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Halden Watch S review: the smartwatch Android has been waiting for

Two-day battery life, accurate health tracking and a clean, fast interface make this the easiest recommendation in wearables.

By Hana Sato7 min read

A white smartwatch with a round face on a white surface
Photo: Unsplash

Android smartwatches have long forced a choice between good software and good battery life. The Halden Watch S is the first we’ve tested that refuses to choose.

Battery and tracking

With the always-on display enabled and a daily 45-minute run tracked by GPS, the Watch S lasted two full days every time. Heart-rate readings stayed within a few beats of a chest strap, and sleep tracking matched our impressions of good and bad nights with unnerving accuracy.

Software

The interface is fast and uncluttered, with glanceable tiles instead of a maze of menus. App support is thinner than on some rivals, but the essentials — maps, music, payments and messaging — all work well.

“It’s the first watch that made us stop packing a charger for a weekend away.”

— Hana Sato

Written by

Hana Sato

Senior Mobile Writer

Hana covers phones, watches and cameras. Before joining Vector she spent six years as a mobile engineer, which makes her very hard to impress.

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