Expert rating
Benefits
- USB charging
- 14 measures
- Customizable display
- Informative app
Our Verdict
This smart scale has many advantages and there is not much to complain about. It offers a full range of measurements, nine of which can be displayed on the customizable color screen. It also has USB charging and the easy-to-navigate app provides plenty of information clearly displayed.
Best prices today: Etekcity HR smart fitness scale
$79.99
If you want to start a fitness journey, a smart scale is one of the best tools you can buy. It provides a simple way to track your progress and shifts focus from weight to include other body composition measurements, such as muscle mass and hydration.
Etekcity, like Levoit and Cosori, is a brand owned by smart home company VeSync. In this review, we will look at its mid-priced smart scale, the HR Smart Fitness Scale.
Design and build
- USB charging
- Comfortable size
- Color screen displays a choice of measurements
If you’ve ever seen a smart scale, this Etekcity model will look familiar. It has a plastic base, with four non-slip feet and a glossy black tempered glass platform on top. Like most smart scales, this means it will detect fingerprints – and footprints. Its most distinctive feature is the brand name and logo, which appear on an embossed badge in the center.
Above the badge is a color TFT screen, which will display up to nine measurements out of the 14 taken by Etekcity. You can choose which ones you want to see in the app and switch between kg, lbs or st.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
The HR Smart Fitness Scale measures around 30 x 30cm, which isn’t as large as some of the larger models on the market – like the Withings scales – but should still provide enough space for everyone to stand comfortably.
It has a maximum weight capacity of 400 lb/180 kg/28 kg and measures in 0.1 lb/0.05 kg increments.
One of the best things about this scale is the fact that it charges via USB, meaning you never have to worry about having batteries on hand.
Performance and Features
- Easily send data to other fitness apps
- Unlimited users
- 14 measures
To get started, you’ll need to load the scale and download the VeSync app, free and available for iOS 12.0+ and Android 6.0+. Next, create your account. There is no limit to the number of possible users.
The scale connects via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and in our test it paired with the phone without issue. If you live outside the United States, you may need to use a VPN to receive and enter the verification code that links your account to the scale.
Once connected, it immediately offered to send data to Apple Health, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, Google Fit, and Samsung Health, making it a good choice for anyone using these health apps.
We recommend the Etekcity HR smart fitness scale over the Withings Body Smart.
To get an accurate measurement, you will need to place the scale on a hard, stable floor, not a carpet. Then stand on it barefoot. Use it in the same place every time.
The HR smart fitness scale gives 14 measurements: weight, heart rate, BMI, BMR, metabolic age, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, body fat, bone mass, water mass, skeletal mass, protein, muscle mass and body mass without fat.
This is a truly comprehensive set of measures. Only the most expensive Withings scales (the mid-range but pricey Body Comp and the flagship Body Scan) will give you broader, more detailed information – and they cost two or three times as much.
This Etekcity model actually costs less than the value scale of Withings’ latest line, the Body Smart, but it offers a similar range of measurements. And it has USB charging. Although Withings is the gold standard when it comes to smart scales, if your budget doesn’t stretch to one of the top two models, we recommend the Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale over the Withings Body Smart.
When you stand on the scale, the scale displays your weight, weight trend, body fat percentage, and heart rate by default. But in the app, in the settings, you can choose up to nine of the 14 measurements to display on the scale – plus the weather. Many smart scales don’t allow customization, and many only display weight and BMI on the screen.
The screen also shows the remaining battery life.
You can also enable zero current mode, so you can use it as a simple scale if you have a pacemaker, are pregnant, or want to weigh an animal or child.
One of the things that differentiates premium smart scales from others – besides the number of measurements you’ll get and hardware features like USB charging – is how fitness data is presented in the app and the information provided to help you. you give it meaning.
The VeSync app is well designed, with all the key metrics on one page. At the top is a weight trend graph and below that are the other measurements. Click on one of them and your metric will be rated (for example, as low, standard or high) with explanatory text below to tell you what the metric means and how to improve it.
There’s only one translation issue that stands out, and that’s when the app offers “dietary advice,” which I happily ignored.
But how accurate is the HR smart fitness scale? We compared it to a Withings smart scale and they were very close, for what it’s worth. Regardless, perfect accuracy is not the most important element of a smart scale. Consistency is. If you use the Ekekcity scale in the same place, at the same time of day, you will have a clear idea of your fitness progress – and that’s what matters.
Pricing and availability
If you’re in the US, you can buy the Etekcity HR smart fitness scale on Amazon or directly from the brand itself for $79.99.
It’s not the cheapest smart scale on the market, but for what it offers, it’s good value for money. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, check out our roundup of the best smart scales we’ve tested.
At this stage, the Etekcity HR smart fitness scale is not available in the UK.
Should I buy the Etekcity HR smart fitness scale?
You can buy a smart scale for less – and you might pay more. If you’re on a budget, the Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale offers everything you could want. It features USB charging and an easy-to-read screen that you can customize to show the measurements you want. It works well with other fitness apps, supports unlimited users, and has a solid app that provides plenty of information and is easy to navigate.
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