So you own and iPhone and you are thinking about which smart scale to buy. It’s confusing out there with so many options for smart scales, so we’ve tried to break it down here for you. Luckily there are many smart scales that sync with iPhones. In this post, we talk about what you need to consider and show you some good options.
Wifi vs. bluetooth smart scales for iPhones
This is an important consideration to make. Let’s look at how these two technologies are used for digital bathroom scales.
Wifi scales – basically these scales are connected to your internet network via Wifi. When you weigh yourself, it sends this data to the cloud. Most wifi scales will also have their own dedicated app, which is where the data will go to. So if you are using the Fitbit Aria scale for instance, it will send data to your Fitbit account. The Nokia Body scale (formerly Withings) will send data to Health Mate account, etc. So, as long as you can download that app onto your iPhone (which most apps can be obviously) then that scale will theoretically work with your iPhone. If you already have a preferred app that you are using (like MyFitnessPal or Apple Health) then then you need to check that the native scale’s app can sync data with your health app.
Bluetooth – Bluetooth scales work by sending data from the scale directly to your phone. So you would download the app onto your iPhone and when you weigh yourself it sends the data automatically to the app. For Bluetooth connectivity to work, the two devices need to be able to talk to each other so for Bluetooth smart scales you need to ensure that the scale is compatible with your particular iPhone and iOS version.
Basically a wifi smart scale should work with any iPhone as long as you have the app on your phone because the scale is just sending the data to the cloud via your wifi, but with a Bluetooth scale you need to check if the scale is compatible with your specific iPhone because it will send the data directly there.
What do you want to measure?
If you are just interested in weight there are scales for that. But if you are interested in body fat percentage, water mass, lean mass and other fancy metrics you need a scale that uses biometric impedance analysis (BIA) technology. It is quite a popular method to measure body composition and it is not too expensive, but there are debates about it accuracy so keep that in mind. By the way if you happen to have a pacemaker, you shouldn’t use these types of scales because BIA uses electrical impulses.
Other factors to consider
There are other things you may want to consider like platform size and the look and feel. Some scales come with athlete modes, pregnancy modes, some show trends over time, some show larger displays, some even have smiley faces 🙂 So you need to consider your personal taste obviously but it’s probably wise to base your decision on making sure that the smart scale is compatible with your iphone and can talk to the apps you want it to talk to.
Nokia Body + Body Composition Scale
Nokia Body + is the next-generation smart scale from Nokia that uses new technology for more accurate weight readings. The native app for the scale, Health Mate, is very comprehensive. It’s got different modes like Athlete mode as well as family modes like Baby mode and Pregnancy mode. I do like the trend screen which shows the previous 8 weigh-ins, so you can immediately see what your progress is like. If you use the Wifi connectivity it even gives a daily weather report so that you can “plan your outfit and day’s activities.” Ok, well that’s probably not so useful! Overall, this smart scale has interesting features and advanced metrics. It comes in white or black. The simpler and cheaper version of Nokia Body + is called Nokia Body, which only measures weight .
>>Read more about Nokia Body + on Amazon<<
iPhone and iOS compatibility: iOS 8 and higher, iPhone 4S and more recent
Specifications:
- Connectivity: Wifi and Bluetooth
- Number of users: up to 8
- Metrics tracked: Weight, Body fat, Water percentage, Bone mass, Muscle mass
- Batteries: 4 AAA batteries (lasts up to 18 months)
Pros:
- Lasts up to 18 months on 4 standard AAA batteries
- Integrated with many 3rd party apps
- New improved Patented Position ControlT™ Technology delivers highly-precise measurements accurate to .2 pounds
- Trend screen to immediately show you your progress against weight goals
You can read customer reviews and purchase a Nokia Body + on Amazon.
iHealth Lite
The iHealth Lite is made by iHealth Labs whose line of products include blood pressure monitors, blood glucose monitors, body analysis scales, pulse oximeters and activity trackers. They cover a whole range of health products not just fitness. They have a sleek mimimalist style that fits in any bathroom. These smart scales don’t integrate with as many 3rd party apps as other smart scales (only with S Health and Apple Health) but it’s own iVitals app is pretty good and may be all you need. The iHealth Lite doesn’t measure lots of metrics and instead sticks to the basics – weight and BMI. Overall, this is a solid, affordable and simple smart bathroom scale.
>>Find out more about iHealth Lite on Amazon<<
iPhone and iOS compatibility: iOS 8 or higher, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6S/6S Plus, iPhone 6/6 Plus, iPhone 5S/5C, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S
Specifications:
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Number of users: up to 20
- Metrics tracked: Weight, BMI
- Batteries: 4 AAA batteries
Pros:
- Affordable
- Sleek, modern design
Cons:
- No Wifi capability
- Limited compatibility with 3rd party apps (S Health and Apple Health)
- Only measures weight and BMI
You can read customer reviews and purchase the iHealth Lite on Amazon.
iHealth Core
The iHealth Core is the advanced version of the iHealth Lite. It has a similar look and build except for two things – the iHealth Core also offers Wifi connectivity (not just bluetooth) and can measure a number of additional metrics including weight, BMI, body fat, body water, muscle mass, lean mass, bone mass, visceral fat rating, daily calorie intake.
>>Find out more about iHealth Core on Amazon<<
iPhone and iOS compatibility: iOS 8 or higher, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6S/6S Plus, iPhone 6/6 Plus, iPhone 5S/5C, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S
Specifications:
- Connectivity: Bluetooth or Wifi
- Number of users: up to 20
- Metrics tracked: Weight, BMI, body fat, body water, muscle mass, lean mass, bone mass, visceral fat rating, daily calorie intake
- Batteries: 4 AAA batteries
Pros:
- Sleek, modern design
- Both wifi and bluetooth connectivity
- Advanced metrics
Cons:
- Limited compatibility with 3rd party apps (S Health and Apple Health)
You can read customer reviews and purchase the iHealth Core on Amazon.
Yunmai Color Smart Scale
Yunmai Color comes in 6 different colors including Pink.
The Yunmai Color smart scale is a simple and stylish scale that comes in 5 different shades for a personalised touch. Yunmai’s app can sync with Apple Health, Google Fit, or Fitbit. It can track 10 different metrics, using bioeletric impedance analysis (BIA). Yunmai is a relatively new player on the digital bathroom scale market and their prices are much lower than their competitors. They are however growing and their marketing talks of ‘2,000,000 + happy customers and counting.’
iPhone and iOS compatibility: iOS 7.1 or higher, iPhones include iPhone 8/X(10)
Specifications:
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Number of users: up to 16
- Metrics tracked: Weight, Body Fat, Muscle Rate, Water, Bone Mass, Visceral Fat, BMR, BMI, Protein, Body Age
- Batteries: 4 AAA batteries
Pros:
- Very affordable, even with the advanced metrics.
- Comes in different colors to fit your personality and style
- Minimalist design
Cons:
- Limited compatibility with 3rd party apps (includes Apple Health, Google Fit, or Fitbit)
You can read customer reviews and purchase the Yunmai Color Smart Scale on Amazon.
Wahoo Balance
The Wahoo Balance is a smart scale that uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect with your iOS devices. The ‘native app’ of this smart scale is Wahoo Wellness which is integrated with many 3rd party apps including MapMyFitness, Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and LoseIt. The Wahoo Balance scale only measures weight and BMI and doesn’t have any fancy features. In fact, it’s very much a no-frills product and this is reflected in its price. So if you are only interested in tracking your weight and none of the fancy stuff, this is a great option.
iPhone and iOS compatibility: iPhone 4s and newer
Specifications:
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Number of users: up to 16
- Metrics tracked: Weight and BMI
- Batteries: 2 AAA batteries (lasts up to 12 months)
Pros:
- No frills product, reflected in its affordable price
- Integrated with many health and fitness apps
Cons:
- Not compatible with Android devices
- If you are looking for fancy features or advanced metrics, this is not the scale for you
You can read customer reviews and purchase the Wahoo Balance on Amazon.
Summary
As you can see there are many options for iPhone-compatible smart scales. There are many more on the market, and it makes sense that manufacturers would want to make sure their scales are compatible with the most popular smartphone. But remember it’s not just about the device – it is also about your app. If you have a specific app that you already use – say MyFitnessPal or Apple Health for instance (there are many others of course) – you will also want to ensure that the scale and its native app can sync data with your preferred app. Because if it can’t, it won’t really matter what device you are using.
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