Wyze cuts smart scale price with $79.98 BodyScan
Wyze's new Scale BodyScan drops Wi-Fi and uses Bluetooth while keeping a handle-based electrode system for body composition readings.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Wyze has introduced the Scale BodyScan, a $79.98 smart scale that brings body-composition readings to a lower price than its earlier Ultra model. The Verge reports the new device costs $40 less than the $119.98 Ultra BodyScan Wyze launched seven months ago, with the savings coming from fewer connectivity and display features.
According to Wyze, the Scale BodyScan is available now. The company’s cheaper model does not include Wi-Fi, The Verge reports, so measurements sync through the Wyze mobile app over Bluetooth instead.
The scale can send data to Apple Health and Google Fit when connected through the Wyze app, according to The Verge. Wyze also replaced the Ultra model’s customizable LCD screen with a 4.7-inch LED display that shows health information on the device.
How the body-composition system works
Wyze kept the key hardware feature from the higher-priced model: a retractable handle attached to the scale. The Verge reports that the handle includes four electrodes, which Wyze says help the scale gather more detailed information from the arms, legs and torso.
The Scale BodyScan has eight electrodes in all, according to The Verge. Four are in the handle, while the other four sit in the base under a conductive glass surface.
Wyze says that glass surface means users do not need to place their feet on exact sensor spots for the scale to take measurements. The company says the handle is optional, but using it gives the device more inputs for estimating how fat and muscle are distributed across the body.
According to Wyze, the scale can measure body weight and BMI along with several body-composition estimates. The company lists protein and water levels, bone mass, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat and muscle mass among the readings the device can capture.
Profiles, guests and reports
Wyze says the Scale BodyScan can identify and track readings for as many as eight users. The company also says the scale can take one-time readings for any number of guests, allowing visitors to use it without being added as a regular profile.
The Wyze app is not needed for basic use of the scale or for tracking measurements over time, according to The Verge. Users who do connect the app can create a PDF body-composition report, which Wyze says can be shared with a doctor or personal trainer.
The new model gives Wyze a lower-cost option in its smart scale lineup while preserving the handle-based electrode design that distinguishes the Ultra BodyScan. The Verge reports that the trade-offs are clear: Bluetooth replaces Wi-Fi, and the display is simpler, while the broader set of body-composition metrics remains part of the product.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.