Hybrid Smartwatches are gradually becoming a trend. They are a good combination of classic analogue watches with activity tracking features. Skagen, part of the Fossil Group, recently launched one such hybrid smartwatch dubbed as Skagen Connected. I had a chance to use this watch for couple of weeks and here are my thoughts in this review.
The box contains
- Skagen Connected Hybrid smartwatch
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty information
Design
Skagen Connected Hybrid smartwatch sports an elegant and stylish design. This was a women’s watch and there is a male variant of the watch as well. It has a circular dial in polished gold color that gives it a premium look. The brown leather straps complements the gold dial really well. The build is solid but the dial is thick. However, the thickness is noticeable only if you look at the watch from the side. It would have been great if it had a thinner and a bit flatter dial.
The watch face sports white background and golden sleek lines instead of numbers to represent time. This combination stands out and offers a pleasant time viewing experience. The 1 – 31 date markings are spread out between 12 and 10 with the dots while 1 – 100 markings are present between 10 and 12.
There are three push buttons on the right side of the watch. A big button is present at the center while two relatively smaller buttons are present on either side.
There is nothing on the left side of the watch. The watch has 10mm thick case while the leather strap is the standard 20mm and can be switched easily.
The watch is also water-resistant to 3 ATM or 30 meters, which means it is splash/rain resistant but not suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, water related work, and other water activities.
Software and Functionality
The smartwatch works with Skagen Connected app for Android and iPhone. It tracks your activity, sleep, steps taken and calories burned. The steps to setup the watch and app are pretty standard. You will have to add your personal details like gender, height, weight, step goal, sleep goal and more. Once you have filled up all details, you are good to go. The app UI is simple and clean which makes it easy to navigate.
Up next, you can set up notifications, alarms and second time zone.
The app also lets you assign push button actions. By default, the watch shows the current date by moving both hands to the appropriate number between 1-31. Pressing the middle button will switch between the second time zone and alarm time if you have either set. The main hands will move to indicate the time for the selected mode. You can press the bottom button to turn off the alarm. It can be even set to control music (play/ pause, previous/next track), take photos by pressing for a single photo or long press for a photo burst), or track your custom goals. Functions on all the three buttons can be customized according to your needs.
You can connect to other apps including UA Record, Up By Jawbone, and Google Fit. You can get email, message or call notifications from up to 6 contacts and 6 apps. As the watch does not sport a digital display, notifications are only in the form of vibrations.
The app also has option to add goals like drinking water frequently and exercising regularly.
The step tracking was accurate most of the time. A circular ring will represent your daily goal progress. The app also shows other stats like distance, calories burned, weekly data, average steps and your best performance.
Being an analogue watch I didn’t felt like wearing it every night while sleeping as it is somewhat uncomfortable. The sleep tracking is not that accurate although, it does offer a detailed stats like light sleep, restful sleep, awake time and so on.
Battery Life
The Skagen Connected Hybrid Smartwatch claims to have a battery life that will last for 4 to 6 months. The app mentions that enabling notifications on the watch will affect on the battery life of the watch.
Conclusion
The Skagen Connected Hybrid Smartwatch impresses with its solid build and elegant design. The rose gold dial and genuine leather belt offers a premium look. Although the watch is capable of tracking activity and monitoring sleep, the accuracy is not exceptional or similar to a high-end fitness trackers.
If you are looking for an attractive watch with basic activity tracking features, this is a good option. The pricing on the box says Rs. 13,495 and it is available in major retail stores, including Flipkart and the models for men start at Rs. 14,295.
Pro
- Elegant Design
- Fairly accurate step tracking
- Clean and Simple UI on the App
- Battery life of 4-6 months
Cons
- No LED display
- Notifications are just vibrations