Best Smart Scales and Body-Fat Scales: Models to Consider—and Which to Avoid
Smart scales can track far more than weight, including body fat, skeletal muscle, and other body-composition metrics. The best models combine useful measurements with reliable apps, convenient connectivity, and hardware that feels stable and easy to use. Here are several smart scales worth considering, plus a few models that are better skipped.
Other smart scales worth considering
Renpho MorphoScan — $170
The Renpho MorphoScan full-body scanner closely resembles the Runstar FG2015, including its nearly identical handlebar-mounted display. In practice, the two scales are essentially the same. Both can also collect data through the same app, and both scales can be used at the same time within that app.
Runstar Smart Body Fat Meter FG2015 — $140
This flashy model, previously voted Best Full Body Scanner, tracks 20 metrics, supports up to 24 users, and analyzes information limb by limb. It uses the Starfit mobile app. USB-C charging is a welcome feature, but its biggest advantage is the price: $140 when purchased directly from Runstar.

Tanita RD-953 InnerScan Pro — $230
One of the few newer foot-only smart scales, the Tanita RD-953 stands out for its Cyronesque appearance and relative simplicity. This Bluetooth-only scale scans quickly, but its display sits between your feet, which can be awkward for some users. The body-fat readings were also unusually high and hopefully exaggerated.
The biggest weakness is the Healthy Edge app. It is separate from the app used by Tanita’s other scales and is not especially engaging or motivating.

Withings BodyFit — $230
The middle child in Withings’ lineup sits between the handlebar-equipped BodyScan 2 and the foot-only Body Comp Smart Scale. It is a comfortable option for users who want full-body analysis without paying for the top-tier model’s more intensive fitness features.
The BodyFit has a sleek, unobtrusive design, a small but useful color screen, quick Wi-Fi connectivity, and fast performance. It also works seamlessly with Withings’ apps.

Arboleaf Body Fat Scale CS20W — $50
This affordable Bluetooth scale was the least eye-catching model tested, with large silver electrodes and an oversized display. Weight is easy to read, but the six additional stats are difficult to distinguish because they appear simultaneously.
The Arboleaf app is better than the scale itself. It offers five additional metrics, each with explanations that can be opened by tapping. At $50, it is a solid deal, but the optional “intelligent interpretation report” subscription is probably not worth the additional $40 per year.

Hume Health Body Pod — $229
The Hume Health Body Pod is another full-body scanner with a handle. Hume heavily promotes it in its mobile app and presents it as a major advancement in body care. Although the app looks polished, the hardware feels flimsy, the scale lacks Wi-Fi, and some features require the $100-per-year Hume Plus subscription.
It works well enough, but comparable results are available from less expensive devices.
Garmin Index S2 — $200
Five years after its release, the Index S2 remains Garmin’s current smart scale model. It is notable for its attractive color display, which shows six body measurements for up to 16 users. The screen also displays weight trends in graph form and provides the weather.
The scale connects directly to Wi-Fi and Garmin’s cloud storage, so your phone does not need to be nearby. The Android and iOS versions of Garmin Connect are useful for tracking progress over time.
However, Garmin Connect can feel lackluster as a health app, particularly when changing how the scale works. The app allows users to turn screen widgets on and off, but Garmin’s broad ecosystem can make those settings difficult to find. The color screen is appealing at first but ultimately adds little to the overall package.
Omron BCM-500 — $85
With its large LCD panel, four onboard buttons, and oversized silver electrodes, the Omron BCM-500 has a distinctive, almost industrial design. The Bluetooth scale syncs with Omron’s HeartAdvisor Android app and iOS app.
The scale provides all six body metrics directly on its display and cycles through each weigh-in for up to four users. The labels can be difficult to read because the LCD is not backlit, but the app makes the information easier to understand with weight, skeletal-muscle, and body-fat graphs.
The presentation is fairly clinical, syncing is surprisingly slow, and the scale is expensive for a Bluetooth-only model without Wi-Fi.
Smart scales to avoid

Renpho MorphoScan Lite — $95
This entry-level model in the MorphoScan lineup is designed specifically for new GLP-1 users. It removes the handheld display and Wi-Fi connectivity found on more advanced models.
It is also one of the flimsiest scales tested. The unit is so light that extending the handlebars can unintentionally drag it across the floor. The small savings compared with other MorphoScan models do not justify choosing it, especially since foot-only scales are available at lower prices.

Tanita RD-545 InnerScan Pro — $480
This large, industrial-looking scale seems more suited to a mailroom than a bathroom. Its complexity makes it difficult to use properly. Because it relies on Bluetooth, setup requires opening the mobile app, connecting the scale, stepping on it, and waiting for a prompt to lift the handle while balancing on the device.
Even when everything works correctly, a weigh-in can feel unnecessarily long. The scale offers 40 measurements, but at $480, its lack of Wi-Fi and complicated setup make it difficult to recommend.
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Source: www.wired.com

