Wristwatches have evolved into many notable forms across generations. From the traditional mechanical watch up to the feature-packed smartwatches, you have a slew of options to choose from in tracking your time with style. But what if you prefer something that looks like a classic watch but still offers the same convenient features of a smartwatch?
Then you might want to consider buying a hybrid smartwatch. Don’t have a clue about it? Don’t worry, we’re here to help you. We’ll guide you through the features, the criteria of choosing a hybrid watch, and its pros and cons to help you make every penny worth it.
What Is a Hybrid Smartwatch?
If you combine a regular mechanical watch and a smartwatch, then you’ll get a hybrid smartwatch. What does this mean? Well, think of it like this. The hybrid smartwatch takes up the outer appearance of a traditional wristwatch, but it employs modern features found in smartwatches. So if you’re not a fan of touchscreen watches or those that look high-end, then this is the best option for you.
What Is the Purpose of a Hybrid Smartwatch?
Not everyone loves to wear computerized watches on their wrists. Others prefer the traditional time tracker but with modern features such as fitness and activity monitoring that can either be paired with your mobile device. Hence, the invention of a hybrid smartwatch. Moreover, its main purpose is to merge the classic wristwatch facade with smart functionalities that don’t go overboard. This way, you can get the best of both worlds that costs 50% less than the techy smartwatches available in the market.
How Is Hybrid Smartwatch Different From Analog and Other Smartwatches?
A hybrid smartwatch works similarly like a normal wristwatch but with a twist. Aside from tracking the time, you can also use it as a fitness watch where you can monitor your steps, the number of calories burned, other activities, and sleeping patterns. However, the latter may not be a common feature since not everyone likes to wear a watch 24 hours a day. Other advanced highlights include:
- World clocks
- Alarms
- Compass
Just like a typical smartwatch or your waterproof smartwatches, a hybrid watch can also alert you for notifications and updates. You can link the device to your phone so you can receive messages or control your phone’s camera or music player.
Since hybrid smartwatches rarely utilize touchscreen functions, the alerts are manifested in various forms. It can either be vibrations or visual hints. For example, a hybrid smartwatch may have a subdial with different icons such as notification, alarm, and activity goal progress. When you receive a message, the hands will point to the appropriate icon and will linger there long enough for you to see.
In addition, one of the best things a hybrid smartwatch possesses is that you won’t have to worry about charging it at the end of the day since it doesn’t consume the same energy level as the full-function smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy smartwatch. All it takes is to survive on a coin-cell battery, and it lasts up to a year before it needs a replacement.
10 Best Hybrid Smartwatches You Can Buy This 2020
Thanks to the competitive market, many companies have been producing numerous hybrid watches with tons of features and benefits. So without further ado, let’s dive into our list of the best hybrid smartwatches you should check out this year.
Adore
- – Excellent visibility of e-ink display
- – 3 ATM water-resistance rating
- – Premium design
Dislike
- – Limited software features
- – No GPS options
If you’re looking for the best hybrid smartwatch that delivers more than what it promises, then check out Fossil Hybrid HR. It’s a competent device that highlights numerous features that are helpful for your day-to-day activities.
This Fossil hybrid watch boasts dedicated heart-rate monitoring, activity-tracking, and over two weeks of battery life. Moreover, it employs smartphone alerts by giving off strong vibration whenever you receive emails or messages.
Since Fossil Hybrid HR uses e-paper similar to Amazon’s Kindle, the watch face is always visible even when you’re under harsh lighting conditions. In addition, you can double-tap on the watch to activate the sidelights in case you’re in dim places. If you’re not a fan of touchscreens, Hybrid HR will do you wonders since it only has three pushers for easy configuration and access anywhere you go.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks that you need to watch out for. When activating the sidelights, the tap doesn’t always register at the first try and the LEDs don’t illuminate the entire face uniformly. These issues, however, are passable and don’t affect the device’s performance.
Adore
- – Comfortable fit
- – Solid fitness and health tracking performance
- – Snazzy design
Dislike
- – Charging not smooth at times
When it comes to fitness tracking, Withings Steel HR Sport is a great option. It touts an aesthetically-pleasing design and a plethora of health features you’d definitely love.
It has a solid body that can withstand minor pressures, and a small screen that flashes necessary information such as your heart rate, step count, distance traveled, and calories burned. You can also check the digital clock by toggling the button on the right side.
Steel HR Sport boasts a battery life that can last up to 25 days, although it drains faster if you constantly use the heart rate tracker every day. Also, setting up the watch out of the box is a breeze. Just don’t forget to download the app to your mobile device and you’re good to go.
On the minus side, charging isn’t as seamless compared to most smartwatches. This is because it’s hard to position the watch exactly on the dock. Likewise, you cannot change your music on the watch. So if these drawbacks isn’t a huge deal-breaker to you, then this is the best hybrid smartwatch for you.
Steel HR Sport comes in two colors: Black and White, and it costs less than $100 on Amazon.
Adore
- – Affordable
- – Excellent build quality
- – Sleek and simple design
- – Long battery life
Dislike
- – No heart rate monitoring
- – Can be uncomfortable to wear at times
At first glance, Misfit Command may look utterly complicated to operate, but you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to use on a regular basis. Just like most hybrid smartwatches on this list, it has a sundial that displays the date, alarm, notification, link (smart button function), and your activity goal progress.
The Command vibrates once you receive an alert so you don’t have to worry about missing any incoming messages or calls. Also, the two buttons on the right-hand side allow you to play and pause music. The best part? You’ll get a battery life that lasts up to a year. Awesome, right? On the other hand, you may find the buckle uncomfortable at times, but this kind of issue is easily fixable.
All in all, Command is the best hybrid smartwatch you can get for only $59 on Amazon.
Adore
- – Luxurious design
- – Supports Garmin Pay
- – 5ATM water-resistance rating
- – Dual AMOLED display
Dislike
- – Expensive
- – No GPS and music storage
Garmin is a widespread brand of health and fitness tracking. Its relentless feats are mostly represented in exceptional smartwatches. However, Garmin takes a step higher in the hybrid world and developed Vivomove Luxe, the best hybrid smartwatch that merges high-end technology and the minimalistic timepiece look.
At first look, Vivomove Luxe may seem like a normal wristwatch. Moreover, with just a plain analog watch on the outside, you’ll suspect nothing more of it until you double-tap the screen. Doing so activates the dual-color AMOLED screen, and it shines directly from the watch face. So basically, the crystal covering becomes a touchscreen and all of your navigations are done by tapping and swiping it since the watch doesn’t employ pushers on both sides.
Basic features such as vibration alerts and health monitoring are included. In addition, it comes with a high emphasis on fitness tracking. The battery can also last up to five days. Furthermore, Vivomove Luxe comes with many colors, including 18k and 24k gold steel finishes. With all these features, the watch leans on the expensive side. So if you don’t mind sheltering a few extra bucks from your pocket, this is a viable option.
Adore
- – 5ATM water-resistance rating
- – Bands are easy to change
- – Supports push notifications
Dislike
- – Bulky and heavy
- – Not suitable for small wrists
- – Basic fitness tracking
If you’re looking for a basic yet high-performing hybrid smartwatch, then you should consider Misfit Phase. It’s one of the best hybrid watches that render clever technology under a minimalistic wristwatch design with an affordable price tag.
Phase touts an incredible battery life that can last up to six months. Of course, it does well on several functionalities such as activity and sleep tracking, and notifications. However, it only employs basic fitness tracking features and there are no heart-rate monitoring and GPS. Yikes!
In general, this sleek and stylish hybrid smartwatch is a good deal if you’re shopping on a budget. You can grab one from Amazon or from Misfit’s official website.
Adore
- – Long battery life
- – Supports GPS
- – Good for fitness tracking
Dislike
- – ECG can be inaccurate at times
- – Screen smudges easily
- – No smartphone notifications
Withings Move ECG is another noteworthy entry to our list of the best hybrid smartwatches. As the name implies, this device comes with an electrocardiogram monitor that detects whether you’re prone to atrial fibrillation, a heart condition where you can have an irregular heartbeat.
Moreover, it is a dainty hybrid smartwatch that features a stylish analog watch face, with up to 12 months of battery life. It also presents a number of health and fitness components, including sleep monitoring, and altimeter. Furthermore, it supports GPS so you can map your path with great ease.
However, you need to be careful while handling it as it can be easily scratched due to the plastic build of the material.
Adore
- – No charging required
- – Sleek design with top-of-the-line technology
- – Supports multiple time zones
Dislike
- – No digital display
- – Limited features
A list of the best hybrid smartwatches wouldn’t be complete without Skagen Connected. Just like most of the hybrid watches on this list, this device serves as a helpful companion to your daily activities without looking all too techy.
Connected performs well in tracking your steps, calories burned, water intake, distance traveled, sleep pattern, and more. It automatically pulls the time and date when synchronized on a device. Likewise, it supports multiple time zones so you don’t have to worry about manually setting the time when you travel often.
Moreover, Skagen hybrid smartwatch alerts the wearer using a haptic vibration and a dial-based analog pointer. In addition, you don’t need to charge it every now and then since it uses a regular coin cell battery that lasts up to six months.
Adore
- – Great design
- – Reliable Fossil Q app
- – Easy to set up
- – Affordable
Dislike
- – Lacking heart rate monitor and GPS
- – Swiping not as fast as other hybrid smartwatches
If you need the functionality of a modern smartwatch but don’t want to compromise on the beauty of a classic timepiece, then Fossil Q Commuter is well worth a look.
It has three pushers on the side, which can be customized according to your liking. Moreover, you can set them to take a picture, control your music player, or ring your phone if you’ve lost it. Likewise, it can show you the second time zone if you’re a frequent traveler, hence the name.
Additionally, you can set the numbers in your watch to whatever notifications you want – app, email, incoming calls, and more. As for the battery, you don’t have to charge the watch every now and then. It can last up to a year, which makes it a good point for those who are always on the go.
Adore
- – Elegant design
- – Supports Garmin Pay
- – Outstanding companion app
Dislike
- – No GPS and music storage
- – Hidden display features can be hard to read under bright lighting conditions.
- – Pricey
Garmin Vivomove Style is a wonderful timepiece for fitness enthusiasts. It has a streamlined build with a plethora of useful features to help you monitor your health progress. Those components include a tracker for your breathing, heart rate, and activities. Also, it provides insight into your sleeping pattern and stress level.
The best part about this hybrid smartwatch is that it supports Garmin Play. So you can make purchases directly from your wrist. If you want to access basic music controls or receive notifications, then simply connect the app to your phone.
Just like the Vivomove Luxe, all you have to do is to double-tap the screen to reveal the hidden colored touchscreen. From there, you can see your status and monitor your activities.
Adore
- – Chic design
- – Supports many notifications options
- – Great accuracy
Dislike
- – Limited features
- – Not water-resistant
Looking for a chic hybrid smartwatch? Then look no further than Fossil Carlie Hybrid Smartwatch. It’s one of the best hybrid smartwatches that combines the incredibly striking appearance of a traditional wristwatch with the high-end technological features at an affordable price tag.
Just like most hybrid smartwatches on this list, Fossil Carlie can be your greatest day-to-day companion. It tracks your activities and sleeping patterns and provides an in-depth insight about it on the companion app. In addition, for greater customization, you can program the buttons to control your music, ring your phone, and more.
When it comes to the notifications, the wristwatch alerts you by vibrating. With its exquisite look, Fossil Carlie Hybrid Smartwatch is a great alternative to any expensive smartwatch in the market.
Final Word
You don’t have to spend much time worrying about what the best smartwatch is. If you dive into the hybrid world, then you’ll see how great these wristwatches combine the traditional watch facade to the high-end technological features.
What are you waiting for? Choose one from our list of the best hybrid smartwatches and experience new twists in tracking your time and lifestyle!
