QardioBase is a Wi-Fi connected smart scale made by Qardio, the same company that makes the well-known medical-grade QardioArm blood pressure monitoring accessory. QardioBase, Qardio’s second product, was first introduced at CES in January 2015 and began shipping to customers in the fall.
Cardio’s new scale includes weight measurement and body composition analysis features to provide details on a person’s overall health. It bundles these health-management features into a friendly package intended to provide gentle guidance towards a healthier life. I’ve been testing QardioBase for several weeks now, and while I’m a fan of the minimalist design and the health features it offers, there are some flaws that will prevent it from being appealing to all users.
Design
At first glance, the QardioBase is a nice scale. Circular in shape, it has a white glass-covered top unmarred by numerals or other ornamentation. Underneath that glass is an LED screen, which displays body weight and other information using green pixels.
QardioBase looks nice, but in my experience, it has one minor design flaw. It has a funnel-shaped design where the outer edges of the scales extend further outward than the base, making it unstable. When I stepped on or off the scale near the edge, it felt like it was going to tip over, taking me with it. I didn’t fall while using it, but I did have a few “Oh my God!” Moments where I had to grab onto something to steady myself. I’m no designer, but this volatility seems like a major oversight.
Measuring 12.6 inches across, the QardioBase is similar in size to the average room scale, but its rounded shape means it doesn’t fit neatly against a wall or in a corner when not in use.
At the bottom, the QardioBase opens to allow battery insertion. It takes 8 AAA batteries, probably because of the LED display under the glass. That’s a lot of battery to keep on hand, and a significant running cost. Uses half of my existing scale battery. According to QardioBase, the batteries last a year with regular use, and I had no issues with the battery when I tested the scale.
The QardioBase was fairly accurate with my weight, which never fluctuated above 100lbs, but tended to offer different weight readings by 10 weights during the same five-minute test period:
101.6
102.2
101.6
101.4
101.1
101.6
101.6
101.4
The actual weight, measured by my standard scale which did not have the same fluctuation on multiple weights, was 101.4. It’s not a huge difference, but at times the cardio was off by about a pound and it was weird not getting the same weight results twice.
other features
Smart visual feedback is one of QardioBase’s best features. When you move on, it will display a happy face, a sad face, or a neutral face to immediately respond to weight loss or weight gain. The face has an LED readout of the weight, so you don’t need to open the app to measure the weight. If, for some reason, you hate happy faces, you can set it to only display weights.
In addition to weight, QardioBase measures body fat. I can’t comment on the accuracy of this feature because during my time testing, I didn’t find a way to professionally test my body fat. I contacted my doctor and other doctors in my area, but I could not find a reliable medical source to get accurate information.
Scales that measure body fat via bioelectrical impedance should probably not be relied upon to provide accurate information, as there are many variables that can affect results on a day-to-day basis, including hydration levels, food intake, exercise, and foot skin. According to Consumer Reports, these scales are inaccurate enough that it will not include body fat capacity as a metric when testing the scale, and a 2008 survey of similar devices. [PDF] They have been found useful as a means of motivating subjects to lose weight due to limited accuracy
To take a body fat measurement, the scale needs to be in contact with the skin. That means take off your socks. Although the weight measurements captured with the scale were always close to my actual weight, I saw a lot more variation with the body fat measurements. For weeks my readings were as low as 27 percent and as high as 35 percent.
Based on weight, QardioBase will also include body mass index calculations so users know where they fall on that scale. It also contains details on muscle, water and bone composition, derived from body fat measurements, but again, these are only measured with a pulse through the leg of questionable accuracy.
QardioBase also has settings specifically designed to track weight gain during pregnancy and will support multiple users. It automatically detects different users based on weight and body composition, and it will connect to multiple apps on different devices so that every person in a family can use QardioBase’s features.
App
Setting up QardioBase using the app was an easy process for me. I downloaded the app, created an account, stepped on the scale and followed the instructions. My QardioBase connected to my Wi-Fi network right away and I haven’t had any problems since — data is always reliably transferred to the Qardio app.
Measurements taken by the Qardio scale are displayed on the screen for a brief moment and are accessible for a longer time in the app. The Qardio app connects to the scale and displays information for recent readings, including weight, body fat percentage, muscle percentage, body mass index and weight loss goals.
A “Notes” section allows users to insert pre-defined or custom notes for later reference, such as “I’m on a good streak” or “This week went off track.”
The app interface is simple, but easy to read. It also offers categories that include measurements over time, which can be organized into a line graph or a list of weights compiled by date taken. It includes a view of all days that weight has been taken and a view to adjust weight goals.
A reminder section within the app can be used to remind you to weigh yourself every day, which is useful because it’s ideal to measure weight at the same time every day under the same conditions to avoid variations introduced by clothing or slight differences in water. Retain morning and night.
For those who don’t want to track things like body mass index and body composition, the app offers settings to configure QardioBase. The weight-only feature will exclude body mass index and body composition, and there is an option to track weight through pregnancy.
The app will also include measurements from a QardioArm blood pressure monitor if you own one, and includes features for connecting with friends and family, entering doctor information, updating QardioBase firmware and getting help.
bottom line
I first saw the QardioBase at CES in 2015 and was taken with the simple design and personality of the scale. This is still true today, so it was a disappointment when it didn’t live up to my expectations.
I’d love a scale that winks at me and smiles when I step on it, but the cuteness factor doesn’t outweigh the small mistakes I’ve experienced during my weigh-ins and the big problems with unstable scale bases. If you accidentally step on the edge or don’t align your feet correctly, the occasional jolt is just scary.
QardioBase wasn’t significantly wrong about my weight, but it often gave slightly different measurements even when those measurements were taken at the same time. This is not something that will bother most people, but it is a problem for those looking for extreme accuracy.
Accuracy can be fixed with firmware updates, but unstable hardware design cannot be fixed. The QardioBase is cute and can be a useful tool for keeping track of overall weight, but it’s not the best smart scale on the market. Potential QardioBase buyers should be aware of the downsides and aim to test it out by purchasing from a company with a generous return policy.
Benefits:
- Great design
- Smiley/sad faces are cute
- Measures weight and body fat
- Easy setup, connected app works well
- Supports multiple users
- Apple integrates with health
Disadvantages:
- unsteady
- Requires 8 AAA batteries
- Gives different measurements
How to buy
The QardioBase can be purchased from the Qardio website for $149.99.
