Bottom line
Some people simply don’t want a smartwatch to look like a tiny smartphone strapped to their wrist.
That’s where the Withings ScanWatch Nova comes in.
From a distance, it looks like a traditional premium watch.
Up close, there’s quite a lot of technology hiding inside.
The whole point is the hybrid design
The ScanWatch Nova combines traditional analog hands with a small grayscale OLED display.
So instead of having a giant touchscreen staring back at you all day, you get something that looks much closer to a classic watch.
For some people, that’s exactly the appeal.
And the battery is fantastic
Withings rates it for up to 35 days.
That’s not a typo.
You’re looking at roughly a month between charges rather than a daily charging routine.
If charging another device every night annoys you, this alone could be enough to make the Nova interesting.
Health tracking
The ScanWatch Nova supports more than 40 workout modes and tracks things such as:
- Heart rate
- Sleep
- SpO2
- ECG
- Workouts
It’s designed more around long-term health tracking than being a mini phone on your wrist.
The design is the real attraction
The Nova has a much more traditional watch appearance than an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch.
It’s polished, understated and easy to wear with normal clothes.
You don’t necessarily look like you’re heading to the gym just because you’re wearing a smartwatch.
But there are compromises
There is no built-in GPS.
There are no smartwatch apps.
There’s no music player.
And the experience is much less interactive than a full smartwatch.
That’s intentional — but it won’t suit everyone.
Who should buy it?
- People who dislike smartwatch screens
- Traditional-watch fans
- Users who want excellent battery life
- People primarily interested in health tracking
Who shouldn’t?
If you want apps, music, GPS or a full smartwatch experience, look elsewhere.