Body fat scales with WiFi in comparison: The best smart personal scales

SMART HOME-SYSTEM

January 20, 2024 at 3:00 p.m

Pure weight scales are no longer the most popular models. Modern WiFi scales can make statements about your health and display them clearly in an app – the five best models are available here.

• With a smart WiFi scale you always have access to your body data – directly on your smartphone.
• Withings’ diverse range also includes scales with advanced technologies and features.
• Xiaomi offers a smart body scale for smaller budgets.

Scales that are only equipped with a small screen to display weight or – if it comes up – with electrodes to measure body composition are a thing of the past. Today, more and more homes have scales that can also transmit the collected data to an app on your smartphone via WiFi. We’ll introduce you to five such WiFi scales here, including their advantages and disadvantages.

WiFi scale, body fat scale, normal scale – what’s the difference?

Before we look at the different models available, it makes sense to first take a look at how the different types of scales differ. Regular digital scales, as humanity has known them for centuries, simply display the measured body weight on a small, integrated screen. Many scales can display the weight in kilograms as well as in pounds or stones.

With body fat scales, this limited range of functions is expanded thanks to built-in electrodes. With these components, which are located on the top of the scale and come into contact with the soles of your feet, the scale can make more or less reliable statements about the composition of your body, depending on the model. This means it can measure what percentage of your body is made up of fat, bones or water, etc. Some more expensive models can also measure other values ​​- for example heart rate or metabolic rate.

And Wi-Fi scales are regular or body fat scales that have the Wi-Fi or at least Bluetooth function added (although most scales are body fat scales). This allows users to connect the devices to a smartphone and an app installed on it. The data can be viewed directly on the cell phone and, for example, weekly or monthly body weight trends can be viewed. With clear graphs, the apps sometimes provide exciting information about your own body.

Who is which type of scale suitable for?

If you just want to see your body weight, for example because you already check your body composition with a smartwatch, you will be satisfied with a regular scale. Body fat scales with WiFi function are particularly suitable for people who already view their health data on their smartphone when they use a smartwatch (without a body fat measurement function).

By the way: Many WiFi scales also work with smartwatches and fitness trackers; the devices also complement each other. If you synchronize your smartwatch data with Google Fit or Apple Health, for example, scales from Withings and Co. can also transfer their data to these services. This can create an even clearer picture of your fitness and physical health.

The five most popular WiFi scales in comparison

Are you looking for a suitable WiFi scale? Below we introduce you to five popular models.

Fitbit Aria Air

When looking for WiFi scales in the price range below the 100 euro mark, you come across a number of models. The Aria Air intelligent scale comes from the well-known fitness accessory manufacturer Fitbit, with which users can regularly check their weight and track it in the Fitbit app. The weight is displayed on the small, integrated display of the scale and transferred to the app via Bluetooth.

The advantages of the scale also include automatic BMI calculation in the app and the ability to be used by multiple users. Unfortunately, despite its price of around 60 dollars, the scale does not support body composition measurement – so it is particularly recommended for people who already use Fitbit products. A subscription is not required, but is optionally available for 8.99 dollars if you want a deeper insight into your health. You definitely need a Google account to use it; the app is available for iOS and Android.

Withings Body Cardio

When it comes to smartwatches and smart scales, Withings is the premium brand: The French company’s products are lovingly and detail-orientedly designed and come with numerous premium features. This is also evident with the Withings Body Cardio – this WiFi scale for around 180 dollars can measure not only your body composition but also the health of your cardiovascular system. For this purpose, the heart rate and pulse wave speed are measured, among other things.

With these and other values, the scale can make informative statements about your fitness. There is a special, more precise mode for competitive athletes. Everything is accompanied by the excellent and equally beautiful Withings app, in which all data is clearly displayed and linked together. It is available for Android and iOS, and with the Withings+ subscription for around 10 dollars a month you get access to additional insights into your health as well as programs, workouts and recipes. Three months are included in the purchase.

Withings Body Scan

The most advanced Withings scale is even more expensive – although it would be an understatement to see the Body Scan as just a scale; the manufacturer speaks of a networked health station. With the extendable handle, which is equipped with numerous sensors, the Body Scan can, among other things, produce a meaningful 6-channel ECG. For comparison: Smartwatches can usually only produce 1-channel ECGs.

There is also the option of measuring body composition segmentally divided into arms, upper body and legs in order to obtain even more meaningful values. And much more is possible with the ultra-precise measurement via the handle – statements about vascular age, heart rate, stress level and even nerve health with neuropathy early warnings are part of the huge range of functions of the premium scale, which costs around 400 dollars.

Huawei Scale 3

However, we must not forget that not everyone has 200 or even 400 dollars to spare for a scale. With correspondingly lower demands, the needs should also be met with a cheaper product – the Huawei Scale 3, for example, measures a total of 10 body and vital signs for around 60 dollars and synchronizes them seamlessly with a Huawei app.

In addition to weight, the Huawei Scale 3 can measure or calculate your body composition as well as, for example, BMI, protein percentage, bone mineral content, basal metabolic rate, and heart rate. The Huawei TruFit technology is based on scientific findings from, among others, the Hefei Institute of Physical Science. The Huawei Health app is available for Android and iOS devices; a subscription model is not offered.

Xiaomi Mi Body Composition Scale 2

A fully functional WiFi scale with body composition measurement for just 30 dollars? This is available from Xiaomi, the budget electronics giant from China. The Mi Body Composition Scale 2 measures your weight, body fat percentage, water, bone and muscle percentage in your body and calculates your BMI.

All of this information is available directly after each measurement on a daily basis in the not-so-appealing but intuitive Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit). Data can also be easily synchronized with other healthcare services. The app is available for both iOS devices and smartphones with the Android operating system.

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