Skagen has earned a good reputation as a manufacturer of minimalist yet stylish watches since the original Skagen Falster was launched on the market. This follow-up to the first design offers excellent comfort paired with good looks, certainly making it a strong competitor in the marketplace.
Background
In 2018, Skagen released the Skagen Falster and it was received positively by buyers and experts alike. Hot on its heels comes the Skagen Falster 2 and, while it isn’t perfect, it’s still a very classy-looking watch that is perfect for fashionistas looking for smartwatch functionality.
Features
Firstly, this smartwatch is powered by a Qualcomm 2100 chipset which is now quite dated and means that the Wear OS runs quite slowly when compared with some rivals.
Google Fit has been pre-installed for extra convenience and you can also access Google Assistant with ease. NFC has been integrated to allow for payments via Google Pay and there is also heartrate tracking as well as GPS functionality. As this watch is waterproof up to 30m, you won’t have any worries about taking it swimming.
Although both Android and iPhone devices are supported by this watch, it definitely functions best with Android smartphones.
Design
The Skagen Falster 2’s Danish-inspired design is minimalist and stylish, small, slim and easy to wear. Its 40mm diameter display is 2mm smaller than its older sibling making it sleeker and slimmer on the wrist. It’s also surprisingly lightweight.
As well as three buttons on the side of the watch, there is also a rotating crown which can scroll through apps, settings and options. Thanks to the universal fittings offered by this watch, you can change to virtually any watch strap you prefer to match every outfit.
Fitness Tracking
When it comes to functional fitness tracking, Skagen Falster 2 boasts everything that even the most energetic user could desire. It has a heartrate monitor which automatically tracks your heartrate every twenty minutes. It also measures your heartrate when you touch the button when using the Google Git app.
As there is inbuilt GPS, you’re tracked constantly during your run or workout and you can use it for swimming too thanks to the waterproofing. The silicone strap dries rapidly afterwards.
Most fitness tracking is conducted through Google Fit, although there is the potential to install third party apps to offer even more functionality, especially for iPhone users. The Heart Points and Move Minutes track your performance and you can manually track workouts if you prefer.
What Are The Main Advantages?
- A great blend of style and functionality
- Suitable for use while swimming thanks to waterproofing up to 30 metres
- Customisable straps with a universal fitting
- Easy to use buttons or rotating crown
- Google Fit is pre-installed
- Third party apps can be installed too
- Slim, comfortable to wear design
- Integrated NFC and GPS
What Are The Main Disadvantages?
- Works best with Android devices. iOS users will need to download additional third party apps to track their fitness and will not be able to receive notifications or messages
- Qualcomm chipset is a little outdated now and this means slower running than some rival smartwatches
Competition
The Apple Watch 4 is a major rival to this smartwatch. Although it costs more than the Skagen model, it is certainly a better option if you’re an iOS owner. It offers more features and can push notifications for your Apple device – something the Skagen can’t do. You’ll also find the battery life is longer. The Apple Watch isn’t as stylish or lightweight as the Skagen watch.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch has a similar price tag, a four-day battery life as well as a speedier interface. While it’s quite chunky compared to the Skagen and therefore not ideal for those with slim wrists, it’s a strong choice.
The third rival is the Michael Kors Access Runway. If style is your ultimate goal, this watch is hard to beat. It’s looks are incredibly eye-catching, although it lacks the minimalism of the Skagen. If you want to seriously impress with your wrist piece, this is the model for you and it offers most of the same functions as this Skagen.
In Summary
If you’re looking for a minimalist yet stylish watch that also offers fitness tracking functionality, the Skagen Falster 2 will fit right in. It’s comfortable and light to wear and can handle pretty much everything you throw at it. On the other hand, its chipset is aging and that means it’s slower than some of its rivals.
How Do We Test Smartwatches?
1. We gauge its comfort and design. If it isn’t comfortable as well as stylish, it won’t rate too highly.
2. We test its fitness tracking functions. We put every function and sensor through its paces, from GPS tracking to step counts.
3. We install apps then test them out to ensure that the memory and processor power is up to scratch.
4. If there is inbuilt LTE, we’ll test the call quality to ensure that it’ll work perfectly well even if your smartphone isn’t around.
5. We check out the watch’s battery life using a range of everyday scenarios. We test the battery life while using apps, receiving notifications and working out to see how long it lasts before requiring a recharge.
With all that information to hand, we can then give you a clear idea of the pros and cons of each device.
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