Hume Health Body Pod vs Withings Body Scan - Clinical Comparison
Compare Hume Health Body Pod and Withings Body Scan side-by-side with clinical performance scores, FDA status, pricing, and expert recommendations
Performance Metrics
Performance Metrics
Accuracy
Indicates how closely measurements match true body metrics, reflecting sensor and algorithm precision.
Accuracy
Indicates how closely measurements match true body metrics, reflecting sensor and algorithm precision.
Hardware Quality
Indicates the durability, build precision, and material quality of the scale’s physical components.
Hardware Quality
Indicates the durability, build precision, and material quality of the scale’s physical components.
Display
Indicates the clarity, brightness, and responsiveness of the scale’s screen.
Display
Indicates the clarity, brightness, and responsiveness of the scale’s screen.
App
Indicates the app’s features, ease of use, and pricing model.
App
Indicates the app’s features, ease of use, and pricing model.
Overall Value
Indicates the balance between product quality, features, and price.
Overall Value
Indicates the balance between product quality, features, and price.
Clinical Efficacy
Clinical Efficacy
Weight Precision
Indicates how precisely the scale measures body weight compared to true values.
Weight Precision
Indicates how precisely the scale measures body weight compared to true values.
Body Fat % Accuracy
Indicates how accurately the scale measures body fat percentage compared to true body composition values.
Body Fat % Accuracy
Indicates how accurately the scale measures body fat percentage compared to true body composition values.
Muscle Mass Accuracy
Indicates how accurately the scale measures muscle mass compared to true body composition values.
Muscle Mass Accuracy
Indicates how accurately the scale measures muscle mass compared to true body composition values.
Segmental Analysis
Indicates the scale’s ability to measure and differentiate body composition across specific regions such as arms, legs, and torso.
Segmental Analysis
Indicates the scale’s ability to measure and differentiate body composition across specific regions such as arms, legs, and torso.
Specifications
| Specification | Hume Health Body Pod | Withings Body Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229 | $499 |
| FDA Status | Not FDA Regulated | Not FDA Regulated |
| Clinical Evidence | Strong Clinical Evidence | Moderate Clinical Evidence |
| Clinical Recommendation | Worth Considering | Recommended |
| Connectivity |
bluetooth
|
bluetooth
wifi
|
Value for Money
Hume Health Body Pod
Strengths
- ✓ Mid-range price point is accessible.
- ✓ Stable and modern hardware design.
- ✓ Functional app with a usable free tier.
- ✓ Attractive and simple user interface.
Limitations
- × Severe inaccuracies in body composition readings.
- × Wildly fluctuating results undermine trust and usability.
- × Paid subscription ($9.99/ month) required for deeper insights.
- × Warranty is only 1 year, which is weaker than many competitors.
Withings Body Scan
Strengths
- ✓ Extremely rich feature set (6-lead ECG, nerve health, vascular age).
- ✓ Best-in-class display, animations, and user interface.
- ✓ Polished, insightful, and comprehensive companion app (Health Mate).
- ✓ Premium, high-end build quality and design.
- ✓ Seamless integration with Apple Health and Google Fit.
Limitations
- × Very high upfront cost (~$499).
- × Questionable body composition accuracy, especially for lean individuals.
- × Real-world battery life is much shorter than advertised (3-4 weeks vs. 12 months).
- × Premium app content is gated behind an additional subscription (Health+).
Expert Review Summary
Our clinical assessment and verdict for each device
Hume Health Body Pod
"A stylish mid-range scale that is ultimately too inaccurate to be recommended for reliable body composition tracking."
The Hume Body Pod enters the market as a mid-range smart scale with a modern aesthetic and a polished companion app. At $229, it aims to provide more than basic weight data. However, its core function is critically flawed by severe accuracy and consistency issues, particularly for women and users with lower body fat, where readings can fluctuate wildly and inflate body fat percentages by up to 40%. While the hardware is physically adequate and the app is functional, the unreliability of the data, a weak 1-year warranty, and a subscription model for advanced insights make it a poor value proposition.
Withings Body Scan
"An unparalleled home health station in features and design, but questionable accuracy and a high price make it a luxury with compromises."
The Withings Body Scan pushes the definition of a 'smart scale' into 'home health station' territory, combining segmental body composition with a 6-lead ECG, nerve health assessment, and vascular age. Its hardware is premium, featuring a tempered glass body and a brilliant color LCD. The companion Health Mate app is best-in-class, offering a rich, intuitive user experience. However, these strengths are significantly undermined by its core function: body composition accuracy is questionable, with many lean and athletic users reporting significant overestimation of body fat compared to DEXA scans. Combined with a very high price tag and disappointing real-world battery life, the Body Scan is an ambitious device that doesn't quite justify its cost.
Where to Buy
Verified purchase options and current availability
Hume Health Body Pod
Hume Health Official Site
$229.00Withings Body Scan
Withings Official Site
$499.95Best Buy
$499.95Important Purchase Considerations
- • Prices shown are current as of the last update and may vary. Always verify pricing at the retailer's website.
- • Some medical devices may require a prescription. Check with your healthcare provider before purchasing.
- • Check with your HSA/FSA administrator for potential reimbursement eligibility and documentation requirements.
- • Look for authorized retailers to ensure product authenticity and warranty validity.