Customer Reviews

Withings WiFi Body Scale, Black

5 star:		(174)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

The Withings Wi-Fi scale is a fascinating step forward in the use of Wi-Fi to share information for the consumer's benefit.

I purchased my scale from the Withings web site but it was shipped from their U.S. Amazon store. It appears to be one of the first scales to ship within the US as I received it in early October 2009.

After the scale is configured for your Wi-Fi network, and the account on the server is set up, the process of weighing goes like this: Step on the scale. The scale will fluctuate for a moment while adjusting to your weight. After a few moments, the scale should accept a weight, and then display a bar moving across the display from left to right as the data is uploaded to the server. When the bar display is complete, the scale then displays your Body Fat % and then displays your BMI. If the scale has a problem thinking that the person on the scale is not centered, there will appear an arrow in one of the corners where it believes there is too much weight and it would like you to adjust your weight away from that corner.

The scale is a pretty straightforward device and will not require any in-depth learning but some users might desire a user's manual as there is none beyond the slip of paper that instructs you how to insert the batteries. A pdf document that a user could download would be a great addition for those that would like to better understand what the capabilities are for the device and how they can make best use of the product. After all, this scale is not a cheap scale and most users who purchase it will be technically minded with curious wonderings beyond what is obvious. Withings does have an online forum for ongoing discussion and if you have a question, visiting the forums helps as there are always other users who are experiencing the same issues or have found an answer for something you may come up against.

The scale has the ability to recognize more than one user. There is an algorithm that the server uses to determine which user is on the scale as it expects each user to have a significantly different weight and/or body fat % composition than other users. If it can not detect which user is on the scale from 2 different users, the scale will show an arrow so that by adjusting the users balance on the scale, the user can indicate which user they are. If there are 3 or more users using the scale, this process will not work and the users must each 'claim' or 'refuse' the weight on the web site for their tracking. Unfortunately, having a single user claim that weight will not remove it from the other user's records and each other user must also remove the 'unknown user' weight.

Because I have an iPhone, I was intrigued by how I (or others that I allow) could watch my weight change and body fat changes over time. It is impressive how quickly the iPhone receives the weighing data and Withings has been smart to use a badge on the WiScale application to notify the user that new data has been received. I have not noticed any Alerts yet on the iPhone but they are aware of that capability given that the preference exists within the iPhone settings.

For the techies that like to take things to the next level, there is a capability to download a CSV delimited file containing your weighing history. The file is perfectly formatted to slide right into your Excel program.

There are a couple of things that I expect to see happen as Withings moves to version 2 of their software. Currently, there is no ability to upload data to the server so as to benefit from having historical data that you have accumulated prior to your Withings scale purchase. Manually entering historical data is limited in that the server does not accept data with the precision similar to what the scale records. Withings says that this will be fixed in a future update.

A feature that is missing is the ability to indicate that the user is an athlete and that the Body Fat should be analyzed with that significant difference in mind. Many users who choose a scale such as this might well be expecting this recognition by the software.

The Basal Metabolic Rate would also be a nice feature that may be included at a later time but is not currently calculated or shown.

Withings Scale Pros:
Attractive
Capable of ongoing improvements in features through firmware updates
iPhone application for ease of sharing your success
Capable of multiple users being tracked
Can be set for metric (kg) or imperial (lbs)
Very responsive to customer feedback

Withings Scale Cons:
Accuracy is limited to your typical home use scale.
Not the cheapest product that does this kind of analysis but one of the more innovative.

Executive bottom line: The scale has some fun potential but it should be recognized that technology does not necessarily bring about increased accuracy. I've rated this scale with 5 stars because it is what it appears to be, the design is beautiful and the scale uses technology in innovative ways. The scale has potential for becoming an an awesome product as Withings has the capability to enhance its current capabilities easily. Let's hope they continue to give us even more as time go on.

The scale itself looks nice, works fast and was easy to setup.

The only thing I would warn people about is that you do have to connect the scale via a provided USB cable to your computer to set it up. The port to connect the USB cable to the scale is located in the battery compartment, so after you put the batteries in don't put the cover back on. You'll just be taking it right back off again to connect the scale to your computer. Once the batteries are installed you'll go the Withings website to make an account, then you will connect the scale via USB to your pc to connect it to your network and the account you just created. I would also suggest reading the FAQ on the website once the scale is setup, it provides good information about the display and messages you may get on it.

I had no problem connecting the scale to my secure wireless network, which also uses mac filtering. I had no need to change any of my security settings to get the scale connected.

So,

I was very excited to pick up this scale. The convenience of the wifi networking to auto update my data to their server and subsequently view on the iphone app sounded really really good.

In theory, the scale did as expected, however, the software component leaves a lot to be desired. For starters and this is the show stopper, the Body Fat % is completely wrong, not just a little wrong as you would expect with an estimated value, it's off by a lot. I had been using a considerably cheaper digital scale that gave me body fat readings and the Withings scale was nearly 30% off (in my case, 29% versus 24%).

I naturally assumed the Withings scale was the one that was correct (or hoped this was the case since it gave a much lower body fat %). I was annoyed enough by the difference that I decided to go and do a hydrostatic body fat test (the dunk tank), which is considered the gold standard in body fat estimation.

The results were surprising, the Withings scale was the one that was completely wrong and the cheaper scale I had was pretty much the same as the hydrostatic testing. After discovering this, I went over to the forums withings provide for customers and unfortunately discovered many people had the same issue with this scale.

[...]

After posting my experience and asking if they were going to fix this, they said they'll be updating the software later in the year (although the first suggestion of just subtracting 5 from the body fat results wasn't exactly what I had in mind given the difference in results isn't always constant nor acceptable in a scale costing $150).

I was very careful to follow the exact instructions for these measurements, I really wanted to like this scale.

The other bits and pieces such as the iphone app are nice, but not 100% solid, the visualization isn't perfect by any stretch and the way it decides which values to display is not ideal. Still, overall the iphone app is a nice addition for sure.

Anyway, if you want anything close to accurate, I would pass on this scale for now until they sort out their body fat estimation. If you don't really care that much and are happy with the weight being accurate (which it is), then it's a pretty nice scale (just pricey).

Oh how I wish this scale worked out for me. What a brilliant idea - and execution from the technical, connectivity side. But alas, the scale just isn't accurate or consistent.

The weight ranges +/- 1.5 lbs each time you use it. So let's say you weight 150 on the scale at your doctor's office. you can expect your reading to be anywhere between 148.5 to 151.5 when using this scale. And if you get on/off/on/off/on etc. etc., the reading will change every time! Arrrrgh. And the fat measurement was even more off. In a series of 5 attempts in succession, my fat percentage ranged +/- 4%. Perhaps this type of technology just doesn't work as says Consumer reports (they refuse to test fat analysis monitors for this reason) or maybe its something wrong with the withings testing method or technology... whatever the case, that much variation from successive measurements is unacceptable and I can't rationalize keeping a $150+ scale that just isn't accurate.

The 2 stars are for the concept and tech... hoping that other body fat analysis companies will follow suit. if rating just the scale/fat functionality, then its a 1 star for inaccuracy.

First, I would like to acknowledge that there will be a tolerance of error in any body fat measurement method whether bio-impedance, caliper, measurement equation... whatever. Some (hydrostatic measurement) are more accurate than others, but I try to keep in mind that it is all about consistent reference. When using a device like the Withings wi-fi, if one focuses more on progress over time rather than the difference in the scale's feedback and that of another form of body fat measurement then I think that user will be well pleased with the scale.

Cost

The price point for the Withings wi-fi scale is certainly a bit more than the typical bathroom scale, but, then agaib, it is intended to be far more feature rich than an average scale. If one is serious about body composition measurement, then I believe the Withings wi-fi scale is a great tool for long term use.

Maintenance

My concern before purchasing was battery life. I had seen a few reviews that cited poor battery life and I did not want to be constantly buying batteries (or worrying about rechargeable batteries). I am happy to report that I have had no issue with battery life. The batteries I put in my scale in June are, 6 months later, still going strong. The Withings website even allows the user to see the estimated battery charge remaining in the scale. After 6 months: 73% remaining. Not too shabby for using the scale, on average, of twice a week.

Utilization/Access

I also enjoy the iPhone app provided by Withings, as well as the fact that a few of my favorite websites/apps have API links with my Withings account. This means that not only am I able to see my results over time on the Withings site itself, but I am also able to see it in my Daily Burn account, Runkeeper account, etc. These sites allow for me to link to my Withings account and save me the trouble of manual entry or maintenance. Quite convenient!

Summation

I couldn't be more pleased with my Withings scale. Is it perfect? No. Is it the most accurate form of body composition measurement? No. What it is, however, is a convenient, consistent reference point for gauging one's body fat percentage over time. It is a great tool in the pursuit of improved health and physical well-being. Two thumbs up from this satisfied user.

I consider myself a technologist. I work in the field and buy many gadgets with integrated electronics. The Withings Wifi scale is no exception. I first saw this scale advertised on thinkgeek.com and was pleased to see it offered on Amazon. I bought the white version of the scale, which is modern looking and doesn't seem to collect foot prints or dirt as much as my previous metallic scale with integrated BMI functions. The fact that measurements are transmitted to the cloud via Wifi is what is really appealing. I liked the fact that I could trend data without having to manually enter it into a third party tool. The scale does exactly as it is advertised and does it well. My only gripe wih the scale is that I am unsure of its accuracy. I am using the scale on flat tile and have it set to zero at each weigh-in. I've noticed in some instances fairly large flucuations in measurements that must certainly be false. I've also noticed that scales in doctor's offices seem to show me weighing more than what the Withings Wifi scale records by several pounds. Two other potential issues I ran into relate to recognition of multiple scale users and conversion of body fat from pounds to percentage. Three family members use this scale and at first, it would record others' weight in my online account. I went into the online software and set our initial starting weights to be further apart to emphasize a disparity in weight. This seemed to do the trick. Now when the scale isn't sure who's account measurements should be recorded under, you can choose by putting weight onto the side of the scale that is associated with the user on the scale's display. Lastly, I was completing a worksheet for a workout program I was interested in doing and noticed it asked for body fat percentage. The scale displays body fat in pounds. I wasn't able to find a way to have the scale display body fat percentage and needed to find a conversion formula on the internet. In summary, the Withings Wifi scale is a novel idea and makes trending measurements easy, but the accuracy of the scale is in question.

Great features, but my weight was all over the place. On a flat tile surface, compared it directly with my 10 yr old Tanita body fat scale, which is post office and doctor's office accurate. Tanita is completely consistent. Withings varies 2-3 pounds in any direction. I sent it back after a week of testing.

Pros:
1. It really is the first scale I've seen that wasn't hideous.
2. The auto-wifi uploading and google health integration is awesome. I think it has some real geek appeal and has the potential to make weight loss feel more like a game.
3. Setup wasn't too bad though I felt the process was a bit clunky.
4. After a couple of false starts, the online interface was better than I expected.

Cons:
1. It's battery powered. That would have been fine in any other scale but in a wifi enabled device? I burned through the included batteries in a week, using the scale once a day. Who in their right mind put wifi in something that doesn't even have the option of plugging into the wall.
2. The carpet pads in no way work on the carpet. Your first reading in a given location may be somewhat accurate depending on the thickness of your carpet and carpet padding. However, if you leave the scale in the same spot over night, it'll settle in enough that the carpet presses back on the center of the plate while weighing in. I got readings that were off more than 45 pounds!
3. (maybe) I'm not convinced on the accuracy of the scale yet. I get some pretty significant fluctuation despite weighing in at similar times and conditions each day.
4. Lack of instructions or information about how the scale functions. I know you can pull down a pdf but I really didn't see where the fat calculations were detailed. Does it have to do with electrical resistance of my body or something? It'd be nice to know so that I can make educated guesses as to what conditions might throw this value off.

Overall, I'm happy with it. I'm coping with the battery issue by getting a bunch of rechargeable batteries. I'm moving the scale to a hard surface each use. If you don't mind those two things and the price, I'd recommend it. However, a traditional scale is going to be way more accurate if that's the most important thing for you.

Other reviewers have already highlighted what the scale does and what some problem areas are, so I'll try to be brief.

Good:
-Creates accountability for what I eat and when I do/don't work out. Because it's SO convenient to step on it and record my results over time, I can weight myself every morning when I get up and go to bed and see exactly what impact my actions have on my weight. This alone is super powerful.
-It looks good. Very classy looking product.

Bad:
-The body fat % measurements are very, very, very off. I read this before I bought it and I figured I'd just measure myself so frequently that I could get a rough idea of trending over time. It's so inaccurate that even this approach does not work. In any given day two measurements at two times will yield a body fat difference of 5%. Although in my charts you can see my weight gradually trending down, the fat line is just white noise.
-The website is a bit clunky, as is the iPhone software, and I'm worried that if this company doesn't stick around in the long term I'll have no way to continue using the scale.
-The website and iPhone software calculates trend lines differently, so the results look different on each.
-The price apparently went up from $99 to $159 since I bought it? I would not buy this at $159.

I researched this scale extensively before purchasing it, and immediately noticed the complaints about the fat / BMI measurements being inconsistent. With that in mind, I still went ahead with the purchase.

Since I received the device, I have used it every day. The set up was really easy, and it has worked reliably every single time. The weight measurements are accurate and precise, and being able to see the trend overtime on my iOS devices the web interface is pretty cool.

As for the the fat measurements, if you are looking for accurate results, it just isn't going to happen. The limitation isn't necessarily due to the Withings device or software, but due to the nature of the technology. The problem is the method used by this scale (and the majority of other fat/BMI measurement scales) to capture fat mass simply cannot get a big enough picture of your body composition to give you a spot on number. With any foot-based BMI scale, you can typically expect a margin of error of 5% - 10%. The only real way to get an accurate number is to use calipers or other fat measurement systems that are not as simple as simply standing on a scale...

That said, the results are relatively precise enough (over enough readings over time) to give a good idea of trending. Personally, my motivation for buying the scale was to be able to measure the effectiveness of my new workout routine over time. Sure enough, between individual readings, the values seem to jump all over the place. But, looking at trends over time, I get a pretty clear picture of my relative fat mass.

I am pretty sure this is the intent of the software developers because they treat weight reading and fat mass readings differently in terms of graph plotting. On the weight graph, they provide a very discreet weight trend line, because the values captured from the scale are accurate and precise. However, on the fat graph, a discreet trend line isn't provided; instead a "fat" trend line (covering about 2% in values at any point in time) that encompasses the range of readings is provided. This allows you to quickly see the overall trend and see "past" the jumpy individual data points.

Overall, I am very happy with the purchase. The hardware and software work perfectly together and the experience has been very seamless. There simply isn't another scale out there that makes data capture and logging so easy (and fun)!