Best Budget Smart BMI Scales: Bluetooth digital weighing machine & so much more
Smart scales are not as expensive as one thinks. You can now get a feature packed smart scale with Bluetooth connectivity and mobile app support for under forty dollars, with some going for less than twenty dollars. Here are some of the best budget smart scales you can buy right now.
In case you are wondering, these smart scales may be cheap, but they work wonderfully. In fact, they have been known to surprise its many users, securing favourable reviews and plenty of useful feedbacks. We were certainly taken by surprise at how reliable and quick these smart scales are at taking, displaying and transferring measurements to the smartphone app. And how these apps are so stable and intuitive, works a treat and presents useful information in an easy to understand format.
What Are Smart BMI Scales
Smart scales are connected wireless scales that uses either WiFi or Bluetooth to send data to the phone or tablet. Cheaper, more affordable smart scales typically use Bluetooth. More expensive models support both Bluetooth and WiFi.
They not only measure and display your weight on the digital screen but send further information to its companion app allowing you to track your weight, check other measurements and more. As for the BMI part, on the surface of the scales are metallic electrode plates, two for each foot to take BMI and body fat measurements.
How to Start Using A Smart BMI Scale
For starters, it is super easy to setup. Download and install the app*, enable Bluetooth on your device, install the batteries and power up the scale by tapping on standing on it. The digital display will turn on automatically to show you the reading. And, if you have your smartphone and app open, that too will show the measurement of your weight live.
Stay on the scale making sure that your feet touches the contact points. In less than 5 seconds, a chime will go off to indicate that your BMI readings are ready. Check the many measurements in the app window.
*In some cases, when starting the app for the first time, you may be asked to register and sign-in to use the app but we prefer the guest mode to maintain our privacy.
Smart BMI Scale App
The app plays a big role here. As a small household of three, we each have our own app loaded in our phones. Start the app and with Bluetooth enabled on your phone, it will instantly grab the data from the scale as soon as you stand on it. It will even record live readings slowing how the measurements fluctuates as you fumbles to remove the content of your pocket. If you rather not have data on individual devices, you can install the app on a single device, say the coffee table tablet and create an unlimited number of users there.
What Does It Measure
Using Bio-electrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) technology, these smart scales is able to measure, monitor and analyse 13 different body composition functions. These include body weight, body fat, water, muscle mass, BMI, BMR, bone mass, protein, skeletal muscle and more. Apart from the weight which is displayed on the scale, the other data is uploaded and presented on the companion app in a user friendly way.
WARNING: If you have a pacemaker or other internal medical device, or is pregnant, it is not recommended that you use products that uses BIA technology.
Top 10 Best Budget Smart BMI Scales
The biggest names in budget smart scale retailers are RENPHO and FITINDEX. Both retailers carry the largest number of smart BMI scales with differing designs. However, when you have seen a few of these, you quickly realise that they are in fact based on the same hardware and in some case share the same app. These white labelled products are by no means any less effective. In fact, quite the opposite. It goes to show that the products have been tested and proven to work by many if not under the same label. Let’s take a quick look at our list.
Now for a closer look at some of the best value smart scales in the market.
1. RENPHO Body Fat Scale Smart BMI Scale
This Renpho Body Fat Smart BMI Scale has the largest number of customer feedback, mostly good of course. To start capturing and accessing your weight, body composition analysis and other data, get the Renpho companion app, available for both Android and iOS. The app is also compatible with Samsung Health, Fitbit App, Google Fit and Apple Health including app for Apple Watch. From there you will find 13 essential body measurements. When you don’t have a mobile device handy, it will store the data locally and upload this when you next use the machine with your phone. Even from the same company, there are several versions of the same scale with different design and colour. Read our Renpho Smart Scale full review.
2. FITINDEX Bluetooth Body Fat Smart Scale
Next, we have the FITINDEX Bluetooth Body Fat Smart Scale. This Bluetooth connected bathroom weighing machine monitors and presents body composition data and weight on the FITINDEX app. The app can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play store. It is compatible with Samsung Health and there is an app for the Apple Watch too. Again, the scale measures 13 body composition functions via its bio-electrical impedance analyser (BIA) using the 4 high precision sensor. Set goal and monitor your fitness trend presented in friendly chart form.
3. RunSTAR Smart Scale with Digital Colour Display
This RunSTAR Smart Scale stands out from the rest with its large colour display. Apart from your weight, you get body fat rate, BMI, Heart Rate and get this RunSTAR’s own Body type index. One the smartphone app, you get 15 body composition metrics which includes weight, BMI, Body Fat, Muscle, Mass, Heart Rate, Body Age, Body Water, Bone Rate, Visceral Fat, BMR, Muscle Rate, Protein, Subcutaneous fats and more. Get the Start app for Apple or Google devices and start tracking your fitness stats. Plus, the app, like most apps here also syncs with other fitness apps like Apple Health, Google Fit and Fitbit. The app can support up to 24 user profiles and identify user automatically. You can also use the Baby Mode to track a baby or pet’s growth.
4. Vitafit Smart Body Fat Weight Scale
At the time of writing, the Vitafit Smart Scale is the cheapest among the scales here. It has a simple white LCD display and works with a companion Vitafit app. With a small 0.1lb or 50 gram increment, it is also quite accurate in measuring your weight. But unleash the power of the smart scale with 13 more key body composition measurements on the Vitafit App. Track body fat, BMI, muscle, body water, protein bone, BMR (basal metabolic rate), metabolic age and more by connecting your phone to the smart scale via Bluetooth and let the app take care of the rest. In silver and white with a black bar running down the middle, the smart scale looks pretty cool too.
5. Etekcity Digital Body Weight Smart Scale
After the two big names in Smart BMI Scales, Renpho and FITINDEX, comes yet another, the Etekcity. Again, the digital body weight scale comes with Bluetooth connectivity, is powered by 3 x AAA batteries and works just the same as other scales we have seen so far. The app screen may look different here but from our experience, the app is in fact the same as that used on RENPHO and FITINDEX. What you are seeing is the day-to-day trend line based on measurements taken over a period of time while the app screens featured above are the live measurement tab.
6. iHealth Nexus PRO Smart Digital Bathroom Scale
The iHealth Nexus PRO smart scale is available in black or white with app that tracks up to 12 essential body composition index. The clear white LCD display set on deep black background makes reading your weight super easy. The scale uses 4 triple A batteries and with the free MyVitals app, you can track the trend in your metrics over days, weeks or months.
7. GE Smart Scale with All-in-one LCD Display
It may be pricier but the GE Smart Sale has an added advantage. Not only can you get the full body stats from the companion app but it comes with a large vertical alignment (VA) LCD display. This quickly throws up three rows of live information right there on the colour LCD screen. It will display not only your weight but five other major body composition readings.
The scale is equipped with E-shaped sensors with sensitive electrodes that accurately measures your weight down to 0.2 lb increment with a maximum capacity of 396lbs. Another advantage over other smart scales here is that the GE unit comes with rechargeable batteries built-in. These last for up to three months on a single charge. There is no need to replace the batteries or have them charged separately. Simply charge with your USB adapter using the Type-C cable provided.
All that is left is to step on the scale and get your readings or fire up the free Fit Profile app on your smartphone and track your vital stats there.
8. ABYON Bluetooth Smart Bathroom Scales
At this point, you probably think that Smart BMI Scale market is crowded with rip-offs. But, that is not exactly true in this case. It just means that the more suppliers and manufacturers, the more competitive the market gets and the lower the price becomes due to the competition. The ABYON again uses the same hardware and app as those found on all the scales we featured on our list so far, with the app screen now showing the measurement tab. A white version is also available as shown below.
9. Arboleaf Digital Bluetooth Smart Scale
Another white smart scale is from Arboleaf. The Arboleaf Digital Scale is a Bluetooth Smart Scale that monitors 10 key body composition index. The data measured and analysed include body weight, body fat, body type, visceral fat, body water, muscle mass, bone mass, BMR, BIM and metabolic age. Design wise, the unit looks relatively simple, no extra lines or curves, just your typical slate with four high precision and sensitive electrodes. It comes on automatically when you step on it and goes off automatically after a short period once you step off. The fitness App is multi-user friendly and can serve the entire family so you can share the scale with everyone at home.
10. RENPHO Body Fat Scale Smart Digital
Taking the multi line large VA display to the next level is this new RENPHO Smart Scale. It costs almost double of the starter unit we saw at the top of the list but it is well worth the money. The display shows you everything from weight to BMI, Muscle Mass, Body Fat, Body Water, Bone Mass and Metabolic Age at a glance. No need to whip up your phone. The unit also supports unlimited number of users on the app, allowing everyone to track their weight and other stats. Search for the free Renpho Health app, connect via Bluetooth and Bob is your uncle.
