If you want to improve your fitness, a smart scale is a solid investment. It’ll provide you with measurements beyond weight to focus on, and a reliable and data-rich way to track your progress. Withings scales are among the best available, promising weighing accuracy, delivering a wide range of metrics and accompanied by a high-quality, free-to-use app.
You can also export your data to a wide range of other health apps, or for more fitness help, you can join the paid Withings+ subscription service. Withings+ is only available to people who buy certain models of hybrid smartwatch or scale, so if it’s something you want, check before you invest in one.
Withings+ is essentially a series of health and fitness modules designed to promote good habits. They last six weeks, and target specific elements of fitness, nutrition, and sleep health, giving you daily missions and targeted advice based on your goals. Withings+ costs £8.95 per month or £89.50 per year (US: $9.95/$99.50; EU €9.95/€99.50), after an initial free trial which you can activate when you buy the scale.
One good reason to opt for a Withings smart scale is if you already own, or are considering buying, one of Withings’ hybrid smartwatches, including the ScanWatch 2, the ScanWatch Nova, or the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant. Both watch and scale work seamlessly with the app and will together provide all-round health and fitness tracking.
So, if you want a Withings smart scale, which one should you buy? In this article, we’ll be discussing the latest range of Withings smart scales: the Body Smart, the Body Comp and the Body Scan. We’ll provide information on the prices, features and pros and cons of each.
Incidentally, you can still buy older Withings models, including the Body Cardio (Withings UK, £149.95; Amazon US, $179.95). Find out more about it in our review. Although this model has been replaced by the new range, it could still be worth it if you spot one on offer.
What does a Withings smart scale measure?
All three scales – the Body Smart, the Body Comp and the Body Scan – will provide these measurements:
- Fat mass, muscle mass, bone mass
- Lean mass %, water %
- Visceral fat index – a measurement of the more concerning fat that wraps around your organs and is distinct from subcutaneous fat
- Body mass index (BMI) – based on a user’s body fat percentage, this is a slightly controversial measurement. But in conjunction with other metrics, it can provide useful information to many users
- Standing heart rate – an indicator of cardiovascular fitness
- Basal metabolic rate (BMR) – the number of calories your body burns at rest
- Metabolic age – based on the number of calories your body burns at rest and compared to others in the same age range
In the app, you’ll also get a choice of specialist modes: athlete, baby (which measures weight only) and a dedicated pregnancy mode. You can also add up to 8 profiles per scale, so the whole family can use it.
The only real issue we’ve faced when testing any of the Withings scales is that they use the weight that you input when creating a profile to decide which user a weigh-in belongs to. If two members of your household are of a similar weight, it may send the data to the wrong profile, which is annoying to sort out.
Body Smart – the entry-level model
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Price: £89.95 / $99.95
Availability: Buy from Withings UK / Buy from Withings US
Colour options: Black or white
Power: AAA batteries (Withings estimates one set will last up to 15 months)
Pros: The Body Smart – like all the new Withings scales – is generously sized (13x13in/ 33x33cm) and has a full colour screen that displays a range of metrics, which you can customise in the app. The accompanying Health Mate app is well designed and provides plenty of explanatory information about what measurements mean and why they’re important. Even though this is Withings’ most budget-friendly scale, it provides a high-quality, polished experience.
Cons: Although the Body Smart is Withings’ entry-level model, it costs much more than actual budget scales from other brands – and it doesn’t provide much more in the way of features. It will show you your resting heart rate, which is fairly rare, but the Eufy P2 Pro also does that, for much less. You should also know that the app will make you aware of the other measurements you could have had access to, if you’d only bought one of Withings’ pricier scales.
Additional features: The Body Smart offers ‘Eyes Closed Mode’. Turn on this feature and your weight won’t be displayed on the scale’s screen. Instead it can show step tracking, encouraging messages or even just air quality or the weather in your location.
We’ve tested the Body Smart. Find out more in our dedicated review.
Body Comp – the mid-range model
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Price: £189.95 (colour screen); £179.95 (black and white screen) / $199.95 (colour screen); $189.95 (black and white screen)
Availability: Buy from Withings UK / Buy from Withings US
Colour options: Black or white
Power: AAA batteries (Withings estimates one set will last for up to 15 months)
Pros: The Body Comp matches high-quality hardware with impressive app performance that evaluates your weigh-in scores and provides plenty of explanatory information. It’s simple to customise as well. You’ll also be able to sign up for a free trial of the Withings+ subscription service, to find out if it’s for you.
Cons: The only real con here is the price.
Additional features: As well as the measurements and modes shown above, the Body Comp will provide a vascular age, to give more insight into heart health, and a nerve health score. The Body Scan also offers the ‘Eyes Closed Mode’.
We’ve tested the Body Comp – with a black and white screen. Find out what we thought of it in our review.
Body Scan – the high-end model
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Price: £349.95 / $399.95
Availability: Buy it from Withings UK / Buy it from Withings US
Colour options: Black or white
Power: Rechargeable battery with a life of up to one year
Pros: This is the ultimate smart scale. It’s much more than a fitness scale. It’ll give you information about your health as well.
Cons: Obviously, price. But also, for most people, the Body Scan will deliver much more information than they need or know what to do with. If your health is good, you’re essentially paying much, much more to see a couple of points on trend graphs that won’t mean a lot to you.
Additional features: Like the Body Comp, the Body Scan will provide a vascular age to give more insight into heart health, and a nerve health score. It’ll also, of course, provide the measurements shown above. But there’s more.
While there are only minor differences between the hardware of the Body Smart and the Body Comp, the Body Scan has an additional element: a retractable handle. In addition to the electrodes in the scale itself, there are four more stainless steel electrodes in the handle, which allow for segmental body composition analysis.
What does this mean? Well, smart scales can tell you your body fat percentage to a reasonably accurate degree – but only overall. The Body Scan will break this down further to give you the fat and muscle percentage in your arms, legs and torso. It’ll also let you know how these measurements compare to other Withings’ users.
It contains a 6-lead ECG, which allows for tracking and analysis of the user’s heart rhythm and which can detect worrying heart patterns.
We’ve tested the Body Scan. Find out what we thought in our full review.
Which Withings scale should you buy?
For people who are concerned with their fitness, rather than their heart health, we think that the Body Smart will do everything you want a smart scale to do – but you can get cheaper models from other brands that do the same, even if the experience is not quite as polished.
If you want more health feedback, the Body Comp is an excellent option. It’s a comprehensive model that rivals any smart scale from any other brand.
And if you want as much health feedback as possible – with an emphasis on heart health – the Body Scan is undoubtedly the leading product in the market.
Bear in mind that if you already have one of the ScanWatch 2 models, you’ll be able to get an ECG and heart health information from your watch, so you can spend less on the scale.
But smart scales don’t have to be pricey. If you’re looking for a simpler and much more budget-friendly option, have a look at our round-up of the best smart scales we’ve tested, which features reliable smart scales for as little as $25/ £25.
