TechSmartwatchesA Week on the Wrist with the Withings ScanWatch 2This hybrid smartwatch is one of the most stylish I’ve ever usedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechSmartwatchesA Week on the Wrist with the Withings ScanWatch 2This hybrid smartwatch is one of the most stylish I’ve ever usedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
This hybrid smartwatch is one of the most stylish I’ve ever used
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Thebest hybrid smartwatchesare nothing new, but every so often a model comes along that immediately impresses. That is undoubtedly the case with the new ScanWatch 2 from Withings.
In short, these are smartwatches for people who care about wristwear. Those who want a timepiece that primarily looks like a watch, complete with industry-standard lug bars and physical hands, but with the hidden ability to track exercise, take a heart rate reading or ECG, and discreetly buzz when their phone rings.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The ScanWatch 2 does all of this, along with a new module for tracking your body temperature. With that information it can show you a rolling average and help you spot changes – such as an increase in temperature that might suggest your body is fighting off an illness like the flu. It also tracks sleep and offers a claimed 30 days of battery life on a charge.
I’ve been a fan of Withings watches for years now, but have never actually needed to purchase the subscription. It’s nice to have the option, but what I especially like is how the app works just fine without it, and the option to pay for an upgrade isn’t forced upon you at every opportunity.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
What’s the Withings ScanWatch 2 like to wear?
There are two models of ScanWatch 2, with case diameters of 42mm and 38mm. Both options have a polished stainless steel case and are available with dials in black or white, while the smaller model also comes with a gold stainless steel case with dial colours of sand and blue. All models are available with a wide range of straps in various colours.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Since I have smaller wrists and prefer more compact watches, I chose the smaller 38mm model with a white dial for this review. I think it’s a fantastic looking watch, with a real sense of luxury to it (and so it should, given the £319.95 price of both size options).
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The case has a generously curved edge and tapers slightly towards the rear, helping it sit snugly against your wrist. The crown has a lovely weight to it, and I like how the watch issues a haptic tap as you scroll through the menu system, making it feel more tactile than you might expect from a smartwatch. It’s clear a lot of thought has gone into both the hardware and software with the ScanWatch 2, and it’s far from just a health-tracking wearable, but an attractive wristwatch too.
This cannot be said of the charger, however, which grips the watch and attaches to an included USB-C cable. It does the job, but the charging dock is ugly and feels cheap. If only Withings could have produced a charger as attractive as the watch itself. Fortunately the battery life is so good you’ll only have to use the charger briefly every few weeks.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Is the Withings ScanWatch 2 worth the money?
There’s no question that £320 is a lot of money for a fitness tracker. It isn’t far off the latestApple Watch Series 9, which starts at £399, and it’s only £30 behind theGoogle Pixel Watch 2. You can even pick up a newApple WatchSE for £100 less than the ScanWatch 2.
But these are all a different type of wearable. Whereas they are fully-fledged smartwatches, complete with touchscreens, apps and microphones for taking phone calls, the ScanWatch 2 is a hybrid.
And in that sense it really does deliver the best of both worlds, offering the health and fitness tracking tech of a proper smartwatch, but also a month of battery life and beautiful, traditional aesthetics.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
As a watch fan I’m far more likely to wear the Withings than an Apple Watch. I still frequently switch back to traditional timepieces, but when I wear the Withings it doesn’t feel like I’ve strapped a computer to my wrist. It feels (and looks) like a watch, while also delivering a massive suite of health and fitness tech – and battery life Apple andGooglecould only dream of.
Samsung Galaxy S25: every leak, rumour and spec we’ve heard before the launch eventThis is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This case turns your iPhone or Android phone into an e-reader, but there’s a catchActually, there are a couple…
Actually, there are a couple…
I took the Apple Watch Ultra up a volcano, scuba diving and skiingThe new Apple Watch Ultra is touted as proper tough, so I took it to the extremes to see how it really performed under pressure and at altitude
The new Apple Watch Ultra is touted as proper tough, so I took it to the extremes to see how it really performed under pressure and at altitude
This sleek Apple Watch 6 design is the next-gen wearable we needNo bezels? This Apple Watch 6 design looks incredible, but it’s a big departure from previous models
No bezels? This Apple Watch 6 design looks incredible, but it’s a big departure from previous models
Sony Wena straps add smartwatch features and fitness tracking to your RolexGet notifications, health tracking and contactless payments on a traditional watch
Get notifications, health tracking and contactless payments on a traditional watch
How the Swiss watch industry is battling the smartwatchSwiss watchmakers are tackling Apples dominance with smartwatches and hybrids of their own
Swiss watchmakers are tackling Apples dominance with smartwatches and hybrids of their own
