Hybrid smartwatches blend the classic features of analog watches with the sensors and tracking capabilities found in the best smartwatches. The result is, more often than not, a stylish watch that can also perform health and fitness tracking as well as display notifications.
These types of smartwatches are for people who want a traditional-looking design with a little bit of tech smarts thrown in. If you're looking for next-level exercise and sports tracking, then you'll need one of the best fitness trackers instead. These come with more advanced sensors and larger screens to be able to view readouts.
The analog mechanical design with smaller digital displays has the added benefit of providing superior battery life compared to smartwatches, as they don't output anywhere near as much power. They can be worn for several weeks without needing a recharge.
We've thoroughly and independently tested all of the hybrid smartwatches in our guide so you can make informed decisions about the right one for you. With choices based on budget, looks, and features, you can quickly narrow your options down.
The quick list
The best hybrid smartwatch overall
A beautiful smartwatch that combines the looks of a traditional diver's watch with a wide range of health tracking sensors.
The best hybrid smartwatch for runners
A smart, rugged Garmin Instinct 2 with analog hands. If you're outdoors a lot and like G-Shock style aesthetics, then this is the best option around.
The best hybrid smartwatch for heart rate tracking
This is one good-looking watch that doubles as a solid fitness tracker. If you're keen on keeping track of your heart metrics, then the ScanWatch Nova is perfect.
The best hybrid smartwatch for style
A stylish smartwatch from a premium designer, that not only looks great but also functions well. Benefit from heart rate and movement tracking metrics that elevate this analog-style smartwatch.
The best hybrid smartwatch for cheap
A more affordable smartwatch that still looks amazing while offering a range of fitness tracking features.
The best hybrid smartwatch overall
Withings is well-known for its smartwatches that strike a beautiful blend between past and present. With the ScanWatch Nova, you'll get analog looks, health and fitness tracking, as well as a few smartwatch features to enjoy.
The watch boasts a polished chrome body, analog hands with glow-in-the-dark LumiNova coating and a rotating crown. The display provides a scrolling text readout and progress tracking visuals so you know how close you are to your daily health goal.
Despite its predominant analog looks, under the hood are a range of digital sensors to track your heart rate, 24/7 temperature, ECG and blood oxygen levels. Additionally, you can use the smartwatch to track workouts and view notifications from your smartphone.
The ScanWatch Nova collects a huge amount of data with impressive accuracy, although you'll need the companion app to see most of it. This is the perfect smartwatch for people who want an intelligent health tracker without compromising on dive-watch looks.
Read our full Withings ScanWatch Nova review
The best hybrid smartwatch for runners
The Garmin Instinct Crossover is a bit different to many of the other hybrid smartwatches on our list because it doesn't have a traditional watch look, but instead will appeal to fans of digital watches – particularly for those who like the G-Shock aesthetic.
During our testing we loved the retro charm of the Instinct Crossover. We also enjoyed selecting the watch face configuration to show the information you want. Sure you're working with quite a basic 176 x 176px monochrome display but that's the appeal of a (mostly) analog watch.
This hybrid is especially good for those who are looking for serious fitness tracking features: the Instinct 2, the base smartwatch, is a five-star running and outdoors watch, and Garmin doesn't muck about with any of these features for the Crossover. It measures your heart rate 24/7, offers a heart rate variability measurement, and and an estimated respiration rate to help monitor your exertion during exercise.
Offering environmental information, like sunrise and sunset, from the watch face, you can also see GPS coordinates, elevation information, and your distance from a designated destination, which you can set up in the excellent Garmin Connect app.
Read our full Garmin Instinct Crossover review
The best hybrid smartwatch for heart rate tracking
The Withings Scanwatch 2 is almost the equal of the Nova above, albeit a tad more expensive. Towards the top of the watch face is a small digital display but most of the watch is taken up by the clock face. The choice of a smaller display is great for analog watch lovers but not so good for people wanting to read their smartphone notifications.
The watch has a small crown on the right-hand side but apart from this, it has no buttons to speak of. This helps to really sell the analog watch idea. The crown functions nicely and acts as the sole way to interact with the watch features.
Alongside telling the time, the Withings ScanWatch 2 is an admirable fitness tracker with the ability to track your steps, activity, and heart rate, amongst other things. Unfortunately, the lack of on-board GPS limits the smartwatch's functionality as a fitness tracker.
Read our full Withings ScanWatch 2 review
The best hybrid smartwatch for style
The Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid is more concerned about being a stylish and sophisticated watch than a smartwatch. That isn't to say it doesn't have smart features, but they blend into the background and only appear when you want them to.
The digital nature of the watch is limited to a small AMOLED display like the Withings models, which keeps you up-to-date with all your latest tracking and metrics. You can also read your notifications but nowhere near as effectively as a true smartwatch.
Any sports you engage in can be tracked, although you'll need your smartphone with you for any sophisticated GPS information, as there's no built-in GPS on the watch. The inclusion of remote smartphone controls including music and camera shutters, manages to pull the watch out of "pretty, but dumb" status and trend it towards "smart and useful".
Read our full Pininfarina Sintesi review
The best hybrid smartwatch for cheap
Looking for a small hybrid watch that looks fashionable but can track your heart rate and has a comfortable strap for the odd jog? The Withings Steel HR (sometimes known as the Nokia Steel HR) may be the perfect watch for you, and it sits in third place on our list of the best hybrids.
It has a small second dial so you can see your daily step count (your target can be set in the app), and there's a small screen above it to show other stats.
If you want to know your heart rate it'll appear on the screen along with your step count and notifications such as incoming calls, messages and events coming up in your calendar.
There's a single button on the right of the watch that's sort of disguised as a crown, while the watch is waterproof, so you can wear it in the shower without ruining it.
Read our full Withings Steel HR review
How to choose the best hybrid smartwatch for you
Before you buy a hybrid smartwatch, we recommend seriously considering what it is you're looking for. If there's any chance that further down the line you'll envy the bright, bold screens of the best smartwatches, like the Apple Watch Ultra, we recommend you buy a smartwatch instead. If the price has put you off, we have a guide to the best cheap smartwatches that are well worth your money, and a smartwatch sales and deals guide.
Otherwise, one of the best hybrid smartwatches will suit you. Especially if you don't want the distraction of a large screen or you like knowing you have a battery that'll last you days.
Next up, you'll want to think about features. If you want to track health metrics, make a note of which are a priority and take a look to see which of the hybrid smartwatches above cater to your needs. For example, if you want a smartwatch to keep tabs on your heart rate while you explore the great outdoors, we recommend the Garmin Instinct Crossover. To keep tabs on your heart health, check out the Withings Scanwatch Nova. If you don't care too much about health and fitness tracking but want style, the Pininfarina Sintesi hybrid will be smart enough for you.
You'll also want to think about budget. Some of the best hybrid smartwatches tend to be cheaper than all-singing, all-dancing smartwatches, but others are at a premium price, so be sure the one you're getting has the features you want.
How we test the best hybrid smartwatches
We test the best hybrid smartwatches in the same ways we test other smartwatches: by wearing them for weeks, draining the battery down, and comparing their specifications against other watches. If they have on-board GPS, we'll often test them against industry leaders, and compare heart rate and health metrics to their readings during exercise.
