reviewed the Withings ScanWatch: Unlike other smartwatches, it is rather unique

Summary

reviewed the Withings ScanWatch.. In the event that you are looking for a smartwatch that monitors your health but does not seem to be a piece of technology worn on your wrist, selecting one from the typical options might be fairly difficult.

They combine a degree of connected functionality with conventional appearance, which makes hybrid smartwatches particularly appealing to those who do not want a complete touchscreen watch on their wrist. Hybrid smartwatches bridge the gap between traditional watches and smartwatches. As was the case with its predecessor, the Withings ScanWatch 2 is recognized as one of the most aesthetically pleasing hybrids available.

reviewed the Withings ScanWatch

There is no doubt that the ScanWatch 2 looks, feels, and wears out like a watch that is not a smart watch. Two physical hands and a complication that displays your progress toward your step goal at six o’clock are included in this watch. Stainless steel is used in the construction of the case, sapphire crystal is used to cover the dial, the watch has a water resistance rating of 5ATM, and the crown is located on the right-hand side of the watch. However, there are no additional buttons or control mechanisms. In spite of the fact that it is equipped with a screen that is situated in the upper part of the dial, it is not always operational.

When you push the crown or lift your wrist, the screen will start to appear, and it will also display the current time. The crown also shows your heart rate, the number of steps you’ve taken, the training modes you’re using, the blood oxygen level, the temperature of your skin, and other features as you spin it. Despite its brightness and clarity, it is never overbearing. It is not quite as concealed as the screen on the Garmin Vivomove Trend, but if you were to look at it from a distance, you would not really be able to tell that it was there. The classic watch appearance of the ScanWatch 2 is further improved as a result of this.

It did take a few days for me to get accustomed to the weight of the ScanWatch 2, which is not very hefty at 74 grams. However, I would come from the Google Pixel Watch 2, which weighs 58 grams and is extremely light indeed. To a large extent, acclimatization was necessary when I wore it at night, and I did become aware of this fact over the first few occasions. There is some weight behind the ScanWatch 2, and it still seems a little bit difficult to wear it every night, at least in comparison to the Pixel Watch 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9. Though it has improved, the ScanWatch 2 still has some weight behind it.

A very comfortable silicone strap is included with the ScanWatch 2 device. Not only is it lightweight, but it is also very flexible. The combination of the buckle and the keeper is something that I really love since it helps me keep the strap under control because it is pretty lengthy. Because I used either the fourth or the fifth hole on my wrist that is 6.5 inches in diameter, there are 11 holes left over, which means that it is quite unlikely that many others will have any trouble getting it to fit. As soon as I went back to the ScanWatch, I discovered that the original strap was difficult to become comfortable with, so I decided to switch it out for a new one. Because of the normal quick-release pin fitting, this was a simple issue to resolve. It operates with any 20mm strap.

It is a delight to wear the ScanWatch 2 on a regular basis since it is sophisticated, subtle, comfortable, and well-made. It can be worn with everything, it never appears out of place, and it most definitely does not exhibit any signs of being a piece of technology. While the baton hands have a coating of lume that allows you to see them in the dark, the watch does not have an overly sporting appearance. The raised indices on the dial give the impression of being costly and catch the light in an appealing manner. You should instead have a look at the Withings ScanWatch 2, which is my recommendation. In spite of the fact that it gives the impression of being a sophisticated conventional watch, it conceals inside its body some remarkable and very precise health monitoring technology.

Doesn’t it sound perfect? To determine whether or not it lives up to my expectations, I have been wearing it for some time now.

With regard to our assessment of the Withings ScanWatch 2

In November 2023, Andy Boxall conducted the first evaluation of the Withings ScanWatch 2, then in March 2024, he brought the wristwatch back into his possession to do another review. A new part has been included towards the conclusion of the review, which details how the ScanWatch 2 operates on a regular basis many months after it was released. The review has been updated with any further information that may have been available. There has been no change to the review score, and it continues to be the same as the score that was first provided in November of 2023.

The design of the Withings ScanWatch 2

The bezel is thin, the crown is easy to spin with your fingers, and the domed sapphire crystal has a gorgeous luster. The crown is also precisely proportioned. I am content to wear the ScanWatch 2 all the time since it is a watch that has been intelligently designed and is quite elegant. This is true independent of the fact that it has smart technology.

What about the technology that comes with the Withings ScanWatch 2?

The sole really noticeable technological component of the ScanWatch 2 is the very small grayscale OLED screen, which measures just 0.63 inches in size. The revised multi-wavelength PPG heart rate sensor and the TempTech 24/7 module for measurements of the wearer’s body temperature are also located on the back of the watch, which is likewise constructed of stainless steel. In addition, the watch has an accelerometer and an altimeter, both of which are improvements over the ScanWatch that was first released.

The uniqueness of the ScanWatch 2 lies in the manner in which these sensors collaborate with one another. It can offer data on the body temperature around the clock by sensing the temperature of the skin and the surrounding environment, as well as the heart rate and movement. In addition to being helpful for recording your periods in a more exact and informative manner, this is also helpful for assessing your health, performance, and recuperation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given its blessing for the ScanWatch 2 to be used for the identification of atrial fibrillation, and it has the capability to obtain an electrocardiogram reading. You may also take readings of your blood oxygen levels whenever you like. You will get notifications if your resting heart rate is either low or high, and in the future (with a software upgrade), it will also notify you if your heart rate is irregular.

You can monitor your progress in a variety of training settings, all of which can be accessible on the watch. The TempTech 24/7 module is used by the ScanWatch 2 in order to monitor your body temperature while you are engaging in rigorous physical activity. This monitoring is then divided into three distinct zones: warm up, performance, and overheating. Withings asserts that this strategy is more straightforward than the more conventional approach of using your heart rate, and that it makes it simpler to comprehend your peak performance condition and avoid overtraining. There is a recovery time graph that is informed by the temperature data.

Through the use of the Withings Health app, the Withings ScanWatch 2 is able to establish a connection with smartphones running either Android or iOS. Additionally, it is able to establish connections with Apple Health, Google Fit/Health Connect, Samsung Health, Strava, RunKeeper, Nest, IFTTT, and more. During my time with the ScanWatch 2 linked to a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, I have not had any issues that are associated with the configuration of the device.

ScanWatch 2 from Withings: a fitness monitoring device

In order to begin a workout on the ScanWatch 2, you will first need to navigate through the menu, and then you will need to scroll through the different exercise modes before you can begin. It is possible, however, to set a long press of the crown to enter the training mode and to tailor the list of available workouts, which will save some time. This will allow you to workout more efficiently. The fact that stopping and finishing an exercise needs a lengthy press of the crown is something that I really enjoy since it makes it less likely that you will do it by mistake. If you want to preserve battery life, you may choose to have the screen switch off or keep it active while you are working out.

While it does include a function that automatically tracks workouts, the quality of that feature is rather poor. It does not display a notification as the Apple Watch or the Pixel Watch does; rather, it just monitors whatever it believes you are doing and allows you to find out about it on the smartphone app at a later time. Despite the fact that I have not pedaled a single inch in years, it has “tracked” me on my bicycle on several occasions. However, it has failed to recognize my regular walks, which the Oura Ring has gladly picked up. This is a nuisance since it causes your statistics to be inaccurate and requires you to go into the app and update the activity. However, this is only the case if you become aware of it when browsing around the app. In the event that you failed to recognize it and you are unable to recall what you were doing at the time, the situation is much more catastrophic.

By manually tracking a workout, the application displays GPS-related position data, elevation changes, heart rate data, activity zones, and temperature-driven Temperature Zones. Additionally, the app displays exercise zones. In addition to that, it provides you with a Fitness Level score and monitors your progress over time. One thing that the ScanWatch 2 does not do is constantly encourage you to do more or even tell you to get up and walk about. Except for the fact that you can adjust some of the settings, it is pretty “hands-off,” and even the app doesn’t give messages on your progress very often.

A full touchscreen wristwatch is not the same as the ScanWatch 2, which is where the difference lies. The level of intrusion is reduced, and you are responsible for a significant portion of the finding and motivation. It is less goal-oriented and instead depends on mission suggestions inside the app rather than forcing you to do things like increase the number of steps you walk. As opposed to when I exercise with a smartwatch, I discovered that I glanced at the watch less while I was working out and instead examined the statistics after I had completed. This is a different approach than when I use a wristwatch. In overall, I had a sense of decreased need or dependence on the ScanWatch 2.

What the ScanWatch 2 does not do is constantly encourage you to do more tasks.

It is also essential to be aware that the Withings ScanWatch 2 is not a fitness tracker on par with the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2), and it will not fulfill the requirements of those who engage in rigorous physical activity. The functionality is more comparable to that of a fitness tracker such as the Fitbit Charge 6, but it comes in a far more appealing packaging and does not place the same focus on performing additional functionalities. Less emphasis is placed on advancing fitness and more on enhancing health via the use of measures.

Tracking your sleep with the Withings ScanWatch 2

Place the ScanWatch 2 on your wrist before going to bed, and it will immediately begin recording your sleep. The data that it displayed first seemed to be correct; but, when I examined it, I found that it was less accurate than it had been initially. This has worked wonderfully for me every time. I wore the ScanWatch 2 and a third-generation Oura Ring for the purpose of this review so that I could compare the findings of the two sleep-tracking devices. Both of these goods highlight the significance of sleep to our entire health, both factors in temperature are taken into consideration, and the prices of both of these devices are same.

When I was doing my tests, the Sleep Scores were often the same or within a few points of each other. The length of the sleep was typically only separated by a few minutes, and both of them had the same overnight disruptions at the same periods. The two sets of screenshots that are shown below demonstrate how the data from the Oura Ring and the ScanWatch 2 compare to one another and how they often coincide pretty closely. Both of these methods collect and display a different quantity of information that is associated with the temperature of the body.

With the Oura Ring, you are provided with a single number for the day, which provides you with a fundamental understanding of how your temperature has changed during the day. On the other hand, the ScanWatch 2 monitors changes continually and shows the data on a graph, allowing you to see how your temperature varies throughout the day and even how it is related to your activity level. The app displays the bulk of the data, but you can also notice changes on the screen of the watch. The watch will highlight any instances in which your body temperature deviates from the zone that is considered to indicate the baseline temperature.

The ScanWatch 2 facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of your body temperature by providing access to a higher quantity of data that spans a longer period of time. On the other hand, the actions that you may do with this information are rather restricted. The program allows you to see the fluctuations, but it does not provide much information about what they signify; thus, it is up to you to make assumptions about what they mean. The granular data may reveal changes to your health more quickly than the single average figure provided by the Oura Ring, and it may also assist in determining the amount of time it will take for you to recover; nevertheless, many individuals may find the additional information to be unnecessary. Any individual who is interested in monitoring their periods could find it more beneficial, but Oura’s outstanding cooperation with Natural Cycles gives additional data that can be put into action.

When I used the ScanWatch 2 again, the monitoring of my sleep was not as precise as it had been before, and there were instances when I did not pick up any of my sleep at all. Additionally, the software has not been updated to display heart rate variability (HRV) during the course of the night. HRV is a measure that may be useful when considered in the context of evaluating recovery or general health. Along with numerous other delayed functions, such as recovery heart rate, breathing rate, and recovery temperature, it is currently anticipated that these functionalities will be available by the end of the year 2024. Despite the fact that the ScanWatch 2’s nocturnal temperature monitoring is great, it seems to be little underused, which prevents it from surpassing the Oura Ring in terms of its ability to track sleep. Also problematic is the fact that the availability of important features for the ScanWatch 2 has been delayed for more than a year after the product was first released.

Application and connection for the Withings ScanWatch 2

In addition to having an excellent appearance, the ScanWatch 2 is loaded with a variety of cutting-edge sensor technologies. In terms of activity, it does not take a very rigorous approach, the monitoring of sleep is particularly impressive, and the fitness tracking is, for the most part, satisfactory. The application and its connection, on the other hand, are a major letdown for the bundle.

If you open the application, you will not be welcomed with your most recent statistics; rather, you will be presented with panels that display alerts and daily tasks. You will be required to scroll down in order to locate your daily measures. There are times when the missions are not very beneficial since they require the completion of real actions in addition to reading articles. On the other hand, the notifications display badges in addition to other articles or assignments that are relevant to improving the watch. As soon as you reach the data that was gathered, it is displayed in a straightforward manner, and tapping on each panel reveals further information. There is some historical information included at the bottom of the page.

Additional tabs include Measure, which displays all of your current and historical health data, and Achieve, which includes challenges and long-term objectives, in addition to ads for other Withings products. Both of these tabs are designed to help you achieve your health goals. Although it does give everything that you would ordinarily want to know, the Health app is fairly straightforward, and it is capable of providing a great deal more information, but only if you pay for it.

You read it correctly; it offers a subscription package, and inside that package are the more tasty components that are concealed. In order to get a Health Improvement Score, more health data, Daily Missions that will assist you in developing new habits, and Advanced Insights that will show you how all of your data interacts with one another, you will need to pay a monthly fee of ten dollars.

Because you are left wondering why you spent such a significant amount of money for the gear, only to be shortchanged when it comes to the insights into the data that you offer, this strategy is quite similar to the one that Fitbit takes. In addition, the application does not do anything to get you to pay for it. The design is not the most user-friendly, and even the most fundamental functionality, such as adjusting your weight, are excessively difficult to locate. Additionally, there are problems with the features, such as the Fitness Level defaulting to the oldest record first, which forces you to swipe away until you ultimately discover the most current one.

Particularly unreliable are the notifications. On the occasion that they do come, the formatting on the little screen is often subpar. As an example, the alerts that you get from Outlook make you scroll over your own email address before reaching to the main content of the message. Immediately after the notice comes, it displays the sender’s name; however, it often disappears before you have woken up the screen. There is no way to remember anything that is on the screen or interact with it, despite the fact that shorter messages are definitely more useful. When it comes to notifications, it is preferable to regard them as a simple alert rather than anything extra.

Lastly, the program does not allow for modification, which makes it difficult to resolve the design concerns. The user experience of the Withings app is less user-friendly than that of Fitbit, and neither Garmin nor Samsung Health will need you to pay any additional fees to get more features. It is dissatisfactory to the ScanWatch 2.

Withings ScanWatch 2: battery life and charging capabilities

At the time of this writing, I have been wearing the Withings ScanWatch 2 for eleven days, and I have been utilizing the majority of the usual settings. These settings include blood oxygen readings that are taken on demand rather than continuously. Over the course of half of these eleven nights, I have recorded one exercise, and I have recorded sleep for eight of those eleven nights. From a fully charged battery, it has already reached a level of forty percent left.

This implies that it will not meet Withings’ promise of having a battery life of thirty days, since it is very improbable that the battery will function for another nineteen days based on its present performance and the amount of usage that I put it through (which is rather modest). Even if there was a possibility that the sensors of the watch could have exerted a little bit more effort during the first phase when it was establishing baselines, the greatest amount of time that I anticipated getting out of it was still twenty days when I returned to the watch afterwards.

It comes with a patented charging block that features a sophisticated spring-loaded part that firmly holds the watch’s casing while it is charging. This ensures that the watch will continue to charge even if it is bumped. Approximately two hours are required to charge the battery up.

At the moment, the battery life of the ScanWatch 2 does not live up to the promises made by Withings, and it is very improbable that it will last for thirty days if you use it to monitor your workouts and your sleep every single day. Even at twenty days, this is still a much longer period of time than you would receive from the majority of other smartwatches, which is why the battery life is a compelling argument to purchase.

Withings ScanWatch 2: A Look Back at That Device

I wanted to gather extra sleep data to assist evaluate the accuracy of the smart ring, so I went back to the Withings ScanWatch 2 around the same time that I evaluated the Circular Ring Slim, which turned out to be a disaster. Nevertheless, the ride was not as smooth as I had anticipated it would be since I had a hard time getting started with the regular strap. Experimenting with various straps is something that should be done since a simple adjustment may significantly improve the comfort of the smartwatch. However, it is important to keep in mind that the alternatives offered by Withings are highly priced.

Further complicating matters was the fact that the application had not been upgraded, and it was still very evident that you needed to pay in order to see further data and get insights into your health. However, the presentation does not encourage you to do so, the data was not always as precise as I anticipated, and the additional delay of essential new capabilities on the watch itself discouraged me from subscribing to Withings+.

Upon my return to the Withings ScanWatch 2, I found that I was less impressed with it. It seemed that little effort had been made to enhance the wristwatch for its customers since it was first released. The fact that this is the case for a product that costs this much is not good, particularly considering how fierce the competition is. Nevertheless, owing to the hardware and the FDA clearance, it is still a buy that is recommended, providing that you are aware of its restrictions. However, it is of even more significance to investigate the other alternatives, since many of them provide a better value and have shown stronger support over the long run.

Price and availability information for the Withings ScanWatch 2

There are two distinct case sizes available for the Withings ScanWatch 2: 42mm (which is the case that I am wearing in the photographs) and 38mm dimensions. The 42mm model is available in either black or pearl white with a case made of stainless steel, while the 38mm model adds a silver or blue variant with a rose gold casing to the list of available options. When purchasing the ScanWatch 2 from the Withings website, you will also have the ability to purchase a variety of straps to go along with it. The price of the ScanWatch 2 is $350, which is equivalent to 320 British pounds, independent of the case size or finish that that you choose.

The Apple Watch Series 9, which costs $400, the Google Pixel Watch 2, which costs $350, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which costs $400, are all complete smartwatches and so provide greater capability than this one. This pricing is almost the same as all of these watches. The fitness platform that comes with the Pixel Watch 2 is the only one that requires a membership. In addition, none of them have received any kind of FDA clearance, and none of them offer the same comprehensive body temperature monitoring function as the ScanWatch.

Nevertheless, I do not believe that the choice over which one to purchase will be based on the characteristics themselves. Both the design and the purpose of the ScanWatch 2 are quite different from one another. Instead of promoting a big list of features that you may never use, this watch is more of a watch than it is a health and fitness tracker. It places a focus on the accuracy of the data and the health advantages that come from comprehending it. Despite the fact that the pricing could be identical, the ScanWatch 2 is likely to appeal to a different group of individuals. It may also be able to influence those who have become disillusioned with high-tech designs that have not altered much from one year to the next.

As an alternative, people who are interested in the ScanWatch 2 might choose the Garmin Vivomove Trend, which costs $270 and has a design similar to that of a watch, physical hands, and a tiny concealed screen. Not only is the Garmin platform fantastic, but there is also no mandatory membership fee. Another option to take into consideration is the Oura Ring, which costs $350. In addition to being an excellent sleep tracker, the software is also quite good, the style is appealing, and it is very easy to wear.

An evaluation of the Withings ScanWatch 2

It is amazing to see Withings go all-in on developing a beautiful example of a hybrid smartwatch since hybrid smartwatches are in the process of becoming more scarce. It has the winning design that we all desire, and it has a lot of vital technology that is so exact that the FDA has granted its clearance to a certain feature from inside. In spite of this, I discovered that it is not always dependable, and as a result, my faith in the smartwatch decreased.

Due to the fact that the app itself seems to be relatively simple, and it is obvious that there are more functions that are both intriguing and useful but are concealed behind the barrier, the bundle is somewhat diminished by the app and its subscription model. I am not interested in paying for the app or its connection to the watch because of the dubious design choices that were made and the inadequate notification support that was provided. Certainly, it is not terrible; nevertheless, in order to induce a monthly expenditure of ten dollars, it has to be considerably more polished than this.

The ScanWatch 2 is a rather normal health and activity tracker, with capabilities that are currently lacking owing to a delayed software update. Despite its appearance and the distinctive temperature module, it is more of a health and activity tracker than anything else. I believe it is vital to realize the limits of the ScanWatch 2. Do not purchase it with the hope that it is anything other than that. Aside from all of that, the ScanWatch 2 is a watch that looks as amazing as it appears, and if you have been continuously bothered by fitness trackers of all kinds adopting a tech-first approach, then the ScanWatch 2 is the watch you have been waiting for.

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