Internet influencers are not really qualified to "test actual device performance". I firmly believe that these companies validate their promises through health authorities to some degree, so the product is not being released until after that process is completed. Of course, is that voluntary, or mandatory? Should definitely be mandatory.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Withings Body Scan Review: High-End Health Monitoring at a High-End Price
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Internet influencers are not really qualified to "test actual device performance". I firmly believe that these companies validate their promises through health authorities to some degree, so the product is not being released until after that process is completed. Of course, is that voluntary, or mandatory? Should definitely be mandatory.
I can understand the sentiment of "needing proof" but the technology behind it is as much a limiting factor as the MFG's implementation of it. The tech behind it is roughly 10% +/- compared to a medically recognized measurement system. Several years ago I purchased a scale from a different MFG that does body composition analysis. Mostly I just care about an idea of my body fat percentage. I did an Air Displacement Plethysmography test as a baseline and then used my scale. It was +/- 10% (-8.4%) of the ADP scan. I did it again six months later and it was +3.1% compared to the scan. For me that works. +/- 10% is good enough for roughly track my progress. If I need more accuracy, using a bathroom scale is not the right tool anyway.
All that to say, I am not spending $400 on a scale, but maybe if the amount gets lowed to closer to $200, I would upgrade to it. I would know I will be in the ballpark and will be happy with those numbers from a daily tracking standpoint. It will augment my tracking of my vitals and not replace the medically recognized methods that I will use a few times a year. All the tools help me to better track my body.
Let me ask a simple question:
After I stand on it and the measurements are taken, does the scale AUTOMATICALLY push the data to my phone?
Every device of this sort that I have tried requires me to run an app to talk to the scale and acquire the data. This is absurd! When I do the weighing, I am naked, my hands are wet, my phone is god knows where relative to the scale.
If I pay $100+ for a device like this, I damn well expect it to get the UI correct. And yet, here we are...
It pushes the data to the Withings cloud if the scale is on Wi-Fi. When you open the app it pulls up the data and also pushes it across to Apple Health if you have that set up.
I have scale model with motivation voice messages. Mine is a bit passive aggressive kind. Always keep saying when I step onto: “please use the scale only one person at the time!”
Never again with this obnoxious brand!
Bought a smart scale ( Body+ ) a few years back when they were under Nokia management... and once they got independent again, and the scale run out of battery I could not even run its setup because they took down all the cloud aspects.
I basically had an expensive paperweight that would be fully functional if they would let it, but they decided to drop it. Their official support reply was "tough luck, get a new one".
Bought a smart scale ( Body+ ) a few years back when they were under Nokia management... and once they got independent again, and the scale run out of battery I could not even run its setup because they took down all the cloud aspects.
I basically had an expensive paperweight that would be fully functional if they would let it, but they decided to drop it. Their official support reply was "tough luck, get a new one".
I've just this week returned a Withings Body Comp scale ($200). Despite following all of Whiting's suggestions I was unable to get the scale to measure heart rate and vascular age, which are the main reasons it's priced at the higher end of Withings' range. My advice, based on very recent experience, is to try the scale before you buy it if at all possible. Withings is NOT as receptive to product returns as e.g. Apple, i.e. they gave me quite a bit of push-back before, eventually, agreeing to accept the return. The Body Comp scale may work for you; it didn't work for me.
I bought one and have to say it’s the worst version of the wings product range! The screen is so small and hard to read the numbers. The old scales had bigger fonts and told you daily changes not ‘trends’.
To add, if you manage to pay the high price for a set of the scales, Withings Support is abysmal with canned responses, and no one who actually thinks. It’s like you’re emailing robots. On top of that, you might not get a reply for weeks.
Every single reply is 'we can't reproduce it but we will fix it in a firmware upgrade'..... that will never come!!
Then there is the subscription model to get full functionality out of these scales...don't get me started on this..
To add, if you manage to pay the high price for a set of the scales, Withings Support is abysmal with canned responses, and no one who actually thinks. It’s like you’re emailing robots. On top of that, you might not get a reply for weeks.
Every single reply is 'we can't reproduce it but we will fix it in a firmware upgrade'..... that will never come!!
Then there is the subscription model to get full functionality out of these scales...don't get me started on this..
Meh. No, thanks. I had their smart body composition scale previously. It would work for a few months, then die. First the air composition monitor sensor would crap the bed. Then the scale itself would quit operating, only giving random characters at weigh-in.
The issue is that these 'geniuses' didn't seal the scale against humidity. IN A BATHROOM SCALE. Nor, would they ever fix or acknowledge they ****ed up. You can find YouTube videos showing how the innards of their previous scales will get corroded after a few months of use, by humidity simply from the moist air in the bathroom. (Not through dripping on it just getting out of the shower.)
A ridiculously expensive scale. That won't last. For which a number of features only work if you KEEP PAYING them a subscription for Wihtings+. Who is this for? Suckers, that's who. Run far away.
Want a high quality scale? Smart or not? Get an Omron. There's a reason doctors recommend their BP cuffs and other medical devices to home users. They actually engineer their devices for long life and accurate readings.
Omron has a body composition scale like this that isn't 'smart' but has much better build quality. Or, since resistance measure of body composition is fairly inaccurate anyway, go for their cheaper unit that just passes current through your feet, but has 'smart' features that connect to your device and Apple Health by BluetoothLE.
The issue is that these 'geniuses' didn't seal the scale against humidity. IN A BATHROOM SCALE. Nor, would they ever fix or acknowledge they ****ed up. You can find YouTube videos showing how the innards of their previous scales will get corroded after a few months of use, by humidity simply from the moist air in the bathroom. (Not through dripping on it just getting out of the shower.)
A ridiculously expensive scale. That won't last. For which a number of features only work if you KEEP PAYING them a subscription for Wihtings+. Who is this for? Suckers, that's who. Run far away.
Want a high quality scale? Smart or not? Get an Omron. There's a reason doctors recommend their BP cuffs and other medical devices to home users. They actually engineer their devices for long life and accurate readings.
Omron has a body composition scale like this that isn't 'smart' but has much better build quality. Or, since resistance measure of body composition is fairly inaccurate anyway, go for their cheaper unit that just passes current through your feet, but has 'smart' features that connect to your device and Apple Health by BluetoothLE.
What I want is just ballpark figures to motivate me to "stick to it".
I'm 180cm tall and my goal is to lower my body weight to 80kg at 8kg body fat with an ideal blood chemistry & ideal blood pressure.
Last edited:
Literally the only thing that matters but also the only thing these reviews never get right.
I doubt I would buy a Withings scale again. The first one basic one (which requires batteries) still works but a previous iteration of the body scan failed to charge just after a year – a widespread issue. All they would offer is a discount off a new scale. They wouldn't even offer a repair at cost.
I would suggest for Macrumors to review these devices with a little bit more research and knowledge.
This feels like an advertisement, not a review, and doesn’t touch on the subject that these devices are always highly inaccurate. They can only provide indicative, unreliable data and most of the data listed in this article is simply calculated based on the few data points it can actually measure.
For example metabolic age or bone mass cannot be measured. It’s just guessed based on the person’s age and overall weight.
I find that to be misleading, fraudulent. The product suggests it does a full bodyscan.
I recommend:
- a traditional scale
- look in the mirror to check your body composition.
- do regular weight training and eat healthy. Read, learn.
- optional: a quarterly 3D scan of your body; also an estimate but a more reliable one.
- focus on quality sleep
- walk daily, don’t waste your time with long cardio sets.
- don’t go on a diet, because you’ll go off your diet. Make it a lifestyle. Don’t overdo it, take that glass of wine.
This feels like an advertisement, not a review, and doesn’t touch on the subject that these devices are always highly inaccurate. They can only provide indicative, unreliable data and most of the data listed in this article is simply calculated based on the few data points it can actually measure.
For example metabolic age or bone mass cannot be measured. It’s just guessed based on the person’s age and overall weight.
I find that to be misleading, fraudulent. The product suggests it does a full bodyscan.
I recommend:
- a traditional scale
- look in the mirror to check your body composition.
- do regular weight training and eat healthy. Read, learn.
- optional: a quarterly 3D scan of your body; also an estimate but a more reliable one.
- focus on quality sleep
- walk daily, don’t waste your time with long cardio sets.
- don’t go on a diet, because you’ll go off your diet. Make it a lifestyle. Don’t overdo it, take that glass of wine.
The weight measurement is very exact. The body composition may vary depending on skin resistance but is over time also accurate. The metrics about your blood flow are very helpful and corrolate well with health problems influencing blood flow. The electrocardiogramm is very accurate. I use all of the features to my benefits and really managed to use the data for optimizing (fitness, behaviour, food) my body.
Last edited:
recently did quite a bit of reading on this that suggest even for people who have training and copious experience with them, it's not a particularly accurate depiction of BF%
This seems way too complex for getting the job done. I have the Withings Body Cardio which also does body composition and heart rate since early 2019. I usually weight myself within 20 mins after waking up. If I didn't stand right at the line, the scale won't pick up the correct info. In the Winter, not sure about cold skin contact affects the end result.
For this model, I don't think I want to pick up the handle bar when stepping on the scale daily.
For this model, I don't think I want to pick up the handle bar when stepping on the scale daily.
It should be noted here that most of the claims made are absolute fabrication, and should not be relied upon for any reason.
There is no such measurement as "nerve health", and the nerve studies that medical professionals do care about are impossible to do with this kind of a device. "Vascular age" and "metabolic age" are made-up terms not used in medicine. Basal metabolic rate can be measured but certainly not by a glorified scale. Determining muscle/fat/water composition has long been a scam claim by various devices, this one included.
If you want to buy it as a nice scale that can also determine heart rhythm, great. But beyond that it's all fluff.
There is no such measurement as "nerve health", and the nerve studies that medical professionals do care about are impossible to do with this kind of a device. "Vascular age" and "metabolic age" are made-up terms not used in medicine. Basal metabolic rate can be measured but certainly not by a glorified scale. Determining muscle/fat/water composition has long been a scam claim by various devices, this one included.
If you want to buy it as a nice scale that can also determine heart rhythm, great. But beyond that it's all fluff.
