Watch Companion
So, this is my first post and not entirely watch related but looking for some advice and to see what everyone else does with this niche "issue".
I've had a smart watch since the first gen Apple Watch was released. Overtime, I've find myself opting for less "smart" watches as I'm not a fan of smart watch screens and prefer a traditional watch (my smart journey has been Apple Watch > Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 > Withings ScanWatch > Tissot T-Touch Connect > Withings ScanWatch Horizon). I've been using the Withings ScanWatch Horizon for around 18 months and cannot fault it at all.
However, I've been starting to increase my collection of traditional watches and want to wear them daily. There's just a few bits of functionality from my smart watch that I would not want to go without for long periods of time which I have listed below:
Silent Alarm - The silent alarm (vibrations) on my watch is something that I hadn't considered that I would love as much as I do. It's a less intrusive wake up in the morning (for both myself and wife) and would prefer to continue to wake up without a traumatic siren going off.
Sleep/Activity/Workout Tracking
Message/Call Notification - I have no interest in notifications from other applications apart from WhatsApp. My phone is always on Silent and, on the occasions where I'm wearing my traditional watches, I find myself not noticing the vibrations from my phone and often missing calls/messages.
Long Battery Life - The battery on my ScanWatch lasts at least 3 weeks. I don't want to go back to a world where I have to charge a device each night.
I know many people take the "2 watch" approach - wearing a smart watch on one wrist and traditional watch on the other but I just don't like this approach at all (no offense to any 2-watchers). I'm looking for more of a smart band (something along the lines of the Sony Wena 3 is ideally what I would like). In all honesty, it doesn't even need to tell me the time. Something as simple as possible that provides the functionality I would like!
For those in a similar situation, what do you do? Are there any less known products that'll fit the bill?
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
I found out about the Sony Wena a couple weeks ago. Haven't had the opportunity to try it though.
YT Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7LA8XKkyq4
I do like wearing a smart device on my right wrist and a more or less traditional watch on my left.
Garmin Vivosmart 4 was great, needed charging every 3 days. Now I had to upgrade to 5 I miss the small size. With the 4 I was able to wear some jewelry as well on my right wrist. The 5 is so much bigger that I feel there is no room. You can replace the strap on 5, which is a positive.
are you aware of Frederique Constant Smart collection? It is a nice mix of modern connectedness with traditional swiss made quality and looks.
I found out about the Sony Wena a couple weeks ago. Haven't had the opportunity to try it though.
YT Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7LA8XKkyq4
I'm waiting for the next gen of it, but I haven't heard ANYTHING, not even rumors about the Wena 4, 3 has been out for a looooong time now...
Any fitness band on the other wrist would do because once you get your results they mirror all the results that come after in the same situation. I had a few smart watches and you get bored seeing the same results all the time and fussing over them. Run but enjoy the experience without the micromanagement. When your tired stop and rest without fretting your heart rate. Being a slave to technology and perceived goals is not going to make you live any longer or happier.
I do like wearing a smart device on my right wrist and a more or less traditional watch on my left.
Garmin Vivosmart 4 was great, needed charging every 3 days. Now I had to upgrade to 5 I miss the small size. With the 4 I was able to wear some jewelry as well on my right wrist. The 5 is so much bigger that I feel there is no room. You can replace the strap on 5, which is a positive.
I didn't realise that Garmin just made a tracker, I had previously looked at their hybrid smart watches before getting the ScanWatch.
I definitely prefer the size of the Vivosmart 4, looks small enough that you probably wouldn't notice it.
I'm waiting for the next gen of it, but I haven't heard ANYTHING, not even rumors about the Wena 4, 3 has been out for a looooong time now...
If the 4 is anything like the 3, it'll probably only be available in Japan which means costly import fees but I would definitely be interested in it!
are you aware of Frederique Constant Smart collection? It is a nice mix of modern connectedness with traditional swiss made quality and looks.
I am, some of them are really nice! I think I'd rather expand my traditional watch collection and have an additional smart "band" of some sort instead of adding more smart watches to the collection though.
btw I recently bought the $30 Casio AE1200WH-5AV and it changed how I look at smartwatches. The 10-year battery life, alarm, chrono, world time, 100m WR etc at this price makes my other watches look pedestrian. I really don't miss my smartwatch notification features :)
I found out about the Sony Wena a couple weeks ago. Haven't had the opportunity to try it though.
YT Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7LA8XKkyq4
Woah... that's smart as heck!
If the 4 is anything like the 3, it'll probably only be available in Japan which means costly import fees but I would definitely be interested in it!
ofc it will be, but a good excuse as any to go to japan XDDDDD
I used to have a "Misfit Ray" for this purpose - was designed as more of a bangle with some tech rather than a slab of plastic. You could also wear it on a chain as a necklace. Misfit got bought out (and shut down) by Fossil who I think wanted access to the tech for their hybrid watches.
I subsequently bought a Kronaby hybrid watch that I use occasionally but I miss the simplicity/relative subtlety of the Ray and being able to wear it with a 'proper' watch.
I found out about the Sony Wena a couple weeks ago. Haven't had the opportunity to try it though.
YT Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7LA8XKkyq4
This is the most amazing this I've seen this week.
all in one devices are masters of nothing. Why not get a few specialist items since you've identified that you need them? Oura ring for health tracking (way better than any wrist based smart watch), one of those slowly brightening "alarm" clocks so you wake up naturally, for Whatsapp notifications..... Your phone vibration set to max? Sorry no suggestions there.