Logan Strain April 11th, 2017
Analog smartwatches are designed to bridge the gap between classic wristwatches and 21st century wearables. They have watch hands, just like a watch you’d find in a jewelry or antique store, but under the hood, they’re packed with smart features. While these watches don’t have touchscreens, they more than make up for it with an abundance of style and a long battery life.
Want a smartwatch that is more subtle than ostentatious? These are the best hybrid smartwatches on the market right now.
Withings Steel HR
Withings makes a fine collection of analog smartwatches. But in our opinion, the crown jewel is the Withings Steel HR. It features a stainless steel body, classy chrome watch hands, and a small, circular, black-and-white display that displays your data. It has all the fundamental fitness tracking features, including steps, exercise, heart rate, and sleep tracking. Plus, it’s totally waterproof, so you don’t have to take it off when you jump in the pool.
Stark Analog Smartwatch
If you want something that is simple, minimalist, and (most importantly) cheap, then check out the Stark Analog Smartwatch. True to its name, the watch design is very simple, with no numbers or ticks on its face. The fitness tracking features include step tracking, sleep tracking, goal setting, and exercise tracking. It also offers audio, call, and text notifications through a small speaker. Want to take a selfie? When you have the Stark on, you can use your phone’s camera just by shaking your wrist.
The device isn’t quite ready to ship yet, but the creator says that he expects the first Starks to ship before the end of the year.
Garmin Vivomove
Garmin has a reputation for being the watch of choice among hardcore fitness data geeks. The Garmin Vivomove, however, is a classy exception to this rule. It doesn’t have a GPS sensor or heart rate monitor like most Garmin watches. Instead, it’s mostly focused on tracking your steps and sleep. It also features Garmin’s “move” bar that monitors how long you’ve been stationary, so you can get periodic reminders to stand up and take a walk around your office.
The case for the standard model is polymer, but you have the option of springing for the stainless steel. Like the Withings Steel HR, it’s waterproof, so you can wear it down to the bottom of a conventional pool and still have it ticking when you come back up.
Misfit Phase
While all wearable tech enthusiasts are looking forward to release of the Misfit Vapor this summer, it’s important to remember that, technically, that won’t be Misfit’s first smartwatch. That honor goes to the Misfit Phase, which is a solid analog smartwatch and an example of Misfit’s fashion-first approach to fitness trackers.
The phase is a classic hybrid smartwatch that tracks distance, steps, calories, and sleep. It has smart features like text and app notifications. You can also use it to wirelessly control music, your phone’s camera, or smarthome devices.
Unlike most other smartwatches, it isn’t rechargeable — you have to replace the battery about once every six months.
Mondaine Helvetica No.1 Smartwatch
If you want the purest combination of smartwatch and analog watch you can find (and are willing to pay for premium style), then Mondaine Helvetica No.1 Smartwatch is your only choice.
Made by the Swiss watch brand Mondaine, the finely crafted timepiece features sapphire glass, a leather strap, and a design that’s flat-out beautiful. The smart features include activity tracking, manual sleep tracking, and a silent alarm to help you wake up in the morning. It’s a compelling option for anyone who needs a high-end wristwatch first and a useful smartwatch second.
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