Withings Steel HR Review: A Dress Watch to Run with

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Smartwatches are not perfect watches yet.

It has been 7 years since the first Samsung Gear, 6 since the first Apple Watch. Though the technology is getting more polished, there are some inherent shortcomings of smartwatches that keeps them from becoming full-fledged timepieces. Battery capacity in those tiny watch cases is the fundamental limitation and extending from it - a screen that is off most of the time. A screen that is mostly off means the user then needs to either flick the wrist or press a button to see the time - both compromising the key function of a watch which is to tell you the time at a glance.

Sure there are always-on functions on AMOLED screens on the Apple Watch or the Fitbit Versa 2 that I recently used extensively - but it eats into the battery, and can only display a minimized version of the watch face design. It is more a compromise than overcoming the actual shortcoming.

But precisely because this execution is not yet perfected, that's why there is room for interesting innovations in the smartwatch segment. New out-of-the-box thinking can and are being explored by smartwatch makers, and Withings is a prime example.

I can almost hear the design team voicing out: why should we wear a darkened screen 95% of the day? Why not keep the watch face intact and keep the inactive part of the smartwatch to a minimum? These are excellent questions and I looked into Withings' answer that is given in the form of the Steel HR.

"You had me at Domed Mineral Glass"

The Withings Steel HR is definitely going the minimalistic route in its design language, but they managed to keep it from falling into boring territory by adding a gorgeous domed mineral glass. It doesn't disturb the overall minimalism, yet adds style points in qualifying this watch to be both classy and dressy.

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(Photo from amazon.com)

The domed mineral glass then transitions into the polished stainless steel casing which is nothing short of premium. The overall aesthetics and weight of the 13mm thick case easily gives the impression of a refined automatic watch. The beautiful casing actually extends all the way to the back of the watch, framing a small glass lens which is where the HR sensor resides.

Withings even took the extra mile of implementing one of the most minimal charging solutions on the back of the watch: all that is visible is a single tiny silver-colored dimple. They achieved this by using the entire back of the case as the negative terminal while the positive on the charging puck attaches to the dimple.

During my personal use of the Steel HR, I've had watch-loving friends who marveled at my new time piece, only to be taken aback by the fact that it was a smartwatch.

A 'smart' classic watch face

The watch face is another design that Withings got right, where an elegant balance is made between the classic analogue watch and the connected smart watch. As previously mentioned, there is a wide-spread modern fashion flaw of people wearing blank screens all day long. The Steel HR circumvents this by trimming down its digital screen to take up only a small circular area in the size of a wheel in a chronograph. This is a great solution because not only does it reduce the redundant blank screen and allows the analogue watch face to shine, it also reduces the battery consumption of the screen significantly.

Though small, for me this screen was perfectly sufficient to do what I need it to do. Controlled by a pusher at 3 o'clock, it toggles information from the time and date (Which works wonders in the dark), to all the information that you'd expect from a smartwatch: steps, calories burnt, distance traveled and heart rate. The watch also does notifications on the miniature screen by using it as a scrolling display, running the message information across like a train at a comfortable speed.

The LED screen at 12 o'clock is then balanced with another wheel at 6 o'clock, which is an analogue dial that displays the percentage of your daily step goal. To be honest, at first I was actually not that impressed with the use of this dial as a step counter. As a watch lover, I would have liked to see a second hand instead to complete the full analogue functionality. However upon using the Steel HR, because the information is right there, all the time, I found it quite useful as a constant reminder for me to 'get a move on' throughout the day. It encouraged me to choose walking as my mode of transportation when running short-distance errands, and I could see myself exercising more than usual.

Winning battery life

As a frequent gadget user, you can almost say that I'm allergic to constantly maintaining one more device battery level. I'm already doing that with my laptop to mobile phone, wireless earbuds to powerbank, even travel mouse to wireless keyboard - I am very reluctant to add my watch to the list, and I'm sure that I'm not the only one.

After using watches like the Amazfit GTR, GTS, and T-Rex, I have concluded that when the battery life extends over the 20 days mark, the inconvenience of recharging is infrequent enough that it is acceptable even for someone like me.

After using the Withings Steel HR for an extended time, I am glad to confirm that it is part of the class of smart watches that can easily stretch beyond 20 days between charges. The recharging frequency is inconsequential and it allows me to get on with my life.

A dress watch that encourages you to go on a run

Despite its graceful dress watch appearance, the Steel HR is a smartwatch at heart. And you find that out through its companion app: Health Mate.

The app firstly manages the calibration and setting of the watch, which is an extremely amusing process. There's something very satisfying when controlling mechanical dials in real-time with the phone touch screen, and it is actually quite a technological marvel how fast it responds to the touch.

The app is very intuitive to use on a day-to-day basis, offering a summary of the daily activities, sleep evaluation, and my heartbeat rate trend throughout the day in a card style arrangement. The app gives me sufficient yet not overwhelming information about my health, and more likens to a friend who gives kind reminders rather than spews data at me or putting me through a guilt trip, which is helpful in nudging me in the right direction to healthy living.

Who is the Withings Steel HR for?

The Steel HR has an outer appearance that can pass for an automatic watch, and will manage to impress both your timepiece enthusiast friends with its domed mineral glass and premium stainless steel casing; as well as your fitness enthusiast friends with its highly functional HR scanner, movement tracker and sleep monitor.

If you appreciate dress watches that looks minimalistic and classy, but at the same time want to look at having a health companion that keeps an eye on you in the form of a smartwatch, Withings Steel HR is one of the most tasteful timepieces that fulfills both criteria on the market right now.

David is a tech enthusiast/writer who is often on the move and is on a mission to explore ways to make his overhaul flights more enjoyable. This is a contribution to an ongoing IBTimes review series on gadgets for Business Travellers.

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