Withings ScanWatch 2 review: the connected watch we love for its design

For several years, Withings has dreamed of becoming a major player in health monitoring. Its catalog is full of products that allow us to obtain interesting data on the way our body functions, both at rest and during exercise. And if we want to become the best in this positioning, we must offer an object capable of following the user everywhere, in the most invisible way possible. With this in mind, there is nothing better than a connected watch, a common accessory, which can easily be forgotten by integrating into an outfit.

In 2023, Withings launched the ScanWatch 2, a high-end watch which has the particularity of being hybrid. Concretely, if we observe it from a distance, we don’t have the impression that it is connected at all. An undeniable asset for anyone who doesn’t want to bother with a watch that takes the form of a huge screen on the wrist – like the Apple Watch, queen of the segment. This all-purpose design does not prevent the ScanWatch 2 from carrying a host of sensors, which send measurements to be found in a dedicated application.

Strong points

• A nice design
• Lots of easy to understand data
• Autonomy which is counted in days

Weak points

• No GPS
• Imprecise sleep tracking
• Sometimes complex ergonomics

The ScanWatch 2 is first of all a very beautiful watch

Withings can really be proud of the design of the ScanWatch 2 as it competes without any problem with a watch that one could acquire in a traditional watch store. Available in 38 and 42 mm, it is based on finishes worthy of the price (€350): a stainless steel case (crown included) and a sapphire screen. As a bonus, the bracelet fixing system is standard, which means that you can opt for a compatible model (18 or 20 mm). Otherwise, Withings sells its own, in different materials (silicone, leather, recycled mesh, metal).

The ScanWatch 2 still owes its status as a connected watch to a small 0.63 inch OLED screen, monochrome but well defined. Given its size, it is not at all invasive and allows access to notifications, features and settings. Funny and well thought out detail: the hands move out of the way if they are on them when you are using them — and they will of course reset to the correct time themselves. The ScanWatch 2 is equipped with a function that activates the screen when you raise your wrist, a function that we find finicky in use (especially since the screen is small).

On a normal watch, the crown is used to set the time. This is not the case for the ScanWatch 2, which sets the time automatically using the smartphone to which it is connected (via Bluetooth). Here, it is used to navigate the minimalist interface displayed by the small screen, a point which penalizes general ergonomics, going back is complicated. During our workouts, we sometimes unintentionally pressed the crown several times, bending our wrist, thus pausing the “Training” functionality. Hard.

We quickly understand that it is better to use the ScanWatch 2 in a very normal way, and to let it take its measurements in the background. You can’t have both a watch with a classic design and an advanced experience worthy of an Apple Watch. Withings would still have been well inspired to integrate a second screen into its watch, in addition to the crown – the long press of which can be personalized (example: start the stopwatch).

Where did the GPS go?

Temperature sensor, accelerometer, heart rate monitor, oximeter, altimeter and electrocardiogram: this is the list of sensors integrated into the ScanWatch 2. If you have read carefully, you will have noticed an absence of size: there is no GPS in this watch, a big flaw for running enthusiasts. The only way to have precise tracking of journeys is to leave the phone’s location on “Always on”, which will have the effect of drastically draining the battery. Which also means that you won’t be able to leave your smartphone at home if you go jogging.

The ScanWatch 2 still does the job well for counting the number of steps, measuring your heart rate or quickly obtaining an ECG. On the other hand, we are a little more skeptical about sleep monitoring. As the watch is capable of lasting several days without needing to be recharged (between one and two weeks depending on your use), you can wear it at night so that it gives you a score. We got some very strange results during our test, with a watch that thinks we’re asleep when we’re not at all. This penalizes the analysis in the long term, with very low scores.

We will make a similar observation regarding the usefulness of the temperature sensor. It won’t tell you if you have a fever (like the Apple Watch), but will indicate the variations. The opportunity to see if your body does not heat up too much during training and, with good knowledge, to optimize your efforts as best as possible. Despite everything, this remains additional data, well stored in a very comprehensive application. Note that Withings offers a subscription to go even further. Billed at €9.99 per month, Withings+ provides programs and recipes to motivate you even more to evolve. Three months of trial are offered with the watch.

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