Smartwatches have become vital for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, offering insights into health metrics like sleep, heart rate, and oxygen levels. When choosing the right smartwatch, consider your needs and intended usage. Recent evaluations of four models include the Apple Watch Series 9, Withings ScanWatch 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and Garmin Lily 2, each catering to different users with varying features, designs, and functionalities, from advanced health monitoring to basic fitness tracking.
Explore the World of Smartwatches for Every Fitness Journey
Smartwatches have become essential tools for elite athletes aiming to enhance their performance and for anyone keen on monitoring their health or embarking on a fitness journey. Regardless of your objective, these innovative devices are designed to deepen our understanding of our bodies and their potential. With capabilities such as sleep cycle analysis, heart rate tracking, body temperature measurement, stress management, blood oxygen levels, and performance statistics post-exercise, the wealth of information we can access has never been greater.
Choosing the Ideal Smartwatch: Key Considerations
When selecting the perfect smartwatch, it’s crucial to identify your primary use and target the features that align with your needs. To assist you in this process, we recently evaluated four smartwatches that have just hit the market, showcasing their unique strengths and weaknesses. Each watch caters to different user profiles.
Apple Watch Series 9 (starting at €449)
Design and Ergonomics
The Apple Watch Series 9 boasts a myriad of bands, allowing it to match various styles. However, its rectangular dial may feel slightly oversized for some users.
Battery Life
This smartwatch is designed for all-day use, accommodating sports, calls, GPS navigation, and messaging effortlessly. Its robust battery life ensures you can go days without needing to recharge.
Health Sensors and Monitoring
Equipped with advanced health tracking tools, the Apple Watch 9 monitors blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG. It connects to a personalized medical file, providing alerts for abnormal metrics and serving as a medication reminder. Additionally, it promotes mental wellness through regular questionnaires, making it a comprehensive health companion.
Sports and Fitness Functions
While the Apple Watch 9 encourages general fitness and activity, it may not be the best choice for those seeking high-level athletic performance.
Conclusion: Best suited for iOS users, this smartwatch excels in health and wellness tracking while offering decent sports functionalities.
Withings ScanWatch 2 (€349.95)
Design and Ergonomics
Blending seamlessly into traditional watch aesthetics, the ScanWatch features a discreet OLED screen (0.63 inches) while maintaining elegance for daily wear. It includes a rotating button for effortless navigation.
Battery Life
With impressive battery longevity of about a week on regular use, it charges fully in less than 1.5 hours.
Health Sensors and Monitoring
This smartwatch offers a variety of health tracking features, including heart rate and body temperature monitoring, sleep tracking, and alerts for abnormal heart rates. However, we found the stair-climbing measurement to be inaccurate.
Sports and Fitness Functions
With support for around thirty sports activities, it tracks workout duration, heart rate, and calories burned, though it lacks GPS, necessitating a phone for outdoor activities.
Conclusion: A subtle smartwatch with exceptional battery life, ideal for casual users seeking basic fitness tracking.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (starting at €319)
Design and Ergonomics
This smartwatch features a sporty design with a customizable silicone strap and aluminum casing. The touch-sensitive OLED screen (1.3 inches) provides a delightful user experience.
Battery Life
One of its few drawbacks is the need for daily charging to access all features, although it charges quickly.
Health Sensors and Monitoring
Offering precise health tracking, this watch monitors sleep phases, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and body composition. It even provides an “energy score” to personalize workout recommendations.
Sports and Fitness Functions
Adaptable for various sports, including walking and running, it automatically detects activity. The built-in GPS is a bonus for runners, although it may lack precision.
Conclusion: Perfect for fitness enthusiasts and those wanting smartphone functionality on their wrist, this watch features an engaging interface and display.
Garmin Lily 2 (€279.99)
Design and Ergonomics
With its refined aluminum case and lightweight design, the Lily 2 is almost unnoticeable on your wrist. Its floral-patterned screen (240 x 201 pixels) remains readable despite being non-color.
Battery Life
This smartwatch lasts several days on a single charge, taking about two hours to recharge fully.
Health Sensors and Monitoring
It tracks daily steps, heart rate, calories burned, and includes a “menstrual cycle tracking” feature. However, it requires a phone for distance measurements as it lacks GPS.
Sports and Fitness Functions
While not designed for advanced sports training, it provides useful data through the Garmin Connect app, including heart rate and calories burned with clear graphs.
Conclusion: Targeted toward a female audience, this smartwatch offers great value with a well-designed app.