Frustratingly, the Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid is still the one I’d buy if the price wasn’t important to me, and the fact it has been pleasurable to live with on the tech side gives me hope for the future of hybrids from watchmakers. There’s still absolutely a place for hybrid smartwatches, and Citizen’s watch very nearly gets the formula right, but the price tag threatens to put the people most interested off right from the start. For doing what I want each day, the Citizen CZ Smart is a very good smartwatch. It’s fast and the battery lasts for longer than I’d expected, plus it’s very well made and comfortable to wear. However, it’s coming into a crowded market, with dozens of similar smartwatches available about which you can say the same thing, so it’s unfortunate Citizen hasn’t really capitalized on its brand name and watchmaking expertise to make it stand out. If that sounds like an appealing piece of wristwear, continue reading this Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid Watch review. We just spent some quality time with the secretly smart timepiece—and it is indeed a two-worlds-in-one sweet spot. Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid Watch review

Constructed with a stainless-steel case and shatter-resistant mineral crystal, the Citizen CZ Watch face feels just like other Citizen traditional timepieces but functions like a smartwatch. Hybrid smartwatches suit people who don’t want a device that looks obviously smart, like the best Apple Watches, but instead want a subtle or traditional look. Because the best hybrid smartwatches don’t need to power big, bright screens they also boast long battery life compared to other smartwatches. This is great if you don't want the hassle of charging up your smartwatch every evening. The only question that really needs answering here is, does the CZ Smart look and feel like a Citizen watch? Yes, it does, but not as much as some of the brand’s more famous models, and you probably have to be very familiar with Citizen’s range of dive watches to see the family connection. The bezel’s shape and design are reminiscent of the Promaster Diver range, as are the guards around the crown, for example. However, to most casual observers, it looks like any other smartwatch, and may even be mistaken for the Fossil Garrett HR. Andy Boxall/Digital Trends I’ve enjoyed wearing the Citizen smartwatch. It looks cool, it doesn’t get annoying on my wrist, and the tech side is competent enough to be worthwhile. However, the CZ Smart falls down when you consider buying one. The trouble is the software is the same as the system used on the Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR, so it’s safe to assume Fossil also produced the CZ Smart Hybrid for Citizen. Not a bad thing at all because Fossil knows what it’s doing, but unfortunately Citizen has made an error when it comes to the price. Too much money While not outstanding the CZ Smart has the performance and battery life to do what I want from a smartwatch on a daily basis. Navigation and softwareThrough personal data points captured with the CZ Smart watch, including Alert Scores, chronotype, sleep patterns, activity, and heart rate monitoring, CZ Smart YouQ quantitatively analyses and learns about the your unique characterisation, rhythms, and habits to enhance personalisation. ‌

It’s great to see the CZ Smart has the latest Google Wear OS H-MR2 software update already installed, which no doubt adds to the slightly better battery life and zippy performance, plus it introduces new features like an adjustable screen timeout, and a new weather tile. Andy Boxall/Digital Trends It’s exactly what I wanted because wearing the CZ Smart Hybrid is more special than wearing the touchscreen CZ Smart. If I specifically avoid a touchscreen model it’s because, for a start, I don’t think I need all the technology, but also because I value a more watch-like design. Choosing one from a specific brand means I also want its heritage or design language to shine through, and the CZ Smart Hybrid does a far better job at this than the CZ Smart did.Inside the watch is Citizen’s YF30 quartz Bluetooth smartwatch movement, which was developed by the company. Citizen claims about 18 days of battery life for the CZ Smart Hybrid, but I actually think some people might get more than that. Without a lot of connectivity, I can see this watch lasting for over a month between charges. Still, even 18 days between charges is a much more palatable concept to people with device charging fatigue. What I found interesting is that, to protect battery life apparently, the CZ Smart Hybrid will not start to charge unless the battery is under 80% full. If we’ve learned one thing over the years as tech lovers and luxury watch fans, time and technology are not kind to each other. Time constantly hammers down on any gadget, pulverizing them into a never-ending stream of outdated junk. Then smartwatches came around, bringing a taste of unification between these battling forces. You control the software using the buttons on the side of the case. The menus take a little while to learn and you do have to compensate for the slowness of the E Ink screen by not rushing, but once you’re used to it it’s all quite simple. The buttons can be customized to perform different actions, and this makes life easier when starting a workout for example. Notifications have appeared with decent reliability since I’ve been using the watch, but the screen is too small to read long messages on. I just use it as a convenient way to establish if a message needs my attention or not. The Citizen app you need to pair and set up the watch is attractive and straightforward. Want a deeper explanation of hybrid smartwatches? We've put together a full beginner's guide to watches with hidden tech under traditional faces so you know what to look out for.

The watch case itself wears on the larger side (44mm wide) if you are accustomed to wearing traditional watches, but won’t feel large if you are coming from already wearing many smartwatch products on the market. You need to ensure a proper fit of the bracelet so that the weight (but solid feeling) steel case doesn’t move around. If you are worried about that, then I would recommend selecting one of the strap options for the CZ Smart Hybrid. I personally didn’t have any issues with the size, but admittedly wear other smartwatches for most exercise purposes. For me, the value of the CZ Smart Hybrid is in a smartwatch you can wear all the time, while in the office or in the gym.CZ Smart YouQ uses your Alert Scores and sleep data (after seven to ten days of aggregation) to identify your unique Chronotype — a heritable trait that determines your body’s unique preferred timing of sleep and wake. ‌ Sadly, no. There are better, more up-to-date smartwatches available for lower prices. The unfortunate thing here is, if the CZ Smart really looked and felt like a Citizen watch, the verdict may have been different. Watch lovers can all relate to that special feeling of holding a new box in your hand. Memories of special occasions and past holidays start flooding in, filling your mind with the most treasured gifts you’ve received. This one was no different. Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. and more. The handsome new Hybrid styles offer silicone and stainless-steel bracelet strap options. Additional functionality from the Citizen Connected App delivers the latest Golf Report and Live Sports.