TechRadar review: RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is accurate but lacks heart tracking

TechRadar said the 8E Pro sits just below RunStar's most premium 8E Ultra and above the budget-friendly RunStar 4E. The scale is often significantly discounted, at times falling to $129.98 or £168, and received a value score of 4 out of 5. The review named the Withings BodyFit as a similarly priced and specced alternative and said both are DEXA-validated. It also noted that the BodyFit claims to be "ideal for GLP-1 drug users who are prioritizing keeping muscle while losing fat." For buyers seeking even more superior results, TechRadar said the Withings BodyScan 2 is a good choice.

The RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro measures 28 metrics in total. Seven are displayed on its large 5 x 7 cm color TFT-LCD screen: weight, heart rate, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, and body water. TechRadar said each metric is measured and presented one at a time before the scale provides a full read-out of all seven. The full array of data is available in the Starfit app. The review praised the scale for quick results, measurements across five body zones, solid design and engineering, and an easy-to-use app.

Setting up the scale was easy, according to TechRadar, thanks to a step-by-step guide in the app and a strong Bluetooth signal. The review liked the ability to create multiple profiles so every family member could use the scale, and it appreciated that the device automatically detects who is standing on it based on previously recorded measurements. TechRadar said a pregnancy and baby mode offers safe measurements through zero-current technology, unlike most smart scales, which use electrical currents sent through the body to determine body composition.

The review's verdict said the only features it was left craving were heart-related, including heart rate and blood oxygen, and it listed "no heart health tracking" among reasons to avoid the product. In its design section, however, TechRadar listed heart rate as one of the seven metrics shown on the scale. The review does not reconcile that difference.

TechRadar described the scale as well-built with 6mm tempered glass and gold-colored electrodes. The black plastic material used throughout the base and handlebar is solid and robust, with no concerns that damage would be done to the internals, the review said. It uses eight electrodes, including four for the feet, according to TechRadar. The display is a TFT-LCD that delivers clarity, brightness, and definition, but it is covered by a thin layer of plastic that is flexible enough for a user to press it in and touch the screen itself, potentially causing damage. The review listed the TFT-LCD display feeling cheap, the pretty basic app, and the lack of heart health tracking as drawbacks.

The specifications list the scale at 14.92 x 16.96 x 2.75 inches, or 38 x 43 x 7 cm, and 5.29 lbs, or 2.4 kg. It has a 6mm tempered glass body, a TFT-LCD display, a lithium polymer battery charged by USB Type-C, and Bluetooth connectivity. TechRadar concluded that the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is a respectable smart scale that delivers accurate results inside a solid, compact body. The review said that if buyers can forgo heart health measurements and do not mind a cheap-feeling display compared with the rest of the scale, the smart scale will deliver everything they need.

Editor's Summary The RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is a mid-range smart scale that TechRadar found accurate and family-friendly, with 28 metrics and five-zone body composition readings. Its main drawbacks are the lack of heart health tracking and a display that feels cheap. It is priced at $219.99/£218 and is not available in Australia.