After a Year-Long Delay, the Nokia Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch is Now Available for Pre-Order

[MacRumors]

Nokia has announced that its Steel HR hybrid smartwatch will ship in time for the holiday season, almost a year after it was supposed to launch under the Withings moniker.

The watch was first announced in September 2016, but its scheduled launch the following month never happened as Nokia began negotiating its takeover of Withings, which was eventually finalized in June.

Shortly thereafter, Nokia relaunched several Withings products under the Nokia brand, including the Nokia GO and Nokia Steel watches, as well as Nokia BPM+ and Nokia Body+ connected devices.

The Steel HR finally joins the existing line-up and will be available in 36mm and 40mm case sizes. It features a simple and stylish analog watch face with unobtrusive digital meters for tracking heart rate and movement over the course of the day. In addition, the watch features automatic and learned activity tracking for over 10 activities, a comprehensive sleep monitor, and text, call and event alerts.

Nokia says it has also made some software improvements to the smartwatch since its Withings iteration, including an improved heart rate algorithm to ensure more accurate tracking. A design change has also been made that replaces the face with sapphire glass to guarantee up to 50 meter waterproofing.

The Steel HR syncs with the Nokia Health Mate iOS app, costs $179.99, and is available to pre-order from the Nokia website in either black or white.

Article Link: After a Year-Long Delay, the Nokia Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch is Now Available for Pre-Order

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I have several WiThings/Nokia health products but this doesn't interest or excite me at all. Too little too late with the Apple Watch dominating this space now.

 

[ginkobiloba]

Hopefully the delay had to do with Nokia solving the notorious problem this watch had, of condensation getting under the glass in humid environment. Plenty of people were returning it because of this ( when it was under the Withings brand ).
Although i own an apple watch, i also like hybrid watches. I’m considering getting the Steel HR.

 

[cmdixon1]

Not sure why Nokia are announcing this as a new watch. I've had it for a year under the Withings brand.

I'd fully recommend it to anyone as it's a smart watch that is actually smart, doesn't break the bank and lasts around a month before needing a recharge. They're replacing all Withings watches with Nokia versions as there was a condensation issue with most the Withings versions.

 

[youdontsay]

Not sure why Nokia are announcing this as a new watch. I've had it for a year under the Withings brand.

I'd fully recommend it to anyone as it's a smart watch that is actually smart, doesn't break the bank and lasts around a month before needing a recharge. They're replacing all Withings watches with Nokia versions as there was a condensation issue with most the Withings versions.

There are some changes on this model though

According to nokia health twitter account :

The Nokia Steel HR has Sapphire glass on the heart rate sensor for improved heart rate accuracy, improved heart rate algorithm, and a redesigned charger that boasts a more intuitive form factor and a stronger magnet for ease of use.

I think i'll be buying this watch as it represents the perfect balance between a tracker and a smartwatch. not too intrusive while being useful. All of this with a reasonable price point.

 

[SashJ]

No LTE, no point.

 

[honglong1976]

There are some changes on this model though

According to nokia health twitter account :

The Nokia Steel HR has Sapphire glass on the heart rate sensor for improved heart rate accuracy, improved heart rate algorithm, and a redesigned charger that boasts a more intuitive form factor and a stronger magnet for ease of use.

I think i'll be buying this watch as it represents the perfect balance between a tracker and a smartwatch. not too intrusive while being useful. All of this with a reasonable price point.

I give it 6 months before they go bust!

It was dead if it was released earlier. Before xmas with the Apple Watch juggernaut, will ensure it will be super dead!

 

[cmdixon1]

There are some changes on this model though

According to nokia health twitter account :

The Nokia Steel HR has Sapphire glass on the heart rate sensor for improved heart rate accuracy, improved heart rate algorithm, and a redesigned charger that boasts a more intuitive form factor and a stronger magnet for ease of use.

I think i'll be buying this watch as it represents the perfect balance between a tracker and a smartwatch. not too intrusive while being useful. All of this with a reasonable price point.

I wasn't aware of those changes, thanks. I'm glad they're changing the charger, the original is very awkward.

It just frustrates me slightly like they're acting as if it's brand new, they've changed/fixed a couple of parts. Their pinned twitter post - https://twitter.com/NokiaHealth/status/930450081811222528

 

[gixxerfool]

I don’t care much for smart watches or health trackers. I can’t wear them at work where I spend the majority Of my active hours. This is really nice looking and affordable. I wish they used a better font for the digital portion. It really throws the look of the watch out the window.

 

[ob81]

I think there is still a small market for it. Some people still think the Apple Watch looks pretty goofy. They could have just released them with the Withings name on them though last year, and started R&D back then for this year. Oh well.

 

[Reason077]

Still can't believe they went with calling these "Nokia" when they could have used Withings. Tainted brand!!!

 

[ellnicklin]

I think there is still a small market for it. Some people still think the Apple Watch looks pretty goofy. They could have just released them with the Withings name on them though last year, and started R&D back then for this year. Oh well.

They did, I have one. And am selling it

 

[haruhiko]

Withings has more brand value in my mind than Nokia. Nokia somehow is related to outdated, irrelevant, etc. in my mind.

 

[mrklaw]

will it work with ios fully? in particular text message and imessage notifications? I thought that was restricted for access to 3rd party devs?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I think there is still a small market for it. Some people still think the Apple Watch looks pretty goofy. They could have just released them with the Withings name on them though last year, and started R&D back then for this year. Oh well.

Apple Watch is inelegant looking -- and I wear one. But this Nokia watch is a dime a dozen already, offers nothing new, and the market isn't that big. Maybe they'll sell thousands of these.

 

[youdontsay]

I think there is still a small market for it. Some people still think the Apple Watch looks pretty goofy.

I think there is a market for people who like to have a watch that looks like a watch. I personally feel that the Apple Watch is too "intrusive" just like other Android smart watches. I just don't want a smartphone or a computer on my wrist. But this enhanced watch strikes the right balance.

 

[azpekt]

I like the design of the watch though, and font is cool

 

[ginkobiloba]

There is definitely a market for hybrid watches ( traditional watches with added digital information and tracking features ). Some people don’t need the full capabilities of an Apple Watch ( or Android based), and like the classical look of a mechanical watch.
Unlike computers and phones, a watch is still seen more of a jewelry or fashion accessory than a computing device.

In addition to my Apple Watch, I’m considering getting either this Nokia or the Boss hybrid smartwatch https://www.wareable.com/smartwatches/hugo-boss-smart-classic-review

 

[bchery21]

I bought the Steer HR earlier this year in March. Ultimately sold it on eBay 7 months later...

 

[ginkobiloba]

I bought the Steer HR earlier this year in March. Ultimately sold it on eBay 7 months later...

What didn’t you like about it ?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

I swore by my Withings Pop until its silent alarm feature stopped working.

Does anyone know of a smart watch that offers a silent (vibrate) alarm? All I can find is the Pebble, which is not great for obvious reasons.

 

[matrix07]

Looks good.

I’ll buy this if I have Android phone.

 

[avanpelt]

I swore by my Withings Pop until its silent alarm feature stopped working.

Does anyone know of a smart watch that offers a silent (vibrate) alarm? All I can find is the Pebble, which is not great for obvious reasons.

The Apple Watch. I went from the Withings Activité Pop to the Apple Watch Sport. I loved the battery life on the Withings watch (seven to eight months using a standard watch battery); but I enjoy so much more about the Apple Watch. The silent alarm on the Apple Watch works well for me. The vibration with the Apple Watch is significantly stronger than the one in the Withings watch, in my opinion.

 

[YoitsTmac]

I have the normal Steel HR. If this watch resembles the normal one at all, I urge you to run. It requires you to re open the app 2-5 times a day just to continue receiving notifications. The bottom of the watch is so "rounded" it doesn't stay in one spot of your wrist. For me, it rests at a slight angle away from me. The heart rate is not accurate, the auto brightness breaks every now and then and requires a hard reset (constant issue I've gone on with support with), and sometimes the minute hand shows the wrong time even though you calibrate it! It's beautiful but I wouldn't do it again

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

The Apple Watch. I went from the Withings Activité Pop to the Apple Watch Sport. I loved the battery life on the Withings watch (seven to eight months using a standard watch battery); but I enjoy so much more about the Apple Watch. The silent alarm on the Apple Watch works well for me. The vibration with the Apple Watch is significantly stronger than the one in the Withings watch, in my opinion.

Does AW offer smart wake up as well? I didn't think it did...