The last time Choice tested any form of body analysis scale was in 2018. The market has moved on. Retesting might be worthwhile.
If Choice tests smart scales, then test not only what they measure and how accurately*, but how well they integrate with other fitness devices and software. My experience reflects that of Choice: setting up Bluetooth &/or WiFi connections can be near impossible. Compatibility (or not) with Apple Health and Google Fit/Health Connect should be a consideration.
*consumer devices are not likely to be very accurate. The last Choice test mentions DEXA scans. At this level, that’s a waste of time and money. Testing will involved participants using multiple scales. The median of readings for each participant will give a good indication of true measure. It should be emphasised that individual numbers don’t really matter. The trend over time is more important. Accumulating enough data for meaningful analysis will take months of repeated use of the scale.
The smart scale market seems to move pretty quickly. Particularly at the lower end, models come and go at short intervals.
A while back, I decided to replace my old body-analysis scale. My fitness tracker is Garmin, so I ordered a Garmin Index™ S2 smart scale, from Garmin’s online store.
The scale requires both Bluetooth and WiFi. It connected to my 'phone’s Bluetooth OK, but simply couldn’t see my WiFi network. Hoping to set it up manually, I bought a USB ANT Stick™.
That connected OK and I got a firmware update message. The update didn’t seem to work, but it did have an effect. Bluetooth stopped working. Garmin support helpfully referred me to their FAQ, containing the instructions that had already failed. At their request, I emailed further details of the scale, my 'phone & desktop PC, plus 3 images of messages on the scale’s display.
Garmin replied that they’d “found a fault” and offered a replacement. Inter alia, their instructions read: "Drop the package off at your local shipping facility, and request a tracking number."
Almost seven weeks had passed since I first started trying to get the scales to work.
Postage via Australia Post was $18.25. I requested reimbursement. Their response:
" Please provide the following in order to proceed with a postage reimbursement:
- Receipt for postage
- Bank Account Name/Account Number/BSB
Please be advised that the reimbursement does not cover tracking."
I provided the information, but Australia Post’s receipt didn’t show tracking as a separate charge, so I ended up being reimbursed fully nine days later.
The replacement duly arrived and, after a month of repeated attempts, it worked! Just once. It was quite impressive. I’m still not sure why it worked, but the situation soon returned to normal.
The app kept pestering me to update the firmware. After the update, Bluetooth, WiFi and even the Ant stick couldn’t detect the scales. Garmin support helpfully referred me to an FAQ that didn’t address my problem.
After three months, more than 100 hours of effort and buying an ANT stick in attempts to overcome issues, I was left with a very expensive (and very dumb) scale. Following a few more days of trying, I emailed Garmin Product Support:
“Even if I somehow managed to correct the problem, the product has proved too unreliable to be considered “reasonably fit for purpose” in terms of s.55 of the Australian Consumer Law. I see no option but a refund. Garmin is, of course, responsible for all costs of returning the product.”
Garmin responded, requesting Receipt of purchase and Serial number. I answered with the requested information, ending with:
"As mentioned previously, attempting to get the scale working I bought an ANT stick. That worked with the first unit, but not the second. The purchase is detailed in [a pdf]. As I no longer have any use for it, I’d appreciate a refund for that as well.
Might as well keep costs down by returning both together.
All transactions were through Garmin systems. Details should be available there."
Garmin agreed to return of both the scales and the ANT stick. They provided a REPLY PAID number which, they said, would not cover tracking (but that I should purchase tracking at my own expense). Australia Post provided tracking anyway, at no cost to me.
22 weeks after the initial purchase, the refund landed in my bank account.
My verdict on the Garmin Index™ S2 smart scale:
over-engineered
impractically complex
overpriced
Garmin help forums have multiple questions about and reports of difficulties connecting Index™ S2 and failures following updates. I’ve discovered that, on none of the comparison sites, does the Garmin rank highly (or at all).
The replacement I bought is an Osmo FitMetric, which was discounted by $20 (probably because it was about to be superseded) so it cost $110 less than the Garmin. The Osmo is far simpler, requiring only Bluetooth. It relies on the “Scale Up” app, which seems to be generic.
Sadly, that means data from the scale and my smart watch are in different app’s. For Android, the obvious solution is “Google Health Connect” . “Scale Up” is compatible, but the Garmin app will only connect via the somewhat dodgy (and costly) “Health Sync” . Google is bad enough, without putting a fourth party in the loop.
. This isn’t terribly good news if one wishes to purchase one for reliable body fat monitoring.