Garmin Index S2 Smart Scale
Garmin has launched the Index S2 Smart Scale with listings now on some of its global sites where availability is stated as Q4.2020.
The previous smart scale from Garmin was not highly rated and it looks like Garmin has taken on board what scales need to do for health and fitness focussed types and it now supports up to 16 of you transmitting stats over WiFi and also into Garmin Connect. I’m assuming it would be crazy if it didn’t automatically update the underlying health data in Apple/Google Health as well…we shall see. Although not recommended, STRYD users could then update their power measurement calculations daily with an accurate weight factor, there’s a similar principle for Zwift.
Garmin Index S2 Smart Scale Features
So there’s some good stuff there are you sporty types can check that weight increases are muscle-increasing, dieters can check that their fat volumes are decreasing and those of us concerned about the health and resilience of elderly relations can take the scales round to their house and periodically check their bone mass.
At three times the price of similarly-featured, consumer scales, in my opinion, Garmin needs to get these metrics closing in somewhere close to what you get from medical-grade scans like DEXA.
It remains to be seen how accurate the body composition stats are and how well the scales are at automatically recognising different people (if at all).
There could be lots of interesting ways that the data gets juggled around and shared in the cloud, most obviously it will get there by WiFi and via your Connect smartphone app.
Garmin Index S2 vs “S1”
| Release date | S2 Q4-2020 | S1 Q4-2015 |
| Dimensions | 320x310x28 mm | 350x310x30 mm |
| Weight | 2.0 kg | 2.8 kg |
| Battery | <9 months; uses 4x AAA batteries | <9 months; uses 4x AA batteries |
| BLE capable | Yes | Yes |
| ANT+ compatible | Yes. | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes, 2.4GHz. With up to 7 WiFi Networks. | Yes, 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n |
| Colour display | Yes | No |
| Colours | Black/White | Black/White |
| RRP | $149.99 | $149.99 |
Garmin Index S2 Specifications
- Dimensions: 12.6″ x 12.2″ x 1.1″ (320 x 310 x 28 mm)
- Weight: 4.4 lbs (2.0 kg)
- Battery life: Up to 9 months; uses 4 AAA batteries (included)
- BLE capable: Yes
- ANT compatible: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes, 2.4GHz
- Weight limit: 400 lbs (181.4 kg)
The following link will be updated when products are correctly available and listed in stores as of 15 Oct there are now some listings (Wiggle UK for a start)
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so it looks like it has exactly the same metrics as previous one, hasn’t it?
what is the difference between old and new one?
it might work
I have zero faith in Garmin getting this right. I mean my old Index got my weight wrong, the thing it’s supposed to do by default. It weighed me exactly 20lbs more than actual, and it started out of nowhere one day doing that.
Mine struggles at times to update via WiFi. Been frustrating to me at times but I see no reason to update to a new model.
Amusingly the S2 has a weight only option – for those users not wanting or trusting the other metrics. In which case you’ve bought a very expensive connected scale.
I hope the S2 is better than the S1. The S1 was rubbish from my experience.
well, tbh I am considering to replace my withings body-scale ws-50. It works fine but just having everything under the same environment will make my life easier. Other than that, not a lot of extras. But I will wait until I read the feedback as I read bad this about the 1st version.
I’ve had no trouble and always really liked my S1. Gotta agree this doesn’t look any different other than the color display.
The V1 does the exact same metrics… Wonder if it will actually work this time. My V1 I’ve found does not use any bioelectric resistance, but rather takes your body type and height and give you a bogus calculation. How do I know this? I get the same metrics barefoot and wearing runners, socks, bike cleats… Well you get the idea. Tanita scales can do this a decade before the V1 came out. Well it looks nice : )
just tried it with socks on and some of the results are different.