Screenshot(s) courtesy of Christopher Null via Withings BodyScan 2 app
All of that is fairly par for the category, and it’s not until the big guns come out that the BodyScan 2 really starts to show off its biggest tricks. By default, you’re prompted to take a more intensive 90-second “longevity scan” every seven days, and I’ve come to simultaneously welcome and dread the weekly encounter. Here you’re subjected to a battery of tests, including all of the above plus measurements of blood oxygen level (SpO2), nervous system responsiveness, and—most notably—a full six-lead electrocardiogram that includes the ability to detect atrial fibrillation.
While some of these are, of course, more useful than other measurements—I’m still not sure how my nerve response score (76) could possibly be of any real, clinical use—it’s the ECG that makes the BodyScan 2 truly stand out in the field. Watching those heart-driven waveforms crawl across the BodyScan 2’s handlebar LCD is a nerve-wracking thrill. It’s perhaps no wonder that my pulse rate quickens every time I complete one of the tests, nervous about what the system may uncover lurking inside my chest.
When finished, the BodyScan 2 invariably sends you to the Withings mobile app for the details, which is where things really get interesting. The Withings app is easy to navigate if you just want a quick look at your vitals either in the moment or over time, but new additions driven by the BodyScan 2 really take things into a whole new world.
You’ll need a subscription (I know, I know) to unlock everything, specifically a new service called Withings+, which costs $10/month or $100/year. It’s a big ask, but to be frank, there’s not much reason to purchase the BodyScan 2 without it.
