The Withings ScanWatch 2 ($349.95) maintains the smooth analog look, spectacular 30-day battery life, and medical-grade electrocardiogram (ECG) performance of the unique ScanWatch whereas introducing new health-tracking capabilities. The second-generation mannequin displays your physique temperature across the clock and your in a single day coronary heart price variability (HRV). Whereas helpful, these modifications do not essentially warrant the $50 worth improve, particularly amidst a plethora of extra inexpensive smartwatches with related options. The ScanWatch 2 is an effective purchase if you wish to monitor your well being with out sporting an apparent health tracker, however the $159.95 Fitbit Cost 6 presents ECG, HRV, and pores and skin temperature measurements for lower than half the value, so it stays our Editors’ Alternative. Worth and Availability Like the unique, the ScanWatch 2 is offered in 38mm and 42mm bezel sizes. Whereas the earlier era price $279.99 for the smaller model or $299.99 for the bigger one, the ScanWatch 2 is priced at $349.95 no matter which measurement you select. There are a number of completely different coloration combos for the bezel and band, together with silver/black (each sizes), silver/white (each sizes), rose gold/sand (38mm), or rose gold/blue (38mm). On every mannequin, the watch face matches the band coloration. For this assessment, Withings despatched the 42mm silver/black ScanWatch 2.
(Credit score: Amber Sayer)
As a extra inexpensive different, Withings additionally sells the $249.95 ScanWatch Gentle, which has a smaller 37mm case and lacks a number of options of the ScanWatch 2, together with a built-in GPS, atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection, and help for blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), physique temperature, and ECG measurements.Look and DesignThe ScanWatch 2 has an analogous design to the unique ScanWatch, that includes two round insets that sit behind the analog arms that present the time. The highest inset is a tiny colorless OLED that cycles by your well being metrics and notifications, and the underside is a single-arm analog dial that reveals your progress towards your each day step purpose.
Left to proper: ScanWatch Gentle, ScanWatch 2 (38mm) (Credit score: Angela Moscaritolo)
As a petite girl, I discovered the 42mm Scan Watch 2 a lot too massive, however I think about it will be good for males or these with bigger wrists. The 37mm ScanWatch Gentle was a greater match for my wrist, so I might probably favor the 38mm ScanWatch 2. Small ScreenThe 0.63-inch grayscale OLED show on the ScanWatch 2 is barely bigger and better high quality than the 0.54-inch PMOLED monochrome display screen on the first-generation mannequin. Nonetheless, the display screen continues to be fairly small, which is likely one of the predominant downsides of the watch’s minimalist design. It may be troublesome to see textual content on the tiny show, particularly while you wish to shortly examine your coronary heart price throughout a exercise. Your health and well being information are definitely not broadcast throughout the complete display screen, as with Apple, Garmin, or Fitbit wearables. If you need a tracker that gives health and well being information at a look, you’ll probably be unhappy with the ScanWatch 2—although its show is barely bigger and clearer than the display screen on the unique machine.Easy ControlsThe ScanWatch 2 doesn’t provide any contact capabilities; every part have to be managed utilizing the button on the suitable facet, which you’ll press and switch. Press it to wake the show, and twist it to scroll by your well being info and completely different settings (energy burned, ECG measurements, coronary heart price, step depend, exercises, and extra). As a aggressive runner, I am accustomed to the contact screens you will discover on many GPS sports activities watches, so it took me a number of days to regulate to the ScanWatch 2’s facet button controls. Nonetheless, as soon as I bought the grasp of it, I discovered it completely simple to navigate the ScanWatch 2 and entry the completely different fields to, as an illustration, examine my coronary heart price or choose a cardio exercise. Heath and Health Monitoring Superior Wellness and Restoration Insights Due to Withings’ HealthSense Gen 3 software program and TempTech24/7 module, the ScanWatch 2 can monitor your physique temperature across the clock. As compared, the unique ScanWatch runs on the older HealthSense Gen 2 software program and does not monitor physique temperature. This improve will be significantly useful for these in search of correct menstrual cycle monitoring and/or deeper insights into the physique’s restoration standing and total well being. The ScanWatch 2 gives perception into variations in your baseline daytime and nighttime temperatures, temperature zones throughout exercises, common temperature zones throughout your awake hours, and post-workout restoration physique temperatures. As compared, the Fitbit Cost 6 and most different wearables that monitor physique temperature solely accomplish that in a single day.
The ScanWatch 2 (proper) has a extra superior sensor array than the ScanWatch Gentle (left) (Credit score: Angela Moscaritolo)
The second-generation ScanWatch additionally helps in a single day coronary heart price variability (HRV) monitoring, a priceless improve for this era. HRV is a key metric for offering perception into the stability of your sympathetic versus parasympathetic nervous techniques. Monitoring in a single day HRV over time presents an efficient biometric measurement of your restoration standing as a result of analysis demonstrates that increased HRV numbers point out that your coronary heart is able to deal with physiological stressors. A lower in common in a single day HRV can point out that you’re overtraining and/or your physique just isn’t recovering nicely from both bodily or emotional stressors, whereas constant, excessive HRV signifies that your nervous system is wholesome and nicely balanced.The remainder of the health and well being monitoring options of the ScanWatch 2 are just like its predecessor.Useful Health Knowledge On the watch itself, you may see your respiratory price, coronary heart price, sleep stats, and step depend, amongst different well being stats, all of which you’ll customise and management utilizing the free Withings Well being Mate app (accessible for Android and iOS). From the watch display screen, it’s also possible to log particulars of your menstrual cycle. The app presents a extra detailed evaluation of your health and well being metrics, together with menstrual cycle predictions. The center well being options equivalent to medical-grade ECG measurements with AFib detection, common each day coronary heart price, common in a single day coronary heart price, and the power to set excessive and low coronary heart price notifications are discovered on each ScanWatch generations. The sleep parameters, exercise monitoring, and respiratory insights are the identical on each generations as nicely, providing detailed evaluation within the companion app. Like the unique, the ScanWatch 2 has onboard GPS.The free model of the Well being Mate app presents the entire primary well being information captured by the ScanWatch 2. Buying the ScanWatch 2 instantly from Withings offers you one month of Withings+, the premium model of the app. After the free trial, you’ll have to downgrade to the free model or pay $9.95 month-to-month or $99.50 yearly to proceed subscribing for entry to the premium options, together with a Well being Enchancment Rating metric for progress monitoring, each day steerage, and a library of wellness content material, together with recipes and exercises.Correct Coronary heart Charge RecordingsTo consider the accuracy of the ScanWatch 2’s coronary heart price monitor, I wore it on a number of runs alongside a Fitbit Cost 5, a Garmin Forerunner 265 operating watch ($449.99), and a Polar OH1 coronary heart price monitor ($59.95). Admittedly, I anticipated the stylish, fashion-forward ScanWatch 2 to fall quick within the efficiency enviornment and show inaccuracies in coronary heart price or gaps in monitoring as I ran. Nonetheless, the ScanWatch 2’s coronary heart price, distance, and tempo measurements have been all very near the Garmin numbers. Furthermore, on a number of runs, the ScanWatch 2’s coronary heart price information was truly spot-on with the Polar armband. The Fitbit Cost 5 appeared the least correct in these exams, however that is not too stunning provided that it is a few years previous and has been changed by the newer Cost 6.ECG Measurements One of many predominant promoting factors of the Withings ScanWatch 2 is the power to report a medical-grade ECG, which might present priceless perception into your coronary heart well being. Earlier than taking an ECG measurement on the watch itself, you need to arrange the machine within the Withings Well being Mate app and supply info equivalent to which wrist you put on the machine on, your age, and different demographics. As soon as you have finished that, measuring your ECG on the ScanWatch 2 is easy.To report an ECG, sit in a relaxed place, press the facet button/crown on the watch, scroll by till you discover the ECG mode, and press the button as soon as to pick it. Throughout a studying, gently place your fingers on the bezel for 30 seconds, ensuring to sit down nonetheless with out shifting or speaking. Your physique must be relaxed. Any accent motions can obscure the outcomes.
ECG on the ScanWatch 2 (Credit score: Angela Moscaritolo)
You’ll really feel a single vibration when the measurement begins, then two fast vibrations when the ECG recording is full. In case you have your telephone with you, you may have the app open and watch the ECG tracing in actual time. In any other case, you may nonetheless report your ECG proper out of your wrist and take a look at the information later. After the ECG measurement, the ScanWatch 2 will present your coronary heart price, a lead D1 ECG tracing, and a rhythm prediction between three courses (regular sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, or inconclusive). You possibly can share your ECG with a healthcare supplier proper from the app.Battery Life and ChargingPowers By means of a MonthAnother main promoting level of Withings’ watches is their lengthy battery life. As with the unique ScanWatch, the second era guarantees 30-day battery life with regular use. In testing, I discovered that the battery lasts a strong month between costs in the event you aren’t utilizing GPS. Even with the GPS enabled throughout out of doors exercises, the ScanWatch 2 outlasts the Garmin Forerunner 265, which guarantees as much as 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. The ScanWatch 2 additionally costs shortly—it sometimes takes lower than two hours to achieve a full cost from lifeless.Cheaply Made Charger My solely gripe about charging the ScanWatch 2 is the charger itself, a flimsy plastic cradle. My recommendation is to arrange the charger on a flat floor the place nothing will disturb it, as a result of the watch doesn’t snap into place. If it will get bumped, knocked, or tilted, you’ll come again and discover the ScanWatch 2 isn’t within the dock and hasn’t charged. The ScanWatch 2 solely works with this proprietary charger, however in the event you lose or break this part, you should purchase a substitute from Withings for $25. Verdict: A Discreet, Dear Wellness Wearable The Withings ScanWatch 2 maintains its predecessor’s elegant look whereas providing much more superior well being evaluation capabilities. Minimal aesthetic upgrades have been made this era, however the ScanWatch 2 introduces 24/7 physique temperature measurement and in a single day HRV monitoring. These well being parameters provide useful perception into restoration, menstrual cycle monitoring, and physique stress ranges. If you need a wellness wearable that gives extremely detailed well being evaluation with a trendy design and distinctive battery life, the ScanWatch 2 suits the invoice. As a high budget-friendly different, the Fitbit Cost 6 presents related insights, a coloration contact display screen, and prices round $200 much less, remaining our Editors’ Alternative for health trackers.
Execs
Affords ECG recordings, AFib detection
Tracks physique temperature 24/7
Correct coronary heart price, in a single day HRV metrics
Detailed sleep evaluation
Elegant analog design
Wonderful battery life
Sturdy companion app
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Extra
The Backside Line
The dear Withings ScanWatch 2 health tracker positive aspects help for twenty-four/7 physique temperature and in a single day HRV measurements whereas retaining the unique’s engaging design and lengthy battery life.
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About Amber Sayer, MS, CPT
I’m a health tech author with eight years of expertise. I am additionally a licensed private coach, a licensed group train teacher, and a 200-hour yoga teacher. As well as, I’ve an MS in Train Science and Vitamin, in addition to an MS in Prosthetics and Orthotics. I really like writing about health, wellness, and tech merchandise that can help you monitor or enhance your well being. I’m extraordinarily immersed within the discipline and am all the time studying, researching, studying, and testing so I can convey detailed insights to on a regular basis choices.
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