{"id":22036,"date":"2023-01-02T16:44:53","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T16:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/b2af2a56-de99-4a43-8bd9-d5e576825e8312"},"modified":"2023-01-02T16:44:53","modified_gmt":"2023-01-02T16:44:53","slug":"the-best-smart-scales-for-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.worldtechguide.net\/the-best-smart-scales-for-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The best smart scales for 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.<\/em><\/p>\n Data is a useful tool in any battle, especially if you\u2019re opting to wage war against your waistline in an attempt to be healthier. Back in 2007, I bought a dirt-cheap scale and drew my own graph sheets in order to chart my weight\u2019s downward progress after a rough year at university. I think that while 2007 me wouldn\u2019t be pleased with my own fitness journey, he would love the fact that the process is entirely automated, and affordable. Consequently, allow me to take you (and him) on a journey to pick the best smart scale to help you on your own journey toward behavior change.<\/p>\n Quick Overview <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n There are valid reasons to weigh yourself, but your self-worth shouldn\u2019t be defined by the number that shows up between your feet. If you\u2019re looking to alter your body shape, that figure could go up as your waistline goes down, since muscle weighs more than fat. Dr. Anne Swift, Director of public health teaching at the University of Cambridge, said that \u201cweighing yourself too often can result in [you] becoming fixated on small fluctuations day-to-day, rather than the overall trend over time.\u201d Swift added that \u201cit\u2019s sometimes better to focus on how clothes fit, or how you feel, rather than your weight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n (A meta-analysis from 2016<\/span> found there may be some negative psychological impact from self weighing. A 2018 study<\/span>, however, said that there may be a positive correlation between regular weigh-ins and accelerated weight loss. It can be a minefield, and I\u2019d urge you to take real care of yourself and remember that success won\u2019t happen overnight.)<\/p>\n A weighing scale that weighs you is probably the top requirement, right? One thing to bear in mind is that, with all these measurements, the figures won\u2019t be as accurate as a calibrated, clinical scale. Consequently, it\u2019s better to focus on the overall trend up or down over time, rather than the figures in isolation.<\/p>\n Most scales will either connect to your phone over Bluetooth, or to your home\u2019s WiFi network, and you should work out your regular weighing routine ahead of time. A lot of lower-end, Bluetooth-only models will only record your weight when your phone is present and don\u2019t keep local records. That means if you routinely leave your phone outside the bathroom, you could lose that day\u2019s stats. WiFi-connected scales, on the other hand, post your stats to a server, letting you access them from any compatible device. But you need to be mindful that there\u2019s a small risk to your privacy should that information be compromised.<\/p>\n The stronger your bones, the less you\u2019re at risk from breaks and osteoporosis, which you should keep in mind as you get older. Clinical bone density tests use low-power x-rays but higher-end scales can offer an approximation from your own bathroom. These tests pass a small current through your feet, measuring the resistance as it completes its journey. The resistance offered by bones, fat and muscle are all different, and your scale can identify the difference.<\/p>\n Fat and muscle are necessary parts of our makeup, but an excessive amount of either can be problematic. Much like bone density, a scale can identify both your body fat and muscle mass percentages using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). This measurement tests how well your body resists the electrical signal passing through your body. (It\u2019s a rough rule of thumb that you should have a 30\/70 percent split between fat and muscle, but please consult a medical professional for figures specific to your own body and medical needs.)<\/p>\n A lot of scales offer a BMI calculation, and it\u2019s easy to do since you just plot height and weight on a set graph line. Body Mass Index is, however, a problematic measurement that its critics say is both overly simplistic<\/span> and often greatly misleading<\/span>. Unfortunately, it\u2019s also one of the most common clinical metrics and medical professionals will use it to make judgements about your care.<\/p>\n French health-tech company Withings has offered Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) on its flagship scale for some time, although regulatory concerns meant it was withdrawn for a period of time. It\u2019s a measurement of arterial stiffness, which acts as a marker both of cardiovascular risk and also other health conditions. I\u2019ve had anecdotal reports that PWV scales have sent people to the doctor, where they\u2019ve found they were close to a cardiac event. It\u2019s worth saying, as with all of these technologies, that there is limited, albeit positive<\/span>, research into how accurate these systems are.<\/p>\n Less a specification and more a note that smart scales have displays ranging from pre-printed LCDs or digital dot matrix layouts through to color screens. On the high end, your scale can show you trending charts for your weight and other vital statistics, and can even tell you the day\u2019s weather. If you are short-sighted, and plan on weighing yourself first thing in the morning, before you\u2019ve found your glasses \/ contacts, opt for a big, clear, high-contrast display.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll spend most of your time looking at your health data through its companion app, and it\u2019s vital you get a good one. This includes a clear, clean layout with powerful tools to visualize your progress and analyze your data to look for places you can improve. Given that you often don\u2019t need to buy anything before trying the app, it\u2019s worth testing one or two to see if you vibe with it.<\/p>\n Several companies also offer premium subscriptions, unlocking other features \u2013 including insights and coaching \u2013 to go along with your hardware. Fitbit and Withings both offer these services, which you may feel is worth the extra investment each month.<\/p>\n Using the same scale or app platform for years at a time means you\u2019ll build up a massive trove of personal data. And it is, or should be, your right to take that data to another provider when you choose to move platforms in the future. Data portability is, however, a minefield, with different platforms offering wildly different options, making it easy (or hard) to go elsewhere.<\/p>\n All of the devices in this round-up will allow you to export your data to a .CSV file, which you can then do with as you wish. Importing this information is trickier, with Withings and Garmin allowing it, and Omron, Xiaomi, Eufy and Fitbit not making it that easy. (Apps that engage with Apple Health, meanwhile, can output all of your health data<\/span> in a .XML file.)<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a huge issue but one worth bearing in mind that each scale will either run disposable batteries (most commonly 4xAAA) or with its own, built-in battery pack. Sadly, all of our crop of smart scales use batteries, adding an environmental and financial cost to your scale life. That\u2019s just about forgivable for scales that cost under $100, but this stretches even to the highest-end models. When you\u2019re spending more than that on a device, the lack of a rechargeable cell feels very, very cheap indeed.<\/p>\n For this guide, I tested six scales from major manufacturers:<\/p>\nSafety<\/h2>\n
What to look for in a smart scale<\/h2>\n
Weight<\/h3>\n
Connectivity<\/h3>\n
Bone density<\/h3>\n
Body fat percentage and muscle mass<\/h3>\n
BMI<\/h3>\n
Pulse Wave Velocity<\/h3>\n
Display<\/h3>\n
App and subscriptions<\/h3>\n
Data portability<\/h3>\n
Power<\/h3>\n
The smart scales we tested<\/h2>\n
Mi (Xiaomi) Body Composition Scale 2<\/span> ($29.99)<\/h3>\n