Withings Scale vs. Fitbit Aria 2

Smart scales are a great way to take the guesswork out of measuring health, and many fitness brands now offer scales with at least some sort of connectivity. The Withings Scale and Fitbit Aria 2 both have their pros and cons, with the Withings model being better on its own and the Aria 2 being a better choice for Fitbit users.

When comparing just the scales side by side, it’s pretty clear that Withings has the edge. However, the strength of the Fitbit Aria 2 is its integration with the larger Fitbit ecosystem — one of the first massively popular smart fitness brands that continues to create top-notch products for those looking to keep track of their health.

Below we go into detail on the similarities and differences of the Withings Scale vs. Fitbit Aria 2. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump right on down to the sections that interest you most.

Withings Scale vs. Fitbit Aria 2 — Differences

    • Difference #1: Water %, Plus Muscle & Bone Mass – The first difference worth discussing when comparing the Withings WiFi Body Scale vs. Fitbit Aria 2 is the type of metrics they measure. Both scales cover the baseline weight, body fat percentage, lean mass, and BMI, but Withings also gives data on water percentage as well as muscle and bone mass.

      It’s easy to see that Withings pulls ahead when it comes to the data it provides.

  • Difference #2: Position Control Technology – One of the most frustrating aspects of many scales is wide variability in measurement based on positioning. Having a scale at even a slight angle or on a different floor material can skew readings drastically in one direction or the other. The Withings scale features position control technology that guides you into the appropriate stance in order to ensure that each weigh-in is as precise as possible.

    The Fitbit Aria 2 will recommend that you lay the scale on a flat surface for an accurate reading but doesn’t have any tech that helps you during the reading itself.

    Again, Withings pulls ahead.

  • Difference #3: Pregnancy Tracker & Baby Mode – One of the more unique features of the Withings scale is the pregnancy tracker and Baby mode. The scale can help expecting mothers ensure that they stay within a healthy weight gain range using obstetrician-reviewed advice. Baby Mode also allows you to easy way infants, which isn’t very easy with the majority of traditional scales.

    The Fitbit Aria 2 has no analogous features.

  • Difference #4: Weather Forecast – Yet another area where the Withings Body+ Scale pulls ahead is with support for weather forecasts. When you step on your scale in the morning, you’ll enjoy a localized weather report that will help you plan your day.

    The Fitbit Aria 2 doesn’t have any weather forecast feature. The ability to tell the weather is certainly convenient, but we can’t really fault Fitbit for not including it with the Aria 2 since it isn’t exactly related to fitness.

  • Difference #5: Amazon Alexa – Amazon Alexa integrates with the Withings scale, syncing with the Health Mate app in order to help you manage your weight. This is another area where Withings pulls ahead of Fitbit, but, just like the Weather forecast feature, we’re not really sure how much use people will get out of that integration on a day to day basis.
  • Difference #6: App Compatibility – While Withing does have a whole host of features that put it ahead of the Aria 2 scale, it’s difficult to beat the Fitbit brand when it comes to integration with other apps. As part of perhaps the largest smart fitness product line with a history that goes back more than a few years, the Fitbit Aria 2 integrates with over 200 Android, iOS, and Windows apps. The Withings scale is still pretty impressive with support for over 100 apps, but it still pales in comparison to what Fitbit brings to the table.

    If you’re looking for a smart scale that will work with pretty much any app you can think of, the Fitbit Aria 2 is probably right up your alley.

  • Difference #7: Power – The Withings Body+ Scale uses 4x 1.5V Alkaline cells (AAA), with an average battery lifetime of 18 months. The Fitbit Aria 2, on the other hand, uses 3 standard 1.5V size AA batteries, and the company doesn’t provide information on the battery life.

    It’s difficult to say which scale pulls ahead in this area due to the lack of information with Fitbit, but AA batteries do generally last longer than AAA cells. However, comparing the two scales side by side is difficult in this case because we don’t know much about the Aria 2’s power consumption.

  • Difference #8: Storage – The Withings scale can actually store up to 16 readings on the device itself if it isn’t currently able to sync wirelessly, which is great for when you don’t have your phone on hand. As far as we know, the Fitbit Aria 2 has no such feature, giving Withings the edge yet again.

    Unfortunately, the Fitbit Aria 2 does not have any such feature.


Withings Scale vs. Fitbit Aria 2 — Comparison Chart

Withings Fitbit Aria 2
WiFi 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth Yes Yes
Weight Limit Up to 400lbs (4.5–181.4kg) Up to 400lbs (4.5–181.4kg)
Users Up to 8 Up to 8
Wireless Syncing Yes Yes
Position Control Technology Yes No
Pregnancy Tracker & Baby Mode Yes No
Weather Forecast Yes No
Amazon Alexa Support Yes No
App Compatibility Over
100 Android/iOS fitness apps
Over
200 Android/iOS/Windows apps
Nutrition Tracking Yes Yes
Power 4 x 1.5V Alkaline cells (AAA) 3 AA batteries
BMI, Lean Mass &
Body Fat Percentage
Yes Yes
Water %, Plus Muscle &
Bone Mass
Yes No
Size 12.8 x 12.8 x 0.9 in 14.2 x 14 x 1.6 in

Withings Scale vs. Fitbit Aria 2 — Things in Common

Fitbit Aria

  • Automatic Synchronization – Like most smart fitness devices, the Withings Scale and Fitbit Aria 2 both sync with fitness app automatically. For Withings, this is the Health Mate app, while the Aria 2 links into the company’s own Fitbit app. The auto-sync means that you’ll spend less time uploading data and more time taking advantage of the various features that these two scales bring to the table.
  • Users – Both scales make it easy for everyone in the family to keep track of their health, with support for up to 8 users. Everyone using the scale can access their personal weight histories since the scales can automatically determine who’s who.
  • Nutrition Tracking – Since the Withings Scale and Fitbit Aria 2 both link into their respective fitness apps, you’ll be able to use the smart features to help track your nutrition as well. Set a weight goal and keep track of your daily caloric intake using MyFitnessPal or the meal planning and caloric budget feature in the case of the Aria.
  • Weight Range – The Withings and Fitbit scales both support up to 400 pounds, which should be more than enough for the majority of people. Technically the Withings scale only supports up to 396 pounds, but the two models are pretty much equivalent in capacity for all intents and purposes.
  • Sensors – Lastly, the Fitbit and Withings scales both have 4 weight sensors that lead to high accuracy which seems to be the same regardless of your choice in model. With that said, Withings does measure more metrics which gives a better overall picture of your health.

Withings Scale vs. Fitbit Aria 2 — Accessories

Fitbit Charge 3

The Fitbit Aria 2, in particular, has a lot of accessories that we recommend taking a look at if you’d like a more comprehensive approach to fitness.

The Fitbit Flyer Headphones feature 6 hours of playtime with a quick charge functionality that will get you up and running as quickly as possible. Built-in Bluetooth also means they should pair well with whatever music player you prefer.

The Fitbit Charge 3 is the most advanced fitness watch from the brand. Swim-proof and waterproof up to 50m making it the perfect companion while taking a dip in the pool, and sleep data and smartphone notifications make sure you’re always apprised of your overall health.

If you’d like a slimmer band, the Fitbit Alta HR may be right up your alley with heart rate tracking in addition to basic fitness features.

The Fitbit Flex 2 is another great swim-proof model, with life-proofing allowing you to wear the band into the ocean. The super simple design is quite intuitive and doesn’t complicate things with an excess of features.

If you’d like to bring your kids into the mix, the Fitbit Ace is one of the only bands on the market that is designed to help children get into shape. It’s a showerproof model that fits wrists from 4.6-6.1 inches in circumference. One of the more unique features is the ability to reward good habits with celebratory messages, as well as support for “challenges” that allow your kids to compete with their friends in step competitions. The watch can also send messages and cheers to other users.

For the Withings Scale, the integration is a little bit more limited. However, we do recommend looking into something like the Nokia Steel HR Hybrid Watch. 24/7 seamless tracking allows you to automatically track your walk, run, swim and 10+ other activities while seeing the calories burned and distance traveled. Keep an eye on your sleep with sleep cycle analysis and wake up refreshed in the morning with a silent vibrating alarm that can wake you up at the optimal point in your cycle. Automatic synchronization also allows you to visualize trends and data on your phone using the free Nokia Health Mate app, and an 8-month battery life allows you to keep active all day every day without having to worry about charging.

Withings/Nokia Steel - Activity & Sleep Watch
1,161 Reviews

Withings Scale vs. Fitbit Aria 2 — Our Thoughts

Withings Scale

Overall, while comparing the Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale vs. Withings Scale, it’s not really possible to declare a clear winner.

If you’re looking for a product that integrates with a larger fitness ecosystem the Fitbit Aria 2 is a clear choice, while the Withings Scale is a better option if you’re looking to get the most out of the scale itself due to the abundance of extra features.


Last update on 2024-03-29 at 06:04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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