The best hybrid smartwatches you can buy

Smartwatches are great tools, but nothing beats the look of an analog watch strapped to the wrist. If you want a device that feels like a traditional timepiece but packs fitness tracking and smart features under the hood, look no further: I’ve rounded up some of the best hybrid smartwatches on the market.

The best hybrid smartwatches

• Withings ScanWatch 2: The best hybrid smartwatch you can buy, the Withings ScanWatch 2 packs clinically validated AFib detection and an all-around great health tracking suite, including reliable sleep tracking.
• Withings ScanWatch Light: For those on a budget, Withings also introduced a pared-down model, the Withings ScanWatch Light, which still offers sleep, heart rate, and activity tracking, as well as detailed female health tracking.
• Withings ScanWatch Nova: At the opposite end of the spectrum sits Withings’ high-end model, the ScanWatch Nova. This luxury device packs powerful wellness tools under a highly attractive hood.
• Garmin vivomove Sport: Garmin’s subtlest hybrid smartwatch is the Garmin vivomove Sport. It features an innovative “hidden” display that really embraces the hybrid smartwatch form factor.
• Garmin Instinct Crossover: For a more feature-packed experience, Garmin’s rugged Instinct Crossover boasts more training tools, built-in GPS, and impressive battery life.

Withings ScanWatch 2: The best hybrid smartwatch you can buy

The Withings ScanWatch 2 is  the best hybrid smartwatch you can buy. The company’s latest flagship, the gorgeous sequel keeps tabs on everything from basic activity to cardiovascular health, offering an ECG for atrial fibrillation detection and an SpO2 monitor. It’s also trusted for accurate sleep stats and even adds temperature tracking to help users identify oncoming illnesses. New to this generation is on-device cycle tracking for those who menstruate. Meanwhile, Withings leverages its temperature sensor to collect training and recovery insights for active users. To ensure you never miss a workout, the device boasts workout tracking for over 40 activities though, unfortunately, there is no built-in GPS, so athletes may find tracking limited for outdoor workouts.

Despite the device’s major upgrades, including an updated OS, the ScanWatch 2 offers the same 30 days of battery life as the last generation. I loved the convenience of the device’s long battery life during my ScanWatch 2 review. When the device finally ran out of juice, it took roughly two hours to recharge, which is long, but you’ll only need to do so about once a month. In other words, it is a truly low-maintenance wearable that makes a strong first impression.

Withings ScanWatch Light: The best budget-friendly pick from Withings

For roughly $100 less, Withings also offers a wallet-friendly pick for shoppers on a budget. Like its pricier sibling, the ScanWatch Light boasts an elegant look and traditional aesthetic, with powerful sensors hidden under the hood. It still measures steps, cycles, sleep, and heart rate, automatically detects four exercises, and actively tracks more than 40 types of workouts. It will notify you of unexpected low and high heart rates, as well as overnight breathing disturbances. Most importantly, it offers the same impressive battery life we loved on the ScanWatch 2.

The Light pares down its feature set by dropping Afib and irregular heartbeat detection. These are potentially life-saving tools that may be worth the extra cash for some shoppers, but if you don’t have heart concerns, they might not be deal breakers. Like the ScanWatch 2, the Light is also limited in smartwatch features. You won’t find navigation tools or music controls on board, nor third-party apps or detailed smartphone integration. We missed a few of these features during our review period but appreciated the device for what it is: a very attractive wearable with bonus health and fitness tools.

Withings ScanWatch Nova: The best high-end pick from Withings

My final recommendation from the Withings stable is the company’s high-end ScanWatch Nova. Inspired by luxury dive watches, this model is a true showstopper. Designed in deep, elegant colorways, it features a stainless steel watch case and rotating stainless steel and ceramic bezel. It also boasts sapphire crystal glass over the watch face, luminous hands and indexes, and a secondary dial for tracking your step count. In other words, it’s beautiful.

Despite its size, I also found the device very comfortable, even on my petite wrist. It even ships with both a fluoroelastomer and metal watch band, so you can choose the style that works best for you. For the latter option, Withings includes a link removal kit so you can adjust the metal band perfectly to your wrist.I found both band-styles very comfortable and attractive. Feature-wise, the device packs everything found in the ScanWatch 2, including advanced health monitoring tools and fantastic battery life. Of course, the elevated aesthetic does come at a price. The ScanWatch Nova is quite expensive, costing shoppers $599 to equip. If this falls within your budget, though, it’s a great pick.

Garmin vivomove Sport: The subtlest Garmin hybrid smartwatch

I had to include the Garmin vivomove line on my best hybrid smartwatches list. These advanced fitness trackers have much of the same functionality as other Garmin watches, with a unique “hidden” display that hides away when you’re not using it. It’s just as cool as it sounds.

Though a few years old now, this device is a powerful pick from the vivomove stable, and I found very little not to like about it during my Garmin vivomove Sport review. With real, ticking watch hands, the vivomove Sport feels as analog as a hybrid can get. Meanwhile, with a clever display and many of Garmin’s health and fitness tracking features, the device is also a solid entry-level smartwatch.

The device’s lack of built-in GPS is a bummer for runners and cyclists, but overall, the Sport offers a blend of style and substance. It also comes in four colorways, including brown, black, white, and green, so that users can find the right look for their wardrobe. I wore mine everywhere, from hiking to horseback riding to formal dinners.

Garmin Instinct Crossover: The best Garmin hybrid multi-sport watch

If the Garmin vivomove Sport doesn’t offer enough to match your training regimen, the Instinct Crossover very likely fills in any gaps. Pairing ticking hands with a full-size digital screen, the device is a unique option in the hybrid watch arena. It also offers shock and thermal resistance and a water resistance rating of 10ATM. In short, it’s a rugged multisport watch with analog timekeeping. During my testing period, I fell in love with the luminescent hands that spin out of the way depending on which data screen you view. I also found the device has even better GPS tracking than the Garmin Instinct 2. Moreover, the Garmin Instinct Crossover offers 28 days of battery life, so you can track your data for weeks before finding time to charge up. In GPS mode, the watch will last 20 hours and it’s also available in a solar model for even more impressive specs.

Beyond great battery and GPS tracking, the Instinct Crossover is loaded with the best of Garmin’s ecosystem, including everything users love about the Instinct line. Built-in sport modes include niche activities such as surfing, pickleball, snowshoeing, and HIIT workouts. Tools like Fitness Age and VO2 Max help you maximize training. Body Battery, sleep tracking, and stress tracking help you round out wellness goals and gain insights into recovery. Finally, the watch offers smart notifications and compatibility with Android phones and iPhones. I was disappointed that the watch doesn’t offer onboard music storage, however, all models do offer NFC support for Garmin Pay.

Buying the right hybrid smartwatch

Hybrid smartwatches meld classic elements with smartwatch smarts. This usually means aesthetics inspired by analog watches, plus notifications and health or activity tracking. However, picking the right hybrid smartwatch largely depends on what tools you value. Although all the products we list above are stylish, each features a different strength. Consider the factors below when choosing your device.

• Battery life: Most hybrid watches pack lengthy battery life thanks to minimal displays. These displays are typically only large enough to push quick, glanceable info to the wearer.
• Smartwatch features: Some hybrid devices provide basic notifications, while others offer much more. You’re likely not looking for an overwhelming smartwatch experience, but identify where your priorities fall in the available range.
• Fitness tracking: Likewise, some hybrid watches offer considerably better fitness tracking features than others. An option from Garmin, for example, will offer tons of training and tracking tools.
• Health tracking: A medically validated device might be worth considering for users with specific health concerns. A few hybrid options specifically cater to users with heart health issues.
• GPS: Just like on full-fledged smartwatches, GPS is a great perk. We suggest a device with at least a connected GPS for most users.
• Blended priorities: Finally, if you’re looking at hybrid watches, you probably want a little of everything. A few options include a creative display for mixing smartwatch and analog priorities on one watch face.

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