Withings has returned with a new hybrid smartwatch offering, after one of the company's co-founders bought the brand back from Nokia earlier this year.
Back in 2016, Nokia acquired health startup Withings in a deal estimated at $192 million, hoping to re-establish its presence in the consumer electronics market. It did so by rebranding Withings' line of iOS compatible products under its own name.
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But by May 2018, the acquisition was considered a failure, and Nokia announced its intention to sell the division back to Withings co-founder, Eric Carreel. Carreel promised a "relaunch" of its products by the end of 2018, and today's arrival of the Steel HR Sport smartwatch is apparently just the start.
The Steel HR Sport shares many of the features as the Steel HR smartwatch which Nokia released in 2016, such as the heart-rate monitor, sleep tracking, smartphone notifications, and 25-day battery life. But it also packs some additional new features, like the ability to track 30 different activities (yoga, rowing, boxing, skiing, and so on).
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Water resistance is now up to 50 meters, while new oxygen intake sensors allow the watch to measure variables like VO2 max, which is supposed to be a good indicator of overall health. Connected to a smartphone, the Steel HR Sport is also able to GPS-track walking, running, and cycling workouts with distance, elevation, and pace metrics recorded in the accompanying iOS Health Mate app.
In addition, the digital readout on the analogue watch face has been tweaked to show notifications from over 100 apps, as well as regular alerts for calls, text messages, and calendar events.
The Steel HR Sport comes in a single 40mm size, costs $200, and is available to order online today from the Withings website or from Amazon.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Nice looking alternative to Apple Watch.
Of course it doesn't but neither does the Apple Watch where we live. ;)Do they have ECG support and can they detect Atrial Fibrillation?
why on earth do these guys bother?
Because their design is better than most, the battery life is rational, and it’s a good option if your job requires you to look at your watch for more than 5 seconds.I love my Apple Watch, but with only 18 hours of battery I don’t make it a day.
They were Withings and didn't sell that many, they changed to Nokia, they changed back to Withings. At the time when they had moderate success, Fitbit were there competition. Fast forward a few name changes and there is now an Apple Watch. They can't compete with Fitbit and certainly not Apple. Amazfit (Xiaomi) sell their watches super cheap and sell millions.
That's some generalisation you've got going on there! You also completely ignored the "serious" fitness watch manufacturers such as Garmin and SuuntoCheap good quality watch - Amazfit
Bit more expensive - Fitbit
Expensive - Apple Watch
Fitbit have the mums.
AW have the guys.
Only the kids and old people left.
So from the their design, looks like are going after the old folk (a big market to be tapped in to). Unfortunately, Apple are also going after this market (with the fall detection in S4). Fast forward a few years and they will be gone! Another Jawbone!
You knew all that anyway, right? :)
why on earth do these guys bother?
I’m thinking just the opposite. For a lot of people this is perfect.[doublepost=1537276739][/doublepost]
They were Withings and didn't sell that many, they changed to Nokia, they changed back to Withings. At the time when they had moderate success, Fitbit were there competition. Fast forward a few name changes and there is now an Apple Watch. They can't compete with Fitbit and certainly not Apple. Amazfit (Xiaomi) sell their watches super cheap and sell millions.
That’s some Grade A, incoherent rambling right there. Good job.Cheap good quality watch - Amazfit
Bit more expensive - Fitbit
Expensive - Apple Watch
Fitbit have the mums.
AW have the guys.
Only the kids and old people left.
So from the their design, looks like are going after the old folk (a big market to be tapped in to). Unfortunately, Apple are also going after this market (with the fall detection in S4). Fast forward a few years and they will be gone! Another Jawbone!
You knew all that anyway, right? :)