Withings just announced not one but two new ScanWatch models, both of which are designed for those who want a watch that offers health metrics without the constant nagging for your attention that’s common with most smartwatches.
Think of the ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Light as hybrid watches, according to Withings. Both watches are currently available for preorder. The ScanWatch 2 is $350, while the ScanWatch Light is $250. The full retail launch is expected to kick off in October.
Just what exactly is different about both watches? Glad you asked. Let’s take a closer look.
The premium ScanWatch 2 brings features such as temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate variability tracking to Withings’ popular and stylish smartwatch.
The new ScanWatch Light is a more affordable addition to the lineup, retaining most of the key health features of the standard ScanWatch while forgoing things like temperature and irregular heartbeat tracking.
What’s new with the Withings ScanWatch 2
The ScanWatch 2 looks a lot like its predecessor in that it has a giant analog watch face with a small circular OLED display on the top half of the watch. That display is used to show information such as abbreviated alerts of your choosing from your phone, health metrics and other smartwatch-like activity.
It’s available in 38mm or 42mm sizes, with a stainless steel case and sapphire glass cover. It retains its 30-day battery life and all its current health features but gains the ability to measure your body temperature.
The new temperature tracking feature is thanks to the Withings TempTech24/7 module that measures ambient and skin temperature, along with tracking your heart rate and an accelerometer. Using the new hardware, ScanWatch 2 will monitor for temperature changes during the day and at night to alert you to pending illness or other health conditions.
The watch also now measures your respiratory rate and heart rate variability.
The ScanWatch 2, of course, will continue to monitor your oxygen saturation (Sp02), check for atrial fibrillation, have a built-in ECG tool and monitor your workouts and exercises.
Additionally, Withings is adding cycle tracking for women to track and log their menstrual cycles and its various stages.
Preorders for the $350 ScanWatch 2 are available directly from Withings, with deliveries starting in October. The ScanWatch 2 is available in a 42mm size in a silver and black color option. In the future, Withings will carry a silver and white option. The 38mm size option will come in silver and white, silver and black, rose gold and sand and, later, a rose gold and blue option.
What’s new with the ScanWatch Light
The ScanWatch Light is a new addition to the Withings lineup altogether. It’s more affordable at $250 and includes all the same health features with a few exceptions.
For starters, the ScanWatch Light lacks the new TempTech24/7 module for temperature tracking. You’ll also forgo ECG capabilities, irregular heart rhythm alerts and Sp02 readings in exchange for a lower price.
The design itself looks similar to the rest of the ScanWatch lineup in that it looks like a traditional watch, save for the small grayscale OLED display. You’ll still get 30-day battery life, the ability to track menstrual cycles, workouts and other health metrics.
The ScanWatch Light comes in a single 37mm size. Color options include silver and black, silver and white and rose gold and sand. In the future, Withings will offer models with light blue and light green faces.
Like the ScanWatch 2, you can preorder the ScanWatch Light directly from Withings for $250, with official availability in October.