Wyze Scale X Review | PCMag

The Wyze Scale X ($33.99) is a feature-rich smart bathroom scale that tracks 13 body composition and health metrics. That’s up from 12 on both the original model from 2020 and the compact Scale S from 2021, adding muscle mass percentage to an already impressive list including BMI, body fat, body water, protein level, visceral fat, and, yes, weight. The Scale X also has longer battery life than its predecessors, along with a new mode for weighing luggage. With these welcome refinements, as well as accurate measurements in our testing, the Wyze Scale X earns our Editors’ Choice award for budget-friendly smart scales.

Wyze Scale X Features and Limitations

The Wyze Scale X has a supported weight range from 11 to 400 pounds (it also supports kilograms or stone for the weight unit, if you prefer). But there’s more to health and fitness than just your weight, and the Wyze Scale X offers a comprehensive view of your body composition with the ability to measure your body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI, a measure of your body weight in relation to your height), basal metabolic rate (BMR, the minimum necessary energy needed in an inactive state), body water percentage, bone mass, lean body mass, metabolic age, muscle mass, muscle mass percentage, protein level, and visceral fat. Note that it will only calculate these body composition metrics for people between the ages of 10 and 100 years old, though anyone outside of that range can still use it to weigh themselves.

Its predecessors, the Wyze Scale and the Scale S, measure all the same metrics with the exception of muscle mass percentage. Like the Scale S, the X offers an app-based heart rate measurement tool, whereas the original Wyze Scale can measure your heart rate through your feet. The app-based method is more of a hassle, but Wyze claims it’s more accurate.

The Scale X supports auto-recognition and app syncing for up to eight unique users, though an unlimited number of people can use it to take one-off weight measurements. Keep in mind that the Scale X can only differentiate users to sync their data to the correct account if “their weight difference is greater than 13.2 lb [when taking a measurement] with the app closed, or greater than 6.6 lb with the app open.”

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

The Scale X comes in black or white and has a simple yet elegant design that should suit any bathroom. ITO tempered glass covers a plastic body, and the electrodes it uses for its advanced readings are hidden, giving the Scale X a sleeker look than some other smart scales.

It’s light and thin, weighing 5.2 pounds and measuring 11.8 by 11.8 by 1.18 (LWH). Its dimensions match the original Wyze Scale, while the smaller Scale S measures 11 by 11 by 1 inches. If you have big feet like me, you’ll appreciate the extra room on the X. Four square panels form a quadrant on the surface and a metal bar runs vertically down the middle, all helping to subtly guide your foot placement.

Given that some smart scales cost $100 or more, you might expect a few sacrifices from the affordable Wyze Scale X. Sure enough, it lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, but makes up for it by storing your readings locally until the next time you open its companion Wyze app (available for Android and iOS) within Bluetooth range. Smart scales with built-in Wi-Fi like the Arboleaf Smart Fitness Scale ($45.99) and the Withings Wi-Fi Body+ Scale ($99.95) can send your measurements to their respective apps even when your phone is out of Bluetooth range.

Moreover, it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, a feature of the QardioBase X ($129.99) and the Withings Body Cardio ($179.95). Instead, the four included AAs should provide up to 22 months of juice (in the battery-extending Power Saving Mode) before you need to swap them out. In comparison, the Scale S can stay powered for up to 18 months between battery swaps, and the Wyze Scale promises up to 15 months.

Finally, the Scale X lacks measurement capabilities for some advanced metrics like subcutaneous fat, or fat just below the skin, a stat you can get from the aforementioned Arboleaf model. It can, however, measure visceral fat, or belly fat near important organs, which is generally regarded as a more dangerous fat to your health and thus more important to monitor.

Despite these limitations, the Wyze Scale X will account for the needs of most folks looking for a smart scale to track their weight and other health metrics.

Getting to Know the Wyze Scale X

Setting up the Wyze Scale X is quick and painless. First, insert the included AA batteries into the compartment that slides open on the bottom of the scale. Next, download the Wyze app and create an account if you’re new to the brand. From there, hit the plus button in the upper left corner of the app to add a device, pick the Lifestyle category to find scales, select the Scale X, then follow the steps to pair the scale with your phone via Bluetooth, and give it a name.

Finally, the app will ask for some personal information, including your age, body type (with icons for male or female), and height, details it needs for accurate body composition measurements. If you work out more than 10 hours a week, Wyze recommends turning on Athlete mode for accuracy.

The Scale X uses your aforementioned personal details along with a process called bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) to calculate your body fat percentage and other advanced metrics. Most smart scales we’ve tested use BIA, which sends a small electrical current through your body and uses the resistances it reads to calculate your body’s makeup.

The BIA current should be completely benign to most folks, but it can pose a hazard if you’re pregnant or have a pacemaker. Like its predecessors, the Scale X has a Pregnancy/Weight-Only Mode, which disables the BIA electrical current, so the scale will only show your weight. I had some trouble figuring out how to turn Pregnancy Mode on, but I eventually found the option within my personal profile in the app. You can enable it for individual users by navigating to the settings menu (via the gear icon in the upper right corner) > Users > your nickname.

Accurate and Easy to Use

To take a reading, simply step on the scale. For the BIA measurement to work, you’ll need to step on with bare feet. Your feet should not be wet, but it’s OK if they are damp. Wyze recommends keeping your feet and knees apart during the reading.

If you store the scale upright, Wyze recommends calibrating it before you step on by tapping it with your foot to wake the display and letting it set to zero. You’ll also need to wake it before stepping on if you enable Power Saving Mode to get the maximum 22-month runtime out of the batteries. Like most other scales, the Wyze Scale X works best on a hard, flat surface.

Left to right: Wyze Scale X, QardioBaseX (Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Once you step up, the bright white digital display responsively turns on, counting up until it flashes a final weight reading before showing your body fat percentage. The Scale X works quickly: In testing, it took roughly seven seconds to finish its readings vs. 18 seconds for the pricier QardioBase X.

Moreover, the Scale X’s measurements proved reasonably accurate in testing. Its weight readings were consistently within a pound of those shown by the QardioBase X and the scale at my local gym, and fluctuations in my data made sense based on my activity and what I ate the night before. The Scale X showed appropriate changes if I added layers to my wardrobe before stepping on again, though it isn’t precise enough to show any difference between when I was and wasn’t holding my phone, a 6.8-ounce Google Pixel 7a.

I compared its BMI and body fat percent measurements with readings from the advanced, handheld Omiron HBF-306C at my local gym. For BMI, the Scale X was within decimals of the Omiron. For body fat percentage, the Scale X skewed a little higher, but was still within one percent of the Omiron.

The Wyze Scale X did not update my body water percentage after I chugged a 21-ounce water bottle (or after the resulting bathroom trip), so its internal software likely prioritizes consistency over minute fluctuations. While the Wyze Scale X shouldn’t be confused for a scientific measuring tool, the scale is accurate and consistent enough to clearly demonstrate changes in your body composition and track your fitness progress over time.

Trend Data and Modes in the Wyze App

The scale’s display only shows your weight and body fat percentage, so you need to open the Wyze app to track the rest of your metrics. Since the Wyze Scale X only has Bluetooth and not Wi-Fi, the app sometimes takes a second to update to your latest reading when you first open it. The app interface is simple. Weight, BMI, body fat percent, and muscle mass are visible at a glance, alongside the time of the last reading, and you can tap the down arrows beneath these attributes to see the rest.

A large human (definitely not me) broke into my home, weighed themselves, and then weighed my cat (Credit: Wyze)

Tap any metric to see a simple graph showing where your measurement lies in relation to the healthy range for a person of your age and height. Scroll down the main page to see your weight data charted over time. Tap the weight chart to open a Trends page with individual trend graphs for the rest of your metrics. Buttons atop the Trends page let you adjust the time frame by week, month, year, or all time.

Back on the main scale page, you’ll see a button to measure your heart rate, along with both the time and value of the last measurement you took. When taking a heart rate reading, the app will prompt you to place your finger on the main camera lens of your phone, and a small window shows the camera’s view to help you get your finger lined up. A heart rate reading taken through Wyze app matched a measurement from the Polar Vantage V3 multisport watch, which I’m also testing for an upcoming review.

The main scale page also features buttons for Baby Mode, Pet Mode, and Luggage Mode. Each of these works the same way. With the app open on your phone and Bluetooth enabled, you hit the button, step on the scale by yourself, then go grab the extra item you’re weighing, and step on again. If you’re weighing luggage, that’s the end of the process, though you can quickly press the button again if you need to weigh another bag. For a living creature, you can create a profile and Wyze will keep track of their weight over time on another chart.

I enjoyed tracking the weights of my cats Scout and Shadow separately. Creating their profiles was quick. Wyze simply needs a name, but I also filled out their birth year, body type (gender), and breed while leaving height blank because I didn’t feel like getting out the measuring tape (they were already annoyed that I had disturbed their naps for the weigh-in). Yes, you can easily replicate these modes with an ordinary scale and a calculator, but the Wyze Scale X makes the process a lot more convenient and its trend charts let you easily track your fur baby’s weight over time.

Through the settings menu, you can sync your scale to third-party apps Apple Health, Fitbit, or Google Fit, as well as export your data to your email.

Worth Its Weight

The Wyze Scale X checks off nearly everything you’d want in a smart scale for the price of an impulse buy. It accurately measures multiple body composition metrics—from weight to protein level—in seconds, and charts your trends in its well-designed companion app, which also offers a heart rate measurement tool. It supports up to eight users, and pregnant women can disable the BIA current to safely monitor their weight. It also offers modes for weighing babies, luggage, and pets, and integrates with third-party apps from Apple, Fitbit, and Google. If built-in Wi-Fi or subcutaneous fat readings make a big difference to you, check out the Arboleaf Smart Fitness Scale. Otherwise, the Wyze Scale X offers nearly all the same features as higher-end scales for less money, earning it our Editors’ Choice award for affordable smart scales.