Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
I've tested all the best hybrid smartwatches of 2025 and these are my top picks
September 20, 2025
Hybrid smartwatches nail the best of both worlds: classic analog style with just enough smartwatch features to keep you connected. They look like traditional timepieces but sneak in fitness tracking, heart rate sensors, and the occasional notification. I’ve tested plenty, and the standouts are the ones that blend design and utility without feeling like a gadget in disguise. Below are the hybrid smartwatches I recommend most.
Withings ScanWatch 2: The best hybrid smartwatch overall
- Premium, classy design
- Up to 30-day battery life
- Broad health tracking tools
- Useful fitness tracking
- Available in two sizes
- Limited display space
- High price point
- No built-in GPS
- Few smart features
The Withings ScanWatch 2 is one of the most polished hybrid smartwatches available. It pairs a timeless analog design with a surprisingly deep health suite, including ECG readings for atrial fibrillation detection, SpO2 monitoring, and impressively reliable sleep stats. New to this generation is a temperature sensor that not only helps flag potential illness but also supports recovery and training insights. Meanwhile, on-device cycle tracking is also now built in, making the watch more versatile for a wider range of users.
Battery life, however, is what really wins me over about the ScanWatch lineup. Despite its new OS and upgraded features, the ScanWatch 2 lasts up to 30 days on a single charge. In practice, that meant I wore it through nearly a month’s worth of workouts, showers, and sleep without giving power a second thought. When the device finally did run dry, the two-hour recharge felt sluggish, but with such infrequent top-ups, I hardly minded. Compared to most wearables I’ve tested, the convenience here is unmatched.
As a hybrid, the ScanWatch 2 doesn’t overload you with apps but still nails the basics: banner-style notifications and enough activity tracking to be useful for most. It can track more than 40 activities, which gives users plenty of options, and the only notable miss is the lack of built-in GPS. There is, however, at least connected GPS for tracking runs and rides; you’ll just need to bring your phone along.
In addition to fantastic battery life, the ScanWatch 2 offers a timeless design and highly reliable modern wellness tools.
Importantly, the device is extremely comfortable on the wrist. It wears like a traditional watch, which makes it easy to keep on overnight for sleep tracking. Paired with its understated design, the ScanWatch 2 slides seamlessly into daily life. At the end of my review, what stood out most was how natural it felt to wear a watch first and a wellness companion second.
Withings ScanWatch Light: The best budget hybrid smartwatch
- Long battery life
- Elegant watch design
- Great activity tracker
- Small display
- No ECG or Afib detection
- Limited smarts
The Withings ScanWatch Light is the best budget hybrid smartwatch you can buy, offering an approachable price without cutting out the essentials. In a neat, analog-style package, it delivers activity tracking, sleep monitoring, heart-rate alerts, cycle tracking, and even breathing-disturbance detection, all backed by stellar battery life. In my testing, the watch only dropped 38% after nearly two weeks of heavy use, easily on track to hit its promised 30-day runtime.
The ScanWatch Light really shines in how it balances simplicity with functionality. It’s light, elegant, and comfortable on the wrist, and it’s just as easy to wear overnight for sleep tracking. The petite 0.63-inch grayscale OLED display covers the basics (including notifications, step counts, heart rate) without cluttering the face. I find scrolling with the crown feels natural, thanks to streamlined navigation screens, and for everything not handled on-device, the Withings app delivers a polished, easy-to-use experience.
The ScanWatch Light proves you can save money without skimping on style or battery life.
To cut costs compared to the brand’s pricier models, the Withings ScanWatch Light skips advanced health tools not all shoppers need, including ECG support for on-demand readings and SpO₂ tracking. If you don’t have health concerns that call for those metrics, the Light is an excellent way to save money without sacrificing style or the essentials of a hybrid experience.
Withings ScanWatch Nova: The best hybrid smartwatch for style
- Luxury build and gorgeous design
- Undercover advanced health monitoring
- Fantastic 30-day battery life
- Very expensive
- Limited smart features
- No built-in GPS
The Withings ScanWatch Nova is the most stylish pick available in the hybrid world, with a timeless design inspired by high‑end dive watches. However, while it’s luxurious enough to catch glances, it’s also powerful enough to track your health behind the scenes. Below its show-stopping look, it carries over all the top tools of the ScanWatch 2, including ECG and SpO₂ readings, temperature and sleep monitoring, and on-device cycle tracking.
As a wearable tester, I appreciate pieces that don’t just deliver data but also offer something novel. The Nova is by far my most attractive wearable, checking both my health-tracking and showstopping boxes. Leveraging premium materials, it pairs a stainless-steel case with a ceramic and steel rotating bezel, and tucks luminous ticking hands below sapphire crystal glass. Over two weeks of wearing it, I was most impressed with how it balances premium heft and effortless comfort; despite its luxe build, it never felt bulky.
The ScanWatch Nova hides wellness smarts behind the most attractive and high-end analog styling you'll find.
Most importantly for the sake of a best hybrids list, it packs Withings’ staple OLED window at 12 o’clock to effortlessly deliver the same advanced wellness tools found on the ScanWatch 2. Add in the brand’s signature 30-day battery life, and you have a device that doesn’t just look premium, it performs like it too. The ScanWatch Nova is a well-rounded pick for anyone who wants health tracking in a package that feels unapologetically fashion-forward.
Garmin vivomove Sport: The best hybrid smartwatch for fitness tracking
- Sleek hidden display
- Elevated sports aesthetic
- Convenient multi-day battery life
- No built-in GPS
- Limited smartwatch features
- No on-board music storage
The best hybrid smartwatch for fitness tracking, the vivomove Sport pairs timeless analog style with Garmin’s proven training tools. Its hidden OLED display appears only when needed, keeping the watch elegant and simplified when it’s not delivering wellness stats, notifications, or daily metrics. Packing all the essentials, including activity tracking, Body Battery, heart-rate alerts, stress tracking, and menstrual-cycle insights, it stands out as the most fitness-savvy option in the hybrid space.
Unlike other hybrids that prioritize looks first, the vivomove Sport leans into function without sacrificing comfort. Lightweight and sleek, it’s easy to wear day and night, while Garmin’s ecosystem brings more depth than you’d expect at this price point. The wide range of activity modes covers casual workouts and training sessions alike, while features like incident detection, LiveTrack, and guided breathing add extra value for anyone serious about their health.
With a sporty build and Garmin's training tools onboard, the vivomove Sport is the clear choice for fitness-minded shoppers.
Battery life on the Sport lasts about four to five days, which is shorter than some hybrids, but still better than full touchscreen smartwatches. It also only offers connected GPS, which isn’t always ideal, but most shoppers aren’t looking for a hardcore running accessory in the hybrid department. For anyone who wants a watch that looks subtle but trains smart, the vivomove Sport is the hybrid to beat.
Garmin Instinct Crossover: The best rugged hybrid smartwatch
- 28-day battery life
- Luminescent physical watch hands
- Solid durability
- No on-board music storage
- Cannot modify the look of the clock
The Garmin Instinct Crossover is a rugged hybrid that marries analog charm with Garmin grit. It pairs ticking hands with a full digital display, plus shock and thermal resistance, 10ATM water resistance, and the full weight of Garmin’s training ecosystem. During testing, I loved the luminescent hands most, which cleverly spin out of the way depending on which screen you’re viewing, making the hybrid format feel seamless.
Beyond durability and design, the watch is stacked with features, including sport modes for everything from pickleball to HIIT, along with Garmin tools like Fitness Age, VO2 Max, Body Battery, and sleep tracking for deeper wellness insights. For everyday convenience, the watch also supports smart notifications and Garmin Pay.
From shock resistance to 28-day battery life, the Instinct Crossover is the best hybrid for outdoor adventuring.
Meanwhile, GPS and battery life are where the Crossover really flexes. During my review, the watch’s accuracy outperformed even the Instinct 2, and endurance was equally impressive. It boasts up to 28 days in smartwatch mode and about 20 hours in GPS mode, with a solar model available for even more juice. That means weeks of training on a single charge, setting it apart from most wearables I’ve tested.
What to look for in a good hybrid smartwatch
Hybrid smartwatches straddle two worlds, mixing timeless aesthetics with just enough smarts to keep you connected. The balance between those sides varies wildly, so it helps to ask yourself what you really want out of your wrist. Do you care more about looking boardroom-ready or about logging every sweaty mile? Are you just sneaking in step counts under a sleek dial, or hoping for full-blown health insights? Knowing where you fall on the spectrum makes picking a hybrid far less overwhelming. Think through the considerations below when searching for the right watch for your wrist. Your perfect match should feel like an intentional choice, not a compromise.
- Comfort: First and foremost, anything on your wrist should be comfortable, especially if you’re considering a device for sleep tracking purposes. Look for manageable case sizes, light builds, and straps that won’t chafe on mile three.
- Aesthetics: Sleek analog hands, upscale case materials, and premium band styles are just the beginning when it comes to hybrid styles. There are sporty options that don’t scream tech, premium builds that look high-end, and everything in between.
- Battery life: Without power-draining AMOLED displays, hybrid devices can stretch weeks on a single charge, but not all offer the same range. Make sure you can live with whatever charging schedule you sign up for before checking out.
- Health features: Hybrid watches are designed to log data in the background, but what that includes is entirely up to you. Some offer basic health monitoring, while others provide more advanced health tools, like ECG readings or even sleep apnea detection.
- Fitness tracking: Likewise, in terms of fitness data, hybrids can track everything from casual step counts to detailed workout data, with accuracy and depth varying greatly from device to device. Determine how much of a gym companion you need and shop based on what you need the watch to cover.
- Smart features: Notifications, music controls, and even digital payments support are all tools worth looking into, but you won’t find them on every option. Smart features differ widely across the market.
- Compatibility: Most hybrid devices are compatible with iOS and Android phones, but double-check that your watch will play nice with your phone and the apps you rely on.
- Durability: A splash in the sink is one thing, and a lap in the pool another. Choose a hybrid that’s built tough enough to handle your lifestyle and go-to activities.
What do you look for in a hybrid smartwatch?
Thank you for being part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before posting.