Garmin Index S2 Smart Scale - White

As a long-time Garmin loyalist currently using the Forerunner 970, I expected the Index S2 to be the final piece of my data puzzle. Instead, it has proven to be the most inaccurate tool in my kit. The scale’s "smart" algorithms seem incapable of processing an athletic profile. The S2 appears stuck on a basic BMI-style interpretation. It measures me (54 y/o, 5'10", 175 lbs, 52 VO2) at 23.5% body fat—a figure that is physically impossible given my very lean physique (visible 8-pack), dense musculature, and high-performance output (Zone 3 @ 6:30/mile pace, 315 lb bench, and 505 lb deadlift). The scale consistently reports an absurdly low bone mass and tells me I need to lose weight, ignoring the high muscle density required for these performance markers. While it might work for the average user, if you’re an athlete, save your money—it likely won’t recognize your physique. Pros: Seamless integration with the Garmin ecosystem. Cons: Highly inaccurate metrics for fit/muscular individuals.

Just the motivation I needed. In addition weight, I love the other metrics of BMI, %body fat, muscle comp etc. and I like that it recognizes other users in the family.

The positives first: The scale is consistent from day to day, had a great display, and I like the day to day weight chart. The negative: On first weighing, the scale showed my weight 5 lbs higher than two other scales available, and my body fat percentage went from 16% on my Index (and verified periodically on other scales) to 28% on the index 2! I understand some variance, and I'd read that a different testing algorithm could show a higher body fat percentage, but a 12% jump to a number that makes no sense based on my height, weight, and fitness tells me there are problems. Fortunately, this is correctable by "calibrating" the scale, but that shouldn't be necessary. I'm continuing to use the scale because of its integration with the Garmin ecosystem, and it does seem to eb consistent day to day, but I am nowhere near as impressed as I was with my original Index. Also, "waking up" the index 2 is a tricky process. The Index would wake up from floor vibrations as I walked up up it, but the Index 2 requires me to play the tap tap game, taping the scale in various places, 4 or 5 times before it will wake up. FWIW, I bought this because my orignal Index got frozen on the wrench screen, and Garmin no longer supports it. That's beyond frustrating, as the scale worked great for years. Was consistent, accurate, and gave me useful information.

Its good for the price, and it gives decent data. But honestly I just changed to Hume, gives more data. But for the price good buy.

Love it. Everything about this is 5 star. Highest recommendations given.

There is a lot to like about the S2 Smart Scale. It offers a useful and actionable package of data regarding your body composition and interfaces directly with your Garmin Connect Account to make that data readily accessible. A big benefit is that you can calibrate the % Body Fat based on a current DEXA scan. This allows you to overcome one of the known disadvantages of BIA scales. It has an attractive footprint and Garmin's high quality fit, finish and functionality. There is one thing I don't like, which is why my rating is a 4 rather than a 5. The scale allows you to program it for use with multiple users. You do this through the Garmin Connect App, which is a little confusing but not all that difficult to work through. You "nudge" the scale just the right amount to turn it on and then step on it to determine your weight. It uses your weight to match to your account. All well and good if it gets it right. In my case the second user weighs close to the same as I do and the scale can't tell us apart. The solution is to "nudge" the scale again when the wrong name comes up and to keep "nudging" it until you get the right user name. This is a giant pain, especially since you have to get the "nudge" just right! This likely won't be a problem for every user - but give me a button to select the user before getting on the scale. Overall, an attractive and useful product.

Extremely difficult to use. The scale does not stay on. Very limited options. Not worth the money. ZERO stars

I absolutely love this scale! The weight and BMI are very accurate. The remaining measurements seem also good, but you have to keep in mind that when you first take these measurements with the scale, that these are your baseline measurements. Then going forward you look to see how the measurements change compared to the baseline. Are the baseline measurements accurate? I don’t know because I don’t have anything to compare them to. But I’m not too concerned with that and more about improving them. I love that it exports the values to Connect. It was easy to setup. I also like the weather!

Excellent product. A bit tricky to get synced with my Garmin connect app, but love that I can track my body composition history. Spend the money.

I can't figure out how to get my scale to upload to my phone. So far the videos haven't helped. I can't get past the torso with the question mark. Still trying. This MIGHT be a great product. So far I'm kinda disappointed.

The % body fat seem suspect.i weigh a little under 160 body fat reads 31.9 work out hard for 2hrs a day and burn 800+ calories so ths doesn't compute

Had the scale for some time now. Great for keeping track of progress on weight, % body fat and Muscle mass. Recently changed WiFi in house and was a little tricky to change and had to reset scale, lost a few weeks of data. After factory reset was able to set up with new household wifi. Garmin for some reason thinks this is a new scale after the reset which is why I got asked now for a review after owing the scale for several years. Would by again.

Terrible product. Weight not accurate by over 50 lbs. won’t send weight to phone app even though it says both are synced.

I can't recommend this scale. It's typical Garmin quality, but the body composition metrics are so far off as to be useless. Weight is spot on, body fat percentage compared to a Dexa scan is about 10 percentage points high (meaning mine as measured on a DEXA is about 14% and on the S2 is 24%!!), and bone density weight is about half or less of what it should be. It might be useful for tracking trends, but that's not why I bought it. I unfortunately got it through a pro deal and can't return it...great.

I bought this a little over a month ago, doesn’t recognize when my foot is on it to activate, doesn’t connect to my Garmin apps, I’ve had to reset it 9-10 times. I can’t return it because I threw away the packaging. 3 stars only because it’s very accurate weight wise.

It's too soon to tell if I like it or not. I just switched from a Fitbit Aria to Garmin Index, and my body fat % is completely different. Fitbit said it was 17% (after decreasing from 26% over months of working out), while Garmin scale says it's 25%. So, I don't know which one to believe, and how they each calculate this number.

Inaccurate body fat % measurements. I ended up returning it. I'll hold out until there's a four point body fat % scale from Garmin.

I got this straight from Garmin and spent 3 hours trying to get it to pair to the network and take a reading, to no avail. Endless syncing screens, tried resetting and now It can't even find a single wifi network. I think their software is quite buggy, and it might also have a janky wifi chip in it. Unfortunately I have to return it as it's just a paperweight.

Love the concept. Love the linkage with my Garmin account and devices. However the scale is impossible to use. Multiple attempts have to made to get it to register, or a reset has to be done. Takes a good 3-5 minutes before it ‘wakes up’.

I am active and not overweight, I am 5’08” at 220 lbs. with it being a smart scale that can compute your muscle weight, it has my BMI and body fat percentage extremely high (straight off a chart reading instead of calculating the actual muscle mass, body fat percentage and BMI)