Verdict

Pros

• Attractive design
• Easy setup
• Clean, approachable companion app

Cons

• BMI reading might not be that useful

What is the Nokia Body?

After completing its acquisition of the connected health tech company Withings, Nokia launched two new health devices alongside re-branding all of its existing products. Most people expected them to be shiny new fitness trackers or a glamorous smartwatch, but the new products were in fact an updated connected blood pressure monitor and the entry-level connected weighing scale reviewed here.

Joining the Nokia Body Cardio – which we originally reviewed as the Withings Body Cardio – and the Nokia Body+, the Nokia Body is the most basic model available. It does away with the Body Cardio’s Pulse Wave Velocity health measurement, and the body composition analysis (fat, muscle mass, bone density) that features in both of the more expensive models.

Instead, you’re left with a connected scale that includes a BMI measurement, Wi-Fi syncing and integration with Nokia’s other connected health devices, all for a more wallet-friendly price.

Nokia Body – Design and setup

Continuing the design principles set with the Nokia Body Cardio, the Nokia Body is characterised by its high-strength tempered glass platform, which gives it premium appeal. Considering it’s a device that you’re likely to leave out on show in your bathroom, it pays to have something good-looking. The Nokia Body is available in either black or white finishes.

The Body is a few millimetres thicker than the Body Cardio at 23mm, but it still doesn’t get close to some of the chunky analogue weighing scales on the market with their huge dials and thick, bouncy builds.

The top of the scale isn’t accentuated with the striping of the Body Cardio, nor does it have the vertical bar down the middle, both of which were needed to help line up your feet for correct readings. Since the Body doesn’t include any of the more advanced features, there’s no need for these; the result is a far cleaner design. A decent-sized, bright LED display is placed at the top of the scale and the familiar Nokia logo can be found at the bottom.

While the Body Cardio could automatically adjust between hard or soft surfaces, the Body includes a set of attachable feet if you’re planning to use the scale on carpets, which is a minor inconvenience. Rather than a built-in li-ion rechargeable battery, the Nokia Body uses 4 x AAA batteries, which should still be good for at least 18 months before they need replacing.

Setting up the Body is a piece of cake: simply install the Nokia Health Mate app for iOS or Android and then hold down the sync button on the bottom of the scale to put it in pairing mode. The app will then take you through the process of creating a profile if needed and will provide the scale with your Wi-Fi network details for syncing. If, for whatever reason, the scale fails to sync, it can hold up to seven readings in its built-in memory.

Nokia Body – Measurements and app

So without the more fancy body composition analysis offered by the Body+ and Body Cardio, you’re left with basic weight measurements, delivered in your preference of kg, lbs or st lbs. In truth, I’ve never been particularly confident about values derived from bioimpedance body fat analysis, which uses a small amount of electrical current to estimate your body fat percentage. For those with a relatively low body fat percentage and lean muscle, such body fat readings can be off the mark or prone to deviations. As such, I didn’t miss the feature with the Body.

Alongside weight measurements, the scale can also deliver a BMI reading. Now this is another potentially divisive reading since it simply uses your weight against your height to give you a Body Mass Index score. A score between 18-25 is deemed ‘normal’, with anything below considered underweight and anything above deemed overweight then veering towards obese as you move away from the normal range. On a per-candidate basis, it isn’t a particularly useful measurement, with it initially being devised as an average measure of the population overall.

If, for example, you’re carrying a lot of muscle, then this can easily put you in the overweight category, even if you lead a very healthy and active lifestyle. Rugby players are often used as an example to disprove the efficacy of the BMI measurement. Still, if you’re of a more average build, you might find it useful, and you can at least use it as a measure of any deviations – although this will shift with your weight unless your height is still changing.

Once you step on the scales, the small display will switch between different screens, which you can configure in the app. These can display details such as your weight, BMI reading, steps taken (if you’re using the Health Mate app as a pedometer through your smartphone, or are wearing a Nokia/Withings activity tracker) and the weather. The other particularly useful screen is the weight trend, which plots your past few readings so you can see how your weight has fluctuated. This is useful at a glance whether you’re looking to gain, lose or maintain your weight.

Related: Best Calorie Counter Apps

The scale has automatic user recognition for up to eight users, which is great if you have a family. However, much like many other smart scales, the automatic recognition is based on a user’s weight, so if you have multiple users of a similar weight then you might find yourself having to re-assign weigh-ins.

All of your measurements are pulled into the Nokia Health Mate app, which has been updated with a much cleaner design. Your weight and BMI measurements are graphed so you can identify patterns on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. The app works great if you have any other Nokia/Withings devices, too. I’ve been wearing the Withings Steel HR again, so all my activity and sleep data sat alongside my weight measurements.

The Health Mate app can also integrate with both Apple Health and Google Fit if you want to make your weight data available elsewhere. You can even use IFTTT integration, which I’ve used to share my Health Mate weight data to update my Fitbit profile as well (controversial, I know), meaning I could use the Nokia Body in place of a Fitbit Aria.

Related: Best fitness trackers

Should I buy the Nokia Body?

If you simply want an attractive, smart, connected scale, but don’t need any of the more advanced measurements, the Nokia Body is a good choice. While it’s a tad more expensive than similar smart scales such as the Koogeek S1, it’s worth it for the sleeker design, ease of use and clean Health Mate app, which itself integrates well with other services.

Considering I didn’t get on well with the Body Cardio’s advanced measurements, the stripped-back Nokia Body is much better value.

Verdict

An attractive, smart, Wi-Fi-connected weighing scale that integrates well with other services.

Trusted Score