I purchased the RENPHO Smart Scale and Smart Tape Measure in 2021 because I wanted a reliable way to track my weight and measurements at home. Nearly five years later, I still own and use both products, which gives me a very different perspective than I had when I first wrote this review. The RENPHO Smart Scale has become one of those products I continue to use because it simply does what I need it to do: it gives me consistent weight readings, automatically records my data in the RENPHO Health app, and provides easy-to-read graphs that let me follow my progress over time.
My opinion of the RENPHO Smart Tape Measure is not quite as glowing. I still own the original white RF-BMF01 model and have used it periodically, but measuring myself with it has always been more difficult than I would like. RENPHO has since introduced a redesigned tape measure that appears to address some of the problems I have with my older version, but I have not personally tested the newer model.
After years of using both, I would absolutely purchase a RENPHO Smart Scale again. I would not purchase the original version of the Smart Tape Measure again.
My RENPHO Products
The products I originally purchased were:
| Product | Model | Purchased | My Rating Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| RENPHO Smart Body Fat Scale | ES-26M | Around September 2021 | Highly recommend |
| RENPHO Smart Body Tape Measure | RF-BMF01 | Around September 2021 | Would not repurchase this version |
Both connect with the RENPHO Health app, allowing weight and body measurement data to be stored and viewed over time.
RENPHO Smart Tape Measure Review
The RENPHO Smart Tape Measure originally appealed to me because it could record body measurements directly in the same app I was already using with the RENPHO scale. My original white RF-BMF01 model has a digital display and Bluetooth connectivity, and the idea is simple: select the area of the body you are measuring in the RENPHO Health app, take the measurement, and save it so you can compare it over time.
In theory, I like the concept. In practice, I have never found my version particularly easy to use by myself.
My Biggest Problem With the RENPHO Smart Tape Measure
The biggest issue is keeping the tape in exactly the right position while tightening it and operating the device at the same time. To take a circumference measurement, you pull the tape around the area you want to measure, connect it back to the device, and tighten it until it sits correctly against your body.
This becomes awkward when measuring areas such as your waist, hips, bust, or thighs. I can get the tape positioned where I want it, but as I tighten it and try to operate the tape measure, it can shift or slide. Once that happens, I am no longer confident that I am measuring the same spot in the same way each time.
If another person is taking the measurement for you, this is much less of an issue. My reason for wanting a smart tape measure, however, was to make tracking my own measurements easier. Nearly five years later, this is still my biggest complaint.
Would I Buy My RENPHO Smart Tape Measure Again?
No, I would not purchase the RF-BMF01 again. I still own it, it still works, and I use it occasionally, but the digital features do not make up for how awkward I find it to measure myself accurately.
A smart measurement is only useful if I feel confident that the tape is sitting in the same position each time. For me, the original design makes that harder than it should be.
RENPHO Has Redesigned the Smart Tape Measure
RENPHO now sells the Smart Tape Measure+, which looks considerably different from my original white model. The newer version includes a retractable Easy-Lock hook, an ergonomic grip, an auto-unlock button, a larger display, tracking for multiple body areas, and integration with the RENPHO Health app.
The Easy-Lock design is the feature that interests me most because it appears to address the exact problem I have with my older model: trying to measure yourself while keeping the tape positioned correctly. I have not personally tested the Smart Tape Measure+, so I cannot say whether it completely solves that problem or whether I would recommend it. If I were shopping for a RENPHO tape measure today, though, I would choose the redesigned version rather than purchasing another RF-BMF01.
RENPHO Smart Scale Review After Nearly Five Years
My experience with the RENPHO Smart Scale has been much more positive. When I originally purchased it, my main concern was simple: I wanted a scale that would give me a consistent weight.
The scale I had been using could give me different readings within seconds. I could step on, step off, and step right back on and see the number change by a pound or two, which made it hard to trust the scale at all. I had also used the Fitbit Aria Scale, which came with its own setup and connectivity frustrations. The RENPHO scale solved the consistency problem for me.
During my weight-loss journey, I used the scale every day. Now that I am maintaining my weight, both my husband and I generally weigh ourselves once a week. After nearly five years, the scale still works well, and I have had no problems with the display, Bluetooth connection, sensors, or general operation.
Most importantly, I continue to find the weight readings consistent. If I step off and weigh myself again, I normally get the same result. For me, that reliability is the most important feature of any scale.
What Does the RENPHO Smart Scale Measure?
The ES-26M uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, commonly called BIA. When you stand barefoot on the four metal electrodes, the scale uses a very small electrical current along with information in your profile to estimate body composition.
The RENPHO Health app can display measurements including:
- Weight
- BMI
- Body fat percentage
- Fat-free body weight
- Subcutaneous fat
- Visceral fat
- Body water
- Skeletal muscle
- Muscle mass
- Bone mass
- Protein
- Basal metabolic rate
- Metabolic age
RENPHO explains in its smart scale information that body-composition results are estimates and should not be treated as medical measurements. My opinion of those additional measurements has changed quite a bit since I first purchased the scale.
Do I Trust the RENPHO Body Composition Measurements?
I trust the weight measurement, but I do not put much weight (no pun intended) into the other body-composition figures. When I first bought the scale, I tracked almost everything and even kept a spreadsheet with my body fat, visceral fat, muscle, water, and other measurements.
I no longer do that because BIA scales do not directly measure body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, or visceral fat. They estimate those values using electrical impedance along with information such as weight, height, age, and sex, and factors such as hydration can affect the results.
For that reason, I treat those numbers as estimates and trends rather than precise measurements. That does not mean I find them completely useless, though. During my weight-loss journey, I enjoyed watching the data change in the RENPHO app. I am a visual person and like graphs, charts, and numbers, so seeing more of my measurements move into the app’s green ranges was motivating even though I knew those figures were not clinical measurements.
The RENPHO Health App
The RENPHO Health app remains one of the reasons I like the scale. It is easy to use, and I especially like being able to open the app and see my weight history instead of trying to remember what I weighed several weeks or months ago.
The app makes it easy to see:
- Weight changes over time
- Previous weigh-ins
- Body-composition trends
- Progress toward goals
- Changes between measurements
The app also supports multiple user profiles, which is useful if several people in the household use the same scale. My husband and I both use it, although he prefers to track his weight through Apple Health rather than using RENPHO as his primary record. I prefer the RENPHO app because I enjoy having the graphs and historical data available visually.
Is My Five-Year-Old RENPHO Scale Outdated?
RENPHO has introduced newer smart scales since I purchased my ES-26M around 2021, but that does not necessarily mean I would benefit from replacing mine. I have used other RENPHO fitness technology as well, including the RENPHO AI Smart Bike, so I am familiar with the way the brand incorporates connected features into its products.
The main differences among many of the newer standard models are features such as updated Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi on certain models, different displays, rechargeable batteries on some models, and other convenience features. In other words, many of the changes involve how the scale connects, displays, and stores your information rather than a completely different method of measuring your body.
RENPHO’s current smart scale lineup also includes more advanced models with additional electrodes and segmental analysis, which is a different level of technology. But simply replacing my ES-26M with another standard four-electrode RENPHO scale would not fundamentally change the way my body composition is estimated.
Since my scale still gives me consistent weight readings, connects with the app, and tracks everything I want to see, I do not have a reason to replace it simply because newer models are available.
RENPHO Smart Scale Pros and Cons
What I Like
- Consistent weight readings
- Still working reliably after nearly five years
- Easy-to-use RENPHO Health app
- Automatic weight history
- Helpful graphs and visual progress tracking
- Multiple user profiles
- Integration with other health-tracking platforms
- No reason to replace it simply because newer models exist
What I Don’t Rely On
- Body-fat percentage as a precise measurement
- Muscle mass as a precise measurement
- Visceral fat as a precise measurement
- Bone mass or metabolic age as medical information
I primarily use the scale for my weight and the app for tracking progress over time.
RENPHO Smart Tape Measure vs. Smart Scale
| Smart Tape Measure RF-BMF01 | Smart Scale ES-26M | |
| Still use it? | Occasionally | Yes, weekly |
| Easy to use? | Not by myself | Yes |
| Still working after nearly 5 years? | Yes | Yes |
| Trust the primary measurement? | Placement makes consistency difficult | Yes, for weight |
| Like the app integration? | Yes | Yes |
| Would I buy it again? | No, not this version | Yes |
| Would I recommend it? | I would look at the newer version | Yes |
Which RENPHO Product Would I Recommend?
After nearly five years, I would still recommend the RENPHO Smart Scale. I originally purchased it because I wanted consistent weight readings, and that is exactly what it has continued to provide. I used it daily during my weight-loss journey and now use it weekly for maintenance, and it still works as expected.
My recommendation for the original RENPHO Smart Tape Measure is different. While I like the idea of automatically tracking body measurements, I would not repurchase the RF-BMF01 because I still find it difficult to use accurately on myself. The newer Smart Tape Measure+ has a redesigned self-measuring system that looks more practical, but I have not personally tested it
The app adds considerable value for me because I enjoy being able to see years of data visually. Watching the graphs change over time gave me another way to recognize progress instead of focusing only on the number I saw on the scale that morning.
The body-composition estimates are no longer something I take very seriously, but I do not need them to justify owning the scale. The consistent weight measurement and automatic tracking are enough.
My experience with the original RENPHO Smart Tape Measure has been less convincing. I still like the idea of automatically tracking body measurements, but I do not like struggling with the tape when measuring myself. RENPHO’s newer Smart Tape Measure+ may improve that experience, but I would need to use it myself before recommending it.
After nearly five years of owning both products, the RENPHO Smart Scale is the one I would purchase again without hesitation.