The best smart scales do much more than just track your body weight and, with fitness technology becoming increasingly popular, they're rapidly becoming a must-have item to track your stats and improve your training.
Fortunately, we're here to help kick-start your search with our list of top picks. Based on features, price, and reviews, we've put together a selection of standout scales to help you monitor your progress toward your fitness goals.
If you're not entirely sure what smart scales are, don't worry. Smart scales are simply electronic devices that can measure your weight along with body composition metrics like muscle volume and metabolism.
This data can then be transferred to a smartphone or your best running watch, for instance, so you can explore and learn more about your body and fitness levels to inform where you need to improve.
If this sounds like something you need, then we've got you covered. From amazing scales from Fitbit, like these Aria Airs, to something a little cheaper, like this Withings Body Cardio set, our list is here to help.
We've also answered some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding smart scales to help you figure out whether a smart scale is right for you. Before that though, let's get into our list...
Best smart scale
1. Withings Body+
Best smart scale overall
Android/iOS: Yes/Yes
Max Users: 8
Max Weight: 396lbs
Stats: Weight, BMI, Heart Rate, Weather
Withings was the first company to introduce WiFi scales to the market back in 2009 and they have since become one of the top smart scale manufacturers around.
The Body+ features an attractive design and offers you a tonne of useful statistics that automatically transfer to your accompanying Health Mate app after each weigh-in.
Moreover, Withings boasts its scales are highly compatible as they can sync to Apple Watches plus more than 100 top health and fitness apps including Apple Health, Fitbit, and Google Fit.
It's also worth noting that it comes with a handy pregnancy mode which is designed to provide dedicated weight tracking, with insights during your pregnancy and on the weight of your baby.
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2. Xiaomi Mi 2 Smart Scale
Best budget smart scale
Android/iOS: Yes/Yes
Max Users: 16
Max Weight: 330lbs
Stats: Weight, BMI, Body Fat, Bone Mass, Base Metabolism, Muscle Mass, Water
This minimalist Xiaomi Mi 2 composite scale should definitely be one to consider if you're searching for something relatively inexpensive.
Despite its low price tag, it still provides information for 13 different data points that include body composition, muscle volume, and even your metabolism.
Furthermore, Xiaomi boasts its easy to set up and simple to track your stats with if you download its accompanying Mi Fit smartphone app.
In terms of compatibility, it can store your weight and body composition stats on Google Fit, Apple Health, and Samsung Health automatically so, no matter what device you own, the Mi 2 should have you covered.
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3. Fitbit Aria Air
Best Fitbit smart scale
Android/iOS: Yes/Yes
Max Users: 8
Max Weight: 397lbs
Stats: Weight, BMI, Body Fat Percentage
If you own a top Fitbit, you'll most likely be looking for an accompanying set of smart scales that can easily sync with your watch.
The moment you step onto the Aria Air, your weight will automatically sync with the Fitbit app on your smartphone, saving you the effort of manually recording the data.
Moreover, once you've entered your height into your Fitbit app, the scales can track your BMI which is useful for keeping track of how your body changes and progresses over time.
On the whole, if you own a Fitbit fitness tracker, the Aria Air should be high on your list of smart scales to consider.
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4. Withings Body Cardio
Best smart scale for athletes
Android/iOS: Yes/Yes
Max Users: 8
Max Weight: 396lbs
Stats: Weight, Body Fat, Water, Muscle Mass, Body Mass, Heart Rate, Vascular Age
Perhaps you enjoy jogging on your treadmill but don't know for certain that you're improving, then this Withings Body Cardio machine might be able to help.
Not only can this device measure your weight, muscle mass, and body fat, it can also provide an indication of your overall cardiovascular health, and help you take the necessary steps to improve it.
It does this by comparing your heart rate information and pulse wave velocity, a statistic that indicates how flexible your arteries are which may be useful if you're a serious athlete.
Again, this device automatically syncs your data from every weigh-in to your Health Mate app via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so you shouldn't need to manually enter any information.
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5. QardioBase 2
Best-designed smart scale
Android/iOS: Yes/Yes
Max Users: 8
Max Weight: 396lbs
Stats: Weight, BMI, Body Fat, Muscle Mass, Bone Mass, Water Composition
This sleek and stylish QardioBase2 automatically measures your weight and BMI, as well as any body composition changes in your muscle, body fat, water, and bone mass, which should all be useful data for tracking fitness improvements.
Moreover, Qardio boasts its device is rechargeable and can last up to a year on a single charge, which means you don't have to worry about replacing the batteries when this scale runs out of power.
You can also store up to 8 separate users on it and it comes with a Pregnancy mode for expecting mothers where you just enter the due date, and the device begins to track your progress through each semester with charts and a photo diary.
All in all, if you're looking for something that looks good but still provides you with a tonne of useful fitness information, then this QardioBase 2 may be for you.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
With so many different manufacturers to choose from, you probably have a few queries about smart scales, but don't worry, we're here to clear up some of the most common questions.
Are smart scales accurate?
In terms of measuring your weight, smart scales should be just as accurate as any other scales you may have, if not more so thanks to their digital nature.
For body composition stats such as your body fat, they may not be as accurate as a test performed by a healthcare professional. However, what smart scales do provide is consistent measurements which you can use to track your progress over time.
For example, if you notice your body fat percentage going up, then you'll know that this information is probably reflective of the changes in your body and not to do with the scales becoming more inaccurate.
Are smart scales compatible with all devices?
The short answer is no as some smart scales are not compatible with iOS devices such as Apple Watches, for example. However, with the majority of smart scales, you're often asked to download an accompanying app on your phone which, once you step off the scales, will automatically receive the information it measured and store it on your device.
What features should you look for from a smart scale?
In addition to measuring your weight, smart scales can also calculate everything from body fat and muscle mass to BMI, and even sometimes your water percentage and metabolism.
These measurements can give you a clearer insight into your general health, and can also be used for tracking your progress toward your fitness goals.
As a result, we'd recommend searching for scales with these kinds of health-tracking features, particularly if you don't own one of the best fitness watches for men or women, for example, which can also deliver this kind of information
Do smart scales need to be connected to WiFi?
Not all smart scales need a WiFi connection to work. In fact, most will simply use Bluetooth to pair to a smart device such as your phone to send data and information.
That said, this may not be the case for all scales. As a result, we recommend checking the product description of a particular set to see whether they require a WiFi connection before you buy.
How long do the batteries last in a smart scale?
Battery life will vary depending on several factors, including the specific model, usage, and the type of batteries used. However, on average, most smart scales tend to have a decent battery life.
In fact, most smart scales tend to use AAA or AA batteries. With regular use, where the scale is used a few times a day, the batteries can last anywhere from several months to a year or more. However, if the scale is used more frequently or if it has additional features like body composition measurements that require more power, the battery life may be shorter.
It's worth noting that some smart scales come with rechargeable batteries or have built-in rechargeable batteries. In such cases, the battery life will depend on the capacity of the battery and how often it is used and recharged.
To get a more accurate estimate of battery life for a specific smart scale model, it's best to refer to the manufacturer's product specifications. Additionally, you may be able to prolong the battery life by turning off the scale when not in use or by using high-quality batteries.