings app together with your other Withing gear for a holistic view of your health. On top of that, a thing that the Withings app does very well is that it teaches you how to use your watch and you other Withings gear to its full potential. It also provides you with articles on everything from how you should interpret the sensor values to the importance of physical activity to how to the importance of having a bedtime routine. This really helps not tech people and non workout fanatics to get to a better health, which I really like.

A great thing with the Withings ecosystem is that it is not only a walled garden, it also integrates with Apple Health in the iOS ecosystem and Googles Health Connect. This ensures that you health data is not locked into Withings apps, in theory. The app is very user friendly. One nice touch is that it challenges the user to learn new things about the watch every day for you to be able to get the most out of your investment.

Personal Reflections: Living with the ScanWatch 2

After spending time with this hybrid smartwatch, I’ve gained some insights about how it fits into both the smartwatch landscape and daily life. Personally I have gotten really used to the smartwatch lifestyle and I have also grown dependent on the apps available on my WearOS watch but if I am honest, I think I would definitely benefit from a less noisy day-to-day life with fewer notifications and less distractions. Also the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro that I use today is not what you would call a stylish (it is 45mm in diameter and somewhere between 10 – 15 mm thick depending on how you measure). Having a watch that I can wear with a suit or a shirt at a party that (1) looks great and (2) fits under my short cuff would be great and if I were able to seamlessly switch between a more traditional watch, a smart watch and maybe a dedicated fitness watch seamlessly would be the ideal situation. This brings me to the ecosystem discussion.

I am a big proponent for interoperability… being able to choose a watch (or many) regardless of which phone you use or which fitness app you use would be the dream. If I also would be able to compete with my friends and family in fitness challenges and eventually when I find a new (aka better) app to use or if the app I have chosen no longer is developed and I am forced to change and at that point am able to move all my fitness data over to a new provider, that would be utopia. (ok… I will step down from my soapbox now). Unfortunately the interoperability promise of health connect is not really there yet. I am using the Withings Watch, together with a WearOS watch (silly, I know), a Pixel 9 Pro and a Fitbit Aria Scale. I also have a Polar Watch for running. In an ideal world (yes, I know I am naive) these devices will all be able to communicate with each other seamlessly. Then there is Strava… who has decided to not talk to the Google Health Connect API and also in 2024 said that they will be closing down all external APIs. I personally think that being able to access my own health data from any device in any ecosystem should be obvious as well as being able to move it anywhere (I will step down from my soapbox now.

If I were to choose a Withings watch as my daily driver (or as a watch that I use on certain occasions) I would probably go for the ScanWatch Nova since I like the looks of it and I also prefer a bigger size watch. Another great feature of the Withings watches is that they are compatible with standard watch bands. Depending of the watch model you can use any band with a width of 18 or 20 mm.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Multiple different beautiful designs
• Amazing Battery Life
• A very moderate smart watch experience
• Standard bands
• Accurate sensors
• Water resistant

Cons

• No smart watch interactions (which might be a good thing)
• Premium features require a subscription
• No music control on watch

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy the ScanWatch 2?

After examining all aspects of this hybrid timepiece, let’s discuss who would benefit most from this unique combination of traditional design and modern technology.

So, who should buy the Withings watch?

• Style-conscious professionals who want subtle smart features
• Health-focused individuals who prefer traditional watch aesthetics
• Users looking to reduce digital distractions
• People already invested in the Withings ecosystem

If you want a good looking watch with a focus on fitness and style, the Withings line up is a great option. Especially if you are serious about measuring other kinds of health such as blood pressure, heart health and temperature… Withings has also announced a couple of new gadgets on their homepage that shows promise. Also a fitness watch that does not stress you out and pressures you into delivering on your health goals every day, is probably a good thing is I am honest 🙂