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 highlights
-
Style and design were the strongest consensus points: reviewers repeatedly called it gorgeous, classic, premium, and one of the best-looking hybrids.
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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.
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The companion app drew mixed reactions: reviewers liked its health focus and integrations, but criticized glitches, clutter, paywalled insights, and uneven data presentation.
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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.
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Display quality was polarizing: reviewers praised sharpness and readability, but the tiny monochrome screen limited notifications and fitness data at a glance.
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Comfort was usually strong for daytime wear, especially with the lighter case, but some reviewers found sleep wear or the stock strap uncomfortable.
Cons highlights
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Smartwatch functionality was intentionally minimal; reviewers liked the calm hybrid approach but warned it lacks apps, calls, payments, music, and deep interaction.
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Value was mixed: reviewers saw premium design and battery life, but many questioned the price because smart features, GPS, and app insights were limited.
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Charging convenience varied by reviewer: some liked the secure newer cradle, while others found the proprietary cradle flimsy, fiddly, clunky, or inelegant.
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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.
-
Notifications were useful for quick alerts but widely limited by the tiny scrolling screen, inconsistency, and lack of reply or message history.
-
Sleep tracking was mixed: some reviewers found it comparable or strong, while others reported missed sleep, overestimation, or poor stage interpretation.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smartwatches, this product is above average in ECG functionality, Bluetooth connectivity, body temperature tracking, near average in companion app quality, build quality, below average in music controls, GPS accuracy, reliability.
Comparison summary
50 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher14 (28%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts12 (24%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower24 (48%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECG functionality | 4.6 | 2.6 | +2.0 |
| music controls | 1.5 | 3.6 | -2.1 |
| GPS accuracy | 2.4 | 4.1 | -1.7 |
| reliability | 2.1 | 3.7 | -1.6 |
| third-party app support | 1.5 | 3.2 | -1.7 |
| contactless payments | 1.5 | 2.8 | -1.3 |
| menu navigation | 2.6 | 3.8 | -1.2 |
| smartwatch features | 2.5 | 3.6 | -1.0 |
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
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