What’s up?

• The Withings ScanWatch 2 is on sale for $299 on Amazon before Labor Day.
• It is a hybrid device with the features of a traditional watch, such as analog hands to display the time, as well as health tracking features similar to those of a smartwatch.
• However, it does have the usual drawbacks of a hybrid smartwatch, including a lack of detailed graphics and GPS tracking, and limited interaction with notifications.

Why is this offer recommended by ZDNET?

The Withing ScanWatch 2 is an interesting hybrid device because it looks like a regular watch (complete with analog hands) but has features normally only found on a smartwatch, such as an OLED screen and health tracking features.

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How often do you charge your smartwatch? Once or twice a day? Too often? When I do this regularly, I often wonder how much use those occasional notifications and alerts are to me. This is a big reason why I still have a preference for hybrid smartwatches.

One of them is the first Withings ScanWatch, which was released in 2021. I’ve been wearing it regularly for the past few years, mainly because it feels amazing on the wrist while tracking important health data. Each charge can last up to a month.

At first glance, the newer ScanWatch 2 is almost indistinguishable from the original, but offers some important improvements that make one of my favorite health trackers even better.

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I tested the ScanWatch 2 in black (pictured below), but it’s also available in pearl white for the larger size. The black model has hands with a Super-LumiNova coating, so they glow in the dark for a short time after exposure to light. If you prefer a smaller 38mm size, it’s available in pearl white, black, sand, and blue. Interestingly, both sizes cost $349, so you don’t have to pay more for a larger watch face, which is nice.

The 42mm ScanWatch 2 I wear weighs about 52 grams and sits comfortably on the wrist. As much as I enjoy the watch’s health monitoring features, the way the ScanWatch looks and feels on my wrist is easily one of my favorite features.

A domed sapphire crystal covers the analogue watch hands and the internal OLED display. Combined with the stainless steel case and rotating crown button, the watch exudes elegance, so avoid this watch if you prefer rugged, layered sports watches.

Navigating the watch is as simple as rotating the crown button through the various displays and pressing to make a selection. There is no back button, so you have to scroll through the available screens in each widget to get to the back option on the display and return to the original carousel of the main display.

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The ScanWatch 2 is water resistant to 5 ATM, so I was able to wear it while jogging in the rain. If you’re a swimmer or surfer, you can also wear it in the water and track your activities.

Withings states that the ScanWatch 2 charges in two hours and lasts up to 30 days. I can confirm that the charging time is accurate, but I didn’t use the wearable in just “watch mode,” so I can’t confirm the 30-day battery life. I ran with the watch several times while training for a marathon and connected it to my phone to test the GPS connection feature. Using it for any activity, especially with connected GPS, will significantly reduce battery life.

On the plus side, I was able to wear the watch for much longer than my usual fitness trackers. I once took it on three runs that lasted between 35 and 55 minutes and found that the watch still lasted over a week before I needed to charge it.

The Withings smartphone app is surprisingly powerful and can share the data it collects with Apple Health, Google Health Connect, and Google Fit. The app also pulls in data from other Withings devices, including scales, blood pressure monitors, and more, so you can get a complete overview of your overall physical condition in the app. The watch stores data for up to seven days, so I recommend syncing it at least once a week.

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In the app, skin temperature changes are shown at the bottom of your daily activity metrics (it took me a while to figure out where to see this skin data at first), with a baseline graph and minimum and maximum changes throughout the day. This information can be used when exercising in warm environments where heat exhaustion can be an issue. The only thing missing here is longer-term trends for body temperature, and I hope Withings will add these in a future software update.

The ScanWatch 2 can also perform an ECG scan, measure blood oxygen levels, track heart rate throughout the day, measure sleep, and track overall physical activity. One criticism of the watch’s sleep monitoring is that it cannot distinguish between deep and REM sleep, so it’s not the most informative sleep monitoring device available today.

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Finally, in addition to the watch, Withings has introduced a subscription service similar to Fitbit Premium, where additional insights and metrics are provided for a fee. The service also includes “missions” designed to inspire you to exercise or eat healthy, while other modules help you develop better fitness habits, such as improving your sleep scores. The monthly subscription is available for $9.95 or $99.50 per year.

Buying advice from ZDNET

Not only that Withings ScanWatch 2 a fantastic watch thanks to its always-on analog hands, feels amazing on the wrist, has a long battery life, and measures the key health and wellness metrics you need to improve your lifestyle. At $349, the smartwatch is quite affordable and holds its own against other hybrid watches I’ve tested.

When does this offer expire?

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