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In my official test of the best smartwatches, the Withings Scanwatch 2 had excellent battery life and a classic style at a solid price point, earning it the best hybrid smartwatch spot on my list. Read on to learn more about this great option.
Most smartwatches have a battery life that’s better measured in hours than days. A few can power through a weekend, but those are the exceptions, not the rule. Some smartwatch makers have attempted to eke out more battery life, and some have managed a few extra hours or even an extra day or two. Withings, however, has taken a different approach. The Withings Scanwatch 2 is a hybrid smartwatch that incorporates an analog watch face with a single analog complication and a small circular LCD display.
The Withings Scanwatch 2 sits right on the sweet spot of “dumb” watch and smartwatch, making it a … [+]
Most of the time, this display is off, but when the screen activates, the hands smartly move out of the way. This allows the Scanwatch to get a remarkable 20 days or more of battery life. Beyond its screen, this watch does everything any other smartwatch can do. In my rigorous testing of the best smartwatches, the Withings Scanwatch 2 proved excellent battery life and a sleek finish at a solid price point, earning it the best hybrid spot on my list. Read on to learn more about this great option.
Best for:
- Those who don’t want to charge their watch every day (or week).
- Classy looks
- Users who can read an analog watch face
Skip if
- You’re digital or GTFO
- You need actionable notifications
Withings Scanwatch 2: Design
Sleek And Slim
The hybrid watch is something of a unicorn in the smartwatch space. You still get notifications and a ton of health data, including step tracking, heart rate, blood oxygen level, menstrual cycle tracking, skin temperature, ECG and more. Meanwhile, the battery savings are huge because the analog watch hands don’t require a large watch face to be on all the time.
The watch case is made of stainless steel and comes in either a black or white face. Both are very classic looks, but I prefer the black watch face since the screen blends in with the background better. It ships with a FKM (fluoroelastomer, read: synthetic rubber) wristband. You also get 5 ATM (165 feet) water resistance, so swimming is not an issue.
The case is made of stainless steel and looks good.
Withings doesn’t advertise the size of its battery, but when it lasts nearly a month, it really doesn’t have to. The only annoyance with the battery is the proprietary and somewhat bulky charger. The charging cradle has a USB-C plug and clamps the watch on both sides of the face to align the watch. It would be nice if the watch could charge in a more compact cradle, but that’s really the only complaint in that department. However, the stellar battery life comes with some pretty big trade-offs.
Notably, the face of the watch is not a touchscreen. You have to navigate the watch by pressing and turning the rotating digital crown, which can be precise but limiting. If you’re looking for a feature or a setting and you’re not sure where it is, there is a lot of pressing the button and scrolling through the options, then scrolling to the top of the menu to press “Back.” Fortunately, most of the menus are laid out intuitively, but hunting happens from time to time.
Withings Scanwatch 2: Software
Limited Notifications, But Maximum Compatibility
The Scanwatch’s proprietary operating system doesn’t allow you to do anything with your notifications. When a message comes in, you see it came in and can usually read it in its entirety, but you can’t reply from the watch. That can feel limiting, especially if you’re coming from a more fully functional smartwatch like an Apple or a Samsung.
Note how far the crown juts out on the watch.
On the plus side, the great thing about the Withings Scanwatch 2 is that it works equally well with Android and iOS. The Withings app is available for both operating systems, so you get the same functionality on both platforms. That’s very nice for someone who might want to change their phone but not their entire ecosystem. That’s no small thing, considering most other smartwatches only work with their home operating system.
Metrics Collected
The Scanwatch 2 collects a ton of data and it’s accurate, at least compared to an Apple Watch Ultra 2 that I wore at the same time. The only metric that was off was step tracking, which could be off by as much as 23%. Over a week of simultaneous tracking, the difference fluctuated greatly from day to day, from 23% down to .05%, with an average step count of 3,500 steps per day (I work from home) and an average 12% difference between the two over a week.
Other metrics the Scanwatch collected—including heart rate, blood oxygen level, sleep tracking and daily activity—were much closer, with no more than a 5% deviation compared to the Ultra 2. Like most other fitness wearables, what’s important is consistency in data. Even if the data is not accurate to the degree one can collect in a medical setting, what the data can show you is trends. If you are walking more consistently, that’s still important data. The same goes for heart rate and sleep: As long as your numbers are trending in the right direction, good things are happening. When they start to go the other way, you know changes need to be made.
The watch keeps its smart features on a low profile.
The Withings app is where you can check your data and stats and configure the watch’s options. Data is laid out predominantly in graph form, which makes it easy to digest. You can also view your metrics by day, by week or by month and sync your health data with Apple Health, Strava or MyFitnessPal.
Working Out With The Watch
Like most smartwatches, you can track various activities like running or cycling. In all, the watch can track 39 different activities. After some time, the watch can automatically detect 13 of those activities automatically. You need to launch the activities a few times first so the algorithm can learn, but after it has a baseline, the watch should detect when you start them.
My biggest gripe with the watch is its physical complication tracks only steps. It’s a small circular dial with a single hand that points at the number of steps you’ve taken, but you can’t configure that complication to track anything else. I would like to see battery level, heart rate or any number of other things other than step count, but it’s locked to that metric and that’s annoying.
Withings Scanwatch 2: Verdict
Classy, Albeit Not Customizable
Overall, the Withings Scanwatch 2 is not my favorite smartwatch, but the benefits it brings are undeniable: The battery life is stellar, and it’s really great that it can track the same metrics as most other smartwatches. I like the classy look that works just as well with a suit and tie as it does with shorts and a T-shirt. I just wish you could customize the watch a little more to get more information at a glance without opening an app.
My Expertise
I’ve been writing about consumer electronics for over a decade with a particular focus on mobile phones and cellular technology including the birth of 5G. I’ve also tested most phones on the market over the last several years.
When I’m not testing the latest and greatest flagship phones, I’m hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast/YouTube channel with my cohost Clifton M. Thomas and editing technology news articles for SlashGear. In addition to Forbes Vetted and SlashGear, I have bylines at Android Central, Reviewed.com, Android Authority, Lifewire and more.
How I Tested The Withings Scanwatch 2
I connected the watch to my iPhone 15 Pro and wore the watch day and night for a period of approximately three weeks. During that time, I compared health metrics to the readings coming from my Apple Watch Ultra 2 that I wore at the same time.
Does The Scanwatch 2 Come In Different Sizes?
The Scanwatch 2 is available in 38 millimeter and 42 millimeter casings. I reviewed the 42 millimeter watch. According to Withings, there is no noticeable difference in battery life between the two. Withings doesn’t advertise the size of the battery in either size, so it’s possible they’re the same.
What Other Finishes Does The Scanwatch 2 Come In?
In addition to the different-sized cases, you can also get a few different finishes for the watch face itself. I reviewed the black watch face version, but it also comes in a blue or white finish, both of which look pretty slick. You can also choose from 15 watch band options when you order.
How Durable Is The Withings Scanwatch 2?
The Withings Scanwatch 2 is built with a stainless-steel case, is water-resistant to 165 feet (5 atmospheres) and has an operating temperature range of 14 degrees to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The Scanwatch 2 is backed by a two-year warranty.