Best Smart Scale for 2024 [CNET]

Reviews ethics statement

Giselle Castro-Sloboda Fitness and Nutrition Writer

I’m a Fitness & Nutrition writer for CNET who enjoys reviewing the latest fitness gadgets, testing out activewear and sneakers, as well as debunking wellness myths. On my spare time I enjoy cooking new recipes, going for a scenic run, hitting the weight room, or binge-watching many TV shows at once. I am a former personal trainer and still enjoy learning and brushing up on my training knowledge from time to time. I’ve had my wellness and lifestyle content published in various online publications such as: Women’s Health, Shape, Healthline, Popsugar and more.

Reviewed by: Amelia Ti Medical Reviewer

Amelia Ti is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) based in NYC. She completed her Bachelor’s in Nutrition & Dietetics at NYU and Master’s in Applied Nutrition at Russell Sage College. Amelia’s evidence-based knowledge and passion for the field allow her to translate nutrition research and innovation to the public.

FitTrack Dara BMI Smart Scale: I wanted to give this smart scale a chance because it had the most body composition measurements, but it never functioned properly when I weighed myself. The only data it provided was my weight, but it never seemed to capture the rest. 

Omron Body Composition Monitor and Scale: I had a hard time setting this scale up. I tried troubleshooting and following the directions it came with, but to no avail.

Ease of use: How easy it is to sync up the scale and app using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Additionally, how easy it is to interpret the weight and other data provided by the scale.

Design: If the scale is aesthetically pleasing and designed to blend into different rooms.

Consistency: Welooked atweight across the board for two weeks and made sure it was consistent for multiple weigh-ins at the same time each day. 

App measurements: We looked at the app interface and the measurements provided, as well as how detailed and easy it is to access and read.

Price: Consider how much you’re willing to spend on a scale. Just because a scale is expensive, doesn’t mean it’s the best option. There are inexpensive scales that can provide the same measurements.

Features: Determine if you’re going to want various measurement modes such as for pregnancy, pets or children.

Accuracy: Smart scales aren’t always accurate and the only way to get the most precise measurement is through a DEXA (or DXA) scan. Consult with a medical professional if you’re interested in this data.

Electrical currents: If you wear a pacemaker or implanted medical device, make sure the scale offers an option to shut off electrical currents. Currents sent by scale are generally safe, but they can potentially interfere with the device and ruin it.

Weight limit: It’s important to consider the weight capacity on a scale since you want to make sure it can handle various weights.

Body image: If you struggle with body image or are recovering from an eating disorder, consider discussing with your doctor if owning a smart scale is the right choice for you. It’s also helpful to know that some scales don’t show you your weight or have a similar mode setting.

App compatibility: If you’d like to sync up the scale to shared apps, make sure your app of choice is compatible with the scale.

Weigh yourself at the same time: To get a consistent reading when using any scale, it’s important to weigh yourself first thing in the morning before you’ve drunk or eaten anything. “You should weigh yourself without clothes, or minimal clothing, and if you do so, try to wear the same clothing each time you weigh yourself,” said Stella Lucia Volpe, professor and head of the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise at Virginia Tech.

Volpe recommends weighing yourself no more than once a week. “If you weigh yourself more than that, you will see fluctuations in your body weight, and it may be frustrating if you are trying to lose weight,” she said.

Choose an even surface: You want to make sure your scale is on an even surface otherwise that imbalance will throw off the reading. Make sure to weigh yourself in the same place each time.

Keep in mind that the smart scale can be flawed: Remember that just because a smart scale can offer more data than an analog scale doesn’t always mean it’s better. “Smart scales have not been shown to have high accuracy and cannot be compared to the ‘gold standard’ measures of assessing bone mineral density and body composition as it relates to body fat and lean body mass, which is via using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA),” said Volpe.

Most people don’t have access to a Dexa scan, so the next best thing is a smart scale. “The smart scale can provide an estimation of body fat and total body water; however, note that the ‘gold standard’ ways to measure these would provide the more accurate data,” Volpe explains.

Make sure it’s set to zero: As with any scale, you want to make sure that it’s set to zero so you get an accurate reading.

Remember your weight fluctuates: It’s easy to get caught up in a number, but remember your weight is a range instead of an exact number and will fluctuate throughout the day. Fluctuations can be affected if you work out, eat more than normal, go to the bathroom or even if your muscles are sore and retaining fluid.

Know that the data are estimations: Smart scales include data on your heart rate, bone mineral density, total body water, body fat and more. Keep in mind these are estimations based on your age, sex and body weight. Therefore, these scales are not completely accurate. “Knowing that these scales are providing an estimation — but without the highest of accuracy — is important, but can help provide some guidance to the user of these products, especially when many individuals may not have the ability to have their bone mineral density and body composition evaluated by DXA,” said Volpe.