The Withings ScanWatch 2 ($349.95) maintains the sleek analog look, impressive 30-day battery life, and medical-grade electrocardiogram (ECG) functionality of the original ScanWatch while introducing new health-tracking capabilities. The second-generation model monitors your body temperature around the clock and your overnight heart rate variability (HRV). While useful, these changes don’t necessarily warrant the $50 price increase, especially amidst a plethora of more affordable smartwatches with similar features. The ScanWatch 2 is a good buy if you want to monitor your health without wearing an obvious fitness tracker, but the $159.95 Fitbit Charge 6 offers ECG, HRV, and skin temperature measurements for less than half the price, so it remains our Editors’ Choice. Price and Availability Like the original, the ScanWatch 2 is available in 38mm and 42mm bezel sizes. Whereas the previous generation cost $279.99 for the smaller version or $299.99 for the larger one, the ScanWatch 2 is priced at $349.95 regardless of which size you choose. There are several different color combinations for the bezel and band, including silver/black (both sizes), silver/white (both sizes), rose gold/sand (38mm), or rose gold/blue (38mm). On each model, the watch face matches the band color. For this review, Withings sent the 42mm silver/black ScanWatch 2.
(Credit: Amber Sayer)
As a more affordable alternative, Withings also sells the $249.95 ScanWatch Light, which has a smaller 37mm case and lacks a few features of the ScanWatch 2, including a built-in GPS, atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection, and support for blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), body temperature, and ECG measurements.Appearance and DesignThe ScanWatch 2 has a similar design to the original ScanWatch, featuring two circular insets that sit behind the analog arms that show the time. The top inset is a tiny colorless OLED that cycles through your health metrics and notifications, and the bottom is a single-arm analog dial that shows your progress toward your daily step goal.
Left to right: ScanWatch Light, ScanWatch 2 (38mm) (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
As a petite woman, I found the 42mm Scan Watch 2 much too large, but I imagine it would be perfect for men or those with larger wrists. The 37mm ScanWatch Light was a better fit for my wrist, so I would likely prefer the 38mm ScanWatch 2. Small ScreenThe 0.63-inch grayscale OLED display on the ScanWatch 2 is slightly larger and higher quality than the 0.54-inch PMOLED monochrome screen on the first-generation model. However, the screen is still quite small, which is one of the main downsides of the watch’s minimalist design. It can be difficult to see text on the tiny display, especially when you want to quickly check your heart rate during a workout. Your fitness and health data are certainly not broadcast across the full screen, as with Apple, Garmin, or Fitbit wearables. If you want a tracker that provides fitness and health data at a glance, you will likely be unsatisfied with the ScanWatch 2—even though its display is slightly larger and clearer than the screen on the original device.Simple ControlsThe ScanWatch 2 doesn’t offer any touch capabilities; everything must be controlled using the button on the right side, which you can press and turn. Press it to wake the display, and twist it to scroll through your health information and different settings (calories burned, ECG measurements, heart rate, step count, workouts, and more). As a competitive runner, I’m accustomed to the touch screens you’ll find on many GPS sports watches, so it took me a few days to adjust to the ScanWatch 2’s side button controls. However, once I got the hang of it, I found it perfectly easy to navigate the ScanWatch 2 and access the different fields to, for instance, check my heart rate or select a cardio workout. Heath and Fitness Tracking Advanced Wellness and Recovery Insights Thanks to Withings’ HealthSense Gen 3 software and TempTech24/7 module, the ScanWatch 2 can monitor your body temperature around the clock. In comparison, the original ScanWatch runs on the older HealthSense Gen 2 software and doesn’t track body temperature. This upgrade can be particularly helpful for those looking for accurate menstrual cycle tracking and/or deeper insights into the body’s recovery status and overall health. The ScanWatch 2 provides insight into variations in your baseline daytime and nighttime temperatures, temperature zones during workouts, average temperature zones during your awake hours, and post-workout recovery body temperatures. In comparison, the Fitbit Charge 6 and most other wearables that track body temperature only do so overnight.
The ScanWatch 2 (right) has a more advanced sensor array than the ScanWatch Light (left) (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
The second-generation ScanWatch also supports overnight heart rate variability (HRV) tracking, a valuable upgrade for this generation. HRV is a key metric for providing insight into the balance of your sympathetic versus parasympathetic nervous systems. Tracking overnight HRV over time offers an effective biometric measurement of your recovery status because research demonstrates that higher HRV numbers indicate that your heart is ready to handle physiological stressors. A decrease in average overnight HRV can indicate that you are overtraining and/or your body is not recovering well from either physical or emotional stressors, whereas consistent, high HRV indicates that your nervous system is healthy and well balanced.The rest of the fitness and health tracking features of the ScanWatch 2 are similar to its predecessor.Helpful Fitness Data On the watch itself, you can see your breathing rate, heart rate, sleep stats, and step count, among other health stats, all of which you can customize and control using the free Withings Health Mate app (available for Android and iOS). From the watch screen, you can also log details of your menstrual cycle. The app offers a more detailed analysis of your fitness and health metrics, including menstrual cycle predictions. The heart health features such as medical-grade ECG measurements with AFib detection, average daily heart rate, average overnight heart rate, and the ability to set high and low heart rate notifications are found on both ScanWatch generations. The sleep parameters, workout tracking, and respiratory insights are the same on both generations as well, offering detailed analysis in the companion app. Like the original, the ScanWatch 2 has onboard GPS.The free version of the Health Mate app offers all of the basic health data captured by the ScanWatch 2. Purchasing the ScanWatch 2 directly from Withings gives you one month of Withings+, the premium version of the app. After the free trial, you will have to downgrade to the free version or pay $9.95 monthly or $99.50 annually to continue subscribing for access to the premium features, including a Health Improvement Score metric for progress tracking, daily guidance, and a library of wellness content, including recipes and workouts.Accurate Heart Rate RecordingsTo evaluate the accuracy of the ScanWatch 2’s heart rate monitor, I wore it on several runs alongside a Fitbit Charge 5, a Garmin Forerunner 265 running watch ($449.99), and a Polar OH1 heart rate monitor ($59.95). Admittedly, I expected the chic, fashion-forward ScanWatch 2 to fall short in the performance arena and display inaccuracies in heart rate or gaps in monitoring as I ran. However, the ScanWatch 2’s heart rate, distance, and pace measurements were all very close to the Garmin numbers. Moreover, on several runs, the ScanWatch 2’s heart rate data was actually spot-on with the Polar armband. The Fitbit Charge 5 seemed the least accurate in these tests, but that isn’t too surprising given that it’s a couple of years old and has been replaced by the newer Charge 6.ECG Measurements One of the main selling points of the Withings ScanWatch 2 is the ability to record a medical-grade ECG, which can provide valuable insight into your heart health. Before taking an ECG measurement on the watch itself, you must set up the device in the Withings Health Mate app and provide information such as which wrist you wear the device on, your age, and other demographics. Once you’ve done that, measuring your ECG on the ScanWatch 2 is simple.To record an ECG, sit in a relaxed position, press the side button/crown on the watch, scroll through until you find the ECG mode, and press the button once to select it. During a reading, gently place your fingers on the bezel for 30 seconds, making sure to sit still without moving or talking. Your body should be relaxed. Any accessory motions can obscure the results.
ECG on the ScanWatch 2 (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
You will feel a single vibration when the measurement starts, then two quick vibrations when the ECG recording is complete. If you have your phone with you, you can have the app open and watch the ECG tracing in real time. Otherwise, you can still record your ECG right from your wrist and look at the data later. After the ECG measurement, the ScanWatch 2 will show your heart rate, a lead D1 ECG tracing, and a rhythm prediction between three classes (normal sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, or inconclusive). You can share your ECG with a healthcare provider right from the app.Battery Life and ChargingPowers Through a MonthAnother major selling point of Withings’ watches is their long battery life. As with the original ScanWatch, the second generation promises 30-day battery life with normal use. In testing, I found that the battery lasts a solid month between charges if you aren’t using GPS. Even with the GPS enabled during outdoor workouts, the ScanWatch 2 outlasts the Garmin Forerunner 265, which promises up to 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. The ScanWatch 2 also charges quickly—it typically takes less than two hours to reach a full charge from dead.Cheaply Made Charger My only gripe about charging the ScanWatch 2 is the charger itself, a flimsy plastic cradle. My advice is to set up the charger on a flat surface where nothing will disturb it, because the watch does not snap into place. If it gets bumped, knocked, or tilted, you’ll come back and find the ScanWatch 2 isn’t in the dock and hasn’t charged. The ScanWatch 2 only works with this proprietary charger, but if you lose or break this component, you can buy a replacement from Withings for $25. Verdict: A Discreet, Pricey Wellness Wearable The Withings ScanWatch 2 maintains its predecessor’s classy appearance while offering even more advanced health assessment capabilities. Minimal aesthetic upgrades have been made this generation, but the ScanWatch 2 introduces 24/7 body temperature measurement and overnight HRV tracking. These health parameters offer helpful insight into recovery, menstrual cycle tracking, and body stress levels. If you want a wellness wearable that provides highly detailed health analysis with a stylish design and exceptional battery life, the ScanWatch 2 fits the bill. As a top budget-friendly alternative, the Fitbit Charge 6 offers similar insights, a color touch screen, and costs around $200 less, remaining our Editors’ Choice for fitness trackers.
Pros
Offers ECG recordings, AFib detection
Tracks body temperature 24/7
Accurate heart rate, overnight HRV metrics
Detailed sleep analysis
Classy analog design
Excellent battery life
Robust companion app
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The Bottom Line
The pricey Withings ScanWatch 2 fitness tracker gains support for 24/7 body temperature and overnight HRV measurements while retaining the original’s attractive design and long battery life.
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About Amber Sayer, MS, CPT
I am a fitness tech writer with eight years of experience. I’m also a certified personal trainer, a certified group exercise instructor, and a 200-hour yoga instructor. In addition, I have an MS in Exercise Science and Nutrition, as well as an MS in Prosthetics and Orthotics. I love writing about fitness, wellness, and tech products that allow you to monitor or improve your health. I am extremely immersed in the field and am always reading, researching, learning, and testing so I can bring detailed insights to everyday decisions.
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