Smartwatches are created to do three things well: prevent you from needing to grab your phone as often, track health metrics and look great on your wrist. Not all smartwatches are developed equal. Some are better at working as a phone replacement, while others are implied to appear like a regular wristwatch. That summarize the most significant difference between standard smartwatches (like the Apple Watch) and hybrid smartwatches such as the Withings ScanWatch Horizon, which I simply reviewed. Conventional smartwatches do a little bit of everything. Theyre relatively stylish, have lots of health and activity tracking functionality and are packed with phonelike features such NFC for mobile payments and a speaker and microphone for taking calls. The Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Fitbit Sense and upcoming Pixel Watch fall under this category.But hybrid sees normally combine the qualities of analog wrist watches and smartwatches, simply as the name indicates. They tend to look more like regular watches, with traditional faces that have physical hands for the hour and minutes instead of digital numbers. Hybrid watches do not have as many “smart” functions, but they generally last longer on a single charge and still pack plenty of health-tracking alternatives. I prefer standard smartwatches and usually use an Apple Watch. Spending a couple of weeks with the $500 Withings ScanWatch Horizon reminded me why hybrid smartwatches can be enticing– and also how they fall brief compared with general-purpose smartwatches. Learn more: Google Pixel Watch: What We Know (and Dont) So FarTethered to my phoneI felt more reliant on my phone when switching from the Apple Watch to the ScanWatch Horizon. Withings hybrid watch can show alerts (like calls, texts and app notifies), and you can also utilize the watch to set alarms and timers. Even these basic jobs are simpler to accomplish on conventional watches. Given That the ScanWatch Horizon only has a small circular screen that occupies a portion of the watchs face, its not perfect for checking out complete notifications. As I wrote in my review, the ScanWatch Horizons absence of a touch screen and voice controls also made it less hassle-free to set times and alarms from my wrist.Its much simpler to check out notifications and react to texts on the Apple Watch. The Series 7 (pictured) has a bigger screen with a QWERTY keyboard..
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If you want a smartwatch that can take some of the problem off your phone when it comes to everyday tasks, the ScanWatch most likely isnt it. Think of the ScanWatch Horizon as a watch first and a smartwatch second. Even though I do not have my Apple Watch connected to my information plan, its still an useful surrogate for my phone.
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The Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Fitbit Sense and upcoming Pixel Watch fall into this category.But hybrid watches usually integrate the qualities of analog wrist watches and smartwatches, just as the name implies. Check out more: Google Pixel Watch: What We Know (and Dont) So FarTethered to my phoneI felt more reliant on my phone when changing from the Apple Watch to the ScanWatch Horizon. Check out more: How the Apple Watch Can Become an Even Better Fitness TrackerThe ScanWatch Horizon is more restricted than the Apple Watch when it comes to imitating your phones functionality, but it has a different advantage. Read more: Galaxy Watch 5 Rumors: Samsung Might Fix Our Battery ComplaintsThe Apple Watchs style gives it an advantage over the Withings ScanWatch Horizon in a couple of other locations. I value the benefit of being able to verbally ask my watch to begin an exercise, or react to texts from my wrist, more than having the best-looking watch.
Learn more: How the Apple Watch Can Become an Even Better Fitness TrackerThe ScanWatch Horizon is more restricted than the Apple Watch when it concerns mimicking your phones performance, however it has a various advantage. With its stainless-steel housing, rotating laser-engraved bezel and analog see face, the ScanWatch Horizon is among the most elegant smartwatches youll find. Not to discuss, its also less expensive than the stainless-steel variation of the Apple Watch Series 7, which starts at $700. Incredible battery lifeThe Apple Watch may have more smarts, but it cant come close to the ScanWatch Horizons battery life. Withings declares the ScanWatch Horizon can last for 30 days on a single charge, far outlasting standard smartwatches. In my experience, the ScanWatch Horizons battery depleted to 35% after a little bit more than a week. I have not spent long enough with it to see if it measures up to Withings 30-day claim, however thats outstanding nevertheless. I typically charge my Apple Watch nightly, but Withings states the ScanWatch Horizon can last for 30 days on a single charge..
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The Apple Watch Series 7, on the other hand, usually lasts for one to 2 days on a single charge. Thats likewise because the Apple Watch has a lot more technology built into it. It is possible to get more battery life out of todays smartwatches without sacrificing an intense color display.Both watches go deep on health, but they have various strengthsThe home screen on Withings Health Mate app.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET.
If theres one location where neither watch compromises, its health tracking. The ScanWatch Horizon and Apple Watch Series 7 can both measure all of the hallmark health metrics discovered on high-end smartwatches. That includes electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) measurements– both watches have FDA clearance for this function– and basic heart rate information, activity and exercise, blood and sleep oxygen saturation levels. Withings blood oxygen feature also has FDA clearance, unlike Apples. Although they share many resemblances when it concerns health tracking, the smartwatches have their own strengths. Withings, for example, has a lot more sleep data to offer. You can see a breakdown of how much time you spent in light or deep sleep, average sleeping heart rate and breathing disruptions. It also issues a sleep rating that examines the quality of your sleep, similar to items from Fitbit, Oura and Amazon. The Apple Watch just shows sleep period, time spent in bed and sleeping respiratory rate. That info is helpful too, however having access to data about my sleep quality helps me comprehend why I may be feeling energetic or worn out in the morning. It likewise encourages me to strike the sack earlier than normal if my sleep rating hasnt been extremely high recently. Find out more: Galaxy Watch 5 Rumors: Samsung Might Fix Our Battery ComplaintsThe Apple Watchs design gives it a benefit over the Withings ScanWatch Horizon in a couple of other locations. Its smaller and lighter, that makes the Apple Watch much more comfy to wear throughout exercises and to sleep (although I normally charge my Apple Watch overnight rather). Plus, the Apple Watch has built-in GPS for tracking outdoor runs, while the ScanWatch Horizon should rely on your phones GPS. The Apple Watch is likewise more effective at motivating me to stay active throughout the day considering that I can tailor the display to show my Activity Rings. The bottom lineThe Withings ScanWatch Horizon (pictured) is a classy watch and fitness tracker in one gadget. But I prefer standard smartwatches like the Apple Watch that do a much better job of separating me from my phone.
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The Withings ScanWatch Horizon inherits a few of the most significant benefits of analog watches: an elegant style and a battery that does not need to be charged nighttime. Its also a top-notch fitness tracker that does not need a membership to open much deeper insights like devices from Fitbit and Oura do. That stated, it hasnt persuaded me to stray from more standard smartwatches like the Apple Watch. I value the benefit of having the ability to verbally ask my watch to begin an exercise, or react to texts from my wrist, more than having the best-looking watch. When smartwatches still looked like this, I might have valued the ScanWatch Horizons prominent design more back in 2013. Now that smartwatches have actually gotten smaller sized and lighter and theyre more common, they dont seem out of location on your wrist at wedding events and dinner parties. The ScanWatch Horizon is perfect for those who desire both a timeless watch and a fitness tracker in one device. I could see why some may choose the ScanWatch Horizons simplicity, since it means the watch itself is less distracting. But the Apple Watch does a much better job of releasing you from your phone, which matters more to me.