Compare Withings ScanWatch 2 vs Garmin Lily 2

ECG functionality was consistently praised as simple, useful, medically oriented, and easy to share with a doctor.

The absence of ECG is criticized as a gap, especially given the product’s price and female-focused positioning.

Connection stability received limited but positive evidence, especially from a reviewer who reported the watch-app connection stayed rock solid.

Reviewers criticized the lack of Bluetooth/ANT+ broadcasting and direct equipment or external sensor pairing, especially for Peloton-style use.

Reliability concerns centered on inconsistent raise-to-wake, missed notifications, syncing glitches, and sleep-detection errors.

User-review evidence says the Lily 2 works well and reliably handles the basics expected from it.

Blood oxygen tracking was useful but mixed: reviewers praised alignment with other devices, while one noted readings could be tricky and sometimes inconclusive.

Pulse Ox/SpO2 is treated skeptically, with reviewers warning that it can hurt battery life and produce readings that seem too low.

Reviewers treated temperature tracking as a distinctive upgrade, useful for illness warnings, workout heat awareness, and recovery context, though some found its alerts or presentation limited.

Multiple reviewers treated the missing temperature sensor as a meaningful weakness for a female-focused wearable and period prediction.

Materials quality was one of the strongest themes, with stainless steel, sapphire glass, and premium finishing repeatedly praised.

One reviewer criticized the aluminum build as cheaper and less durable than stainless steel.

The crown controls were simple and sometimes satisfying, but the lack of touch input made some interactions slower or more menu-driven.

The no-button design and pseudo-button are a recurring frustration, especially for pausing workouts or navigating during activity.

Watch-face flexibility was weak because the hybrid design does not support changing digital watch faces like fuller smartwatches.

Watch-face and patterned-lens opinions are mostly negative, with complaints about limited options, flatness, and design compromises.

Contactless payment support was a recurring absence, and reviewers who expected full smartwatch features treated the lack of payments as a clear limitation.

Garmin Pay is considered useful, but its value depends heavily on bank support and is limited in some regions.

Menu navigation was workable but often clunky; reviewers liked the crown after adjustment but criticized long scrolling and tedious submenu exits.

Menu navigation is usually described as straightforward or intuitive, though one reviewer notes a learning curve.

Customization was mixed: straps, menus, and notification choices helped, but reviewers disliked the limited watch-face and home-screen customization.

Reviewers like the band and sport-profile flexibility, especially the standard bands and ability to keep all profiles on the watch.

Coaching and Withings+ features were often viewed as optional or underwhelming, though reminders and some health guidance were appreciated by a few reviewers.

Garmin’s subscription-free courses, prepared trainings, and plans are praised as helpful ecosystem-level coaching support.

Brightness was generally praised when reviewers mentioned it, though one reviewer found the display harder to see in bright light.

Several reviewers wanted the monochrome display to be brighter, especially through the patterned lens or outdoors.

Heart rate accuracy was inconsistent: some reviewers saw strong averages or spot-on readings, while others reported high readings, poor workout tracking, or unreliable swim data.

Heart-rate tracking receives broad praise, often matching or staying close to chest straps, Apple Watch, Polar, or Oura comparisons.

Auto-detection was inconsistent overall: one reviewer said it worked well, but several found it flaky, inaccurate, or less automatic than expected.

Walk detection is praised as reliable in several reviews, though automatic Move IQ entries are considered thin on detail.

Band opinions were split: some praised the supplied strap as comfortable or high quality, while others found it itchy, slippery, or worth replacing.

Standard quick-release bands are a widely praised upgrade, with most reviewers liking the flexibility; one reviewer disliked the fixed keeper loop.

Fit depended on wrist size and strap choice: some reviewers found it light and well-sized, while one found the 42mm model too large.

The small case and strap setup are praised for fitting small wrists and wearing snugly.

Durability was a strength, helped by sapphire glass, stainless steel, water resistance, and reports of the watch resisting scratches and wear.

Durability evidence is mixed, with praise for the aluminum upgrade but criticism that aluminum is cheaper and less durable than steel.

Value was mixed: reviewers saw premium design and battery life, but many questioned the price because smart features, GPS, and app insights were limited.

Value depends on priorities: reviewers justify the price for style and wellness, but criticize missing features at this price.

Wellness insights were broad and useful for health-oriented users, but some reviewers wanted clearer interpretation, deeper baseline analysis, or fewer paywalls.

Body Battery, stress, sleep summaries, and energy insights are repeatedly praised as useful, motivating wellness guidance.

Overall health tracking was considered broad and useful, but confidence dropped when reviewers saw sleep errors, missing data, or weaker analysis than rivals.

General health tracking is praised as reliable across basics such as sleep, steps, heart rate, calories, SpO2, and wellness metrics.

Software smoothness was only lightly supported and mixed, with a simple app experience offset by confusing or jumpy data presentation.

Gesture wake and false-pause behavior improved, but some display wake behavior still feels sluggish in other reviews.

GPS was a common limitation because the watch relies on connected GPS; reviewers found that inconvenient or frustrating at this price, even when connected performance was acceptable.

Connected GPS works well when paired, but reviewers repeatedly note that phone dependence limits true GPS usefulness.

Charging convenience varied by reviewer: some liked the secure newer cradle, while others found the proprietary cradle flimsy, fiddly, clunky, or inelegant.

The proprietary clip is a drawback because losing or forgetting it can leave the user stuck.

Step counting drew mixed but mostly acceptable feedback, from precise and conservative to variable or slightly trigger-happy depending on the reviewer.

Step tracking is praised as accurate and reliable in the reviews that evaluate it directly.

Smartwatch functionality was intentionally minimal; reviewers liked the calm hybrid approach but warned it lacks apps, calls, payments, music, and deep interaction.

Smartwatch features are useful but intentionally lean, with reviewers noting fewer advanced tools than broader smartwatches.

Charging speed was generally acceptable, with most reviewers reporting roughly 90 minutes to two hours for a full charge.

Charging is acceptable in some reviews but often criticized as slower than Apple Watch-style fast charging and requiring planning for 24/7 wear.

Fitness tracking was adequate for casual users but not serious athletes, with some accurate outdoor data and several complaints about incomplete or basic workout metrics.

Core activity tracking is generally praised as accurate for casual exercise, though unsupported sports can reduce accuracy.

Recovery insights benefited from HRV and temperature data, but implementation was still simpler than more performance-oriented ecosystems.

Body Battery and recovery-related guidance are praised for helping users decide when to rest or push harder.

Battery life was the clearest strength, with reviewers repeatedly reporting weeks of use and often calling the 30-day claim realistic or conservative depending on settings.

Most reviewers found battery life close to Garmin’s multi-day claim, often four to five days, though one heavy-use YouTube review saw only about three and a half days.

Outdoor visibility was mixed: some found the OLED readable in all conditions, while others found bright light made the tiny screen harder to see.

Outdoor visibility is mostly praised, especially by DC Rainmaker and DesFit, though one reviewer found sunny conditions harder.

The broader Withings ecosystem was a plus for reviewers who used scales, Health Connect, Google Fit, or multiple Withings devices in one health dashboard.

Garmin Connect and the broader Garmin ecosystem earn praise for subscription-free data access, training resources, desktop analysis, and motivating badges.

The watch interface was considered simple and readable for basic tasks, but its tiny display and crown-only control made deeper interactions limited.

The interface is mixed-to-positive: one reviewer found it fine, while another praised the watch and app interface as intuitive.

Comfort was usually strong for daytime wear, especially with the lighter case, but some reviewers found sleep wear or the stock strap uncomfortable.

Comfort is one of the clearest strengths: reviewers repeatedly say the Lily 2 is light, discreet, and easy to wear day and night.

Display quality was polarizing: reviewers praised sharpness and readability, but the tiny monochrome screen limited notifications and fitness data at a glance.

Display opinions are mixed: visibility and contrast can be good, but several reviewers call the monochrome hidden screen flat or basic.

Cross-platform support was positive where discussed, with reviewers noting iPhone/Android support and easy links to Apple Health, Google services, and fitness platforms.

One reviewer praised the Lily 2 Classic for integrating smoothly with both Android and Apple devices.

Safety-oriented health features were viewed positively, especially temperature warnings, respiratory disturbance tools, and ECG-related alerts.

Fall/incident detection, assistance, and LiveTrack are positively received as practical safety tools.

The companion app drew mixed reactions: reviewers liked its health focus and integrations, but criticized glitches, clutter, paywalled insights, and uneven data presentation.

Garmin Connect is divisive: some reviewers find it detailed and intuitive, while others call it clunky or hard to navigate.

Style and design were the strongest consensus points: reviewers repeatedly called it gorgeous, classic, premium, and one of the best-looking hybrids.

Style and design are the product’s strongest consensus win: reviewers praise the elegant, jewelry-like look and discreet size.

Notifications were useful for quick alerts but widely limited by the tiny scrolling screen, inconsistency, and lack of reply or message history.

Notifications are mixed to weak: instant delivery is praised, but iOS limitations and excessive buzzing make them less useful.

Build quality was a consistent strength, with reviewers describing solid construction, premium finishing, and a watch that did not feel cheap.

The aluminum case and overall construction are praised as more premium, solid, and durable than the original Lily.

Sleep tracking was mixed: some reviewers found it comparable or strong, while others reported missed sleep, overestimation, or poor stage interpretation.

Sleep tracking is mixed: some reviewers found it aligned well, while others saw inaccurate sleep duration or not enough detail.

Call handling was very limited: the watch can alert users, but reviewers who wanted call interaction or message replies treated that absence as a drawback.

Android quick replies are useful, but iPhone users repeatedly lose reply and call-response functions, making call handling limited.

Workout variety was acceptable for casual exercise, but reviewers noted missing sports, basic workout data, and fewer tracked options than Garmin or Apple.

Workout variety is mixed: reviewers like the added profiles and dance modes, but often miss indoor cycling or sports options.

Pairing reliability was a bright spot in the limited evidence, with reviewers describing setup as quick, straightforward, or almost instant.

Phone/GPS pairing is strongly praised in DC Rainmaker evidence, with connections working consistently in testing.

Calorie and activity totals were only lightly discussed; one reviewer found the data broadly correct but somewhat pessimistic versus other devices.

Calorie estimates are mixed, with one reviewer calling them slightly off and another finding them more generous than other devices.

Water resistance was treated positively when discussed, with reviewers comfortable using it in showers, pools, swimming, or wet workouts.

One review positively notes that the 5ATM rating allowed showering, bathing, swimming, and pool length counting.

Mapping is a weakness because accurate route and map data require carrying a phone.

Reviewers repeatedly noted the lack of music controls as part of the watch’s limited smart feature set.

Reviewers consistently criticize the lack of onboard music storage or playback, limiting phone-free workouts.

Reviewers appreciated size flexibility, especially the 38mm and 42mm options, though larger color choices were more limited.

Stress tracking is one of the standout wellness features, repeatedly described as great, enjoyable, or excellent.

Third-party app support was essentially absent, a limitation reviewers emphasized when comparing the ScanWatch 2 to fuller smartwatches.

Touchscreen responsiveness is a recurring concern, with several reviewers reporting slow response, missed taps, or frustration.