Getting into shape isn’t exactly the easiest and most exciting thing to do. It takes a lot of effort and willpower to keep going, especially when it seems like nothing is changing. But one thing that might help make the process easier is using a smart scale. Smart scales can help you get a better idea of your overall weight loss by providing more detailed statistics than basic scales.
What is a smart scale?
Smart scales can help you get a better idea of your overall weight loss by providing more detailed statistics than basic digital scales. The best smart scales will track other health metrics, like body fat percentage and BMI.
They typically use a phone app to aggregate the results from each weigh-in, so you can see the progress over time. These apps also serve as a gateway for smart scales to interface with other health-tracking devices such as smart watches, bike computers, and activity trackers. This allows you to see your weight loss or gain progress in the context of other health metrics.
In a nutshell, smart scales contextualize your fitness journey by giving you a fuller picture of what’s going on in your body. A daily fitness routine, for example, might not lead to weight loss because you’re gaining muscle weight in the process. A smart scale can detect these subtle changes in your body and help you understand what’s really happening.
Are smart scales worth buying?
If you’re looking for a new scale, smart scales are worth considering, especially as they become less expensive as they go more mainstream. These modern scales make it much easier to contextualize your fitness journey and can be a great motivator for getting your butt off the couch.
One of the main benefits of having a smart scale is that you’ll have a central hub for all your fitness metrics. This means you can see your progress on one screen and don’t have to scroll through many different apps to get the information you need. Some of these apps also often have built-in analytics programs to help you understand how to achieve your fitness goals.
How do smart scales work?
Smart scales are a great option if you want to know more about your weight and body composition. They use typical methodologies that traditional digital scales use to measure weight. So, you can rest assured the weight measurement is just as accurate.
The only difference is that they also have built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity so that you can connect the scale to your smartphone or laptop. When connected, smart scales will automatically send your data to a companion app to store and analyze it.
But if you want a more detailed picture of your fitness, some smart scales can use bioelectrical impedance analysis to give you an approximation of your body fat composition. It works by sending a small electrical current through your body and measuring the resistance of your tissues. The higher the resistance, the more fat you have on your body.
So, it’s not the most accurate way to measure body fat, but it’s still a good way to get an idea of where your fitness is at.
What metrics can a smart scale track?
Smart scales are capable of tracking a variety of metrics. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Weight
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Body Fat Percentage
- Muscle Mass
- Bone Mass
- Water Composition
Why should I buy a smart scale
From the ease of recording, tracking, and analyzing your data to the additional health data points that it can track, there are a lot of benefits to buying a smart scale. It’s also clear that there’s a significant value-add by upgrading to a smart scale from a traditional weighing scale.
People buy smart scales for a variety of reasons. Some people buy them for the convenience of recording their health data seamlessly recorded onto their smartphones, others are interested in tracking their body composition, and some want to use some of the accompanying apps analytical features.
Ultimately, though, it comes down to what you want out of your fitness tracking. What’s clear is that having a smart scale can help you approach your fitness program more scientifically and thereby achieve more consistent results.
What should I look for when buying a digital smart scale?
You want to look for three main features in a smart scale: connectivity, app features, and additional metrics.
Connectivity
Whether it’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you should look for a smart scale that can sync with your smartphone. This will allow you to track all of your stats in one place and make it easier to share data with others.
App features
One of the most often overlooked aspects of a smart scale is the mobile application that comes with it. The app should be easy to use and can store a large amount of data. The best apps also have data analysis features that can use your data to either predict outcomes or suggest the best course of action to achieve your fitness goals.
Additional Metrics
The “smart” in smart scales often simply means it can be connected to a mobile application. However, some of the best smart scales offer additional metrics, such as body fat percentage and bone mass. These are also important indicators of your overall health, and it’s good to have them in one place so you can see all of this data at once.
What other features should I consider when shopping for a smart scale?
So, with app connectivity, BMI calculation, and Body Fat Composition measurements established as the typical smart scale features, are there other features we need to look out for?
3rd-party health app compatibility: Many smart scales come with their own apps to help you track your weight and body composition over time. But some also work with third-party health apps, like Apple’s HealthKit or Google Fit. This can be helpful if you already use one of these apps for other data like heart rate and steps taken. For example, if you have an Apple Watch and use the Activity app on it to track your steps, then it would make sense to also have a smart scale that has HealthKit integration so that data can be shared between them.
User profile limits: If you live with other people who’d like to track their fitness journeys as well, it’s important to look for a smart scale that allows multiple user profiles. This should help keep measurements organized and prevent confusion as to whose data belongs to whom.
Power source: The processes involved in measuring, transmitting, and analyzing health data are quite complicated. And as you may have already guessed, they do take power to run. Most smart scales will require their own power source (usually a battery), but some models can also tap directly into your home’s electrical system if they have a built-in charger.
Weight limit: Whether it’s because of the physical build quality or the software being used, not all smart scales are capable of supporting the same weight limit. If you’re planning on weighing heavier people in your family or household, then it’s important to make sure that your chosen model will be able to handle their weight without issue.
Wyze Scale
The Wyze Scale is a Bluetooth-connected smart scale designed to be as complete as possible. It has a wide array of features, including weight, body fat percentage, and lean body mass. What’s surprising is that it also offers heart rate monitoring, which is a feature often reserved for substantially more expensive scales.
It is designed to provide users with a complete picture of their health and fitness progress. The device can be synced with the Wyze app, which allows users to track their progress over time and set goals.
The Wyze app also has close integration with most mobile OS stock fitness and health tracking apps. So, if you’re already using Google Fit, Apple Health, and Fitbit apps, you don’t have to worry about switching to Wyze. All of your data will be seamlessly synced with the app, and it will be easy to track your progress over time.
Fitbit Aria Air
Fitbit is probably one of the most recognizable brands in the smart fitness industry. Their fitness trackers and smartwatches have already carved out quite a market share and are considered one of the most recommended brands for sports enthusiasts and full-time endurance athletes.
The Fitbit Aria Air is the company’s foray into the smart scale market. And like the smartwatches, it has developed a reputation for its reliability and user-friendliness. While it may not offer the widest range of body composition metrics, it is an ideal choice for Fitbit users looking for a seamless weight-tracking experience within the Fitbit ecosystem.
Where it truly shines is in its compatibility with existing FitBit devices, and the FitBit app enhances its appeal to users who are already part of the FitBit community. The scale’s minimalist design ensures it will fit well in most bathroom décors, and the user-friendly setup process makes it a practical choice for those who want a hassle-free weight-tracking solution.
Shop the Fitbit Aria Air Smart Scale
Renpho Smart Scale
The Renpho Smart Scale is a versatile and user-friendly digital scale that provides users with a comprehensive overview of their body composition. With its sleek design, ease of use, and integration with the RENPHO app, it is a valuable tool for those looking to track their health and fitness progress.
The RENPHO app takes a unique approach by making it as straightforward as possible. It presents data in a way that is easy to understand, and it offers users a variety of tools to help them achieve their health goals.
And instead of a selection of activity and fitness trackers to pair with, the app pairs with a smart tape measure, a smart nutrition scale, and other unique tools that provide a more comprehensive view of users’ health. This integration goes a long way in achieving specific fitness goals. So, whether it’s getting rid of some love handles or adding some more weight to your glutes, RENPHO Smart Scale and its fitness ecosystem can help you achieve it.
Withings Body+
Withings is another company that provides a wide variety of health monitoring hardware and software, including a smart scale, the Body+. It offers several unique selling points. First, it provides a comprehensive picture of body composition, including weight, muscle mass, and fat and water percentage.
And the company promises to do these things as accurately as possible. It’s even FSA-eligible which is a testament to its accuracy.
Additionally, the Withings Body+ is a Wi-Fi-connected scale that automatically syncs data to an intuitive app, allowing users to monitor their progress and set achievable goals. So, even when you don’t have your phone directly connected to the device, it would simply upload your results and sync it with the proprietary Health Mate app.
But, in case you don’t have WiFi, you can use Bluetooth to connect directly to your phone. You just need to keep the phone within range when you use the scale to record it.
Speaking of the app, the Health Mate app can interface with your Apple Health, Google Fit, and even its competitor, Fitbit. So, if you have any of these brands’ fitness trackers or smartwatches, you also use the Withings Body+ to track your fitness journey.
Shop the Withings Body+ Smart Scale
Withings Body Cardio
Heart rate is also an important fitness metric that you fitness buffs typically want to keep track of. And that’s why Withings Body Cardio comes with a built-in heart rate monitor.
It also has all the bells and whistles of the Body+, such as WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, compatibility with a wide selection of other health monitoring tools, and excellent app integration with third-party providers. This makes the Withings Body Cardio one of the most complete smart scales on the market.
Shop the Withings Body Cardio Smart Scale
Qardio Base 2
The Qardio Base 2 is one of the most unique smart scale options in the market. Its round design is certainly eye-catching, but where it really distinguishes itself is through its approach. Unlike other companies, Qardio positions itself as medical equipment company instead of other smart scale makers that position themselves as a fitness brand.
So, instead of smartwatches, and fitness trackers, the Qardio Base 2 is designed to work with first-party ECG and blood pressure monitors seamlessly. So, it’s pretty obvious that the device’s target market is different from the other more popular smart scales. The Base 2 even has a pregnancy mode to help track a woman’s health through her pregnancy.
Shop the Qardio Base 2 Smart Scale
EtekCity Smart Scale
While most smart scale brands focus on health tracking or fitness, EtekCity comes at it from a different angle. EtekCity is focused on creating IoT hardware, such as smart lights and plugs.
The company has recently launched its first smart weight scale, and it’s a great alternative to the more popular scales on the market. It’s got everything that casual users might need such as weight tracking, BMI, and body composition.
The unique selling point for EtekCity Smart Scale is that you can access this in the same app you use to open your smart lights and other EtekCity IoT hardware.
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