HealthSense 4 lands on older Withings watches
Two new colour options and a fresh wave of firmware updates have brought the ScanWatch 2 back into the spotlight. What started as an IFA 2025 launch for a refreshed model is now reaching older devices, along with a hefty software upgrade.
HealthSense 4 starts to roll out more widely
Withings is now extending its latest HealthSense 4 operating system to all ScanWatch 2 users, including those who own the Nova and Nova Brilliant editions. This follows the early September rollout of the 2025 variant, which debuted with new blue and silver colourways, plus an extended battery life claim of up to 35 days.
The core of this upgrade lies in HealthSense 4, a new AI-infused platform that changes how health insights are delivered. While most of the headlines focus on the new vitality indicator, the full update actually brings a handful of deeper improvements, both visual and functional. Much like Garmin’s Body Battery, the vitality score aims to help users spot energy dips before they happen, but Withings leans heavily into its health tracking pedigree, using metrics such as respiratory rate, temperature trends, blood oxygen, along with heart rate variability.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
Unfortunately, this feature lives behind the paywall of Withings+. But its impact may extend further if the company eventually integrates similar functionality across more of its ecosystem. Alongside that, a passive temperature algorithm dubbed TempTech24/7 is being positioned for early illness detection and cycle tracking enhancements.
More detailed sleep and breathing metrics
ScanWatch 2 already had solid sleep tracking, but the update brings support for REM detection. It also adds more precise overnight breathing and oxygen saturation measurements. This information feeds into a more detailed sleep analysis, potentially offering users a clearer picture of their nightly rest and what might be impacting it.
Withings has also baked in enhancements to cycle tracking. This includes better predictive algorithms, leveraging the continuous temperature monitoring engine. There’s also a new set of on-watch guided breathing sessions, with modes such as Relax, Sleep, and Energize. Some users may find this helps address stress and sleep hygiene without needing third-party apps.
Battery boost and app revamp
Perhaps the most unexpected part of this update is the extended battery life. Withings claims up to 35 days on a full charge, even with the expanded metric tracking and AI features. That would put it well ahead of most hybrid competitors and even some full-fledged smartwatches.
The accompanying Health Mate app is also getting a facelift. Version 8.0 has not yet been released, but it will unlock the full capabilities of the firmware. Once live, it promises a clearer way to visualise how behaviour influences energy and recovery trends, pulling from the new vitality score and enhanced measurements.
This staged rollout is still in progress. Firmware 3181 is making its way to all eligible models, and it sets the foundation for what looks like a wider shift in how Withings blends AI and health data. The hardware might not have changed, but the user experience is about to.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! Check out our YouTube channel.
