Withings returns with a new fitness watch. The French brand continues in its run of watches designed for sport, but offering a sober and urban look. However, the Withings Steel HR stands out by being finally able to display notifications thanks to its digital mini-screen.
Connection: Bluetooth
Compatibility: iOS and Android
Price: $189.99 or $199.99
Tested with: Samsung galaxy s7
Buy Withings Steel HR:
What you will learn
Unboxing of the Withings Steel HR
The Withings’ box is classic. Entirely made of cardboard, it displays the characteristic white and blue color palette, with a product visual on the front. This is accompanied by various messages announcing the main functions of the product: monitoring the heart rate, sleep, sports activity, etc.
Once the packaging is removed, we discover the immaculate case of the Withings Steel HR. It is, this time, made of reinforced cardboard, with a magnetic opening. This explains the resistance of the packaging as a whole. When you open the box, you fall on the watch in the base of the box, and on the user manual stored in its cover.
The watch is inserted into a cardboard base with a solid foam support and the product charger. This one, as for the Asus ZenWatch or the Samsung Gear s3, it is recharged by induction with a charger which matches the shape of the device.
The packaging is good both in its classic look, but effective and in its simplicity. Here, no unnecessary accessories or paperwork. You will find in the box only the watch, its charger, and its manual.
Design and ergonomics of the Withings Steel HR
Like its predecessor, the Withings Steel HR has a decidedly urban look. Although designed for the practice and monitoring of sport, it has a sober and elegant design very effective. It is indeed an analog watch, that is to say that the dial is that of a classic watch. It is not tactile, but works with needles. At first glance, it’s hard to see that this is a fitness watch.
Its mini-screen allows it, however, to display various information. This addition catapults Withings’ watch into the big leagues, because at the same time it acquires certain functionalities of smart health connected watches that it previously lacked, notably that of displaying notifications from your smartphone.
The screen may be tiny, the display is made in an intelligent way so that each information is easily readable and understandable. For example, to show the number of steps taken, the watch will first display a footprint icon, then a number. As a result, information can take up more space on the screen and become more readable.
It is also very ergonomic thanks to its very flexible rubber strap. If you like leather bracelets, you might find that this one has a little cheap side. However, it is much more flexible and therefore easier to put on and take off than a leather strap. In addition, the latter are not suitable for the practice of sport.
Application of the Withings Steel HR 3
As with most smart health connected watches, the Withings Steel HR application is mainly used to pair your phone with the watch. A series of steps takes you from adding your watch to the application until creating your account and discovering the product. Everything is done automatically, with minimal user intervention.
Besides the tutorial, the application offers you some interesting features which mainly concern the monitoring of your sports practice: weight monitoring, definition of step goals or calories burned, etc.. There is even a ranking system through which you can compare yourself to your friends.
You can also choose what information you want to be able to display on the digital screen. You can deactivate those that are already there and add more. This is also where you can set the watch alarm. This is not a ringtone, but a vibration that will gently wake you up.
In addition, it is useful to note that the Withings application is common to all their products. You can thus share the statistics of your watch with those of your Body cardio balance, for example. The devices will all be listed on the same app, which makes it much easier to use.
Using the Withings Steel HR
The watch is very easy to use. Once worn on the wrist, you can view the time in two different ways: either directly by reading it on the hands, or by pressing the single button on the watch ; which will display the time in numbers on the device’s mini digital screen.
By pressing the button repeatedly, you will be able to access the other information available on the watch which is, in order: date, time, heart rate, number of steps taken, number of kilometers traveled, alarm, and remaining battery.
This is the main attraction of this watch: it very effectively combines a very elegant look, an analog dial, and a digital mini-screen which allows it to accomplish certain tasks that the Withings Steel lacked. On the latter, it was not possible to have access to this information, you could only view the progress of your daily goals via the second hand.
This needle is, moreover, still present. It ranges from 0 to 100% and helps you see at a glance where you are in your daily exercise. However, it is not possible to differentiate between the different exercises, hence the digital screen that allows you to differentiate the information.
The heart sensor is working well. Used during sport, the watch does show an increase in pace. This feature will be particularly useful for people suffering from heart problems or having a somewhat fragile heart. It also tracks your sleep. If you wear the watch at night, you can watch the quality of your sleep over time via the Withings app.
Just keep pressing the watch button to launch the “workout” mode which is specially made to follow you in an exercise session. In this mode, the heart rate is given continuously, as well as a stopwatch that lets you know exactly how long you have been training.
Another advantage of this watch is the fact that it consumes much less energy than a touchscreen watch. While a latest generation watch like the Samsung Gear S3 can boast four days of battery life, Withings Steel HR can last up to twenty-five days with normal use.
The Withings Steel HR facing the competition
The Withings Steel HR is a fairly unique watch. It is the first consumer model which combines fitness watch, analog needle screen, and smart city watch functionality. Among the big outings that follow one another at the end of the year, it stands out for this singularity and for its elegant and sober look.
With the return of the king: the Samsung Gear S3, difficult to position itself as the best smart health connected watch. Indeed, the latter offers many more features whether basic or for sport; not to mention geolocation, taking calls and reading messages and emails directly on the watch. However, the Steel HR is not ridiculous thanks to its cardiac sensor, its notifications, its much more elegant look and its cost between 189 and 199 € compared to 399 € of the last Korean.
Faced with a watch like the Asus Zenwatch 3, the balance of power is much closer. Indeed, the Asus does not offer a heart sensor. Although it allows you to take calls, it is not geotagged like the Samsung Gear S3. The Asus offers a design very similar to the Withings, although its screen is touch, which may interest lovers of beautiful watches. In terms of price, there are still at least 31 euros difference.
Before making your choice, be sure of what you want to acquire. If you want the best, no matter what the price, the Samsung Gear S3 may be your best choice. If your purse is more reduced, you should see what you prefer between an analog screen and effective monitoring of sports activity or a digital touch screen and more link between your smartphone and your watch.
Conclusion
Design and finishes: Big highlight: it contrasts radically with classic fitness watches and their “plastic” look. A sporty but elegant watch.
Features: Although they are more limited than some other smart health connected watches, they remain in line with the product’s promises and price.
Use / handling: Easy to take in hand and use: a single button and a very fluid app.
Application : The application is functional and has a real use since the watch is aimed at sport (monitoring of activities, weight …).
Value for money: The value for money is very good. The combination of the advantages of a fitness watch and a city watch is usually very expensive, which is not the case here. However, if you want the latest innovations, go your way.
AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW
Excellent product
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Design - 8.6/108.6/10
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Features - 8.5/108.5/10
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Application - 8.5/108.5/10
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Getting start - 9/109/10
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Quality/price - 8.5/108.5/10
Summary
Good points
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- A sober style that hits the bull’s eye
- Simple and efficient
- A very good price-performance ratio
Negative points
- It lacks certain features given its analog screen
- The digital screen is really small although the readability is improved
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