Withings Steel HR
36 mm
Product ratings
Pros
Cons
48 reviews
Smart technology packaged in a timeless design: Unassuming and suitable for everyday use
Because it's not possible or suitable for everyone to wear a sporty fitness wristband at all times, I was particularly interested in Nokia's Steel HR, so I gave it a try.
The Steel HR is sold in a plain, but high-quality card. Included are a product booklet, the watch and a charging cradle. Compared to the Withings version, only the charging cradle has improved: the magnetic mount could still be stronger, but there is now no more leeway in the orientation of the mount. For me, it is a good solution whose weaknesses can be overlooked because the Steel HR only needs to be charged every 25 days.
The product makes a really high-quality impression and the Steel HR initially looks like a classic wristwatch. Only the small circular OLED display and the progress counter make the difference.
I was able to set up the watch with my Samsung S6 without any problems. Nokia's app guides you through the setup step by step and you can start after a few moments.
Most of the time, the Steel HR is an understated hand watch with a timeless design. The smart functions and their measured values can be accessed by pressing the button on the casing. The small display is completely sufficient for this. The smart functions also come to the fore when notifications are indicated by VIbration and display. However, it is not enough for more than the notification. Details have to be looked up on the phone.
If you want to know more than steps, sleep, heart rate, calories burned and distance covered, you have to look for a sports watch, because the Steel HR is definitely not one. It is a great watch for everyday use without having to do without measuring a few activity data. For more just sports watch or smartwatch, but then with less design and less battery life.Pro
- Timeless, understated design - high-quality choice of materials.
- Simple setup - step-by-step instructions
- Self-explanatory operation
- Self-explanatory app for iOS and Android
- Battery life of up to 25 days
- Slim profile
- Waterproof up to 5 ATM
- RF measurement
Contra
- Silicone wristband attracts dust especially at the beginning
- Readability of the display in direct sunlight not optimal
- Notification only for SMS and calls
- Distance of the HF measurement comparatively large
Latest update raises the watch to top level!
The latest update includes notifications from all apps, including Whatsapp & Co. The workout mode has also been improved: Connected GPS lets you record the route with your mobile phone. Pace, speed, distance and more are transmitted live to the watch.
Pro
- Design
- Battery
- Display
- Simple
- Notifications from all apps
- Sleep monitoring
- Connected GPS
Smartwatch times fashionable and discreet
The Nokia Steel HR is the first smart wristwatch I own. However, it is precisely functions such as heart rate measurement, alarm function or the display of notifications that I can compare with smart wristbands, for example from Xiaomi.
The look: The watch comes in an ingenious packaging design and confirms the purchase decision as soon as you open the box. The watch itself looks great (36mm version) and has a high-quality finish. The dial, like the case, is understated and fashionable, the rubber strap is very soft and adjusts well, only the case is a little too thick for my taste. What I particularly like is the concave glass, which rounds off the overall look of the watch.
The watch connected to the smartphone in no time at all. The functions are clear - time, heart rate, steps and distance as well as calorie consumption based on these. In addition, there is a discreet alarm function, which I find quite practical, and the notifications, which are unfortunately only available for calls and text messages. A notification for WhatsApp messages or other apps would have been desirable in any case. I think it's a bit old-fashioned to limit yourself to text messages and calls.
The tracking of the heart rate is reliable as far as I am concerned, and the associated Nokia Health app provides a clear overview of the activities during the day. I went swimming with the watch for about an hour and running several times, which was recorded realistically. The sleep tracking is also informative, but I personally don't mind wearing a watch at night.
The battery actually lasts a long time. I think 25 days is a bit much, but you can definitely plan on two weeks.
Overall, I think the watch is good. I don't want a bright and futuristic smartwatch. This hybrid of a classic wristwatch and smart activity monitoring therefore convinces me.Pro
- Beautiful design, restrained and minimalist
- Not too conspicuous
- Smart functions (tracking) reliable
Contra
- Notification only for SMS and calls
- Could be more filigree
This review was created for a different variant: Steel HR (36 mm)
At least the clock has a battery and runs on time
This watch is the Nokia 3210 of smartwatches. The battery lasts forever but otherwise it can't do anything.
Admittedly, it is an aesthetic watch. But a real smartwatch or sports watch can do this better. The pulse measurement is not continuous, which is why it fails for me as a sports watch. For example, interval training is hardly recognised. The pulse measurement has only worked well for me at rest. That is, for recording the resting pulse.
The step count (I compare with my experience with a Polar M400) deviates greatly from the steps actually taken. In my opinion, the watch shows about 30% fewer steps than taken.
The app offers a few sports with which activities can be entered. But the associated kcal values are unfounded in my opinion.Pro
- nice watch
- really long battery life
Contra
- Pulse measurement unusable (except for resting pulse)
- Step counting massively inaccurate
- The app is in its sporting infancy
Sports watch with step counter, distance, calories, heart rate
For me a perfect sports watch, as I am interested in a good reference point, my movement but not necessarily absolute data
Pro
- Beautiful, comfortable watch
- Pedometer very good
Contra
- Heart rate accuracy?
- altimeter still inaccurate
This review was created for a different variant: Steel HR (36 mm)
Nice watch with flaws
I like this watch for its hybrid aspect and its size which is well adapted to thin wrists. I replaced the strap with a "Milanese" one and it looks great!
But the inaccuracy of the measurements is very disappointing, I might as well wear a nice normal watch...Pro
- Very aesthetic hybrid watch
- Size suitable for a small wrist
- Slight
- Nice dedicated application
- Easy to use
- Battery life (between 20 and 25 days)
Contra
- Inaccurate measurements, mainly the pedometer (quite a few are missing, a third I would say!!)
- Since the last update, naps (sleep analysis) are no longer taken into account
- The notification display is small. Without glasses (if you wear them) you can't see anything
- Does not recognise routine activities when it is supposed to
6 out of 48 reviews
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