Review: Unpacking the features of the Withings Body Smart scale
Withings Body Smart scale
Pros
- Offers a great balance between functionality & affordability
- Provides accurate readings
- Boasts a modern design with large LCD display
- WiFi & Bluetooth connectivity
- Multi-user Recognition
Cons
- Lacks a rechargeable battery feature
- Scale is larger in size compared to some others in the market
- Shiny display tends to show fingerprints easily, requiring regular cleaning
Withings, a notable player in the smart scale industry, has continually released devices that effectively couple utility with intuitive design. Their products are recognized for offering an expansive understanding of a user’s health, extending beyond mere weight.
Their newest gadget, the Withings Body Smart scale, is a prime example of this. Priced at $99.95 (check price on Withings, check price on Amazon), it’s not just a regular scale, but a tool designed to give you a more complete view of your overall health. Made with the user in mind, this entry-level scale uses Withings Precision Technology, which employs several frequencies to figure out exact body composition metrics.
In this review, I’m going to dig into the features of the Withings Body Smart scale, weigh up its good and bad points, and decide if it meets the standards we’ve come to expect. So, let’s step onto the scale and find out what it brings to the table.
Jump to
Design, hardware, battery life
Technical specs
Features, performance
The bottom line
Withings Body Smart scale review: design, hardware, battery life
Look & feel
The Withings Body Smart scale, while being an affordable option in Withings’ line of smart scales, doesn’t compromise on quality or functionality. It’s the younger sibling to the more advanced Body Scan and Body Comp scales. While these big brothers boast more capabilities, they also come with much heftier price tags, making the Body Smart scale a cost-effective choice for those seeking a balance of functionality and affordability.
This scale is not only easy on the wallet, but it also combines style and usefulness. Its strong tempered glass platform has a modern and clean look, which makes it a fashionable touch to any bathroom or bedroom. The display is very shiny, which looks nice, but it also means it shows dirt and fingerprints more easily.
One thing I liked about this scale is its very thin design. It adds to its good looks. You can choose between two colors, black and white, so you can pick the one that suits your style best. As you can see in the pictures in this article, I tried out the black one.
The Body Smart scale boasts a design focused on ease-of-use, featuring a bright, high-resolution LCD color screen (2.8”, 320 x 240 pixels) that shows your measurements at a glance. The scale itself measures 325 x 325 x 25.6 mm, which makes it a bit larger compared to some of the other scales I’ve tested previously. It’s something worth considering. However, its larger size contributes to its sturdiness, ensuring a steady platform for easy stepping on and off.
All things considered, the scale comes across as a high-end product. A design that doesn’t overcomplicate things. It’s attractive with a bright, colourful, and easy-to-read screen.
Under the hood
When it comes to the technology powering the Withings Body Smart scale, it’s all about precision and versatility. The scale is armed with advanced sensor technology, including four weight sensors that deliver highly accurate weigh-ins. This is facilitated by the patented Position Control technology, which guides users to find the optimal stance for the most precise weight measurements. The scale has an accuracy of 0.1 lbs, according to the documentation.
The scale’s versatility is evident in its wide weight range, accommodating weights from 5 to 200 kg (9 to 440 lbs). This makes it suitable for a diverse range of users.
The Withings Body Smart scale doesn’t stop at weight. It also measures a variety of other health metrics, including body fat percentage, total body water percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, Visceral Fat Index, Basal Metabolic Rate, and standing heart rate. This comprehensive set of metrics transforms the scale from a simple weight measurement tool into a holistic health tracker.
However, it’s important to approach some of these additional metrics with a healthy dose of skepticism. While smart scales have improved significantly, the most reliable metric is still weight. The other data should be viewed as estimates rather than precise measurements. That being said, having used several Withings scales in the past and considering the company’s long-standing presence in the market, I have more confidence in the accuracy of their additional metrics compared to most other brands.
Connectivity is good. The scale has the ability to link to WiFi and Bluetooth and syncing is automatic. The on-board memory feature stores up to 16 weigh-ins at one time if the scale cannot sync wirelessly to the app. The smartphone software, of course, stores an unlimited amount of data and provides in-depth analysis.
Battery life
As far as battery life, the Withings Body Smart scale is powered by four 1.5V Alkaline cells (AAA). With normal use, these should provide a battery life of up to 15 months. This is a decent lifespan for a device of this nature, reducing the need for frequent battery changes.
It’s important to mention that the scale lacks a rechargeable battery feature. This might be a concern for some, as having a rechargeable option is not only more convenient but also eco-friendlier. When your batteries eventually run out, you’ll have to purchase new ones. Even with this consideration, the battery longevity of the scale should adequately serve most users’ requirements.
On a positive note, there’s no need for an immediate battery purchase when you first acquire the scale. It arrives with batteries already installed, and you just need to pull out the plastic separator in the battery compartment.
Withings Body Smart scale review: technical specs
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Build | High-strength tempered glass platform, paint-free satin white casing, ultra slim design |
Weight | Not specified |
Dimensions | 12.8 x 12.8 x 1.1 in. / 325 x 325 x 25,6 mm |
Color | Black, White |
Display | High resolution LCD color screen |
Display size | (2.8”), 320 x 240 pixels |
Technology | Four weight sensors (Highly-accurate weigh-ins via Position Control technology, Patented body position detector) |
Weight range | 5-200 kg (9-440 lbs) |
Metrics | Body fat %, total body water %, muscle mass kg or lb, bone mass kg or lb, Visceral Fat Index, Basal Metabolic Rate, standing heart rate, daily weather forecast. |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. |
Battery | 4x 1.5V Alkaline cells (AAA batteries) |
Battery life | 15 months |
User Recognition | Up to 8 users |
Measurement Precision | Up to 0.1 lbs |
Modes | Athlete, Pregnancy, Baby and Eyes Closed |
Memory | Stores up to 16 weigh-ins at one time if the scale cannot sync wirelessly to app. |
Price | $99.95 |
Withings Body Smart scale review: features, performance
Initial setup
Setting up the Withings Body Smart scale is a straightforward process, even for those who are new to smart scales. If you already have a Withings account and the app installed on your phone, you’re halfway there. If not, creating an account and downloading the app should only take a few minutes.
The process begins with opening the Withings app, tapping on Devices, and then the + symbol. From there, you select Scales, then Body Smart, and then Install. The scale is activated by pressing and holding the pairing button on the bottom for at least three seconds. The scale screen will display a QR code. Once the app detects the scale, you’ll be asked to pair your scale by entering a 6-digit pairing code that appears on the scale.
The gadget provides connectivity options through either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. My recommendation is to connect it to your Wi-Fi network for convenience. If Wi-Fi is ever unavailable, the scale has the capability to automatically switch over to Bluetooth for direct phone connectivity.
The next step involves personalizing the display screens. Via the smartphone app, you can opt for a preset selection of screens or tailor everything according to your preference. A unique feature is that the scale can display daily weather forecasts and air quality levels. As someone who frequently works out outdoors, I appreciate this kind of information. It means when I weigh myself in the morning, I know the conditions outside.
Different modes
The scale provides some unique features including three modes that you can choose from:
- Weight-Only Mode, also known as Pacemaker Safety Mode. This is a feature designed for users with pacemakers or other medical implants. The mode disables all impedance-based technology, including ECG and body composition measurements like body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, and water mass, to prevent interference with the medical devices.
- Eyes-Closed Mode is designed for users who prefer not to see their weight and other measurements during each weigh-in. When enabled, this mode replaces the usual measurement screens with motivational graphics. Don’t worry, all measurements are still recorded and can be viewed in the Withings app.
- Athlete Mode is designed for users with a specific body type, typically those who work out more than 8 hours a week and have a resting heart rate below 60 bpm. The regular algorithm may not accurately calculate fat mass for these users, so Athlete Mode uses an alternate algorithm that takes into account the user’s athletic body type. When enabled, fat mass measurements will be lower and muscle mass measurements higher.
You also have the option of enabling the Baby Mode. For this, you first need to create a profile for your baby in the Withings app, enter their height and weight, and then weigh yourself alone. After your measurement syncs with the app, you weigh yourself again while holding your baby. The scale will display your combined weight and then your baby’s weight separately.
That’s pretty much it as far as setup. Once you find a suitable spot for the scale, you’re all done. The feet of the scale are quite grippy on tile floors which is a good thing. If you plan to use it on a carpet, it includes carpet feet that you can easily attach to the bottom of the scale. This ensures accurate measurements even on soft surfaces.
It’s a good idea to keep the scale away from bathtubs and similar. In the past, I’ve had an instance where my smart scale went haywire because I placed it too close to the shower, causing it to get wet repeatedly. If the surface of the scale gets splashed repeatedly, it can ultimately damage the internals or the battery.
Enhanced accuracy, lots of data
As mentioned, I’ve owned a few Withings scales in the past. Even though this scale is more towards the budget end, the company has made strides in the precision of measurement technology. You now get weight information down to two decimal points. Weigh yourself, drink a half of a glass of water and weigh yourself again – you’ll notice a difference in weight. It’s very precise. Also, you’ll find that the scale records measurements impressively quickly.
What I have also noticed is that the body fat measurements are much more consistent than previously. With some of the earlier generations (and other brands’ scales), you can get quite a large variance in body fat on different weigh-ins. The Body Smart is remarkably consistent. Obviously, the company has updated its algorithms and/or tech. I now have a bit more confidence in these types of measurements.
When it comes to tracking your weight, the scale will display a graph on its screen showcasing your historical data, enabling you to identify whether your weight is rising, falling, or staying put. The measurements of body fat and muscle are shown in percentages. For metrics like visceral fat and external air quality, the device illustrates a healthy range and indicates the current position within that spectrum.
I found the large colour display of Body Smart to be very easy to read, even without my glasses. The results are presented across several screens for a comprehensive view – a sort of a slideshow view.
Of course, for more information and detailed insights into your metrics you will need to head over to the Withings smartphone app. The company offers optional premium subscription plans but they are not mandatory to access the scale’s raw data.
The data syncs automatically so the smartphone software acts like a repository for all your health statistics. You also have the option of linking this up to your Apple Health or Google Fit account which is useful, as well as Fitbit. Other integrations can be done via IFTTT.
As mentioned, in addition to weight you also get info on total body water %, muscle mass, bone mass, Visceral Fat Index and Basal Metabolic Rate. I particularly find the scale useful to keep track of my muscle versus fat ratio.
The scale also measures your standing heart rate, which I find is of limited use. It is not the same as your resting heart rate so this metric is more a nice-to-have than a must have.
Also worth a mention is goal tracking. The app provides this feature and predicts the timeline to achieve your set goals based on your data trajectory. This type of info can help motivate someone who is on a journey towards a particular weight or muscle % goal, for example.
Multiple users
The Body Smart scale is designed with family use in mind, capable of accommodating multiple users. This means that everyone in your household can use the scale to monitor their health metrics. You have the option to group all users under one account or create individual Withings accounts for each user, ensuring privacy for everyone’s data. The scale can recognise up to eight users, making it a practical choice for larger households.
The positive thing about this scale is it can automatically figure out who is using it. If it’s unsure, the mobile app will ask you to confirm before saving the measurement. You can see these in the ‘Unknown measurements’ section in the app. Even though I was the only one using the scale, there were a few times when the scale wasn’t certain about the measurements. But I sorted it out quickly.
Withings Body Smart scale review: the bottom line
Withings is a reputable French company, known for quality health devices including other models of scales. Its Body Smart scale offers an impressive blend of affordability, functionality, and quality. It’s a device that you set up once and then forget about, apart from the regular weigh-ins. The scale provides a wealth of health metrics, with a level of accuracy that is impressive, particularly when it comes to weight measurements down to two decimal points.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
The scale’s design is sleek and modern, and its user-friendly interface makes it a pleasure to use. The various modes cater to different user needs, and the ability to accommodate multiple users makes it a great choice for families.
While it may not have all the bells and whistles of its more expensive siblings, the Body Smart scale delivers where it counts. It’s a reliable, accurate, and easy-to-use tool for anyone looking to keep a closer eye on their health.
In terms of value for money, retailing for $99 (check price on Withings, check price on Amazon), the Withings Body Smart scale is hard to beat. It’s a quality product that delivers on its promises, and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone in the market for a smart scale.
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