Skagen smartwatch review- more smart than it seems

Mark : Skagen
Category: smart health connected watch
Connection: Bluetooth
Compatibility: iOS and Android
Price: From 195 € to 215 € depending on the model
Availability: Available
Tested with: iPhone 5s / Samsung Galaxy S6

Skagen smart watch unboxing

First, the case looks nothing like those containing classic smartwatches. Despite a not so exorbitant price, the quality of the box is worthy of a classic luxury watch. This one seems resistant with a suitable thickness. However, it remains simple with a pale blue which completely covers the box and the inscription “Skagen” resting on the top.

At the opening, we discover the Hagen smart health connected comfortably installed on a little beige cousin. Like the exterior, the case is decorated with the unique pale blue and a gray “Skagen”. It does not slam on closing or opening.

Under the rather firm cushion are a thick booklet with warranty information and a quick installation guide. This redirects us to a wrong link but the other information remains useful.

Overall, the packaging is quite successful but sorely lacking in attractive little details. However, it should not be forgotten that the product remains in a relatively accessible price range.

Skagen smart health connected design and ergonomics

All the communication around the Hagen smart health connected highlights its design similar to that of a classic analog watch. Skagen meets its challenge by proposing a model that would suit all those who advocate the timeless forms of traditional brands. On the site, the watch is available in four styles that mix leather, mesh steel and titanium. At the editorial office, we received the one with the leather strap.

At the first meeting, nothing suggests that the Skagen smart health connected is, as the name suggests, smart health connected. It has the aesthetic qualities one would expect from this type of product. The round dial is neither too wide nor too small and will even fit small wrists. Dark blue, it remains sober and offers a second small counter surrounded by numbers and letters. This hides the numbers 8, 9 and 10 indicating the hours. The remaining ones are adorned by a rather discreet and shiny gold. The main counter is surrounded by small white numbers ranging from 1 to 31.

The gold of the two hands also covers the clasp and the entire case. On the right side, it has three buttons whose function we will explain to you later. The brown leather strap impressed us with its flexibility while retaining adequate thickness and pleasant comfort over long periods. It fits perfectly with the design of the watch as a whole.

Finally, the Skagen smart health connected has the class of a standard timepiece and remains slim, even for a smartwatch. The design of the watch is pleasant and very well finished.

Using the Skagen smart health connected

The smartwatch is switched on by pressing the middle button for 5 seconds. The hands will animate and the Hagen smart health connected will vibrate. For the continuation, it is enough to follow the indications of the application which we will describe to you thereafter.

The Skagen smart health connected has three buttons. If the night has been so harsh that you can’t remember what day it is, pressing the top one gives you the current date. The two hands will go by themselves towards the white figure located around the corresponding dial.

The middle button toggles between the different modes offered by the Hagen smart health connected. The first press gives you the time of a second time zone previously chosen, mode A. It is only useful for people traveling frequently between two specific destinations. The second press activates mode B which displays the current date, and the last press, C, directs the hands towards the alarm time with a third press.

The last button triggers the SKAGEN LINK function. With one touch, you can ring your phone, control music, take photos, and view the tracking of your goal set with the app.

The small counter displays the progress towards your predefined activity goal in the application using percentage. Its needle moves gradually between 0 and 100 to announce to the wearer what still remains to be accomplished. This allows to obtain a preview without using your smartphone, and it’s pretty well thought out.

Four bands of different colors also surround the small counter. Its needle points to the corresponding one to know the origin of a call, a message or an email. With his three letters, he warns the wearer of the mode displayed by the smartwatch.

Finally, the Hagen smart health connected is easy to use, at the same time, it only has three buttons. This allows the smartwatch to keep its classic design and offer a quick grip.

Skagen smart health connected features

The Skagen smart health connected has a significant advantage, it requires no recharging. The watch is equipped with a standard button battery with a 6 month autonomy and the compartment can be opened with a coin. The hands move to indicate 6 hours when the battery is discharged.

Time and date updates are automatic and automatically set to the local time zone while on the go. But, its main features are activity tracking, sleep tracking and notification of vibration notifications.

The technology to power activity tracking is provided by Misfit, another company now owned by Skagen’s parent company, Fossil. It’s hard to judge its accuracy the fact that the wrist is often in motion even when the body is not moving. For example, moving your arms while sitting at your desk adds a few steps to the counter. As an added bonus, the Hagen smart health connected cheers you when the activity goal is reached.

We are also having trouble tracking sleep. Bedtime does not match the time indicated by Skagen smart health connected. However, the lift is announced to the minute. It is comfortable, the night goes by without the smartwatch does not cause any discomfort. But, it must be admitted that there are few people lying down with a jewel of this type. It’s more common with a thin rubber strap, less with an analog watch.

A vibration motor is integrated to announce the arrival of a call, a message or an email. It is convenient and discreet for people who do not wish to receive audible alerts every 30 seconds.

Finally, the Skagen smart health connected has a water resistance of 3ATM, i.e. a pressure of 3 Bars. In other words, it will absorb accidental contact with water like splashes, but in no case swimming, diving or a shower.

Skagen smart health connected app

The app is available for free on iOS and Android. It communicates directly with the smartphone and displays all the information concerning your sleep, your activities and your notification settings.

As soon as it opens, the application asks you to register and fill in information such as gender, age and size before launching a quick update. For the rest, just follow the instructions and perform a calibration that is as simple as it is quick

The application welcomes you directly on the activity tracking indicating the number of steps taken, the distance traveled and the amount of calories burned. Staying in the activity section, you have to slide your finger upwards to see a graphic. It details the intensity of the daily effort and what time it took place. Going up the finger again, this is the graph of the week which is displayed with the lowest, moderate and highest effort. By lowering the finger a third and last time, the activity tracking information is given by means of a monthly graph showing step targets achieved, average and best series.

Still in the application, this display system is the same for “Sleep” mode. He begins by giving the length of time awake, that of light and restful sleep of the last night. By sliding his finger up, the graph appears, then come that of the week and that of the month.

The last mode “Objectives” allows to set three different goals. Either “drink water”, “exercise” and “create a personalized goal”. Everyone asks the wearer of the Skagen smart health connected to choose a frequency and a duration. In the “Objectives” mode, as in the other two, the icon with the three small dots allows you to modify the objective

The icon represented by three parallel lines gives access to the smartwatch settings. You can save contacts and define which color band the small meter needle will point to. This lets you know the origin of a call or message without looking at your smartphone. The alert can be done using four colors or just vibration.

Also in the settings, it is possible to configure an alarm, the second time zone and the “SKAGEN LINK”. From within the app, this feature has the power to ring your smartphone, control its music, ask it to take photos, and view goal tracking. Finally, the parameters offer, among other things, to connect with other activity tracking applications and to adjust the power of the vibrations.

The application offers a pleasant and simple to use interface. However, with a limited number of features, we quickly went around.

Against competition

To get the famous Skagen smart health connected from Skagen, you will have to pay between $ 195 and $ 215 depending on the model. The brand focuses mainly on the design of its smartwatch similar to that of a traditional watch. In this area, we also find the Pop Activity of Withings that the editorial team has already tested. It sells for around € 150 and the difference is particularly visible in terms of its overall appearance much less classy. However, it offers additional features like monitoring aquatic activity.

Conclusion