Pininfarina Senso Hybrid Smartwatch Review: A Smartwatch That Does It All

Have you ever dreamt of a fashionable smartwatch to wear in every scenario, whether it be at the gym, in the meeting room or during formal occasions? If the answer is yes, then the Pininfarina Senso Hybrid smartwatch might be just the watch you’ve been waiting for.

Pininfarina’s debut hybrid smartwatch landed on the watch market in March and has since been making waves among global watch enthusiasts and industry experts. Excited to learn more about Pininfarina’s new smartwatch, our WatchPilot creative director Nicolas Hawke decided to try out the new Pininfarina Senso Hybrid and share his first-hand experience in today’s watch review (spoiler alert: the watch exceeded his expectations).

Before we delve into our Pininfarina watch review, let’s go back to the whys and hows that led to the creation of this new standout hybrid smartwatch.

If you’re a luxury sports car aficionado, then the name Pininfarina will undoubtedly ring a bell. Established in 1930 by Battista “Pinin” Farina, the Turin-based design house has long been known for designing a collection of Ferrari cars – the 288 GTO, F50, Testarossa, to name a few – as well as other notable luxury sports cars ranging from the Alfa Romeo Spider to the more recent Battista electric hypercar.

While the name Pininfarina is often associated with the universe of luxury sports cars, the Italian house has never been stuck in one box. From designing luxury yachts to private jets and even luxurious residential towers, Pininfarina has always had an eye for designing high-end products, never without injecting a distinctive sense of ‘Made in Italy’ into every project that comes its way.

This time around, Pininfarina is opening up new avenues with a line of hybrid smartwatches designed and manufactured in collaboration with Globics Technology. Together, the two powerhouses aimed to create a revolutionary product that could fill a gap in the watch market by answering the needs of those who require both function and style on their wrists wherever life takes them.

With its expertise in designing luxury products, it was easy to bet that the Italian house’s new hybrid smartwatch would be nothing short of spectacular; what was less easy to anticipate was its affordable price tag. Far away from Ferrari prices, Pininfarina’s Senso Hybrid is available for £399, making the piece accessible for those looking to buy an innovative smartwatch without breaking the bank.

When it comes to the design of the watch, no other smartwatch compares to Pininfarina’s Senso Hybrid. By combining the elegance of men’s wristwatches with the modern aesthetic of technology-driven smartwatches, the Pininfarina Senso Hybrid offers the best of both worlds to watch wearers seeking a versatile piece that adapts to every lifestyle.

“I love that it looks like a real watch” exclaimed Nick. “Wherever you go, it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a smartwatch, which is great when my days are divided between attending watch events, meeting brand partners in-store and going on weekend bicycle rides with my friends. Compared to my Apple Watch Series 8, Pininfarina’s Senso Hybrid is suitable for every occasion, no matter how formal or relaxed it is."

From afar, the Pininfarina Senso Hybrid could pass for your typical analogue watch thanks to its luminous hour and minutes hand and small second subdial but come one step closer and you will notice the discreet digital OLED screen at the top of the dial – as well as the iconic “Pininfarina” logo located on the right side of the dial.

The Senso Hybrid smartwatch is also housed in a cushion case with chronograph-style pushers designed to navigate the menu of the small display and the matte leather strap is crafted from genuine Italian leather, a touch of luxury that doesn’t go unnoticed by our WatchPilot creative director.

“I’ve never experienced a smartwatch that was so comfortable on the wrist.” Nick confides. “With Pininfarina, you know from the start that the quality of the leather is going to be incomparable. I even own a couple of vintage luxury wristwatches that don’t boast the same quality of leather, and when you’re wearing a watch during an intense workout, comfort definitely comes as priority number one.”

Beyond its seamless look and use of exquisite Italian leather, the Pininfarina Senso Hybrid smartwatch features a 316L stainless steel case and bezel enhanced with sapphire glass for extra protection and durability. Plus, with the smartwatch’s 50-metre water resistance, avid divers can safely enjoy the Italian elegance of Pininfarina whether they find themselves on land or underwater.

The Pininfarina Senso Hybrid is chock-a-block with cutting-edge features that truly allow it to be considered a smartwatch. It includes all the features you would expect in a sports watch, including heart rate monitors, sleep trackers, and exceptionally accurate sensors that will track your performance and results better than your personal fitness coach. Need to record your heartbeat during your workout? The watch’s ECG function has got you covered. Need a reminder to stretch before leaving the gym? The Senso Hybrid helps with that too!

On top of the usual sports features we can’t live without, the Pininfarina Senso Hybrid smartwatch has a battery life meant to last up to 30 days, making it the perfect everyday companion for those who live fast-paced lives.

“The battery life may not last as long if you have notifications on non-stop.” Nick warns us. “But if like me you’re not too bothered about getting swamped with notifications, then you won’t have to worry about charging your smartwatch for weeks to come.”

As an Apple watch user, Nick however wishes the Pininfarina Senso Hybrid came with Apple Pay. On the plus side, he can still connect his Senso Hybrid smartwatch to Strava, his go-to app when going for a run or a long bicycle ride outdoors.

Another important thing to know about the Senso Hybrid is that it comes with its very own companion app, which is available on both Android and IOS devices. From its specific ‘Sports Modes’ to its ‘Stress Monitor’ and ‘Sleep Quality Score’, the app includes a plethora of features designed to make life easier – and your lifestyle healthier.

For Nick, the Pininfarina Senso Hybrid smartwatch is a clear success, and if you too wish to get your hands on one, we invite you to shop Pininfarina online or in our Richmond store!