Withings has announced a new addition to its smart scale lineup, the Body Smart - and it features a fairly novel mode that can hide weight readings from the user.
It's fair to say that most people don't buy a smart scale to not look at their weight, but the Body Smart's new 'Eyes Closed Mode' means users can choose to track body composition a little differently.
Instead of the scale showing you your fluctuating weight each time you step off, the option exists to replace this with an encouraging message, the weather forecast, step counts, or even an air quality reading.
The figure will still be available within the Withings+ companion app, with the typical trends, advice, and assessments all available, too.
As with other scales, the Body Smart uses bioelectrical impedance analysis to determine the user's overall composition, with an electrical signal being sent through the body to measure body fat percentage, visceral fat, muscle mass, and water weight.
In an over-the-air update landing in May, the Body Smart will also be capable of registering information relating to basal metabolic rate and metabolic age. A pregnancy mode will also be included in this feature drop, as well.
Priced at $99.95 / £99.99, the new scale is also significantly cheaper than most of its siblings.
While it comes in just above the entry-level, $59.95 / £59.99 Withings Body, it's half the price of the Withings Body Comp and a fraction of the flagship $399.95 / £399.99 Withings Body Scan.
Considering the breadth of features, as well, this latest model would appear to offer pretty good value for money.
And we do like the idea of the 'Eyes Closed Mode' and the more holistic approach to body composition tracking that can, by nature, lead people to invest too heavily in individual readings and figures.
Stay tuned for a more in-depth take over the coming weeks and months, as we'll be looking to test the Withings Body Smart as part of a full review.
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Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.