HRV support & smart features coming soon to Withings ScanWatch 2

Withings is gearing up to bring long-awaited features to the ScanWatch 2. Version 7.5 of the Withings Beta app has landed on TestFlight, and it includes HRV support, smarter sleep graphs, a new Smart View interface, along with Withings Intelligence for deeper health insights. These upgrades should soon make their way to all users.

ScanWatch 2 will finally get HRV support

The one upgrade that has us most interested is Heart Rate Variability (HRV) tracking. This has been a promised feature since the launch of ScanWatch 2, yet until now there has been no sign of it. While the hardware has always supported HRV, the software didn’t – which has left some users scratching their heads. In fact there are no Withings watches that currently track HRV.

The compnay is now taking steps to address that. The latest beta adds HRV data into the revamped sleep graphs, along with Respiratory Rate and Nighttime Movements. Initially, this is limited to those using the Sleep Analyzer, but it will come to ScanWatch 2 soon.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Given how central HRV is to sleep quality and recovery tracking, it’s a welcome development. The lack of it has been a strange omission from a smartwatch that otherwise puts health front and centre.

Smarter insights with Withings Intelligence

Another highlight is a new feature called Withings Intelligence. It’s a beta experience for Withings+ subscribers that blends AI-powered analysis with what the company calls a conversational assistant. The aim is to help users understand subtle changes in their health data. AI has been all the rage over the past year and the French company is getting in on the fun.

Withings Intelligence won’t just show you numbers. It’s meant to explain them in more accessible terms, offering context and suggesting what they might mean over time. Whether this ends up being genuinely helpful or just repackaged graphs remains to be seen.

Other improvements and ScanWatch Light reminder

Version 7.5 of the beta also includes a Smart View feature. It lets users pin their most important health metrics to the Home screen for quicker access. For anyone regularly checking on just one or two things, it could make daily tracking more efficient.

There are also usability upgrades for the U-Scan. These include proactive alerts and automatic rescheduling if a measurement is missed.

Worth noting here is that ScanWatch 2 is not the only Withings hybrid on the market. There’s also the more affordable ScanWatch Light. It dials back some of the tech, skipping ECG, SpO2 and temperature tracking, but sells for $250. That makes it a compelling option for those who don’t need the full suite of health sensors.

A quick refresher on ScanWatch 2

I’ve reviewed the ScanWatch 2 a couple of years ago and came away impressed. It’s a stylish hybrid that sticks to a traditional aesthetic but doesn’t compromise on health smarts.

Build quality is solid. It feels better on the wrist than the original, thanks to a lighter frame. The larger OLED screen is easier to read, and the rotating crown remains a simple but effective way to navigate. The battery life continues to be excellent.

The watch does well at health tracking, including ECG, temperature and a plethora of other stats. Though it’s less suited to serious training. For someone who wants a low-distraction, health-first wearable that still looks like a watch, it’s hard to fault it.

ScanWatch 2 owners have waited a while for these features, especially HRV. With the beta now live, it looks like that wait is nearly over.

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