Medically Reviewed By: Mark Aquino, NP – Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner, author of Physical Assessment for Nurses Simplified. This article is based on real-world urgent care experience and current clinical guidelines.
Updated September 2026
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Losing weight can be frustrating when the bathroom scale barely moves.
You may exercise more.
You may eat better.
Your clothes may fit differently.
But the scale still shows almost the same number.
One reason is simple.
Body weight does not tell you what your body is made of.
You can lose fat while gaining muscle. Your hydration can change. Your weight can also move several pounds from normal day-to-day changes.
This is the problem that smart body-composition scales try to solve.
One increasingly popular option is the RunSTAR Smart Scale.
It measures weight but also estimates body fat, BMI, muscle mass, body water, and several other body-composition measurements.
It also has something many cheaper smart scales lack:
a large display that shows several measurements without requiring you to immediately open your phone.
But is that useful enough to buy one?
And how does RunSTAR compare with two extremely popular alternatives, the Etekcity Smart Scale and RENPHO Elis 1?
Let’s compare them.
Quick Verdict
The RunSTAR Smart Scale is a good middle-ground option for someone who wants more information displayed directly on the scale while still having app-based body-composition tracking.
Its strongest feature is convenience.
You can see several useful measurements without checking your phone every time.
The Etekcity Smart Scale is the better choice if you want a highly established inexpensive smart scale with a large existing user base.
The RENPHO Elis 1 is another strong budget choice if you primarily care about app-based tracking and don’t need as much information displayed on the scale itself.
Best large-display option: RunSTAR Smart Scale
Best established budget alternative: Etekcity Smart Scale
Best simple app-focused alternative: RENPHO Elis 1
What Is the RunSTAR Smart Scale?
The RunSTAR Smart Scale is a Bluetooth body-composition scale designed to measure more than body weight.
Its Amazon model is FG2210.
The scale tracks 13 body-composition measurements through its app.
These include measurements and estimates such as:
- body weight
- BMI
- body fat percentage
- muscle mass
- body water
- bone mass
- visceral fat
- subcutaneous fat
- protein
- fat-free body weight
- skeletal muscle
- basal metabolic rate
- metabolic age
The scale uses bioelectrical impedance analysis, usually shortened to BIA.
We’ll explain why that matters later.
One of the biggest differences between this RunSTAR model and many inexpensive smart scales is its display.
Instead of showing only your weight, its larger display can show several measurements directly.
That means you don’t necessarily need to open an app every morning just to see basic trends.
Check the RunSTAR Smart Scale on Amazon →
Why Is This RunSTAR Scale Interesting Right Now?
The smart-scale category is crowded.
RENPHO and Etekcity already have enormous numbers of users.
RunSTAR is a smaller competitor.
But this particular RunSTAR model appears to be gaining traction.
Recent Amazon marketplace tracking for August 2026 estimated about 4,000 monthly sales for this model and approximately 100% month-over-month growth.
That doesn’t prove that it is the best smart scale.
But it does make it an interesting newer competitor in a category dominated by established products.
The question is whether its extra display functionality gives you something useful.
What I Like About the RunSTAR Smart Scale
1. You Don’t Need Your Phone for Every Weigh-In
This is probably its biggest advantage.
Some inexpensive smart scales show:
163.4 lb
And that’s basically it.
Everything else requires opening an app.
RunSTAR puts more information directly in front of you.
That can make daily tracking feel much easier.
You can step on the scale, look down, and immediately see several measurements.
If you want deeper information and trends, you can then use the app.
2. It Tracks More Than Weight
This is the entire reason smart scales exist.
Suppose someone begins resistance training while trying to lose fat.
After several weeks:
Weight change: -1 pound
That can feel disappointing.
But imagine the smart scale estimates:
Fat mass: down
Muscle mass: up
Now the story looks different.
The person’s body may be changing even though total weight has barely moved.
That is called body recomposition.
A normal bathroom scale can’t show you that possibility.
3. The App Lets You Follow Trends
Individual body-composition measurements aren’t nearly as useful as trends.
Your estimated body-fat percentage might fluctuate from one measurement to another.
But if measurements taken under similar conditions gradually move from:
30%
to 28%
to 26%
over several months, that trend may provide useful information.
The same applies to body weight.
Daily measurements bounce around.
Long-term trends matter more.
4. It Can Be Useful During Weight Loss
A common mistake during weight loss is focusing entirely on:
“How many pounds did I lose?”
But weight loss and fat loss aren’t exactly the same thing.
Ideally, someone losing weight would like a substantial portion of that change to come from body fat while preserving as much lean mass as practical.
A smart scale can’t measure this perfectly.
But it can provide another data point alongside:
- waist circumference
- how clothes fit
- exercise performance
- progress photos
- body weight
- professional body-composition testing when appropriate
The Important Limitation: Smart Scales Don’t Directly Measure Your Body Fat
This is extremely important.
The RunSTAR scale does not look inside your body and directly count pounds of fat.
Neither does RENPHO.
Neither does Etekcity.
Most consumer smart scales use bioelectrical impedance analysis.
The scale sends a very small electrical current through the body.
Different tissues conduct electricity differently.
The device combines the measured electrical impedance with information such as your weight and profile information to estimate body composition.
That word matters:
estimate.
Hydration can affect BIA readings.
So can:
- recent food intake
- exercise
- time of day
- alcohol
- skin temperature
- bladder contents
- measurement conditions
That means you shouldn’t interpret:
“My body fat went from 25.2% yesterday to 24.4% today!”
as proof that you suddenly lost nearly 1% body fat overnight.
You almost certainly didn’t.
Look at the trend.
RunSTAR vs Etekcity Smart Scale
One of RunSTAR’s biggest competitors is the Etekcity Smart Scale.
This Etekcity model is enormously established.
Current marketplace data shows it among the strongest-selling products in the smart-scale category.
It uses the VeSync app and provides body-composition tracking at a relatively low price.
So why buy RunSTAR?
The biggest difference is the display.
The RunSTAR model emphasizes showing multiple measurements directly on its larger display.
The basic Etekcity model is more dependent on its connected app for deeper information.
RunSTAR vs Etekcity
| Feature | RunSTAR FG2210 | Etekcity Smart Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Body weight | Yes | Yes |
| Body composition estimates | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth/app | Yes | Yes |
| Large multi-metric display | Yes | More basic |
| BMI | Yes | Yes |
| Body fat | Yes | Yes |
| Muscle information | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | On-scale information | Established budget ecosystem |
The Etekcity model has another major advantage:
It has been around longer.
That means there is a much larger body of customer experience surrounding it.
If you want a straightforward inexpensive smart scale and don’t mind checking your phone for additional information, the Etekcity is hard to ignore.
Check the Etekcity Smart Scale on Amazon →
RunSTAR vs RENPHO Elis 1
Then there is the RENPHO Elis 1 Smart Scale.
RENPHO is one of the most established names in inexpensive smart scales.
The Elis 1 measures body weight and provides 13 body-composition measurements through the RENPHO Health app.
It also integrates with popular health platforms.
The RENPHO’s biggest advantage is simple:
It’s inexpensive and extremely established.
If your main goal is:
“I want my weight and body-composition estimates automatically recorded on my phone.”
the RENPHO may already accomplish what you need.
RunSTAR vs RENPHO Elis 1
| Feature | RunSTAR FG2210 | RENPHO Elis 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Yes | Yes |
| Body fat estimate | Yes | Yes |
| BMI | Yes | Yes |
| 13 body metrics | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| App tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Large multi-metric scale display | Yes | No |
| Best for | Seeing more without phone | Low-cost app tracking |
This makes the purchasing decision surprisingly simple.
If you don’t mind using your phone:
RENPHO makes a lot of sense.
If you want more information immediately visible when you step on the scale:
RunSTAR becomes more interesting.
Check the RENPHO Elis 1 on Amazon →
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose RunSTAR if:
You want multiple measurements displayed directly on the scale.
You don’t want to open your phone after every weigh-in.
You want body-composition estimates in addition to weight.
You want app-based trend tracking when you need more detail.
You like having a larger display.
See the RunSTAR Smart Scale on Amazon →
Choose Etekcity if:
You want an inexpensive smart scale from a highly established product line.
You’re comfortable using the VeSync ecosystem.
You care more about price and established popularity than having a large multi-metric display.
See the Etekcity Smart Scale on Amazon →
Choose RENPHO if:
You want a simple inexpensive smart scale.
You mainly want your measurements recorded in an app.
You don’t need lots of information displayed directly on the scale.
You want a product with a very large existing user base.
See the RENPHO Elis 1 on Amazon →
Can a Smart Scale Tell You If Your Weight Loss Is Working?
It can help.
But don’t let the smart scale become the judge of your entire health journey.
Imagine this:
Month 1
Weight: 200 lb
Estimated body fat: 30%
Month 3
Weight: 194 lb
Estimated body fat: 27%
Waist circumference: smaller
Clothes: fitting more loosely
Strength: maintained
That’s a much richer picture than simply saying:
“I lost six pounds.”
Now imagine another scenario.
Weight falls rapidly.
But strength is falling.
Muscle estimates are trending downward.
The person is exhausted.
Food intake has become extremely restrictive.
That’s a very different situation.
Smart-scale information should be interpreted alongside the bigger picture.
How to Get More Consistent Smart Scale Measurements
Consistency matters.
Try weighing yourself under similar conditions.
A practical approach is:
Measure at approximately the same time of day.
Morning is convenient for many people.
Use the bathroom first.
Bladder contents affect body weight.
Measure before eating or drinking.
This reduces another source of variation.
Use the scale on a hard, level surface.
Carpet can interfere with measurements.
Use bare feet for body-composition measurements.
BIA requires electrical contact.
Place the scale in the same location.
Don’t constantly move it between different surfaces.
And don’t panic over one strange measurement.
Look at trends over weeks and months.
Should You Weigh Yourself Every Day?
You can.
But you don’t have to.
Daily weighing provides more data.
The downside is psychological.
Body weight naturally fluctuates.
You can follow your plan perfectly and still wake up two pounds heavier.
That doesn’t mean you gained two pounds of body fat overnight.
Water retention, sodium intake, carbohydrate intake, bowel contents, menstrual-cycle changes, and other factors can change scale weight.
Some people find daily weighing useful because they learn to ignore those fluctuations.
Others become overly focused on every change.
If daily weighing creates unnecessary stress, measuring less frequently may be more appropriate.
Smart Scale vs DEXA Scan
These aren’t equivalent.
A consumer BIA smart scale is designed for convenient home monitoring.
DEXA uses X-rays to estimate body composition and bone mineral density.
Professional testing can provide information that a bathroom scale cannot.
But even then, body-composition measurements should not become the sole definition of health.
For most people trying to monitor weight loss at home, the smart scale’s greatest value isn’t knowing whether body fat is exactly:
24.7%
versus
25.3%.
Its greatest value may simply be helping identify the direction of change over time.
Who Should Be Careful With BIA Smart Scales?
Smart scales use a small electrical current for body-composition measurements.
People with implanted electronic medical devices should review the manufacturer’s safety information and ask an appropriate healthcare professional before using BIA features.
Pregnancy can also make body-composition estimates less meaningful because normal pregnancy causes major changes in body water and composition.
The scale should not be used to diagnose obesity, dehydration, metabolic disease, or another medical condition.
It is a consumer monitoring tool.
Are Smart Scales Worth Buying for Weight Loss?
For many people, yes.
Not because they’re perfectly accurate.
And not because you need 13 different numbers every morning.
They’re useful because they make tracking easier.
A normal scale gives you weight.
A smart scale can automatically store that weight and show you trends.
Body-composition estimates provide additional context.
That can be especially useful when you’re:
- losing weight
- strength training
- trying to preserve muscle
- changing your diet
- increasing physical activity
- tracking a long-term lifestyle change
But you don’t need the most expensive smart scale available.
That brings us back to the RunSTAR.
Final Verdict: Is the RunSTAR Smart Scale Worth It?
The RunSTAR Smart Scale sits in an interesting position.
It isn’t trying to compete only on price.
Its main advantage is making more information visible directly on the scale.
That sounds minor until you use a smart scale every morning.
If you don’t want to pull out your phone every time you weigh yourself, the larger multi-metric display can be genuinely convenient.
But if you’re perfectly happy opening an app, the RENPHO Elis 1 may accomplish what you need for less.
And if you want another inexpensive, extremely established option, the Etekcity Smart Scale deserves consideration.
The important thing isn’t collecting the largest possible number of measurements.
It’s collecting useful information consistently enough to see whether your health and weight trends are moving in the direction you want.
Products Compared
Best for information directly on the scale: RunSTAR Smart Scale FG2210
Best established budget alternative: Etekcity Smart Scale
Best inexpensive app-focused option: RENPHO Elis 1 Smart Scale
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
About the author: Mark Aquino MSN, FNP-C. Mark has a Masters of Science in Nursing from West Coast University and is a board certified family nurse practitioner with over 8 years of real world experience in healthcare and currently practicing in urgent care diagnosing and prescribing treatments in California, USA. He is author of the book Physical Assessment for Nurses Simplified.