Good scale, reasonable cost, should last; but glass-like surface gets dirty easily
My plain, simple digital bathroom scale was over 20 years old. It did not have replaceable battery but the one it came with LASTED OVER 20 YEARS of moderate use by one person. When it finally gave out, against the warning on the back, I drool it apart and tried replacing the button battery with a new one (the same battery) but it didn’t bring the scale back to life. So I started searching for a new bathroom scale, which is way more difficult than I thought it would be! The brick-and-mortar stores around me had limited models and after checking their product reviews found all had a number of reviews saying they had quit working after a few months to a year. I even looked at a number of “best bathroom scales 2023” lists from general internet searches. Looking at the most frequently listed models on Amazon, thorough price/value evaluatiion (from reviews) led me to choose the Wyze Scale X, black version. It arrived in perfect condition and after reading the instructions, was easy to set up. I honestly did <not> want internet connectivity from a bathroom scale, but you don’t have to set up or use those functions for it to work correctly. It is sensitive to small changes (testing by weighing with/without clothes on) and though I have no other home bathroom scale to objectively compare values with, it does give me weight values that seem realistic and look correct AFAIK. It also will return a body fat composition score if you weigh in bare feet (as suggested) and stay on the scale after the initial weight is displayed, nbut I don’t care what the score is so I just get off once I get my weight. (I’m not a bodybuilder or health enthusiast to the point where a precise measurement of body fat means anything; who can’t already tell if they consider themself over-fat or not? I can. Lol) Size; large and heavy enough to feel secure when I get in and off. Easy of reading; great, an improvement over my old scale. The only downside I can found is that the glass-like surface shows dust and water spots easily. Maybe it is real glass, I’m not sure, but because the edges are exposed I try to be very careful to not hit it against anything hard when I move or clean it. I have started putting it in a bathroom cabinet , horizontally, when not in use. I think it can be stored vertically, which would save some space, but I suspect that might mess with the balance of the weight measuring components over time, idk. It was low/mid priced vs the competition, but I am too thrifty to consider it a disposable item that I’m willing to replace regularly, so I am trying to take good care of it if the care required is not too time/effort intensive. The battery is easily replaceable. And I am still thinking about how to get the 20 yr old scale operational again, in case this new one does crap out sooner than I’d like. There is one small board in it, connected to a few sensors under the outer deck. I scoured the internet looking for info on how to repair it, but the model is long discontinued and the entire product line has been sold to another mfg who doesn’t list it in their support area. I have engineers at my work that may be willing and able to diagnose and fix something, so that’s my next step when I get around to it. The obvious trend towards cheaper (in $ and in quality) components and finished products serves no one well IMHO and I do like to support good manufacturing when I find it. I hope the Wyze Scale X stands up to the test of time. (BTW, I am a buyer for a small US mechanical device manufacturer, and I understand that the cost of components and the finished goods are very important, but I am proud to say my company values reflect quality over cost and I’m glad they are so far successful despite the “race to the bottom” direction most competitors seem to choose. Go USA manufacturing!) Read more
