WIRED's review of the Withings BodyScan 2 gives the device top marks, but the business model is as notable as the hardware. The $600 scale pushes users into Withings+, a subscription service priced at $10 per month or $100 per year. The reviewer is blunt: there is not much reason to buy the scale without it. That makes the product less a one-time purchase and more an entry point into a recurring revenue stream for Withings.
The review argues the subscription unlocks the device's real value, including an AI health assistant and deep analytics that slice data into scores for vascular age, heart age, readiness, and more. The most distinctive perk is a human-physician ECG reading, a feature buried in the app rather than automatic. Still, the reviewer notes the intelligence can be confusing and contradictory, and that the system underestimates steps or nutrition unless users buy additional Withings hardware.
For a business audience, the takeaway is a familiar but accelerating trend: premium consumer health devices are increasingly designed to generate ongoing subscription income. The review itself acknowledges the price is hard to justify for casual users, yet the compelling experience and professional-grade ECG may be enough to persuade a niche market to pay both upfront and over time.