Pininfarina Senso Hybrid Smart Watch Review – PMH01A-01

Pininfarina is a design agency that’s greatest identified for its vary of iconic automotive designs, together with the Alfa Romeo Spider and the legendary Ferrari Testarossa.

They’ve now partnered with Globics, a agency that specialises in hybrid and digital smartwatches, to supply the Pininfarina Senso.

Whereas I’m all in with Garmin, I can see the enchantment of hybrid smartwatches, they cater for individuals who choose the aesthetic of a conventional analogue watch however need a few of the performance of a wise watch, together with well being and health monitoring.

They aren’t the primary model to do that, with Withings dominating the hybrid area of interest, however it’s a lot much less aggressive than the traditional multisport and smartwatch market.

Associated Critiques

Specification / Options

Pininfarina SensoCase: 316L stainless steelWristband: Italian real leather-based strapWristband clasp: Stainless steelGlass: Sapphire glass with anti-fingerprint coatingWatch diameter: 44mmWristband width: 22mmDisplay measurement: 11mmWatch thickness:16mmWater resistant: 5 ATMBuilt-in rechargeable battery with 30 days reported battery lifeSensorsAccelerometerOptical coronary heart charge sensor (PPG)3D magnetometer sensorECG sensorMetrics and featuresOn-demand ECG and SpO2 trackingHeart charge trackingSleeping trackingAlarm setting24/7 exercise trackingPre-loaded sport modeConnected GPSNotificationsWeather forecastChrono and timerE-compassRemote management (Music and Digital camera)Stress stage detectionBreathe trainingHydration and Sedentary reminderMenstrual cycle trackingConnectivityBLE 5.0. You have to allow Bluetooth reference to location settings to get pleasure from GPS monitoring performance.Appropriate OSiOS 16.0 or higherAndroid 11 or larger

Pininfarina Senso / Gobics vs Withings

Globics doesn’t seem to promote watches on to customers. As a substitute, it produces a spread of hybrid and smartwatch platforms that different manufacturers, like Pininfarina, use.

Trying on the product specification and the watch face design I suspected that the underlying {hardware} could be the identical as one of many Withings watches.

The ScanWatch fashions all have the monochrome OLED show and subdial in the identical place, and the subdial can be used for show steps or exercise objectives.

Each manufacturers have the identical 30-day battery life, 5ATM water resistance and use related GPS moderately than built-in GPS. They each have Sapphire glass shows and 316L stainless-steel casings.

The charger design is sort of comparable, with two electrodes and a small plastic nubbin between the electrodes.

However there are some variations that point out the Globics {hardware} is totally different:

The PPG optical coronary heart charge sensor is a unique design than any of the ScanWatches. It has a design just like the PPG of the Metal HR, however the Globics/ Pininfarina has a further LED to the best of the sq. sensor. Nevertheless, I’ve by no means seen the LED activate in order that it could be one thing else.

The Pininfarina watch solely does on-demand SpO2 readings, whereas lots of the Withings watches can routinely do night time readings.

Then, in fact, the app itself is totally totally different.

Design

The general look and construct high quality of this watch are its major promoting level of the Senso PMH01A-01. If it wasn’t for the small digital show, you’d simply assume this a luxurious watch from one of many huge manufacturers.

The Senso boasts a strong and trendy 316L gunmetal gray PVD stainless-steel case. Measuring 44mm in diameter and 16mm in thickness, the case encompasses a brushed end on the physique, whereas the mounted bezel on the high showcases a cultured end, creating an attention grabbing distinction. The watch’s crown, positioned on the 3 o’clock place, is knurled for simple grip and is flanked by two push buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock, permitting the wearer to work together with the dial’s numerous features. The dial is protected by scratch-resistant and shatter-proof sapphire crystal glass, guaranteeing the watch’s longevity and sturdiness.

The textured dial of the Pininfarina Senso encompasses a hybrid analogue-digital show, combining the most effective of each analogue and digital components. The analogue show consists of silver baton-style hour markers and a luminous baton-style handset, enabling simple studying of the time even in low-light circumstances. On the 12 o’clock place, an OLED sub-dial shows the watch’s quite a few features, whereas a second sub-dial at 6 o’clock showcases a 60-second show, including to the watch’s performance and visible enchantment.

Complementing the watch’s premium design is a real Italian leather-based strap in a wealthy brown hue. The strap not solely gives a snug match but in addition provides a contact of magnificence to the general aesthetic of the watch. Securing the strap is a stainless-steel pin buckle clasp, guaranteeing a safe and adjustable match for the wearer.

With a water resistance score of fifty metres, the watch is appropriate for swimming and may face up to splashes and showers, although it’s not really helpful for water sports activities or diving.

On the underside of the watch is the PPG coronary heart charge sensor, and to the left of that is the metallic contact factors for charging.

I don’t have intensive watch data, however the general aesthetic is vaguely just like the IWC Pilot watches, however with a squarer case. I personally assume this seems nicer and extra elegant than the designs Withings has used on its ScanWatch fashions.

Set Up

Establishing the Pininfarina Senso is simple. After downloading the companion app and creating an account, you pair the watch by way of Bluetooth. The app guides you thru the method, which includes urgent the crown of the watch when it’s on cost.

As soon as paired, the app prompts you to enter private info like age, top, weight, and health objectives. This information personalises the monitoring options and proposals.

The app itself has a clear, intuitive interface. The principle dashboard shows an summary of your every day stats, together with steps, coronary heart charge, sleep, and extra. Tapping into every metric reveals extra detailed insights and tendencies over time.

Navigating the watch’s options is equally user-friendly. The OLED show exhibits the time by default, and you may cycle by means of totally different screens utilizing the buttons, displaying information like steps, coronary heart charge, climate, and notifications. Turning the crown accesses a menu the place you can begin exercises, take ECG and SpO2 readings, set alarms, and regulate settings.

One minor gripe is the slight delay when elevating your wrist to view the time. The show takes a couple of second to light up, which could be mildly annoying. Nevertheless, that is probably a battery-saving measure and a standard subject with hybrid watches.

Health Monitoring

The Pininfarina Senso affords fundamental health monitoring that will probably be enough for informal use. I used to be comfortable to see that that it’s doable to sync your actions with Strava. Large manufacturers like Huawei and Honor had been very gradual to implement this easy characteristic, and it made the watches lose enchantment to many runners and cyclists.

The watch lacks GPS and, due to this fact, depends on assisted GPS out of your telephone. Although, when it does join, the accuracy is sweet, which is reward of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely greater than the watch.

This may be problematic; though I had allowed the app to entry my location on a regular basis, on not less than one event, once I went working, it didn’t hook up with the telephone’s GPS and, due to this fact, didn’t plot my route or precisely measure distance.

Moreover, I discovered that the center charge monitoring was not correct in any respect. It is a frequent downside with a wrist-based HRM, and I’ve bony and bushy wrists, which doesn’t assist. One huge issue within the inaccuracy is that the watch has a leather-based strap, and it’s unattainable for me to get it tight sufficient. You should purchase rubber straps, which is able to considerably enhance the efficiency.

The HRM is ok for every day put on and fewer intense actions like strolling.

The information you get again from the app is fundamental however effective for most individuals. It’s simply the essential stuff like your route, distance, tempo, tempo evaluation, coronary heart charge evaluation, then steps and energy. So no superior working evaluation like floor contact time, symmetry/gait, VO2 max or coaching standing.

For every day exercise, the watch routinely tracks steps, energy burned, and distance travelled. You possibly can set every day objectives within the app, and the watch’s subdial will present your progress all through the day. The step monitoring appears correct, intently matching my telephone’s pedometer.

Well being Monitoring

Past health, the Pininfarina Senso additionally affords a number of well being monitoring instruments.

It has all the same old options, similar to step counting, sleep monitoring, resting coronary heart charge, and energy.

You then have some extra superior options which have rolled out to watches in recent times. There are SpO2 (blood oxygen) measurements, however these are on-demand solely, whereas most competing choices present some kind of steady monitoring. Should you don’t have a identified downside along with your lungs, after getting completed one studying and confirmed your SpO2 is ok, you don’t really want to repeatedly monitor it, and I at all times change it off on my Garmin.

You then get on-demand ECG readings, which is a much less frequent characteristic however is rising in reputation, with Apple, Withings, Garmin and Samsung supporting it on some gadgets.

Much like SpO2, if you happen to don’t have a identified coronary heart downside, after getting completed it just a few instances, you shouldn’t must do it repeatedly until you’re at excessive threat of growing an issue.

One cause why chances are you’ll wish to use the ECG extra typically is the stress stage detection which makes use of coronary heart charge variability (HRV) information, the watch assigns a stress rating from 1-100, with larger values indicating larger stress. The app additionally guides you thru respiratory workout routines to assist scale back stress ranges.

You then have handbook monitoring for issues like hydration, weight and menstrual cycle monitoring.

Sleep Monitoring

Sleep monitoring has at all times been a well-liked characteristic of smartwatches. The watch routinely detects once you go to sleep and get up, and gives a breakdown of your gentle, deep, and REM sleep levels. The app additionally offers you a sleep rating primarily based on metrics like whole period, effectivity, and restfulness.

I discovered it fairly correct, it was a bit off with the time I received to sleep however I’m a little bit of a stressed sleeper. On one event it utterly tousled however that’s a difficulty that occurs with most watches.

My major gripe is that the app solely gives an in depth evaluation of your earlier night time’s sleep. You possibly can’t scroll again and think about the opposite days; you possibly can solely see the essential sleep log. I generally wish to view historic information, as it may be helpful to attempt to establish patterns that trigger sleep issues or enhance sleep.

Battery

One of many strongest promoting factors of hybrid watches is the distinctive battery life, and the Pininfarina Senso is not any totally different.

Pininfarina claims the watch can last as long as 30 days on a single cost.

I discovered that in my regular use with all of the options enabled, every day health monitoring and some SPO2/ECG measurements, the watch falls effectively wanting this quantity, however it’s nonetheless round 2 weeks, which is greater than enough for my wants.

For me, it has to cost a smartwatch every day, which actually bothers me, which is why I’ve by no means dedicated to WearOS. Something over 5 days is sweet in my books.

When it’s time to recharge, the included USB charger tops up the watch comparatively shortly. Going from a low battery warning to 100% took slightly below two hours in my testing.

Value and Different Choices

The Pininfarina Senso has an RRP of £399 and is out there in 4 designs:

Moonlight Silver (reviewed)Mercure GreySunburst Rose GoldSlate Gray

You should purchase it instantly from pininfarina-hybridwatchbyglobics.com, and it’s out there on Amazon UK.

Withings could be the principle various possibility as they’re one of many solely manufacturers that concentrate on hybrid watches. They’ve:

ScanWatch Nova for £549ScanWatch Horizon for £449ScanWatch 2 for £320ScanWatch for £280Steel HR Sport for £189

All of the watches have 30 days of battery life and both 5ATM or 10ATM water resistance. The ScanWatches all have Saphire glass shows with a 316L stainless-steel case.

By way of options, they’re all superior to the Pininfarina. All of the ScanWatch fashions have an ECG and an Oximeter, however Nova and ScanWatch 2 have 24/7 temperature monitoring. None of them have GPS.

There are different hybrid smartwatches. Maserati has its personal, albeit with very restricted performance and no HRM. Fossil has the Commuter hybrid smartwatch, and Garmin has a spread of trend and hybrid smartwatches, together with the Lily, Vivomove and Intuition Crossover. However, not of those competing choices compete with the general look of the Pininfarina Senso.

General

I just like the Pininfarina Senso, however it’s removed from good. Nevertheless, it has large potential.

If I had been judging this watch purely on its sensible options, it wouldn’t be that good. It is a watch you purchase primarily for the aesthetics, and the sensible options are an added bonus.

It’s considered one of, if not the best-looking smartwatches available on the market. The ScanWatch Nova and Horizon actually compete with their look, which is analogous to the Rolex Submariner or some Tag watches.  However I personally choose the look of the Pininfarina Senso.

The app and general sensible options are what let it down barely, particularly contemplating the £400 price ticket. The app seems good, however it doesn’t have the extent of knowledge that competing manufacturers have. Syncing appears to be very gradual, and I had some points with the related GPS working.

Whereas the app shouldn’t be wonderful, it nonetheless works, and it’ll probably do all the pieces most individuals need from a hybrid smartwatch. I’m simply extra demanding as I’m a eager newbie athlete and accustomed to the info and performance of my Garmin.

I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Obsessed with all issues know-how, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cellular, wearables, and sensible residence gadgets.

As a health fanatic who loves working and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related know-how, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My various pursuits permit me to carry a singular perspective to tech running a blog, merging life-style, health, and the most recent tech tendencies.

In my educational pursuits, I earned a BSc in Data Methods Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior research additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the know-how curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has constantly ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many high know-how blogs within the UK. With my dedication to know-how and drive to share my insights, I purpose to proceed offering my readers with participating and informative content material.