Garmin Index S2 is the better fit if you already use Garmin Connect and mainly want weight trends and standard body-composition estimates. Withings Body Scan is the stronger fit if you want a broader set of health measurements. Neither is an evidence-based accuracy winner: Withings reports a comparison with DEXA, but the available evidence does not directly compare these two scales under the same conditions.
How the scales differ
Both are connected scales that estimate body composition. Garmin’s manual identifies bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as its method: a small electrical current passes from one foot through the body to the other. The two products differ more clearly in their ecosystems and stated measurement ranges than in independently established accuracy.
| Feature | Withings Body Scan | Garmin Index S2 |
|---|---|---|
| App and syncing | Withings app and connected health ecosystem; check current product documentation for specific integrations. | Automatically syncs readings over Wi-Fi to Garmin Connect after setup. |
| Measurements described by the manufacturer | Body composition and additional cardiovascular indicators; see Withings’ scale comparison for the original model’s listed features. | Weight, body-fat percentage, BMI, skeletal muscle mass, bone mass, and body-water percentage. |
| Household and trend features | Current original-model user capacity and app behavior are not established here. | Supports up to 16 users; its display can show a 30-day weight trend. |
| Accuracy evidence | Withings describes a DEXA comparison involving 80 people; this is manufacturer-reported evidence, not a head-to-head test against Garmin. | Garmin describes the BIA method and factors that can affect readings; the cited Garmin sources do not provide a directly comparable DEXA study. |
| Price evidence | No current price for the original Body Scan is established here. | Garmin announced a $149.99 suggested retail price in 2020. That launch MSRP is not a current street price. |
Choose based on the measurements and ecosystem you will use
Choose Garmin Index S2 for Garmin Connect and household weight tracking
The Index S2 is the straightforward choice if you already use Garmin Connect and want scale readings to join that account automatically over Wi-Fi. Garmin’s launch announcement specifies support for up to 16 users and a 30-day weight trend on the scale’s display. Its listed body-composition estimates cover common measures such as body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, and body water. Garmin also stated battery life of up to nine months in that 2020 announcement; actual battery life can vary with use.
Choose Withings Body Scan for a wider health-measurement proposition
Withings presents the original Body Scan as measuring body composition alongside additional cardiovascular indicators. That broader set may appeal if you want more than weight and familiar composition estimates, but compare the specific measurements you expect to use rather than treating a larger feature list as proof of greater clinical value. Withings lists the original Body Scan separately from BodyScan 2 in its product range.
#1 Best Overall
- THE ULTIMATE BODY ANALYZER - Body Scan is our most precise smart scale, for faster fitness improvement.
- INCREASE MUSCLE MASS FASTER - Precisely locating areas of muscle imbalance or excess fat may help to increase muscle mass faster.
- ACHIEVE FITNESS GOALS FASTER - Follow consistent and precise weight measurements (50 g / 0.1 lb), and track your weight trend on the scale’s high-visibility color screen or in the app.
- MONITOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH - Estimates the age of your arteries to give a clearer picture of your heart health by understanding how well your heart and blood vessels are functioning.
- FOLLOW YOUR HEART - Evaluate your heart rate at every weigh-in, a good indicator of overall cardiovascular fitness.
What the accuracy evidence does—and does not—show
Withings says Mon Stade, a French health and sports center, collaborated on a study involving 80 people. Its support page describes one DEXA control scan and three consecutive Body Scan measurements for each participant. Withings reports correlations of r = 0.99 for total fat mass, r = 0.98 for lean mass, r = 0.98 for total muscle mass, and r = 0.95 for total water mass. The page does not state a publication date. These are figures reported by Withings about its collaborative study, not an independent head-to-head result against Garmin.
Correlation indicates that two sets of measurements tend to vary together; it does not by itself establish that a scale’s reading closely matches a DEXA result for every individual. The cited material does not test the Garmin Index S2 against DEXA using the same participants and protocol, so it cannot establish which of these two scales is more accurate. See Withings’ explanation of its Body Scan and DEXA comparison for the company’s account.
Rank #2
- A CLINICAL SCAN OF YOUR HEALTH - Body Smart, developed in collaboration with leading hospitals and clinical institutions, has been clinically validated.
- ACHIEVE YOUR WEIGHT GOALS FASTER - Reliably track your weight to within 50 g and view your weight trends directly on the scale's high-resolution color display.
- INCREASE MUSCLE MASS FASTER - Increase muscle mass faster by analyzing body composition to tailor efforts.
- FOLLOW YOUR HEART - Evaluate your heart rate at every weigh-in, a good indicator of overall cardiovascular fitness.
- BOOST YOUR METABOLISM - Boost your metabolism by estimating the energy your body needs every day.
Get more useful readings by keeping conditions consistent
Garmin cautions that hydration, weight changes, and water distribution can affect BIA body-composition estimates. Its Index S2 owner’s manual recommends using the scale under consistent circumstances and at approximately the same time of day. It also recommends waiting two hours after eating, drinking, exercising, bathing, or using a sauna before taking a reading.
For either scale, use readings primarily to follow changes over time rather than treating a single body-composition result as a diagnosis. A reading taken under different conditions may reflect changes in hydration or timing, not a meaningful change in body composition.
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Rank #3
- A CLINICAL SCAN OF YOUR HEALTH - Body Scan, developed in collaboration with leading hospitals and clinical institutions, has been clinically validated.
- INCREASE YOUR MUSCLE MASS FASTER - Use the scale handle to precisely locate muscle imbalances and excess fat in the arms, legs, and torso.
- DETECT A CARDIAC ANOMALY - Use the electrocardiogram to identify any signs of atrial fibrillation, the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia.
- EVALUATE THE NATURAL PROTECTIVE FUCTION OF THE SKIN - Assess sweat gland activity in the feet to evaluate the natural protective function of the skin, all within seconds.
- MONITOR YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH - Every day analyze the condition of your arteries with our revolutionary assessment that measures arterial stiffness, a significant contributor to hypertension.
Check the exact Withings generation before comparing prices
The title refers to the original Withings Body Scan, not BodyScan 2. Withings’ support FAQ says BodyScan 2 launched in the EU on June 9, 2026, and in the US on July 20, 2026, with listed prices of €499.95, £449.95, and $599.95 respectively. Those are BodyScan 2 prices, not prices for the original Body Scan. The original model’s current price and availability are not established here, so confirm the generation and local listing before making a price comparison. See the BodyScan 2 FAQ for those launch details.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- A CLINICAL SCAN OF YOUR HEALTH - Body Comp, developed in collaboration with leading hospitals and clinical institutions, has been clinically validated.
- INCREASE YOUR MUSCLE MASS FASTER - Use the scale handle to precisely locate muscle imbalances and excess fat in the arms, legs, and torso.
- DETECT A CARDIAC ANOMALY - Use the electrocardiogram to identify any signs of atrial fibrillation, the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia.
- EVALUATE THE NATURAL PROTECTIVE FUCTION OF THE SKIN - Assess sweat gland activity in the feet to evaluate the natural protective function of the skin, all within seconds.
- MONITOR YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH - Every day analyze the condition of your arteries with our revolutionary assessment that measures arterial stiffness, a significant contributor to hypertension.
Rank #4
- FSA/HSA eligible
- Clear TFT-LCD Handle Display: The 4.3-inch screen of the body composition scale displays 9 pages of detailed measurement data, including muscle and fat analysis, trends, and goals. Handle buttons allows for scrolling content and volume/unit changes. (Bluetooth pairing with the scale must be done in the RENPHO Health app before taking measurements)
- Precision in Measurement: Equipped with eight-electrode dual-frequency and segmental BIA technology, the RENPHO MorphoScan Nova smart scale delivers an accurate health overview
- Comprehensive Body Report: Not just a weight scale, this body fat scale analyzes over 50 body metrics, including segmental muscle & fat analysis, and generates a report in the app, which can be printed and used to customize exercise and diet plans
- Voice Broadcast & Personalized Avatar: The smart scale includes voice broadcast for each step of the measurement process to help guide you with ease. Select an avatar for your profile within the app, it will be displayed on the scale's screen
Which one should you buy?
- Pick Garmin Index S2 if you use Garmin Connect, want automatic Wi-Fi syncing, or value clear household-sharing and weight-trend features.
- Pick Withings Body Scan if its broader set of health measurements is more useful to you and you can confirm that the original model is available in your market.
- Do not choose on an assumed accuracy advantage. The available evidence does not directly compare these exact scales, and Withings’ reported DEXA correlations are not proof that every reading is interchangeable with a clinical scan.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
