If you want better menu navigation
Choose Withings ScanWatch Nova. It scores 4.7 vs 2.6 for menu navigation, with a 4.0 overall score.
Withings ScanWatch 2 Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Withings ScanWatch 2 for classic watch style, ECG-focused health tracking, and multi-week battery life. Skip it if you want built-in GPS, rich apps, calls, payments, or serious fitness-watch depth.
Best for
Best for people who want a stylish, low-distraction analog-looking watch with ECG, temperature, sleep, and general wellness tracking plus long battery life. It especially suits casual health tracking rather than athlete-level training.
Not for
Not for buyers who expect a full smartwatch experience with apps, calls, payments, music controls, built-in GPS, rich notifications, or advanced training metrics. It is also a weaker fit if you dislike subscriptions for deeper insights.
Verdict
The Withings ScanWatch 2 earns its strongest praise as a beautiful hybrid watch that hides capable health tracking behind a traditional face. Reviewers consistently liked the premium materials, ECG support, body-temperature tracking, and battery life that can stretch for weeks. The tradeoff is that the watch is deliberately limited: the tiny display makes notifications cramped, smart features are sparse, and workout tracking is better for casual activity than serious training. App impressions were mixed, especially around Withings+ and data presentation. Its best fit is someone who wants a low-distraction health watch, not a wrist computer.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
50 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.010 (20%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.420 (40%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.414 (28%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.46 (12%)
Pros
-
Pairing reliability was a bright spot in the limited evidence, with reviewers describing setup as quick, straightforward, or almost instant.
-
Connection stability received limited but positive evidence, especially from a reviewer who reported the watch-app connection stayed rock solid.
-
Style and design were the strongest consensus points: reviewers repeatedly called it gorgeous, classic, premium, and one of the best-looking hybrids.
-
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.
-
Materials quality was one of the strongest themes, with stainless steel, sapphire glass, and premium finishing repeatedly praised.
-
ECG functionality was consistently praised as simple, useful, medically oriented, and easy to share with a doctor.
-
Durability was a strength, helped by sapphire glass, stainless steel, water resistance, and reports of the watch resisting scratches and wear.
-
Build quality was a consistent strength, with reviewers describing solid construction, premium finishing, and a watch that did not feel cheap.
-
Water resistance was treated positively when discussed, with reviewers comfortable using it in showers, pools, swimming, or wet workouts.
-
Watch-face flexibility was weak because the hybrid design does not support changing digital watch faces like fuller smartwatches.
-
Comfort was usually strong for daytime wear, especially with the lighter case, but some reviewers found sleep wear or the stock strap uncomfortable.
-
The crown controls were simple and sometimes satisfying, but the lack of touch input made some interactions slower or more menu-driven.
-
Cross-platform support was positive where discussed, with reviewers noting iPhone/Android support and easy links to Apple Health, Google services, and fitness platforms.
-
Safety-oriented health features were viewed positively, especially temperature warnings, respiratory disturbance tools, and ECG-related alerts.
-
Recovery insights benefited from HRV and temperature data, but implementation was still simpler than more performance-oriented ecosystems.
-
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.
-
Display quality was polarizing: reviewers praised sharpness and readability, but the tiny monochrome screen limited notifications and fitness data at a glance.
-
Blood oxygen tracking was useful but mixed: reviewers praised alignment with other devices, while one noted readings could be tricky and sometimes inconclusive.
-
The broader Withings ecosystem was a plus for reviewers who used scales, Health Connect, Google Fit, or multiple Withings devices in one health dashboard.
-
Reviewers appreciated size flexibility, especially the 38mm and 42mm options, though larger color choices were more limited.
-
Charging speed was generally acceptable, with most reviewers reporting roughly 90 minutes to two hours for a full charge.
-
Wellness insights were broad and useful for health-oriented users, but some reviewers wanted clearer interpretation, deeper baseline analysis, or fewer paywalls.
-
Brightness was generally praised when reviewers mentioned it, though one reviewer found the display harder to see in bright light.
-
Outdoor visibility was mixed: some found the OLED readable in all conditions, while others found bright light made the tiny screen harder to see.
-
The companion app drew mixed reactions: reviewers liked its health focus and integrations, but criticized glitches, clutter, paywalled insights, and uneven data presentation.
-
Step counting drew mixed but mostly acceptable feedback, from precise and conservative to variable or slightly trigger-happy depending on the reviewer.
-
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.
-
Overall health tracking was considered broad and useful, but confidence dropped when reviewers saw sleep errors, missing data, or weaker analysis than rivals.
-
The watch interface was considered simple and readable for basic tasks, but its tiny display and crown-only control made deeper interactions limited.
-
Fit depended on wrist size and strap choice: some reviewers found it light and well-sized, while one found the 42mm model too large.
Cons
-
Charging convenience varied by reviewer: some liked the secure newer cradle, while others found the proprietary cradle flimsy, fiddly, clunky, or inelegant.
-
Workout variety was acceptable for casual exercise, but reviewers noted missing sports, basic workout data, and fewer tracked options than Garmin or Apple.
-
Sleep tracking was mixed: some reviewers found it comparable or strong, while others reported missed sleep, overestimation, or poor stage interpretation.
-
Band opinions were split: some praised the supplied strap as comfortable or high quality, while others found it itchy, slippery, or worth replacing.
-
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.
-
Customization was mixed: straps, menus, and notification choices helped, but reviewers disliked the limited watch-face and home-screen customization.
-
Calorie and activity totals were only lightly discussed; one reviewer found the data broadly correct but somewhat pessimistic versus other devices.
-
Value was mixed: reviewers saw premium design and battery life, but many questioned the price because smart features, GPS, and app insights were limited.
-
Coaching and Withings+ features were often viewed as optional or underwhelming, though reminders and some health guidance were appreciated by a few reviewers.
-
Auto-detection was inconsistent overall: one reviewer said it worked well, but several found it flaky, inaccurate, or less automatic than expected.
-
Software smoothness was only lightly supported and mixed, with a simple app experience offset by confusing or jumpy data presentation.
-
Notifications were useful for quick alerts but widely limited by the tiny scrolling screen, inconsistency, and lack of reply or message history.
-
Menu navigation was workable but often clunky; reviewers liked the crown after adjustment but criticized long scrolling and tedious submenu exits.
-
Smartwatch functionality was intentionally minimal; reviewers liked the calm hybrid approach but warned it lacks apps, calls, payments, music, and deep interaction.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Reliability concerns centered on inconsistent raise-to-wake, missed notifications, syncing glitches, and sleep-detection errors.
-
Contactless payment support was a recurring absence, and reviewers who expected full smartwatch features treated the lack of payments as a clear limitation.
-
Reviewers repeatedly noted the lack of music controls as part of the watch’s limited smart feature set.
-
Third-party app support was essentially absent, a limitation reviewers emphasized when comparing the ScanWatch 2 to fuller smartwatches.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smartwatches, this product is above average in ECG functionality, body temperature tracking, Bluetooth connectivity, near average in companion app quality, charging convenience, below average in music controls, GPS accuracy, reliability.
Summary
50 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher16 (32%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts10 (20%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower24 (48%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECG functionality | 4.6 | 2.5 | +2.1 |
| music controls | 1.5 | 3.5 | -2.0 |
| GPS accuracy | 2.4 | 4.1 | -1.7 |
| reliability | 2.1 | 3.8 | -1.7 |
| third-party app support | 1.5 | 3.2 | -1.7 |
| body temperature tracking | 4.0 | 2.8 | +1.2 |
| contactless payments | 1.5 | 2.8 | -1.3 |
| coaching features | 2.8 | 3.9 | -1.2 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better reliability
Choose Garmin Vivomove Sport. It scores 5.0 vs 2.1 for reliability, with a 3.7 overall score.
If you want better charging convenience
Choose Casio G-Shock GBD-H2000. It scores 4.8 vs 3.4 for charging convenience, with a 3.5 overall score.
If you want better contactless payments
Choose Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4. It scores 5.0 vs 1.5 for contactless payments, with a 4.3 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Worse: scratch resistance Rick’s Reviews contrasted the sapphire glass Withings durability with an older Apple Watch that scratched quickly.
- Better: accidental workout pausing WIRED noted wrist-flexing accidentally paused workouts, which the reviewer said never happened with Apple Watch.
- Alternative: full smartwatch alternative Android Authority framed Apple Watch Series 10 as the full-smartwatch alternative for integration, apps, and display.
- Alternative: hybrid watch alternatives Android Authority listed Garmin Vivomove Sport as a lower-cost hybrid alternative with useful training tools.
FAQ
Is the Withings ScanWatch 2 a full smartwatch?
No. Reviewers repeatedly described it as a hybrid watch with basic notifications, timers, alarms, and health tracking, but no app store, payments, calls, or rich on-watch interaction.
How good is the battery life?
Battery life was one of the strongest points across reviews. Most reviewers reported multiple weeks per charge, with lighter use approaching Withings’ 30-day claim.
Is the ScanWatch 2 good for serious fitness training?
It can track casual workouts, steps, heart rate, and connected-GPS activities, but reviewers said the workout data is basic and not ideal for serious athletes.
Does it have built-in GPS?
No. Reviewers repeatedly noted that outdoor route and distance tracking require a connected phone, which several considered frustrating at this price.
Are notifications useful on the ScanWatch 2?
They are useful for quick glances, but reviewers often found them cramped, slow, inconsistent, or too limited for longer messages.
Is the ECG feature useful?
Yes. Reviewers generally praised the ECG feature as simple, health-focused, and useful for sharing heart data with a doctor.
Is Withings+ necessary?
Most reviewers did not treat Withings+ as essential. Several criticized the subscription or said the added insights did not feel worth the monthly cost.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Tech It Before You Wreck It
- Review score
- 3.6
YouTube - Android Authority
Article Reviews
reviews.org
- Review score
- 3.7
Top Smartwatches to Consider
Good if you want premium running features, long battery life, and maps for under $200. Skip it if you need flawless heart-rate data, multiband GPS, LTE, or richer app support.
Pros: pairing reliability, brightness
Cons: Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity
Best for accurate running metrics, excellent coaching tools, a bright AMOLED display, and dependable battery life. Skip it if you need offline maps, music storage, contactless payments, multi-band GPS, or...
Pros: step counting accuracy, app ecosystem
Cons: Bluetooth connectivity, pairing reliability
Good if you want a compact, stylish Garmin with strong GPS, comfort, and week-plus battery life. Skip it if you need richer smartwatch apps, onboard music, bright always-on display, or...
Pros: health tracking accuracy, blood oxygen tracking
Cons: ECG functionality, onboard music storage
Best for luxury-watch styling, vivid TAG faces, solid build, and casual smartwatch use. Skip it if you need top fitness accuracy, call handling, LTE, or strong value.
Pros: contactless payments, pairing reliability
Cons: LTE connectivity, call handling