Withings Body Comp smart scales review

An ultra-premium, ultra-comprehensive offering.

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Luxury
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The Withings Body Comp scales were launched in September 2022, and Withings claim these are their most accurate scales yet. They provide improved precision for weight measurement and body composition metrics.  

As well as offering features only available in previous Withings smart scales, they have also introduced new metrics – visceral fat and electrodermal activity – to create their most complete scales, and one of the best smart scales we’ve tested. 

Withings body comp smart scale overheadCredit: Saga Exceptional
Recommended

Withings Body Comp

Luxury

The Withings Body Comp are one of the most comprehensive smart scales we’ve tested; they offer insights into an impressively wide range of different health metrics. For anyone who wants the most detailed insights into their wellbeing, these scales are the ones to go for. But their price tag means that they might not be for everyone. 

Design

Features

Performance

Value


Who’s this for?

Anyone looking for some of the most detailed measurements of their health metrics currently available, and for extra support in improving their health.

Our likes and dislikes

  • High quality, premium design
  • Detailed and comprehensive health measurements
  • Electrodermal Activity score is a new and interesting tool
  • Expensive compared to alternative body composition scales
  • After 12 months, Health+ is a paid for subscription service
  • Still question marks about the accuracy of certain measurements

Expect to pay

RRP: £199.95 We have seen these available for £189.95 on the Withings website.

Withings Body Comp Review method

How we test

Testing smart scales is relatively straightforward – we used them regularly and compared them with other sets of smart scales (specifically, the Omron BF511 and the Withings Body Cardio) to assess accuracy and consistency. 

We also used the companion Health Mate app to gauge how effectively data was transferred, and how easy it is to read and understand. 

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Withings Body Comp Setup

Quick, easy and just a few steps to follow

The Withings Body Comp scales are easy to set up. Once you’ve installed the Health Mate app, open it and go to Devices followed by Install a device. We then tapped on Scales to connect with the app via Bluetooth. Once connected, the scales performed a software update (the slowest part of the process).

We also connected the scales to our wi-fi network, allowing them to send data to the app even when the phone isn’t within range. 

Withings Body Comp scales setup processCredit: Exceptional
The scales are quick and easy to get up and running

When you’re setting up, the Body Comp offers a “recommended” set of readings, to give you a complete picture of your health while reducing how long you need to stand on the scales. You can change this in the app at any time. 

These scales can also report local weather and air quality, should you wish. You can set weight goals, decide whether you want your weight displayed in kilograms or pounds, and read tutorials on what different metrics, such as vascular age and nerve health, are about. 

When you’re ready to weigh in, simply stand on the scales. They will automatically detect you and up to eight different users in total. 

Withings Body Comp Design

Sleek style

Withings body comp smart scale detailCredit: Saga Exceptional
These scales have a premium look and feel

Withings clearly designs its products with care, and the Body Comp scales are no exception. With a tempered-glass platform to stand on, the black scales are very stylish. The one drawback of this highly polished surface is that they are very easy to mark, and they seem to attract dust like a magnet. 

They are lighter than the Body Cardio scales (which is a good thing) but still solid and well crafted. Withings used a rechargeable lithium-ion battery in those scales, but here they’ve decided to revert to standard AAA batteries. This may have helped to make these scales considerably lighter. The digital display is bright, clear and easy to read.  

You can use these scales on hard flooring or carpet (they come with carpet feet that can be added for use on thick pile) and still offer accurate results. 

Withings Body Comp Performance

Top-notch accuracy and consistency

The scales are easy to use, and very responsive. The app is similarly straightforward. Readings for weight and body fat percentage took just a few seconds to appear, and it was a little longer in total for other measures such as heart rate and nerve health to be measured.  

Accuracy is one of the biggest question marks when it comes to body composition smart scales. It’s difficult to assess how precise the readings are without having a “gold standard” baseline (such as a DEXA scan, which measures bone density) to compare it  to. However, having compared the Body Comp scales with two other sets of body composition scales, it is possible to make some general observations. 

Withings states that these are its most accurate scales to date, being able to measure weight to within 50g, compared to the 100g measurement on earlier models. We found the measurements to be consistent across all three scales that we were using, with discrepancies of at most 0.1kg. We’re confident that in weight terms at least, these scales are accurate. 

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Body composition

When it comes to body composition, the three scales we were using each offered different body fat measurements, with variations of up to 2% between them.

It’s hard to know which one was closest to the real number, but the Body Comp scales were at least consistent with themselves. As we mention in our article on smart scales, it’s best to use these numbers as a guideline, and to help you to track changes over time. 

Finally, when it comes to metrics such as vascular age, pulse wave velocity and nerve health/electrodermal activity, without having these measured in a medical facility, again, it’s impossible to say how accurate they are. We can state that the readings on the Body Comp scale matched the readings from the Body Cardio scales, which again, suggests that there is consistency within those measurements.  

Withings has previously said that Body Comp is “not a medical device”. So, while these metrics are calibrated using tools such as a sphygmomanometer, and Withings already has a vast data set to draw upon, don’t rely on them to detect or prevent disease. If you’re ever concerned, go to your doctor.

Withings Body Comp Features

Comprehensive health measurements

Screenshot of some of the metrics measured by Body Comp - including nerve health and vascular ageCredit: Exceptional
Body Comp scales offer a wide range of health metrics to monitor

The Withings Body Comp scales are the most feature-packed smart scales we’ve seen. All the basics are there: body composition analysis, including weight measurements, body fat percentage, water percentage, and muscle and bone mass. You can even receive weather forecast and air quality updates. 

For the first time in a Withings smart scales, Body Comp can estimate visceral fat. We cover this in our body composition article, but this is the fat that wraps around your internal organs, and high levels of visceral fat are linked to increased risks of certain health problems, such as type 2 diabetes.  

Having an insight as to whether this is within a “normal” range (a score between one and four on the scale) or “high” (a score between five and 20) could help in identifying potential health risks.  

Heart health has been a focus of Withings products for a few years now, and the Body Comp scales include metrics we’ve seen before – pulse wave velocity and vascular age. First introduced in the Body Cardio scales back in 2016, these are indexes of cardiovascular health. 

Nerve Health and Electrodermal Activity scores

A brand-new metric in the Body Comp scales is electrodermal activity and nerve health score. This offers insight into your nervous system’s control of sweat gland activity in your feet. A score above 50 suggests ‘normal’ nerve activity. A score below 50 is lower than average and could indicate neuropathy.  

Peripheral neuropathy, according to the NHS, is estimated to affect around one in ten people aged 55 or over. You can also perform a “guided scan”, which is designed to replicate the environment of a medical consultation to give the most precise measurement possible.  

Health+

Another new feature is Withings’ Health+ subscription service. Health+ provides educational modules covering areas such as diet, sleep, activity, and stress management. Users can select from a range of “habit builders” and over a six-week period, they will suggest daily missions, such as reading articles, completing workouts or preparing recipes, to help achieve whichever goal has been selected.  

According to Withings, modules were developed by a team of “Boston-based doctors and public health professionals with expertise in behaviour change”. We haven’t been able to test this service, but users who buy Body Comp scales automatically receive 12 months access to the service for free. If you want to continue using it after 12 months, you’ll need to pay £9.95 a month, or £99.50 a year. 

It is primarily a tool for support, so if you choose not to make use of Health+, you still get access to the Health Mate app (along with all your health data), which we really like. It gives you clear, easy to understand graphs to show your measurements, as well as offering health insights and other guides to help you achieve your goals.

Battery

The Body Comp scales come with four AAA batteries installed. It’s a little disappointing to see that the rechargeable battery that was in the Body Cardio has been replaced. That being said, Withings suggests these batteries can last for up to 15 months. Hopefully, this means that battery waste will be relatively minimal.  

Withings Body Comp Value

Top specs matched by top price

Withings body comp smart scale screen detailCredit: Saga Exceptional
These are great scales, but the price is high

Whether or not the Withings Body Comp scales are good value depends on how many of the health metrics you plan to use. If you just want smart scales for measuring body composition, you can find plenty of options at a lower price point.  

Where Body Comp does offer value is in the range of health metrics it measures. We’ve mentioned the likes of pulse wave velocity, vascular age and nerve health, and how these measurements could be useful – for example, if you are monitoring pre-existing health conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy, or trying to reduce your visceral fat levels. 

But then there’s Health+, the premium subscription service. As mentioned, while you get 12 months for free included with your purchase, if you want continued access, you have to pay for it. We’re not totally convinced that the large upfront cost, followed by a subscription on top, is good value for money in the longer term. 

Withings is a premium brand, and the products it designs are high quality. This is reflected in the price, and £200 for a set of smart scales is at the very top end of the market.

These scales do, though, offer a comprehensive set of measurements, unmatched by rival products. You’re paying for access to the most comprehensive health insights currently available in a smart scale.  

Withings Body Comp Competition

You might also like…

Withings Body Cardio smart scales

A person standing on a Withings Body Cardio body composition smart scaleCredit: Withings
The Body Cardio offers most of the features of the Body Comp

In our review of these scales, we said that these are still worth looking at for anyone who is interested in their body composition and heart health. Notably, these scales lack the electrodermal activity score, visceral fat measurements and access to Health+ subscription service that the Body Comp scales offer. But they are also cheaper, at around £149.95. You also still get access to the excellent Health Mate app. 

Eufy Smart Scales P2 Pro

Eufy Smart Scale P2 Pro on a wooden floorCredit: Eufy
The Eufy P2 Pro is a much cheaper option

While not as feature laden as the Body Cardio or Body Comp, the Eufy P2 Pro smart scale still promises to measure up to 16 different metrics, including visceral fat, body age and cellular protein. The glass design is slick, and they are considerably cheaper, at around £55. These won’t, however, offer some of those more in-depth metrics, such as vascular age, pulse wave velocity, or electrodermal activity. 

Withings Body Comp Final verdict

Top of the smart scales class

With the Body Comp scales, Withings once again offers health insights that other companies do not. And while these scales are quite expensive in relative terms, you are getting more data and insights than you’ll find with other smart scales. 

Body Comp has been designed for anyone who wants the most detailed insight into their body composition and overall health, as well as offering tools to help with changing their routine in order to improve their health and wellbeing. 

For many, what these scales offer is probably more than they are willing to pay for. These aren’t for people who just want to measure their weight, or want a basic body composition measurement. 

But as we’ve already said, this is a premium product, offering insights that you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re interested in tracking those added metrics, these are an excellent choice.  

Buy these if:

  • You want the most detailed and comprehensive body composition and health analysis available.
  • If you would like the extra support and guidance offered by the Health Mate app and Health+.
  • You want a device that’s simple to set up and use.

Don’t buy these if:

  • You aren’t overly concerned about all the added health metrics these scales offer.
  • You don’t want to spend hundreds of pounds. These are among the most expensive smart scales on the market.
Recommended

Withings Body Comp

Luxury

The Withings Body Comp are one of the most comprehensive smart scales we’ve tested; they offer insights into an impressively wide range of different health metrics. For anyone who wants the most detailed insights into their wellbeing, these scales are the ones to go for. But their price tag means that they might not be for everyone. 

Design

Well-built, premium feel, and easy to use.

Features

Offers more health metric measurements than almost any other device on the market.

Performance

Precise weight measurements, excellent app and very responsive.

Value

At £199.95, these are more expensive than most. You do get extra features though.


Who’s this for?

Anyone looking for some of the most detailed measurements of their health metrics currently available, and for extra support in improving their health.

Our likes and dislikes

  • High quality, premium design
  • Detailed and comprehensive health measurements
  • Electrodermal Activity score is a new and interesting tool
  • Expensive compared to alternative body composition scales
  • After 12 months, Health+ is a paid for subscription service
  • Still question marks about the accuracy of certain measurements

Expect to pay

RRP: £199.95 We have seen these available for £189.95 on the Withings website.

Withings Body Comp Specs

Weight 2.2 kg
Dimensions 325x325x25.6 mm
Battery life Up to 15 months
Bluetooth Yes
Wi-Fi WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, compatible with WEP/WPA/WPA2-personal networks
Weight limit 200 kg
Measurements recorded body fat %, total body water %, muscle mass kg or lb, bone mass kg or lb and visceral fat, heart rate, vascular age, nerve health
Number of users supported 8
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Steven Shaw

Written by Steven Shaw he/him

Updated:

Steven Shaw has been a freelance writer for a variety of outlets, most notably TechRadar. His degree in Medieval History prepared him less adequately for his career than you might expect, but the years spent working in technology focused retail were much more helpful.

Outside of work, Steven is passionate about health and fitness, and particularly enjoys high-intensity interval training, weight training, and increasingly, spending time recovering. Steven loves reading, films and a wide variety of sports. A particular highlight was watching Viv Richards and Sachin Tendulkar batting together in an exhibition match.

He wishes he could travel more. He can also tell you a lot about the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Carolingians. Most of his non-work time is spent with his young children, who are the living embodiment of high-intensity training.