Withings ScanWatch Nova Review: The Elegant Dive-Style Hybrid Smartwatch for Health Enthusiasts

In a world saturated with digital screens and complex interfaces, many of us yearn for the classic elegance of a traditional timepiece without sacrificing the cutting-edge health technology a modern smartwatch offers. The Withings ScanWatch Nova steps into this niche, presenting itself not just as a wearable, but as a sophisticated blend of timeless design and advanced medical-grade monitoring. If you’re looking for a smartwatch that looks like a high-end dive watch yet delivers comprehensive insights into your well-being, the ScanWatch Nova might just be your perfect wrist companion.

Popular Smartwatch Categories in the Market

The smartwatch landscape is diverse, catering to a wide array of user needs and preferences. Understanding these categories helps contextualize where the Withings ScanWatch Nova, as a premium hybrid device, fits in.

Smartwatches for Sport and Fitness

These smartwatches are built for the active individual, prioritizing robust GPS tracking, extensive workout modes, advanced performance metrics like VO2 Max, and durable designs. They often feature large, bright displays for easy data viewing during exercise and offer specialized coaching features.

• Pros: Highly accurate activity tracking, rugged build, advanced performance analytics.
• Cons: Often have a utilitarian aesthetic, shorter battery life due to GPS use, can be bulky.
• Key Features: Built-in GPS, heart rate zones, multi-sport tracking, recovery metrics, often waterproof to significant depths.
• Who They’re For: Athletes, serious runners, cyclists, hikers, and anyone whose primary use case revolves around intense physical activity and detailed performance analysis.

Fashion Smartwatches

Designed with aesthetics at the forefront, these smartwatches prioritize style, materials, and a sophisticated appearance that complements various outfits. They often feature premium metals, leather straps, and customizable watch faces that mimic traditional dials. While they offer basic smart features, advanced health tracking might take a backseat to design.

• Pros: Elegant appearance, premium build materials, blends seamlessly with formal or casual wear.
• Cons: Often less robust health tracking, shorter battery life compared to hybrids, higher price point for design.
• Key Features: Customizable watch faces, interchangeable straps, high-resolution displays, basic activity tracking and notifications.
• Who They’re For: Individuals who view their watch as a fashion accessory first and desire smart functionalities that are subtle and integrated into a stylish design.

Multifunctional Smartwatches

This category represents the “full” smartwatch experience, offering a broad spectrum of features from advanced health monitoring and fitness tracking to communication capabilities, mobile payments, and extensive app ecosystems. These devices are essentially mini-computers on your wrist, providing maximum connectivity and utility.

• Pros: Comprehensive features, extensive app support, seamless smartphone integration, advanced communication.
• Cons: Very short battery life (often daily charging), prominent digital aesthetic, can be overwhelming with notifications.
• Key Features: Full-color touchscreens, app stores, NFC for payments, microphone/speaker for calls, sophisticated health sensors, built-in GPS.
• Who They’re For: Tech enthusiasts, professionals needing constant connectivity, and anyone who wants their smartwatch to be a true extension of their smartphone.

The Withings ScanWatch Nova sits uniquely at the intersection of fashion and health, offering the elegant design of a fashion smartwatch with the advanced, medical-grade health monitoring typically found in more clinical devices. It’s a “hybrid” that appeals to those who don’t want a screen-dominated wrist device but demand serious health insights and long battery life.

Withings ScanWatch Nova smartwatch displaying a classic analog dial with a small integrated digital screen.

Comparing Leading Smartwatch Brands

When considering a smartwatch, several brands consistently stand out for their innovation, reliability, and specific strengths. The Withings ScanWatch Nova carves its own niche by blending classic watchmaking with advanced health tech, offering a distinct alternative to these mainstream players.

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is synonymous with the full smartwatch experience, offering deep integration with the Apple ecosystem, a vast app store, robust communication features, and comprehensive health tracking. Models like the Apple Watch Series and Ultra lines feature vibrant, full-color displays and deliver a highly interactive user experience.

• Pros: Unmatched app ecosystem, seamless iOS integration, excellent communication features, robust health and fitness tracking, advanced safety features.
• Cons: Requires daily charging, only compatible with iOS, distinctly digital aesthetic, higher cost for advanced models.
• Key Features: ECG, SpO2, extensive workout modes, cellular connectivity, NFC payments, fall detection, emergency SOS.
• Price: Mid-range to premium, depending on the model and features.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Watch series often represents the pinnacle of full smartwatch functionality. Running Wear OS (with Samsung’s One UI overlay), these watches offer a wide range of features, strong health and fitness tracking, and good integration with Android smartphones, especially Samsung devices.

• Pros: Strong Android integration, vibrant displays, comprehensive health monitoring, good app support (Wear OS), stylish designs.
• Cons: Often requires daily charging, best experience on Samsung phones, less advanced ecosystem than Apple.
• Key Features: ECG, body composition analysis, SpO2, comprehensive fitness tracking, Google Pay, Google Assistant.
• Price: Mid-range to premium.

Garmin

Garmin is a titan in the world of sports and adventure smartwatches, known for its exceptional GPS accuracy, incredibly detailed performance metrics, and impressive battery life on many of its models. While some models offer smart features, their primary focus remains squarely on fitness, navigation, and outdoor activities.

• Pros: Industry-leading GPS, unparalleled sports tracking, robust build quality, excellent battery life on many models, extensive data analysis.
• Cons: Often a more “athletic” design, fewer smart features than Apple or Samsung, app ecosystem is more specialized.
• Key Features: Multi-GNSS support, advanced running dynamics, recovery advisor, detailed mapping, solar charging on some models.
• Price: Mid-range to very high-end, depending on the specialized features.

Fitbit

Fitbit has long been a leader in fitness trackers, evolving into smartwatches that prioritize accessible health and wellness monitoring. Their devices focus on daily activity tracking, sleep analysis, stress management, and heart rate monitoring, making them excellent choices for general health awareness and motivation.

• Pros: User-friendly interface, strong focus on overall health and wellness, good community features, often more affordable.
• Cons: Fewer advanced smartwatch features (e.g., call support, extensive apps), can have a more casual design.
• Key Features: Step tracking, sleep stages, heart rate monitoring, stress tracking, guided breathing, menstrual health tracking.
• Price: Entry-level to mid-range.

The Withings ScanWatch Nova Difference

The Withings ScanWatch Nova stands apart by offering a unique proposition: a medical-grade health tracker disguised as a luxury dive watch. It sacrifices the full digital interaction and app ecosystem of an Apple or Samsung watch for an analog aesthetic, exceptional battery life (up to 30 days), and clinically validated health measurements. While it tracks activity like a Fitbit and offers some advanced health data like Apple, its core identity is a sophisticated hybrid.

“The Withings ScanWatch Nova perfectly blends the timeless appeal of a classic watch with the power of advanced health technology. It’s for those who want comprehensive insights into their health without sacrificing style or constantly needing to recharge.” – Dr. Eleanor Vance, Wearable Tech Analyst

Detailed Smartwatch Comparison Table

To help you visualize the differences, here’s a comparison of key features across the Withings ScanWatch Nova and popular smartwatches:

Feature	Withings ScanWatch Nova	Apple Watch Series 9/Ultra 2	Samsung Galaxy Watch 6/Classic	Garmin Forerunner 965	Fitbit Sense 2
Type	Hybrid (Analog + Digital Health)	Full Smartwatch	Full Smartwatch	GPS/Sports Smartwatch	Health & Fitness Smartwatch
Display	Analog Dial + Discreet OLED	Full-color Always-On OLED	Full-color Always-On AMOLED	Full-color AMOLED	Full-color AMOLED
Design	Dive-style, premium materials	Modern, rectangular	Classic round / Modern round	Sporty, durable	Rounded square, modern
Battery Life	Up to 30 days	~18-36 hours	~30-40 hours	Up to 23 days (Smartwatch mode)	Up to 6+ days
ECG	Yes (FDA-approved)	Yes (FDA-cleared)	Yes (FDA-cleared)	No	No
SpO2 (Blood Oxygen)	Yes (Medical-grade)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Temperature	24/7 (TempTech24/7)	Yes (Wrist Temperature)	Yes (Skin Temperature)	Yes (Acclimation, some models)	Yes (Skin Temperature)
Built-in GPS	No (Connected GPS via phone)	Yes	Yes	Yes (Multi-GNSS)	No (Connected GPS via phone)
NFC Payments	No	Yes (Apple Pay)	Yes (Google Wallet)	Yes (Garmin Pay)	Yes (Fitbit Pay)
Calls/Texts	Notifications only	Yes (on-watch)	Yes (on-watch)	Notifications only (some models)	Notifications only
App Ecosystem	Health Mate App (focused)	Extensive App Store	Extensive App Store (Wear OS)	Specialized Garmin Connect IQ Store	Limited (Fitbit app focus)
Water Resistance	5 ATM (50m)	5 ATM (50m) / 10 ATM (100m Ultra)	5 ATM (50m)	5 ATM (50m) / 10 ATM (100m some)	5 ATM (50m)
Compatibility	iOS & Android	iOS only	Android only (best with Samsung)	iOS & Android	iOS & Android
Typical Price	Premium	Premium (higher for Ultra)	Mid-range to Premium	Mid-range to Very High-end	Mid-range

Guide to Choosing the Right Smartwatch

Selecting the perfect smartwatch involves understanding your own priorities and matching them with the right device. For a hybrid like the Withings ScanWatch Nova, specific considerations come into play.

Determine Your Usage Needs

What do you primarily want your smartwatch for? If sophisticated health monitoring, an elegant traditional watch aesthetic, and exceptionally long battery life are your top priorities, then the Nova is a strong contender. If you need a device that handles phone calls, offers a wide array of third-party apps, or provides on-device GPS for every workout, a full smartwatch might be a better fit.

• Health Tracking: Are you seeking medical-grade ECG and SpO2, or general fitness insights? The Nova excels in the former.
• Style Preference: Do you prefer a classic analog look or a modern digital screen? The Nova caters to analog enthusiasts.
• Connectivity: How important are on-watch calls, app installations, and mobile payments? The Nova is minimalist here.

Budget

Smartwatches range widely in price. The Withings ScanWatch Nova sits at the premium end of the market, reflecting its high-quality materials and medical-grade sensors. Be prepared for this investment if its unique blend of features appeals to you. Consider the long-term value of its durability and health insights.

Brand and Model

Withings has a strong reputation for producing health-focused hybrid smartwatches. If you value a discreet, health-centric approach over a tech-heavy one, Withings is a brand to trust. The ScanWatch Nova is their flagship hybrid offering, building on previous successful models like the Horizon with enhanced sensors.

Other Important Factors

Beyond the core features, several practical elements can significantly impact your daily satisfaction with a smartwatch.

• Size and Fit: The ScanWatch Nova is designed with traditional watch proportions, offering a comfortable fit that can appeal to those with smaller wrists or who prefer less bulk. It comes with a robust stainless steel band that can be adjusted using an included kit, ensuring a secure and refined feel on the wrist.
• Battery Life: One of the Nova’s standout features is its incredible battery life, often lasting 2-3 weeks or even up to 30 days on a single charge. This dramatically reduces “battery anxiety” compared to smartwatches requiring daily or bi-daily charging.
• Water Resistance: With a 5 ATM (50-meter) water resistance rating, the ScanWatch Nova is suitable for swimming, showering, and everyday splashes, making it a truly all-day wear companion.
• Operating System and App: The Nova integrates with the Withings Health Mate app, available on both iOS and Android. This app is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface, clear presentation of health data, and actionable insights. While the watch itself has a subtle OLED screen for notifications and quick health checks, the app is where you delve deep into your metrics.

Conclusion

The Withings ScanWatch Nova is a compelling device for a specific audience: those who prioritize sophisticated health monitoring and timeless style over a full digital smartwatch experience. It masterfully bridges the gap between traditional watchmaking and modern health technology, offering FDA-approved ECG, medical-grade SpO2, and 24/7 temperature tracking, all wrapped in a premium dive-style aesthetic with an incredible battery life.

While it forgoes features like built-in GPS and extensive app ecosystems found in full smartwatches, its elegance, durability, and profound health insights make it a truly unique offering. If you desire a discreet, beautiful timepiece that provides powerful data about your well-being without demanding constant attention or daily charging, the ScanWatch Nova might be the perfect smart addition to your wrist. Are you ready to embrace a smartwatch that looks and feels like a classic, but thinks like a doctor?

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Withings ScanWatch Nova different from other smartwatches?

The ScanWatch Nova distinguishes itself by blending the aesthetic of a high-end analog dive watch with advanced, medical-grade health tracking features like FDA-approved ECG and SpO2 monitoring. Unlike full digital smartwatches, it offers exceptional battery life (up to 30 days) and a discreet OLED screen, appealing to users who prefer a traditional watch appearance.

Does the Withings ScanWatch Nova have built-in GPS?

No, the Withings ScanWatch Nova does not feature built-in GPS. For accurate route tracking during outdoor activities such as running or cycling, it relies on connected GPS, meaning it uses your smartphone’s GPS functionality. This design choice contributes to its impressive battery life and classic aesthetic.

Is the Withings ScanWatch Nova compatible with both iOS and Android phones?

Yes, the Withings ScanWatch Nova is fully compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones. Users can connect the watch to their device via Bluetooth and manage all settings, view detailed health data, and access insights through the comprehensive Withings Health Mate app, available on both platforms.