In this article I’ll tell you more about my favourite hybrid watch in 2025. Some of these watches I’ve tested myself and others are on my Wishlist to test soon. If you think a watch is missing, please let me know in the comments and I’ll check them out.
What is a hybrid watch?
A hybrid watch or hybrid smartwatch is a watch that combines the look and feel of a regular watch with smart functionality. There are several sorts of hybrid watches but for me a hybrid watch must have regular hands to tell time. And a small screen that will show you notifications of your phone. There are also hybrid watches that don’t have a screen. Those will only collect activity data and in some cases use a hand, light or vibration to notify you when you get a notification on your phone. For me that isn’t enough to call a watch a true hybrid.
Hybrid watches kind of seem to be dying out lately. A few years back there was a lot more to choose from. But nowadays there are some old models still for sale, but those are quite outdated or not very well supported anymore. Luckily there are still a few very nice hybrid watches to choose from. In this article I’d like to introduce you to my favourite hybrid watches for 2025.
Things to keep in mind when choosing a hybrid watch
As with regular smartwatches you have to be aware that a hybrid watch is a piece of high tech. That means it will probably not last as long as for instance a true mechanical watch. It also means it is mostly reliant on support and updates from the manufacturer to keep it working. So always check the update policy and promises a manufacturer makes before buying. You don’t want to end up with a watch that isn’t working anymore because the app isn’t updated anymore or the online services aren’t available anymore.
An other thing to keep in mind is privacy and security. Just like a normal smartwatch a hybrid watch will collect data about your life, your habits and more. And in most cases you will also add data to the app like birthday, age, weight, length etc. If this data is used to give you useful insights that is perfectly fine. But you probably don’t want your data to be sold or ending up in the wrong hands. So only buy watches from reputable manufacturers that have good policies to protect you and your data.
Favourite overall: Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar
My favourite overall hybrid watch is a watch that has been on the market since late 2020. But despite its age the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar is still a very fine watch. I’ve been testing the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar for the last months. So I can what I can tell you about it is from my own experience.
Design
The Tissot T-Touch solar is a beautiful watch in my opinion. It is a big watch so it might not be for you if you have small wrists or like smaller watches. With a 47mm case diameter and 15mm thickness this is in the same league as the bigger Garmin watches. The case is available in natural titanium, black PVD or gold PVD. The ceramic lunette is always black with white or sand-coloured markings. The watch comes with rubber or rubber/leather combi strap or a titanium bracelet.
Materials and durability
The Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar is an expensive watch at around a 1000 euros. But that is reflected in the materials used. The case is made of titanium (with or without PVD coating) making the wacht durable and light. The glass is sapphire making it almost impossible to scratch or break. The lunette (the ring around the glass) is ceramic so that is also very durable. Combined with a 100m water resistance this is a watch that will stand the test of time.
Technology
When it comes to technology the watch is both ahead of its time and also a little conservative. Let me explain: The watch doesn’t have a lot of health tracking sensors, like heart rate, body temperature or ECG. It can only measure activity (steps) and can track workouts with help of the phone GPS. This means this isn’t the watch for the avid sports fanatic. But it does come with a built in barometer for weather predictions end a built in compass (that uses the hands to show north). It can also show notifications of the phone on a small MIP-screen that uses little power.
The sapphire Cristal of the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar is a touch screen and you navigate the watch with a combination of the buttons, crown and screen. Using it takes a little time to get used to but is very well thought out.
Battery life
On of the stand-out features of the watch is the battery life. That is up to six months in smartphone mode. Yes, you read that right, up to six months. For this the watch needs to be in bright light because the dial of the watch is also a solar cell that collects energy while you wear the watch. That combined with the low power screen and the lack of health tracking sensor make that the watch uses very little energy.
Security
The last plus of the watch is that data is very well protected. Tissot is a Swiss company that have designed the OS of the watch completely by them selves. This makes that the only data that is collected and sent to the server falls under very strict Swiss data protection laws. So by limiting the data shared and these laws you can be sure that you data is very secure and won’t be sold off or gets sent to the US or China.
Alternatives
If you like the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar but you don’t like the big 47mm case. Or you need a watch that can track your hearth rate and sports. I’ve got good news for you! In 2023 Tissot introduced the smaller (43mm) Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport. Besides being a little smaller this watch als has heart rate sensors and will be a better choice for people that need more sport and health tracking. I havent had the chance to test the Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport myself (hope to get the chance to test it soon). But with the experience of the Connect Solar in mind I have no doubt this will also be a great option.
Favourite for health tracking: Withings Scanwatch Horizon or Nova
When you are looking for a hybrid watch that will offer top notch health tracking there isn’t a better option than one of the Withings Scanwatches. Withings has several options when it comes to Scanwatches. The Withings Scanwatch 2 is a simpeler design that works well as dress watch or allround watch. But for some more style you could go for the Withings Scanwatch Horizon (read my full review here) or the newer Scanwatch Nova.
The Scanwatch Horizon and Scanwatch Nova offer the same functionality, but the Nova comes with a new and updated design. The Scanwatch 2 offers the same technology but in a smaller and simpler design. Which one is the right one for you is a matter of taste. I haven’t had the chance to test the Scanwatch Nova, but with the same technology on board as the Horizon my review of that model also applies to the Nova.
Scanwatch health tracking
Withings is a company known for their advanced health tracking. They make scales, blood pressure monitors and more. This shows in the Scanwatches. They will track your activity as with the Tissot. But they can also measure hearth rate make an ECG, measure wrist temperature, detect sleep and apnea and much more. The health tracking of the Withings is on par with the newest Apple Watches, which is impressive.
Build and technology
The Scanwatch Horizon and the new Scanwatch Nova are made of stainless steel. This makes the watches very durable but also a little heavier than the Tissot, despite being a little smaller at 43mm. The watches both have a sapphire Cristal for extra durability. A nice extra is that the Scanwatch Horizon and Nova come with a (very nice) steel bracelet and a sportier rubber strap included.
The screen on the Scanwatch is smaller than on the Tissot and also monochrome only. This makes that messages are shown in a ticker style making them a little harder to read. The OLED screen is brighter so better to read in dim light. In bright sun the Tissot’s screen is better as it is reflective to it reflects the sunlight for better visibility.
When it comes to battery life the Withings Scanwatch is also miles ahead of Apple Watches and other full smartwatches. You can expect up to 30 day of battery life, so no worries about daily charging.
Alternatives
If you need something a little more stylish and subtle than the Scanwatch Horizon or the Scantwatch Nova you might want to check out the Scanwatch 2 by Withings. This has the same functionality as the Nova and Horizon but comes in a smaller and sleeker dress watch form. You can read my full review about the Withtings Scanwatch 2 here.
It can do the same advanced health tracking as the Horizon or Nova but the case is smaller and has a simpler design. But you still get the 30 days of battery life and it also has a sapphire cristal glass for extra durability. And an extra advantage is the price, at 299 – 349 euro it is a lot cheaper. It comes in 2 sizes: 42 and 38 mm. So it will also work with smaller wrists.
Conclusion
If you do want the functionality of a smartwatch but don’t want to have a small computer on your wrist there are still some compelling options. I personally really like the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar. The design is great, it’s made of high quality materials and the functionality is perfect for my needs. I love the 6 months battery life, it is truly liberating that you don’t have to worry about bringing your charger and charging your watch every 2-3 days if you come from an Apple Watch or similar.
And if you need the health tracking, for instance to keep an eye on your hearth and sleeping you can still skip the traditional smartwatch. With the Withings watches you get all the health features you know from Apple and Samsung, but in a stylish package. What not to love. Oh and while they can’t match the Tissot’s 6 month battery life they will still give you 30 days. So when going on vacation you can leave your charger at home.