Best hybrid smartwatches for analogue watch style and health tracking

Withings ScanWatch 2 is the best hybrid smartwatch for most people who want a convincing analogue watch and meaningful everyday health tracking. Choose Garmin Vivomove instead if structured running guidance and Garmin training insight matter more; pick ScanWatch Nova when a luxury diver-watch look is the reason you are buying.

The deciding issue is simple: do you want health monitoring inside a classic-looking watch, or coaching that helps you train?

The best hybrid smartwatches at a glance

ScanWatch 2 has the strongest balance of analogue styling and proactive health monitoring, while Garmin Vivomove puts more emphasis on everyday fitness and ScanWatch Nova turns the Withings formula into a heavier, diver-inspired watch.

The table exposes the central trade-off. Garmin gives you the lightest case and the more training-oriented experience; Withings gives you ECG and 24/7 temperature tracking, with a choice between the restrained ScanWatch 2 and the more substantial Nova.

Best for runners - 2. Garmin Vivomove

Garmin Vivomove is the better hybrid smartwatch if regular running and Garmin training insight matter more to you than ECG or temperature monitoring.

It supports Run and Treadmill activities, while Connected GPS records route, distance and pace through your paired phone. That last detail matters: Vivomove does not have built-in GPS, so you will need to carry your phone when you want a mapped outdoor run.

The case is the lightest here. At 28.3 g before adding a strap, the 40 mm fibre-reinforced polymer case is less likely to feel intrusive during a workout or overnight. Its chemically strengthened glass and analogue hands retain the appearance of a conventional watch, while the hidden display handles fitness information and notifications.

• Health: heart rate, Pulse Ox and sleep tracking cover the everyday essentials.
• Running: dedicated Run and Treadmill profiles make this the clearest fit for someone building a regular exercise routine.
• Battery: up to 5 days, so charging is more frequent than with ScanWatch 2.
• Water resistance: 5 ATM, making it suitable for swimming as well as sweaty training sessions.
• Price: Garmin Vivomove was £279.99 at the time of writing.

Vivomove is not the health-monitoring winner. There is no ECG, and the supplied specification does not establish temperature monitoring. Its advantage is purpose: if you want an analogue-looking watch that speaks Garmin’s fitness language, it is the more natural fit.

Comfort can be tuned after purchase. The Vivomove family uses quick-release straps in 18mm and 20mm sizes, depending on the model, and our Garmin Vivomove straps include silicone, nylon, leather, milanese and metal options. Check the width of your exact Vivomove before ordering; the two widths are not interchangeable.

Best overall - 1. Withings ScanWatch 2

Withings ScanWatch 2 is the best choice for most buyers because it combines a credible stainless-steel analogue watch with the broadest everyday health picture in the group.

Its monitoring includes ECG, SpO2, sleep and 24/7 temperature tracking. That makes it more useful when your priority is noticing health patterns over time rather than receiving training guidance for a structured running plan. Running detection and Connected GPS are still present, but you will need your paired phone to record GPS data.

The other major advantage is choice of fit. ScanWatch 2 comes in 38mm and 42mm cases, allowing you to choose by wrist comfort rather than accepting a single format. The 38mm case weighs 34.6gr, while the 42mm case weighs 52.6gr. If you intend to wear the watch for sleep tracking, that size and weight difference may matter more than a small change in styling.

Both versions use a stainless-steel case and sapphire glass, so the watch feels closer to a traditional timepiece than a screen-led sports watch. A small grayscale OLED display provides health readings and alerts without taking over the dial.

• Health: ECG, SpO2, sleep and continuous temperature monitoring.
• Running: automatic detection and Connected GPS, rather than built-in GPS.
• Battery: up to 35-day battery life, the clearest reason to choose it if you dislike frequent charging.
• Water resistance: 5 ATM, suitable for swimming and ordinary daily wear around water.
• Price: the 38mm ScanWatch 2 was £319 and the 42mm ScanWatch 2 was £319 at the time of writing.

The published battery maximum is especially useful for health tracking because a watch cannot build a consistent sleep or temperature record while it is sitting on its charger. Real endurance will vary with use, but the gap between up to 35 days for ScanWatch 2 and up to 5 days for Vivomove is large enough to change the ownership routine.

Fit remains the reason to pause before choosing a case. Both ScanWatch 2 sizes take 20mm quick-release straps according to our catalogue, but their different case weights still create a different feel on the wrist. We stock silicone, nylon, leather, milanese and metal for both the 38mm ScanWatch 2 and the 42mm ScanWatch 2, so you can change the character without replacing the watch.

Best luxury design - 3. Withings ScanWatch Nova

Withings ScanWatch Nova is the right pick when a luxury diver-watch appearance and greater water resistance matter more than getting the lightest or best-value health tracker.

Its core health features match ScanWatch 2: ECG, SpO2, sleep and 24/7 temperature tracking are all present. It also uses Running detection and Connected GPS. The extra reason to choose Nova is not a fundamentally broader health platform; it is the more substantial stainless-steel design and 10 ATM water resistance.

That distinction is easy to feel. Nova has a 42mm case weighing 63 g, making it heavier than either ScanWatch 2 size and considerably heavier than Garmin Vivomove before straps are considered. Some buyers will enjoy that solid, conventional-watch presence. If you prefer to forget that you are wearing a tracker while sleeping, ScanWatch 2 in its smaller case is the safer choice.

• Health: ECG, SpO2, sleep and continuous temperature monitoring.
• Running: automatic detection and Connected GPS through your phone.
• Water resistance: 10 ATM, compared with 5 ATM on ScanWatch 2 and Garmin Vivomove.
• Construction: stainless-steel case and sapphire glass.
• Price: Withings ScanWatch Nova was £549 at the time of writing.

Frequent swimmers have the clearest functional reason to pay more for Nova. For everyone else, the decision is primarily aesthetic: ScanWatch 2 provides the same stated core health, sleep, activity and notification features in a lighter choice of cases.

Nova takes 20mm quick-release straps, and our Withings ScanWatch Nova straps span silicone, nylon, leather, milanese and metal. That gives you room to protect the diver-watch character with metal or soften its heavier case with a lighter strap.

Which hybrid smartwatch should you choose?

You should choose by deciding whether health monitoring, running guidance, fit or diver-watch styling will affect your daily use most.

• If you want the best overall health-and-style balance → choose Withings ScanWatch 2. ECG, SpO2, sleep and 24/7 temperature tracking make it the most convincing everyday health choice, while the analogue dial avoids the look of a miniature phone.
• If you run regularly and value Garmin training insight → choose Garmin Vivomove. Its Run and Treadmill support give it the edge, provided you are happy to carry your phone for Connected GPS.
• If you want fewer charging interruptions → choose ScanWatch 2. Its stated maximum is up to 35 days, against up to 5 days for Vivomove.
• If you have a smaller wrist or wear your watch in bed → start with the 38mm ScanWatch 2. Its smaller, lighter case is easier to justify for continuous wear than the heavier Nova.
• If you swim frequently → ScanWatch Nova has the strongest water-resistance rating here at 10 ATM. Vivomove and ScanWatch 2 are still swimproof at 5 ATM.
• If traditional watch presence is the priority → choose Nova for its diver-inspired build, or ScanWatch 2 for a more restrained stainless-steel appearance.

Do not let the hidden display decide this comparison. All three watches provide notifications and sleep tracking, and all rely on Connected GPS rather than built-in GPS. The meaningful split is between Garmin’s training emphasis and Withings’ more proactive health monitoring.

Fit, straps and everyday comfort

Case weight and strap material determine whether a hybrid watch remains comfortable through workouts, commuting and sleep.

The lightest case belongs to Garmin Vivomove at 28.3 g, followed by the 38mm ScanWatch 2 at 34.6gr. The 42mm ScanWatch 2 rises to 52.6gr, while ScanWatch Nova reaches 63 g. Those numbers are more useful than style labels when you plan to track sleep every night: a smaller difference can be noticeable after hours on the wrist.

Match the strap to the part of your routine that creates the most friction:

• Sweaty workouts → silicone. It is easy to rinse and dries quickly.
• Sleep tracking → nylon. Its lighter, more breathable feel suits long periods of wear.
• Office and formal wear → leather. It reinforces the conventional analogue-watch appearance.
• Smart everyday wear → milanese. It gives the watch a finer metal finish while allowing close adjustment.
• A substantial bracelet feel → metal. It suits ScanWatch Nova particularly well, though it also adds to the weight already on your wrist.

Connector width is not a cosmetic detail. Garmin Vivomove models in our catalogue use either 18mm or 20mm quick-release straps, whereas ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Nova use 20mm quick-release straps. Checking the watch model and width before ordering prevents the common mistake of choosing the right style with the wrong fitment.

For most wrists, ScanWatch 2 remains the soundest answer: choose its case size carefully and change the strap around your routine. Move to Garmin Vivomove when running guidance is the priority, or to ScanWatch Nova when the diver-watch build is what you genuinely want to see each morning.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover phone compatibility and controls that may affect your choice after the main health, training and fit questions are settled.

Do these watches work equally well with iPhone and Android?

No, although all three work with both platforms. Garmin Vivomove users can send preset text replies from Android, while iPhone users can view and dismiss notifications; ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Nova support pairing with either platform.

Can a hybrid smartwatch show full phone notifications?

It can mirror selected calls, messages and app alerts when paired with your phone, but it is designed for quick wrist updates rather than a full phone-style notification inbox.

Do these watches track gym workouts automatically?

Start gym workouts yourself if you want the clearest record. ScanWatch 2 can learn and later recognise weights after repeated manual logging, while Garmin Vivomove automatic activity starts apply to walking and running rather than strength sessions.

Can I control music or make calls from a hybrid smartwatch?

Garmin Vivomove can control music on your paired phone and accept or decline a call, but you still speak through the phone. ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Nova display incoming calls and notifications rather than acting as phones for calls.