With its combination of analogue hands and step tracking, and a digital display for notifications and extra detail, I think the Steel HR absolutely nails what I want from a smartwatch. It’s easily one of the best-looking timepieces I’ve worn all year, and I don’t just mean smartwatches: the Steel HR can stand proudly alongside regular watches too. OK, so it might not be as comprehensive as an Apple or Android Wear watch, but that digital complication is perfect for calendar, call and text alerts, and it still does all the fitness-friendly extras you’d expect. Even with limited support for notifications from third party apps right now, the Steel HR earns a well-deserved five stars. If you’ve not liked smartwatches before, be prepared for this to change your mind. Buy the Steel HR here from Withings

Sublime looks ; Fantastic stamina; All the fitness tracking us mere mortals need;

Notifications limited to old-school SMS; Only basic smart functions; No GPS for exercise addicts;

Sublime looks ; Fantastic stamina; All the fitness tracking us mere mortals need;

Notifications limited to old-school SMS; Only basic smart functions; No GPS for exercise addicts;

The Withings Steel HR Sport is the only watch that might persuade me switch from my analogue ticker - so I can finally have a few tricks up my sleeve. It looks like a regular watch, subtle and stylish, yet there’s so much going on inside and stuff that’s useful for everyday use and people like me, who like to keep fairly fit but aren’t beating themselves up about their Strava rankings. The sleep tracking and daily goals are everything a hybrid watch should be; there to give you a bit of guidance on how to live a healthier lifestyle. And for me that’s more dancing and more sleeping, yet I’m worried the two are mutually exclusive...

Stylish design; Great battery life ; Loads of activities ; Intuitive and useful app ;

No NFC payments ; No standalone GPS ;

The Withings Steel HR Sport is the perfect marriage of analogue and digital, featuring an analogue watchface with all kinds of built-in smart tech. It’s thanks to this design that the Steel HR Sport looks at home when worn in the office or at the gym, and that’s not something that can be said about most fitness-focused smartwatches. It’s capable of tracking over 30 activities, from running to swimming and even Yoga or Ping Pong, and the 25-day battery life means you never need to worry about charging it. Couple that with an app that provides meaningful insight into the data collected by the smartwatch, and you’ve got the perfect fitness companion.

If you’re not fussed about a full on touchscreen smartwatch, the Withings Steel HR is stylish, well-made and offers excellent battery life. We’re glad to see the addition of the heart rate monitor and the screen for smart features, even if they are basic. A great semi-smartwatch for the price.

As hybrid watches go, the Withings Steel HR Sport solves a lot of problems and fills gaps left by many other hybrids and fully smart watches. With its really long battery life and analogue watch face, it ensures that there's not as striking a learning curve for those who don't like the "mini-smartphone-strapped-to-your-wrist" approach of smartwatches. Likewise, it's equipped with enough features to ensure fitness enthusiasts aren't left feeling short-changed.

Sleek minimal design; Lightweight and durable; Not too expensive; Tracks 30+ sports; Long battery life;

Inconsistent sleep tracking; Couple of GPS-related issues; Notifications cut off;

Stylish design; Great battery life ; Loads of activities ; Intuitive and useful app ;

No NFC payments ; No standalone GPS ;

;

;

The Withings Steel HR isn't a smartwatch. It's just a smart-ish watch, and really just a fitness tracker, and that's OK. It's got analog hands, and a normal watch face. But it tracks activities and even heart rate. Its battery life is great, too.

The Withings Steel HR comes as close as we've ever seen to an everyday watch with full heart rate fitness tracking, but it's not quite as good as it looks.

Sleek, sharp design; Long battery life; Seamless pairing and automatic fitness tracking; Fifty-meter water resistance.

Tiny OLED second screen hard to read, and doesn't automatically turn on; Erratic heart rate tracking; Withings' Health Mate app isn't as socially connected as Fitbit; Limited phone notifications hard to read.

When you see the $199.95 Withings Steel HR Sport next to any other smartwatch or fitness tracker, it stands out because it looks different. It takes the shape of a traditional watch, with an analog dial, numbers etched into stainless steel casing, and a single crown on the outer edge. It's the type of watch you can wear anywhere. At a glance, you wouldn't expect that it offers continuous heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, or notifications from your phone on a tiny inset display. It's not wildly different from its predecessor, the Withings Steel HR, but it has a few additional activity-minded options, such as GPS via your phone. It's a worthwhile purchase if you like the style, but know that its smart features come secondary to its design. Design, Comfort, and Battery The Steel HR Sport shares a lot of similarities with its predecessor, the Withings Steel HR ( at Amazon) , released in 2017. The Sport has a few little visual elements to set it apart, such as red tips on the ...

The Withings Steel HR Sport is well designed, good looking, and comes with enough fitness features and smart notifications to remind you that it's not a traditional wristwatch—even if it looks like one.

Stylish design; 25-day battery life; Includes heart rate monitor, activity tracking, sleep tracking, smart alarm, and notifications

No app store, women's health tracking, or idle alert; Snug and heavy