Compare Withings ScanWatch Nova vs Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)

Reviewers generally found automatic activity detection useful, especially for walking, cycling, and everyday movement, though a few false detections show it is not flawless.

Reviewers only touched on limited auto-detection behavior: Garmin Connect can automatically assign gear to activities, and strength mode detected exercises like squats, so support is useful but narrow.

The Withings ecosystem is a major strength when paired with the app and other Withings health devices, with integrations into major phone health platforms.

The Garmin ecosystem is described as expandable through a software marketplace and Connect IQ access, though the experience can feel more tool-like than slick.

Band quality is mostly praised for included metal and fluoroelastomer options, but sizing and micro-adjustment complaints keep it from being universally positive.

Bands are generally praised for quality and QuickFit swapping, with long-term evidence that the band holds up, though one white strap got dirty in use.

Battery life is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly reporting weeks of use and far less charging anxiety than standard smartwatches.

Battery life is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers reporting roughly 5-6 days with always-on use, around 10-16 days in many setups, and even multi-week use in lighter scenarios.

Blood oxygen tracking is consistently treated as a useful core health feature, usually easy to trigger and presented clearly in the app.

Blood oxygen tracking is present through wrist-based pulse oximetry, with one reviewer reporting readings stayed in the expected 95-100% range.

Bluetooth is only lightly discussed, with one review tying workout drain to an extended phone connection rather than offering broad praise or criticism.

Bluetooth support is well documented for sensors and accessories, with reviewers noting Bluetooth/ANT+ connectivity and phone/accessory support.

Brightness is generally adequate thanks to automatic adjustment, though direct-sun visibility and reflections can still be an issue depending on the model.

Display brightness and the flashlight brightness both score well, with reviewers describing the AMOLED screen as easy to see and the flashlight as adjustable.

Build quality is repeatedly described as premium, watch-like, and appropriate for the price, especially because of the case, bezel, glass, and finishing.

Build quality is repeatedly strong, with reviewers describing the watch as price-worthy, rugged, and tank-like.

The crown-based control system is simple and often intuitive, but one reviewer found the crown placement awkward because it presses toward the arm.

Button controls are a major practical advantage for workouts, with multiple reviewers praising tactile operation, though one long-term user found the many buttons confusing.

Call handling is basic: callers can be shown or alerted by vibration, but the watch does not replace phone-based call interaction.

Call handling is limited in the available evidence, especially on iPhone, where one reviewer said users cannot respond to texts or calls.

Calorie tracking receives limited but positive evidence, with one reviewer finding estimated calories more accurate than a previous Fitbit experience.

Calorie tracking is useful mainly through Garmin Connect and MyFitnessPal integration, with total, base, and active calories visible.

Charging convenience is mixed: the long battery life reduces how often charging matters, but several reviewers disliked the proprietary or cheap-feeling charger.

Charging convenience is a weakness in the review evidence because Garmin still relies on its proprietary plug-in charger and lacks solar charging on Epix Pro.

Charging speed is acceptable rather than exceptional, usually around two hours, with one reviewer reporting a faster recharge in real use.

Charging speed is a clear upgrade, with reviewers citing full charging in about an hour, under-an-hour charging, and meaningful battery gains from short top-ups.

Coaching is mostly app- and subscription-driven, with health scores, VO2 max context, and wellness programs providing guidance rather than deep on-watch coaching.

Coaching features are strong, spanning suggested workouts, customizable training plans, readiness-based guidance, and training tools, though one reviewer felt newer training features were not fully baked.

Comfort is widely positive, helped by lighter models, silicone strap options, and all-day wearability, although the metal band can feel heavy for some.

Comfort is mixed: some reviewers found the watch unobtrusive or surprisingly comfortable, while smaller-wrist users found it bulky or hard to wear overnight.

The companion app is a standout, repeatedly praised for clear presentation, useful explanations, seamless syncing, and dashboard-style health tracking.

Garmin Connect is repeatedly valued for depth, training plans, and data, though watch customization from the companion app remains limited.

Contactless payments are explicitly absent, reinforcing that this is not a full-featured smartwatch.

Garmin Pay is useful when supported, with reviewers praising tap-to-pay convenience, but UK bank support was criticized as limited.

Cross-platform support is strong, with Android and iOS compatibility plus Apple Health, Google Health Connect, and Google Fit integrations mentioned.

The watch works with both Android and Apple phones, but reviewers consistently note Android integration is better because iPhone replies and call responses are restricted.

Customization is practical rather than deep, covering notification permissions, menu order, workout order, OLED functions, goals, and strap choices.

Customization is broad across bands, apps, watch faces, data pages, and workouts, though some reviewers note it can take work to set up.

Display quality is mixed-positive: the small OLED is sharp and legible, but its tiny monochrome format limits detail and smartwatch interaction.

The AMOLED display is a highlight across reviews: vivid, crisp, readable, colorful, and a major reason to choose Epix over MIP-display alternatives.

Durability is supported by premium glass, water resistance, and real-world comments about the watch staying pristine through travel and use.

Durability is a strong theme, with sapphire glass, rugged construction, and long-term reports of no front-face scratches after heavy use.

ECG functionality is one of the strongest health features, with repeated praise for on-demand readings, medical framing, and AFib-related capabilities.

ECG evidence is mixed by review timing: one source notes a firmware update enabled ECG, while another earlier review says it was not yet available.

Fit depends heavily on the band: some reviewers achieved an easy, secure fit, while others struggled with bracelet sizing or looseness affecting tracking.

Fit depends heavily on size and wrist shape; smaller case options help, but a 47mm unit still felt ungainly on a very small wrist.

Fitness tracking accuracy is good for casual use and workouts, but reviewers consistently caution that the Nova is not aimed at serious athletes.

Fitness tracking accuracy is well regarded overall, with reviewers praising Garmin’s tracking package and repeatable distance measurements.

GPS is a recurring weakness because the watch lacks built-in GPS, relying instead on connected phone GPS that limits phone-free workouts.

GPS accuracy is one of the strongest consensus points, repeatedly described as reliable, fast, spot-on, and among the best available.

Health tracking accuracy is broadly praised, with reviewers comparing favorably against other devices and highlighting accurate sensor results.

Health tracking is generally useful but not uniformly trusted; reviewers praised HRV/body feedback while questioning wearable-derived metrics in some contexts.

Heart rate accuracy earns strong marks in the reviews, including direct comparisons to other devices and even a chest strap.

Heart rate accuracy is strong for many runs and workouts, especially with the newer sensor, but reviewers still saw latency or errors during cycling, intervals, or odd wrist-based readings.

Mapping and navigation are standout strengths, with offline maps, routable navigation, course support, and wrist-based map use repeatedly praised.

Materials quality is consistently premium in the evidence, with stainless steel cases, sapphire glass, ceramic bezels, and polished finishing repeatedly cited.

Materials quality is premium-leaning thanks to titanium, sapphire, and stainless options, though not every case component is luxury metal.

Menu navigation is simple and crown-driven, generally praised as intuitive despite the tiny display.

Menu navigation is powerful but can be overwhelming, with one reviewer saying many options are not explained clearly.

Music controls are explicitly missing, making the Nova a poor fit for users who want watch-based media control.

Music controls and playback are useful, including offline Spotify and onboard playback, but one review reported patchy playback and headphone disconnects.

Onboard storage is a strength, with 32GB available for maps, music, and workout data and enough room for phone-free listening.

The operating system is deep and feature-rich, with strong built-in software and no required subscription, but it demands learning.

Outdoor visibility varies by reviewer and model, with sunlight readability praised in one review but reflections and direct sun criticized in others.

Outdoor visibility is excellent overall, with the AMOLED screen praised in sunlight, outdoors, and compared with other displays.

Pairing and sync reliability are generally strong, with setup and app syncing described as simple or seamless.

Pairing reliability is only lightly covered, but the AirPods report is positive, describing a simple Bluetooth connection that stayed connected.

Recovery insights are weak or future-facing in the evidence, with one review noting recovery-related features were expected later rather than present.

Recovery insights are a major Garmin strength, including Training Readiness, Acute Load, HRV, Body Battery, Hill Score, and Endurance Score; usefulness varies by metric.

Reliability is mostly good for daily wear and forget-it use, but connection loss and false activity detection appear as caveats.

Reliability is strong in the available evidence, with one reviewer calling Garmin devices extremely reliable and another preferring Epix Pro stability over a newer model.

Safety features center on heart-health alerts, AFib detection, ECG, and illness-related temperature signals, making this a strong health-first wearable.

Safety features are centered on the LED flashlight, strobe modes, visibility options, and LiveTrack-style use, and reviewers found the flashlight more useful than expected.

Size options are limited on the regular Nova but improved by the smaller Brilliant model, so the evidence is mixed by variant.

Size options are a broad positive because Epix Pro comes in 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm, finally covering smaller and larger wrists.

Sleep tracking is useful and often accurate enough for trends, but reviewers report missed split sleep, rosy or anxiety-provoking analysis, and limited sleep-stage detail.

Sleep tracking accuracy is mixed but improving: some reviewers trust it or find sleep timing accurate, while others still compare it unfavorably with Oura or report occasional misses.

Notifications are basic and polarizing: they can alert users, but the small display and lack of replies make them limited.

Smartphone notifications are readable and useful, but interaction depends on phone platform; iPhone users get more limited response options.

Smartwatch features are intentionally minimal, with reviewers repeatedly framing the Nova as a health-first hybrid rather than a phone-on-wrist device.

Smartwatch features are adequate but secondary to sports use, with notifications, music, payments, and widgets present but less polished than Apple or Samsung.

Software smoothness is strong around app syncing, although some activity/map issues suggest the software is not perfect.

Software smoothness is mixed; one reviewer noticed slower post-workout chart loading, while another wanted faster software-side improvements.

Step counting is one of the more reliable daily metrics, with reviewers praising the subdial and accurate step results.

Step tracking is only lightly discussed, but one review says daily steps and sleep tracking serve users well.

Stress tracking feeds Garmin’s Body Battery and readiness-style insights, with one reviewer noting stress clearly depletes the Body Battery estimate.

Style and design are the most consistent praise point, with reviewers emphasizing the luxury analog look and traditional-watch appeal.

Style is rugged, serious, and tool-like rather than elegant, which some reviewers loved and others framed as a matter of taste.

Third-party app support is a clear limitation, with direct evidence that users wanting such access should look elsewhere.

Third-party support appears through Connect IQ, letting users add watch faces, data fields, widgets, and apps.

Touchscreen responsiveness scores low because the watch has no touchscreen; all interaction is crown-based.

Touchscreen responsiveness is generally positive, especially for maps and daily use, with one reviewer praising it as responsive without being overly sensitive.

The user interface is intentionally minimalist: reviewers like its simplicity, but the small display makes notifications and richer interactions constrained.

The user interface is capable but polarizing: some reviewers call it slick, while long-term users still find it confusing.

Value for money is mixed: reviewers admire the quality and health features but repeatedly flag the high price and subscription angle.

Value is divisive: reviewers praise what the watch delivers for serious users, but repeatedly flag cheaper Garmin alternatives and the high price.

Voice assistant quality is weak because reviewers note Garmin does not emphasize assistant features and Venu-style voice functionality is missing.

Watch face quality is positive overall, with analog hands, glow-in-the-dark indexes, subdial, and hidden display giving it a real-watch identity.

Watch faces are customizable, but the experience is not flawless; one long-term user forgot how to switch faces.

Water resistance is a strength, especially on the 10 ATM standard Nova, though Brilliant models are rated lower at 5 ATM.

Water resistance is a clear strength, with 100m/10 ATM-style resistance repeatedly mentioned for swimming, wet rides, and even diving contexts.

Wellness insights are strong in the app, especially for health scores, trends, ECG review, dashboards, and actionable explanations.

Wellness insights are engaging and useful, especially Morning Report, HRV, Body Battery, stress, sleep, and health snapshots.

Wi-Fi is useful for uploads, syncing, and map management, though big map downloads can be slower than USB.

Workout tracking variety ranges from limited basic modes in some reviews to more than 40 sports in others, so it is useful but not elite.

Workout variety is extensive, with many sport profiles, new activity modes, and broad coverage across running, cycling, swimming, gym, team sports, and more.