The Heart of the Matter: Style vs. Life-Saving Stats

Withings Scanwatch on my wrist

This is my Withings ScanWatch, a hybrid “smart” fitness watch. I’ve been wearing the 42mm black version (the original model, not the ScanWatch 2) for a long time now, paired with the metal oyster band, and it’s become part of my everyday routine.

What I love most is the balance it strikes: classic analog style with just enough smart features. The tiny digital display scrolls messages, calls, and notifications, and while you can’t reply from the watch, it’s great for deciding whether something needs immediate attention. The battery life is phenomenal—measured in weeks, not days—and it tracks steps, heart rate, sleep, and offers on‑demand ECG and SpO2 readings. It even does occasional automated SpO2 checks during sleep.

The ECG feature has been genuinely useful. It once captured an episode of afib when I felt palpitations and ran a recording. I sent the PDF to my cardiologist, which led to a follow‑up evaluation. So this watch has absolutely earned its place on my wrist.

But there’s one thing it doesn’t do: continuous heart‑rate monitoring. It only tracks continuously during a manually started workout session. And that’s where my dilemma begins.

I’ve had a heart attack (95% blockage of the right coronary artery), episodes of bradycardia during cardiac rehab (my pulse dropped well below 40 bpm and I passed out), and I have confirmed afib. With that history, continuous heart‑rate monitoring isn’t just a “nice to have”—it feels like something that could offer meaningful peace of mind.

That’s why I’m considering the Pixel Watch 4. It offers continuous heart‑rate monitoring, afib detection, on‑demand ECG, and a full suite of smartwatch features. Copilot tells me it’s one of the most accurate wrist‑based HR sensors among smartwatches, which is reassuring. But switching comes with tradeoffs: the cost of buying a new device, the hassle of charging every day or two, and the fact that I simply prefer the classic look of the ScanWatch over the “techy” smartwatch aesthetic. It does, however, add conveniences like answering calls, replying to messages, and using the on‑board Gemini assistant.

There’s also the human side of this decision. My wife has been through every hospital stay and every scare with me. Her peace of mind matters more than battery life or stainless‑steel styling. If a watch that monitors my heart continuously helps her worry a little less—whether I’m out running errands or asleep—that carries real weight.

Here's a table of some pros/cons of the two, with a little bolding of the advantages of each:

Feature	Withings ScanWatch	Pixel Watch 4
Aesthetic	Classic Analog / Hybrid	Modern / Digital
Battery Life	Up to 30 Days	24–36 Hours
Heart Rate	Periodic / Manual	Continuous Monitoring
AFib Detection	On-Demand ECG	ECG + Passive Alerts
Notifications	Read-only (Scrolling)	Full Interactive / Voice
Smart Features	Basic Alerts	Gemini AI / Apps / Calls

I’m still torn. Still thinking. If you’ve been through a similar decision, or if you have thoughts on hybrid watches versus full smartwatches for heart‑rate monitoring, I’d love to hear them. This isn’t a choice I’ll make lightly.