RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro review: An excellent smart scale for family life

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: One minute review

The RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is one of the best smart scales designed for ease of health monitoring for the entire family, fitness enthusiasts who want metrics on their body fat and muscle, and general users desiring to track their body composition over time.

The smart scale delivers 28 metrics, which, for this price, is rather impressive. There’s also a pregnancy and baby mode, which offers safe measurements thanks to its zero-current technology (as opposed to most smart scales, which use electrical currents sent through the body to determine body composition). The only features I was left craving were heart-related, including heart rate and blood oxygen.

During testing, almost all results were within reasonable variation compared to the more expensive Withings BodyScan 2. Seven of the metrics are clearly displayed on the large color LCD display, with the full array of data presented in the easy-to-use Starfit app. If you can’t justify the extra spend, then the 8E Pro is a solid alternative to the top-range Withings.

Setting up the smart scale was easy thanks to the step-by-step guide in the app and a strong Bluetooth signal. I liked the ability to create multiple profiles so that every member of my family could use it. I also appreciated that it automatically detects who is standing on the scale, based on its previously recorded measurements.

The scale itself is 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 display is a TFT-LCD, which delivers when it comes to clarity, brightness, and definition. Unfortunately, the display is covered by a thin layer of plastic that is flexible enough to allow a user to press it in and touch the screen itself, potentially causing damage.

All in, the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is a respectable smart scale that delivers accurate results inside a solid, compact body. If you can forgo heart health measurements and don’t mind a cheap-feeling display in comparison to the rest of the scale, then this smart scale will deliver everything you need.

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Specifications

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Price and availability

• $219.99 USD / £218 GBP
• Not available in Australia
• Expensive but premium quality

RunStar sells a wide range of smart scales, with the budget-friendly RunStar 4E at the bottom end and the 8E Ultra at the other. Sitting just below their most premium Ultra offering is the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro, to use its full title, at $219.99 USD / £218 GBP, although this is often significantly discounted, at times going as low as $129.98 / £168.

A similarly priced and specced alternative is the Withings BodyFit. Both are DEXA-validated, although the BodyFit claims to be “ideal for GLP-1 drug users who are prioritizing keeping muscle while losing fat.” If you’re looking for even more superior results and are happy paying a premium for it, then the Withings BodyScan 2 is a good choice.

• Value score 4/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Design

• Large color TFT-LCD display
• Well-engineered retractable handlebar
• Eight electrodes and USB-C charging

The large 5 x 7 cm color screen displays seven key metrics: weight, heart rate, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, and body water. Each metric is measured and presented one at a time before providing a full read-out of all seven metrics at the end. The display is clear and bright, although only protected by a thin layer of clear plastic, which is unfortunately so flexible that it presses in quite significantly when forced.

To measure 28 different metrics in total, which include the initial seven displayed on the scale plus additional metrics viewable in the app, the 8E Pro uses eight electrodes: four for the feet and four for the hands. These are positioned to accommodate a wide range of people with varying feet and hand sizes. The retractable handlebar used to connect your hands performs adequately and, when not in use, attaches to the base via magnets.

The bulk of the scale is made from strong plastic and covered in a thick 6 mm tempered glass, which protects the unit and houses the four foot electrodes. At the bottom of the base are four large rubber feet, which ensure the device remains in position at all times.

The overall design looks and feels premium, with the gold-colored electrodes setting the scale apart from cheaper and more basic alternatives. The unit contains a single non-removable lithium polymer battery that is recharged via USB-C. A full recharge lasts for three months. Despite regular use from five family members, we experienced zero issues with wear and tear.

• Design Score: 4.5/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Features

• 28 metrics with DEXA validation
• Measurements across five body zones
• Delve deeper into the metrics with the Starfit app

RunStar says every metric reading is DEXA-validated with ≥98.5% correlation. Accurate results and precise body composition tracking are produced thanks to the advanced dual-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). This smart scale provides the features and accuracy for users who want to work towards a specific weight, track their health, and hit their fitness goals.

Unlike cheaper whole-body smart scales such as the RunStar 4E, the 8E Pro records measurements and provides analysis across five key body zones: arms, legs, and trunk. Providing weight and muscle data across five key areas of the body enables users to quickly see if their body is imbalanced and work towards specific goals for targeted areas of their body.

As well as viewing seven metrics on the display, if you sync the device with the Starfit app, you can see the full set of 28 metrics alongside more detailed tracking and analysis. The app is easy-to-use and laid out intuitively. If you plan on using the smart scale with multiple people, then up to 24 profiles can be set up using the app.

Other features include the ability to sync with Apple Health, Google Health and other major platforms as well as generate printable, clinic-grade reports. Finally, the 8E Pro operates with zero current, so it’s safe to use during pregnancy and with babies.

• Features Score: 4.5/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Performance

• Accurate results
• Reliable data compared to the more expensive Withings BodyScan 2
• Metrics are clearly laid out

To provide comparison data, I took measurements from the Withings BodyScan 2 at the same time as the 8E Pro. Both are DEXA verified, with the BodyScan 2 validated up to 99% and the 8E Pro up to ≥98.5%. The two smart scales measure a similar set of metrics and are easily compared through the two apps.

Beginning with weight, I weighed in at 61.4 kg, which was only 170 grams different from the Withings. As for BMI, a reading of 19% wasn’t far off the 18.2% reported by the comparison scale. The 8E Pro is quick to deliver these measurements and does so prior to all other body composition metrics.

As for fat-related readings, the 8E Pro provided measurements for visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and body fat percentage that were all within reasonable deviations compared to the Withings. When I came to measure body fat mass, I was surprised to find that it was the Withings that threw up problematic readings, and the 8E Pro proved significantly more accurate.

Accurate and acceptable readings continued for muscle rate, lean body mass, body water percentage, and basal metabolism. The app provides independent fat and muscle breakdowns for arms, legs, and trunk. Despite these being clearly presented as an overlay on a 2D illustration of a person, I much preferred the 3D graphic that is present in the Withings app.

The 8E Pro delivered similar results to the BodyScan 2 in almost all areas. Considering the 8E Pro costs half the price of the BodyScan 2, I think the RunStar is a useful and viable alternative for anyone wanting accurate results at a more affordable price.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Scorecard

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Should I buy?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

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How I tested

I used the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro across several weeks and set up multiple profiles so my four other family members could use the scale at the same time. This meant testing was carried out on both adults and children. We used the app in combination with the smart scale and were able to track our progress over time. I compared its metrics against the DEXA-validated Withings BodyScan 2.

First reviewed: September 2026