One of my favorite smartwatches has a timeless analog look – and the features I need

Healthy heart monitoring starts with gathering your metrics, but making sense of all the numbers is a whole different challenge. For the past few weeks, I’ve been eyeing the latest hybrid smartwatch from Withings, the Scanwatch Nova, and it’s gone a long way toward helping me make actionable choices based on these health insights. 

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The brand is known for its health-focused wearables that resemble classic luxury timepieces more than typical sporty smartwatches. I don’t really wear jewelry, but I do like nice watches and the Scanwatch Nova looks like a premium timepiece while integrating advanced health technology, so I still get the benefit of an attractive, professional analog watch but with all the useful wellness metrics.

The Scanwatch Nova is essentially a more premium version of Withings’ most popular smartwatch, the Scanwatch 2. Although the internal specifications of these two watches are similar, the Nova comes with both stainless steel and silicone watch bands. Along with that, Withings provides spare links, the tools, and the jig you need to adjust the length of the band.

The 42-mm-diameter watch case is also stainless steel. The watch is available in Black, Blue, Green, or White colorways, and the color is visible on the ceramic bezel face. I tested the watch in Black, and the contrast between the ceramic and stainless steel looks fantastic.  

The Scanwatch Nova can be used to perform an ECG assessment, measure blood oxygen levels, track heart rate throughout the day, obtain skin temperature throughout the day and night, measure sleep quality, and track activity. The watch does not have GPS, but it supports connected GPS through your smartphone. 

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There have been some software improvements since I last tested the Scanwatch 2, so with the Scanwatch Nova, you get sleep details, including how long you spend in each sleep category: deep, light, and REM. HRV is not supported by the ScanWatch Nova, so it is more focused on typical health features and not as much on fitness levels.

The 42mm Scanwatch Nova weighs in at 63 grams even without the band attached, so it is a rather hefty watch. However, it is very comfortable and feels good on my wrist for work. When I need to perform a focused activity I switch to the included silicone band. This is the same band as the Scanwatch 2, and one of the best silicone bands I have ever worn.

A domed sapphire glass and a small OLED display cover the analog watch hands. The OLED display appears when needed at the top of the center, with a secondary small circle at the bottom that you can set to various measurements in the settings. The rotating crown button is the only moving mechanism on the watch, allowing you to scroll through menus and select items with a simple press.

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The watch is built with a 10 ATM level of water resistance, which is higher than the Scanwatch 2. It charges up to two hours and may last up to 30 days. However, when you use it for an activity, especially with connected GPS, the battery life will be significantly reduced. It is a perfect watch for travel since you can leave the large charging accessory at home and trust that it will last for weeks.

Advanced sensors in the Scanwatch Nova include a skin temperature module, a high dynamic range accelerometer, a multi-wavelength heart rate sensor with 16 channels, and an altimeter. Compared to other smartwatches, the Nova provides accurate sleep, step, and heart rate results.

The Withings smartphone app (iOS/Android) is powerful and supports integration with Apple Health, Google Health Connect, and Google Fit. The watch can store up to seven days of data, so I recommend syncing it at least once a week.

Regarding the brand’s subscription service, Withings Plus is designed to offer additional insights for users who are looking for more insight into their fitness metrics, similar to Fitbit Premium. It’s $9.95 per month and includes exclusive content, medical reviews, and AI-powered insights. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Scanwatch Nova merges elegance and fitness tracking in one attractive device. I like being able to capture key health and wellness data while also satisfying my desire for a gorgeous analog device. At $600, it’s a rather expensive piece, so I’d recommend this watch to consumers who are really committed to the look. 

If you’re looking for a more accessible watch (that uses the same app and offers most of the same health-tracking features), the Scanwatch 2 is less expensive and also smaller, starting at $349.