Withings ScanWatch Light Review: Analogue Watch, Digital Smarts And Battery That Bedims All
High notes: In-depth sleep metrics, minimalist design, lightweight, extraordinary battery. Low notes: May be bare-boned for some, very small OLED panel.
Hybrid smartwatches are quite striking. They garner a lot of attention and compliments which is unusual for most top-tier smartwatches. It maintains the look of a conventional timepiece while incorporating a range of health and wellness tracking functions found in advanced smartwatches. This smartwatch cleverly disguises advanced fitness tracking capabilities within a classic analogue watch design. It is safe to say that those who want smart health tracking features without sacrificing style for formal occasions will love it. The Withings ScanWatch Light's price hovers around Rs 23,999 in India. You may find it at a lower price via online deals. The Withings ScanWatch Light comes in five colour options, and it stands out for its extended battery life and aesthetic that reminds of the minimalist DW watches. I got the Pearl White colour variant for review and it came with a grey coloured strap.
Withings ScanWatch Light Review: Quick Pointers
High notes
- In-depth sleep metrics
- Eye-catching, minimalist design
- Lightweight
- Extraordinary battery
Low notes
- May be bare-boned for some
- Very small OLED panel
Withings ScanWatch Light Review: Design, Display, Looks And Build
The little time that I spent with the Withings ScanWatch Light made me realise that it is a beautifully crafted piece of wearable technology that blends traditional watch aesthetics with modern health tracking features, something that is not easy to find. The hybrid watch comes with a premium build quality, and features a polished stainless steel case, available in silver and rose gold tones. This material choice gives it a leg up in terms of quality compared to some rivals that use aluminum casings. The watch face comes in various colour options. The silver coloured model I tested came with a white face, but other options include green and black for the silver case, and blue or sand for the rose gold colour.
At 37mm, the watch has a slim case and is made for dainty wrists. The compact size contributes to its light and dainty feel on the wrist. Notably, Withings has not cut corners when it comes to materials. The stainless steel case and crown give the watch a posh look and feel. The use of a layer of Gorilla Glass provides reassuring protection against everyday wear and tear.
One of the ScanWatch Light's strengths is its variety of customisation options, courtesy of the five different dial designs, two case colours, and multiple strap options. The strap undeniably looks stylish and deserves special mention. It manages to be comfortable for all-day wear while maintaining the watch's overall fashionable appearance.
Cleverly integrated into the analogue watch face is a small OLED display that shows the watch's smart features. The crown is the primary interface, and pressing it wakes the display, while twisting it allows you to scroll through different screens. There is also an option to set up a raise-to-wake gesture through the Withings companion app if you prefer not to use the crown regularly.
The OLED display, though small, allows users to monitor several health metrics including activity levels, heart rate, breathing, sleep patterns, and even menstrual cycles. The back of the watch has the second-generation of Withings' PPG optical sensor technology. This is responsible for the device's heart rate monitoring capabilities. It is also where one can attach the proprietary charging cradle when it is time to juice up the battery.
One of the primary smart features is the ability to display phone notifications on the small display. However, the small screen real estate means that longer messages require some patience to read. Notifications scroll horizontally across the display, which can be a bit tedious. While this feature is certainly useful for quick glances at incoming information, it may not satisfy users who prefer more immediate, comprehensive notification viewing.
Withings ScanWatch Light Review: Sleep And Fitness Tracking
Another standout feature of the Withings ScanWatch Light is its robust water resistance. With 5ATM waterproof rating, this hybrid smartwatch can withstand submersion in water up to 50 metres. This level of protection isn't just a number on a spec sheet -- it's a practical feature that enhances the watch's versatility in real-world use.
The ScanWatch Light is a perfect hybrid smartwatch, thanks to its health and fitness tracking capabilities without compromising on design and components. The watch offers a range of health and fitness metrics, including, step counting, sleep monitoring, heart rate tracking, workout tracking and menstrual cycle tracking. Apart from measuring average heart rate, the ScanWatch Light tracks heart rate variability during sleep, detects breathing disturbances and also monitors respiratory rate.
The watch likely uses an accelerometer or similar motion sensor for step counting and activity detection. Measured during sleep, HRV data is used to offer insights into your general wellbeing. It's pertinent to note that this feature is designed for wellness tracking rather than medical diagnosis. As mentioned above, the watch can detect potential breathing issues during sleep, which could be indicative of conditions like sleep apnea. By monitoring your breathing rate, the watch also provides additional data points about one's overall health and fitness level.
The ScanWatch Light monitors your sleep throughout the night, recording details such as sleep depth, duration, phases, and disruptions (if any). In the morning, it provides a Sleep Quality Score out of 100 for a quick overview, something similar to Garmin's Sleep Score, along with a graph showing your sleep stages, including deep, REM sleep, awake, and light sleep. The watch sadly does not track naps. A minimum of three hours of rest is required for the watch to gather sleep data.
Withings ScanWatch Light Review: Companion App
The Withings app serves as the digital hub for all Withings devices, including the ScanWatch Light. The app might be confusing for some, to be honest. At its core, the app embraces a wellness-oriented approach rather than focusing heavily on intense training regimens, unlike the Garmins of the world. Upon opening the app, I was greeted with a clean, minimalist interface. The streamlined design prioritises ease of use, making it simple for even tech-novices to navigate through various sections and access their health data. The overall aesthetic is pleasing to the eye, with a colour scheme and layout that bring a sense of calm -- fitting for an app centered on wellness. The companion app also has informative articles, tips, and explanations related to various health metrics.
The app has a notification system designed to keep users engaged and informed. These notifications appear as large cards at the top of the screen, offering various types of information, including usage tips for Withings devices, reminders to reach daily health goals, and general wellness advice. However, the cards can accumulate quickly, thus, cluttering the interface. While some users may find the frequent reminders helpful, others may find them a tad bit intrusive.
A special mention to ecosystem compatibility, where the Withings app shines. I used it with my iPhone 14 and I saw seamless integration.
- Apple Health: For iOS users, data can sync directly with Apple's health ecosystem.
- Google Fit: Android users can enjoy similar integration with Google's health tracking platform.
- Strava: Fitness enthusiasts can connect their Withings data with this popular activity tracking service.
Withings ScanWatch Light Review: Menstrual Tracking
The Withings companion app helps track periods by simply tapping the “+” icon on the Home tab and answering a few basic questions about their menstrual cycle. Tags for symptoms can also be added, and the app provides insights based on data from the last three cycles.
Withings ScanWatch Light Review: Battery Life And Performance
In a sea of wearables, battery life often becomes a critical factor in user satisfaction. The ScanWatch Light sets itself apart in this area, offering an impressive battery life that bedims many of its competitors.
I truly admire the Garmin Forerunner 265S for its great battery life, but I was surprised to find that the ScanWatch Light lasted almost 25 days on a single charge, falling a bit short of the company's claims of 30 days. The watch's battery life is indeed a liberating user experience. Even as the battery life of the ScanWatch Light is extraordinary, the charging experience left me wanting for more; the charger is a plastic cradle that the watch needs to be placed into for charging. It is compact in size, but it feels flimsy. Also, the watch needs to be precisely aligned with the charger for charging, with no magnetic dock.
Withings ScanWatch Light Review: Verdict
The Withings ScanWatch Light distinguishes itself as a stylish hybrid smartwatch that merges a classic analogue design with advanced health tracking capabilities. Its sleek design, combined with essential health monitoring features such as heart rate, menstrual tracking, respiration, steps, sleep, and workout tracking, makes it an excellent option. The only bummer in this device is the tiny OLED display, but it is not a deal-breaker.
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