Renpho Solar vs Elis 1 vs Core 1 vs FITINDEX: Which Smart Scale Should You Actually Buy?
I track everything — macros, sleep, water intake, the lot. But for a long time there was one gap in my routine: a scale I could actually trust to keep me accountable. I've tested dozens of smart scales over the years, and four of them made the biggest difference to my day-to-day tracking. So I put them side by side: the Renpho Solar, the Renpho Elis 1, the Renpho Core 1 and the FITINDEX body composition scale. Not in a studio — at home, every morning, through a keto phase and an off-season.
Today I'm going through what each one is really like to live with: the solar one that never needs charging, the data beast, the back-to-basics weight-only scale, and the budget Amazon favourite. One honest note up front: none of these are medical devices. The body fat and muscle numbers are estimates, and I caught a couple of them clearly getting it wrong on camera. Where they shine is showing you the trend over time.
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01Why a Smart Scale Is in My Routine at All
These aren't just bathroom scales. The good ones are fitness tools that plug straight into your routine and track your progress as you go. Step on, the reading lands in an app, and over weeks you start to see what your training and your diet are actually doing.
That's the accountability piece for me. A single morning's number doesn't tell you much. Thirty mornings in a row, synced automatically, absolutely does. So I judged these four on three things: how easily they fit into a daily check-in, how much useful data they give you, and how consistent they are from one day to the next.
02Renpho Solar: The One I Never Had to Charge
The Renpho Solar was actually the first smart scale I ever tested, and it's more than just a pretty design. There's a solar panel built into the middle of the glass, and it charges indoors as well as outdoors. That sounds like a gimmick until you live with it — I never once had to charge it. So many times I've gone to use a scale and the batteries were flat. Not with this one.
Under the hood you've got four high-sensitivity electrodes on top and four precision weight sensors underneath, all in durable tempered glass that feels genuinely premium. It handles up to 180 kg, weighs about 800 g itself, and supports 13 body composition metrics — from BMI and body fat through to visceral fat and muscle mass. The display is very clear, the box includes a guide showing exactly where to stand, and it pairs easily with the Renpho Health app.
It's best for tech-savvy people who want a modern, eco-friendly look without giving up proper fitness tracking.
03Renpho Elis 1: The Data Beast
If the Solar is the design pick, the Renpho Elis 1 is the powerhouse of the group. It gives you highly detailed body composition data and supports multi-user tracking, which is great for families or gym partners sharing one scale.
It syncs automatically with the Renpho app — step on, and the stats have updated before you've stepped off. It also plays nicely with Apple Health, Google Fit and Fitbit, so the numbers flow into whatever else you're using. There's a standard mode and an athletic mode; I run it in athletic mode. During my keto phase this was my daily check-in — tracking weight drops, body fat changes, muscle mass and more. Quick, responsive, no fuss.
Honestly, if you want deep tracking, this is the one. But I'll be straight with you: I wouldn't rely on it for precise body fat numbers. Mine didn't quite line up with what I'd expect for my build. It gives you a very good idea, and it makes tracking ridiculously easy — just treat the figures as a guide.
04Trends, Not Lab Results
Here's the thing that applies to every scale in this video. When I opened the trends screen on the Elis 1, it told me I'd put on 1.9 kg, and that my BMI and body fat had gone up with it. At that stage, that probably didn't make a lot of sense. A single jump like that can be water, food, the time of day — anything.
Where these scales earn their spot is the longer trend. Weigh in at the same time each day, in the same mode, and over weeks you'll see whether your body composition is heading the right way. That's what I use them for, and that's the honest way to read them.
05Renpho Core 1: Sometimes Simple Is Better
The Renpho Core 1 isn't technically a smart scale. It's a back-to-basics body weight scale: no app, no Bluetooth, no body fat percentage, no detailed metrics. Just your weight.
And you know what? Sometimes that's exactly what you want. I use this one in the off-season when I want to keep things low-key. It's reliable, the display is clear, and you can toggle between weight units. If all you need is a consistent weight reading without the bells and whistles, this is it.
06FITINDEX: Budget Pick, Bumpy Readings
Finally, the FITINDEX body composition scale — a popular Amazon pick that's affordable, sleek in white gloss, and packed with features. It runs on three batteries, and pairing was genuinely easy: switch it on and the app finds it automatically. It tracks the same kinds of metrics as the Renphos, and its app is surprisingly good for a budget product.
Then the numbers came through. Weight around 71.8 kg, BMI 24.5 — and body fat: "obese." As you can see in the video, that's not right. I'd set an athlete goal, and once it was in athlete mode it changed to about 23%. Over the following days it was the same story: one day I was obese, the next I was athletic. The app had a few syncing hiccups too.
It's fine for beginners or casual users who want a cheap way in. But if you're serious about your fitness goals, I'd spend a bit more and go Renpho.
⚙The Four Scales Side by Side
| Feature | Renpho Elis 1 | Renpho Solar | Renpho Core 1 | FITINDEX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Deep tracking | Design & eco | Weight only | Budget |
| App | Renpho · auto-sync | Renpho Health | None | FITINDEX app |
| Body composition | ✓ Detailed | ✓ 13 metrics | — | ✓ |
| Modes | Standard / athletic | — | — | Includes athlete mode |
| Multi-user | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Health app sync | Apple Health · Google Fit · Fitbit | — | — | — |
| Power | — | Solar, indoor & outdoor | — | 3 batteries |
| Build | — | Tempered glass · 180 kg max · ~800 g | Clear display · unit toggle | White gloss |
| Consistency in my testing | Good guide, BF% a bit off | Good | Reliable | Inconsistent |
A dash means I didn't test or confirm that feature in this video — not necessarily that the scale doesn't have it. Check the listing for the full spec sheet before you buy.
The Verdict & Who It's For
What I love: the Renpho Elis 1 is my top pick overall, especially for tracking changes across training blocks or diets. It's the most comprehensive of the four, it syncs automatically with Apple Health, Google Fit and Fitbit, and if I had to keep one for every day, it's this one. The Renpho Solar wins on innovation and sustainability — beautiful, smart and energy efficient, and I never had to charge it. The Renpho Core 1 is the solid, simple choice for straightforward weight tracking.
The catches, honestly: none of these are medical devices, and body fat numbers are estimates — the Elis 1's didn't quite match my build, and the FITINDEX swung from "obese" to "athletic" between days. The FITINDEX app also had a few syncing hiccups. The Core 1 gives you weight and nothing else. And day-to-day jumps (like my +1.9 kg on the trend screen) can be noise — read the weeks, not the mornings. These are my results from my own routine, too, not a lab comparison.
Who's it for? Data nerds and anyone running a diet or training block: Elis 1. Design and no-batteries-ever people: Solar. Minimalists who just want the number: Core 1. Tight budget and you don't need rock-solid accuracy: FITINDEX.
What Works
- Elis 1: detailed data, multi-user, auto-sync
- Elis 1 syncs with Apple Health, Google Fit & Fitbit
- Solar: never needed charging in my testing
- Solar: 13 metrics, tempered glass, 180 kg max
- Core 1: simple, reliable, clear display
- FITINDEX: cheap and very easy to pair
Watch For
- Body fat figures are estimates, not medical readings
- FITINDEX readings swung between days
- FITINDEX app had syncing hiccups
- Core 1 has no app or body composition at all
- Single-day jumps can be noise — watch the trend
$Where to Buy + Giveaway
The other three from this video: the Renpho Solar smart scale, the Renpho Core 1 body weight scale and the FITINDEX body composition scale.
Which one would you actually use — are you the data nerd who wants every stat, or the minimalist who just wants the weight? Let me know in the comments on the video. I review a lot of Renpho gear, too, from food scales to skipping ropes to massagers, so keep an eye on the channel.
Any purchase through these links supports the channel at no extra cost to you. For more real-world fitness tech reviews — no fluff, just the truth — subscribe to MrYouWho on YouTube — who tests it for you? MrYouWho.
?Frequently Asked Questions
Which smart scale is best overall?+
Out of these four, the Renpho Elis 1 is my top pick. It gives the most detailed body composition data, supports multiple users, syncs automatically with the Renpho app, and works with Apple Health, Google Fit and Fitbit. It's the one I'd keep using every day.
Are smart scale body fat readings accurate?+
Treat them as a guide, not a medical measurement. The Elis 1's body fat didn't quite match my build, and the FITINDEX read "obese" one day and "athletic" the next. Where they're useful is the trend over weeks — weigh in at the same time each day, in the same mode.
Does the Renpho Solar scale really never need charging?+
In my testing, I never had to charge it. The solar panel in the glass charges indoors as well as outdoors, which kept it working every time I stepped on it.
What does athletic mode do on the Renpho Elis 1?+
The Elis 1 has a standard mode and an athletic mode, and the body composition estimates change depending on which you pick. I use athletic mode. Whichever you choose, stick with it so your trend stays comparable.
Is the Renpho Core 1 a smart scale?+
Not really. It's a basic body weight scale with no app, no Bluetooth and no body fat percentage. It gives you a reliable weight on a clear display and lets you switch weight units. I use it in the off-season when I want to keep things simple.
Is the FITINDEX scale worth it on a budget?+
It's affordable, easy to pair and its app is surprisingly good for the price, so it's fine for beginners or casual users. But my readings were inconsistent and the app had a few syncing hiccups. If you're serious about your fitness goals, I'd spend a bit more on a Renpho.
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