To keep track of your weight, you can, of course, invest in a classic scale. But in 2023, technology will offer us much more. With connected scales, it is now possible to measure your body fat, muscle mass and bone mass and to easily follow the changes.
A smart scale is much more practical than a traditional model if you want to lose weight, monitor your weight, or follow your training results.
The latter takes care of the most tedious part of the weighing process for you by automatically tracking your weight, usually via an app. In addition to weight, most models offer a more detailed analysis of your body composition: bone mass, muscle mass, fat mass, etc.
However, take these data with a grain of salt, they do not claim to be highly reliable or accurate. They are, however, beneficial for drawing up long-term trends.
A little advice for better monitoring: weigh yourself at fixed times, at regular intervals, by placing the scale in the same place on a hard floor. Doing it in the morning on an empty stomach is the most obvious option. This avoids variables such as food and drink that can dramatically change the results. Also, be careful not to focus on day-to-day variations but rather look at the curve over a more extended period to detect real changes. For women, the weight itself can also vary according to the time of the cycle.
We’ve put together a comparison of the best smart scales at all price points.
Withings Body Cardio – Smart Scale
Pros
- Also measures pulse and pulse wave velocity
- Corrects body position on the scale
- Comprehensive app
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- Only works with app and registration
The Withings Body Cardio is a complete smart scale that measures your weight, but it also does much more. The scale measures your entire body: weight, bone mass, fat mass, water mass and finally, muscle mass. These measurements are relatively common on most high-end scales. Where the Withings Body Cardio stands out is in its heart rate section.
The scale can also measure your heart rate and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Unknown to the general public, PWA measures arterial stiffness, which is a factor in high blood pressure. Prosaically, it is an additional way of detecting abnormalities. That is always good to hear. More recently, it has introduced an estimate of your cardiovascular age based on pulse wave measurement.
Of course, the scale is integrated into the manufacturer’s ecosystem, so you will find the data in the Health Mate app, which is well-designed and nicely laid out. This is a natural choice if you already own a Withings product, such as a connected watch. It connects via Wi-Fi and has the perfect idea of charging via USB rather than running on a battery. The brand promises up to 12 months of battery life.
Withings Body Cardio – Premium Wi-Fi Body Composition Smart Scale, Tracks Heart Health, Vascular Age, BMI, Fat, Muscle and Bone Mass, Water %, Digital Bathroom Scale - Black
as of March 31, 2023 9:25 am
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | £145.95 | March 31, 2023 |
| Highest Price | £149.95 | February 11, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | £105.95 | March 29, 2023 |
Last price changes
| £145.95 | March 30, 2023 |
| £105.95 | March 29, 2023 |
| £149.95 | February 11, 2023 |
Withings Body Cardio – Premium Wi-Fi Body Composition Smart Scale, Tracks Heart Health, Vascular Age, BMI, Fat, Muscle & Bone Mass, Water %, Digital Bathroom Scale with App Sync via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
as of March 31, 2023 9:25 am
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | $149.99 | March 31, 2023 |
| Highest Price | $179.95 | February 11, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | $149.99 | March 18, 2023 |
Last price changes
| $149.99 | March 31, 2023 |
| $179.95 | March 23, 2023 |
| $149.99 | March 18, 2023 |
| $152.95 | March 17, 2023 |
| $179.95 | February 11, 2023 |
Withings Body+ - Wi-Fi Body Composition Smart Scale
Pros
- Extensive body data measurements
- Good graphics and diagrams in the app
- Very easy to use
Cons
- CO2 air content data more of a gimmick
With a smaller budget, you can skip the heart rate measurements and concentrate on the other points with the Withings Body+ Smart Scale. Instead, you will find the weight, bone, fat, water and muscle mass. This is more than enough for everyday use.
Composition is always measured using the bioelectrical impedance technique, which requires the scale to be used barefoot (and dry) to function correctly. It also has a pregnancy mode and a baby mode to monitor the baby’s growth by simply carrying it in your arms.
Unlike its big sister, the scale also skips the battery, this time in favour of batteries. Four batteries are needed, and the company expects 18 months of battery life. You will, of course, find the Health Mate application.
Withings Body+ - Wi-Fi Body Composition Smart Scale, Body Fat Monitor, BMI, Muscle Mass, Water Measurement, Digital Weight Bathroom Scale, Sync App Via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
as of March 31, 2023 9:25 am
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | £89.95 | March 31, 2023 |
| Highest Price | £89.95 | February 11, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | £67.45 | March 27, 2023 |
Last price changes
| £89.95 | March 31, 2023 |
| £69.11 | March 30, 2023 |
| £67.45 | March 27, 2023 |
| £89.95 | March 18, 2023 |
| £85.08 | March 17, 2023 |
Withings Body+ Smart Wi-Fi bathroom scale - Scale for Body Weight - Digital Scale and Smart Monitor Incl. Body Composition Scales with Body Fat and Weight loss management, body scale
as of March 31, 2023 9:25 am
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | $99.95 | March 31, 2023 |
| Highest Price | $99.95 | February 11, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | $74.99 | March 27, 2023 |
Last price changes
| $99.95 | March 29, 2023 |
| $74.99 | March 27, 2023 |
| $99.95 | March 22, 2023 |
| $99.30 | March 21, 2023 |
| $99.95 | February 11, 2023 |
eufy Smart Scale P1 with Bluetooth
Pros
- Attractive appearance
- Bluetooth
- Different user profiles can be created
Cons
- None known yet
Eufy is a subsidiary of Anker that is best known for its external batteries. With its P1, the brand that specialises in “quantified self” offers a very nice smart scale at a low price. As with its more upmarket competitors, all the standard measurements are present.
However, it does not have Wi-Fi. Connectivity is via Bluetooth, which is less practical in use, as you will have to activate it on your phone to record the day’s weighing. This is a bit more restrictive, and you will probably “lose” some measurements.
The app is clear and pleasant to look at, and you can also use Google Fit or the iOS Health app if you prefer. The scale itself has the merit of being more compact than its competitors and will easily fit into most interiors. It runs on 3 AAA batteries.
eufy Smart Scale P1 with Bluetooth, Large LED Display, 14 Measurements, Weight/Body Fat/BMI/Fitness Body Composition Analysis, Auto On/Off, Auto Zeroing, Tempered Glass Surface, Black/White, lbs/kg
as of March 31, 2023 9:25 am
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | £32.50 | March 31, 2023 |
| Highest Price | £32.95 | February 11, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | £26.99 | March 27, 2023 |
Last price changes
| £32.50 | March 30, 2023 |
| £26.99 | March 27, 2023 |
| £32.50 | March 21, 2023 |
| £27.62 | March 18, 2023 |
| £32.50 | March 16, 2023 |
eufy by Anker, Smart Scale P1 with Bluetooth, Body Fat Scale, Wireless Digital Bathroom Scale, 14 Measurements, Weight/Body Fat/BMI, Fitness Body Composition Analysis, Black/White, lbs/kg.
as of March 31, 2023 9:25 am
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | $44.99 | March 31, 2023 |
| Highest Price | $44.99 | February 11, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | $44.99 | February 11, 2023 |
Tefal Body Partner - Connected Scale
Pros
- Very readable screen
- Very useful measurements
- Bluetooth only
Cons
- None known yet
However, the scale is different in that it offers a “body sensor”. Behind this term is a good old-fashioned tape measure connected via Bluetooth. Coupled with the application, it allows measurements to be taken from six positions (chest, waist, hips, calf, thigh, and biceps). These measurements are an interesting complement to weight and body fat to give a much more accurate picture of our progress.
It should be noted that although compatibility with the Google and Apple health apps is guaranteed, not all measurements are considered. It will therefore be necessary to keep the Tefal app for a complete follow-up. It’s a shame, however, that it’s quite expensive.
Tefal Body Partner Control Body Scales, Tefal
as of March 31, 2023 9:25 am
Price History
Statistics
| Current Price | £82.50 | March 31, 2023 |
| Highest Price | £84.36 | February 11, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | £82.50 | March 21, 2023 |
Last price changes
| £82.50 | March 21, 2023 |
| £83.67 | February 18, 2023 |
| £84.36 | February 11, 2023 |
HOW TO CHOOSE A SMART SCALE
Before being connected, connected scales are… scales. When measuring your weight, you can use them like any other scale without special precautions. However, they use the so-called “bioelectric impedance” technique to obtain additional values, such as body fat, which requires a small current to be passed through the body. To do this, it is compulsory to use it barefoot. Otherwise, the electric current will not be able to pass, so it will be impossible to obtain a measurement. It is also essential to have dry feet, as moisture can disrupt the signal.
If the idea of having a current flowing through your body at every weigh-in makes you anxious, do not worry. Bioelectrical impedance is safe. The current is shallow, and no studies have shown any health impact. However, most scales offer to disable this feature out of an abundance of caution, especially during pregnancy.
Measuring the weight of something is very simple. Even at low cost, finding accurate scales is relatively easy. Higher-end ones, like the Withings Cardio in our selection of connected scales, also offer unique mechanisms to make it even more accurate.
For the other elements, this is less the case. Bioelectrical impedance has its limits when it comes to consumer products. Body fat, in particular, clearly lacks accuracy and will require dedicated devices to measure it. However, a connected scale will be able to show a trend, primarily if you use it daily.