Health monitoring devices: Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor vs. Withings Body Scan Smart Scale

Quick Verdict

The Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor is tailored for athletes seeking real-time glucose monitoring to optimize performance. The Withings Body Scan Smart Scale is a more general health device, offering detailed body composition analysis and cardiovascular health insights for a broader audience.

The Abbott Libre Sense is designed for athletes, focusing on real-time glucose monitoring, while the Withings Body Scan is a smart scale that provides comprehensive body composition analysis and cardiovascular health metrics.
The Abbott Libre Sense uses Bluetooth and NFC for connectivity and works with the Supersapiens app, while the Withings Body Scan uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and works with the Withings Health Mate app.
The Withings Body Scan supports multiple users and offers features like ECG readings and vascular age assessment, which are not available in the Abbott Libre Sense.

Key features – Side-by-Side

Attribute	Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor	Withings Body Scan Smart Scale
Name	Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor	Withings Body Scan Smart Scale
Glucose Monitoring Technology	Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system for athletes, measures glucose levels in real-time from interstitial fluid, based on Abbott's FreeStyle Libre technology.	Not available
Data Tracking & Storage	Stores up to 8 hours of data internally when smartphone is out of range (more than 10m outdoors), transmits when reconnected. Supersapiens app displays current blood sugar levels, trends, and history.	Tracks activity, sleep, and weight; shows trends and progress. Free and unlimited storage of weight data. Stores up to 16 weigh-ins offline. Data syncs via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Connects to Apple Health and Google Fit.
Real-time Glucose Readings	Provides real-time glucose values, streams data via Bluetooth to a compatible mobile app every minute.	Not available
Accuracy and Calibration	Uses all available glucose data, scan every 8 hours for most accurate performance. Glucose range: 55-200 mg/dL. Indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends to aid in detecting hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.	Weight readings accurate to 50 grams. Four weight sensors and patented position detection technology. Multi-frequency BIA for body composition analysis.
Connectivity (Bluetooth, NFC)	Uses Bluetooth wireless technology to transmit data, activated via NFC.	Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth
Mobile App Compatibility	Works with compatible mobile apps, Abbott's first collaboration is with Supersapiens. Garmin smartwatches and Edge cycling computers can sync with the Supersapiens app.	Withings Health Mate app on iOS (15 and higher) and Android (10.0 and higher). Connects with Apple Health, Google Fit, and other fitness apps.
Battery Life	Lasts for up to 14 days, disposable sensor.	Rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts up to one year on a single charge.
Water Resistance	Water-resistant, can be immersed in water up to 1 meter (3 feet) for no more than 30 minutes.	Not available
Weight Measurement Accuracy	Not available	Accurate to 50g (0.1 lbs). Weight range of 5-200 kg (9-440 lbs).
Body Composition Analysis (Fat, Muscle Mass)	Not available	Measures body fat percentage, total body water percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, Visceral Fat Index, and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Segmental body composition analysis.
Cardiovascular Health Metrics (ECG, Vascular Age)	Not available	ECG readings, heart rate, and Vascular Age. Detects arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. Pulse Wave Velocity is used to estimate vascular age.
User Profiles & Multi-User Support	Not available	Supports up to 8 users with automatic recognition. Tailored modes like Athlete, Pregnancy, Baby, and Eyes Closed.
Price	Not available	Not available
Ratings	Not available	Not available

Overall Comparison

Abbott Libre Sense: Real-time glucose monitoring, 14-day battery life. Withings Body Scan: Accurate to 50g, supports 8 users, provides ECG and Vascular Age.

Pros and Cons

Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor

Pros:

Real-time glucose monitoring for athletes
Data storage when smartphone is out of range
Compatibility with mobile apps (Supersapiens, Garmin)
Water-resistant design
Painless application

Cons:

Accuracy can be affected by environmental variables (water immersion, extreme climate, high sweat rates)
Requires scanning every 8 hours for optimal accuracy
Limited glucose range (55-200 mg/dL)

Withings Body Scan Smart Scale

Pros:

Consistent and precise weight measurements
Well-designed app with a clean, intuitive interface
ECG monitor can detect atrial fibrillation
Vascular Age provides an assessment of arterial health
Multi-frequency BIA is considered superior to single-frequency BIA

Cons:

Some users have reported negative experiences with Withings customer support
Some find the app cluttered

User Experiences and Feedback

Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor

What Users Love

User-friendly Supersapiens app
Useful as a training tool to optimize nutrition and eating habits

Common Complaints

No major complaints reported.

Value Perception

No value feedback reported.

User Recommendations

The Supersapiens app is tidy and user-friendly.
The sensor is attached to the back of the upper arm, where it isn't unduly disturbing.
The process is painless and can be done by the user.

Withings Body Scan Smart Scale

What Users Love

Consistent measurements are valuable for tracking changes.
Easy to track data, and historical data is presented in an easy-to-read format.

Common Complaints

Customer support is difficult to find and often unhelpful.
Difficulty getting issues resolved and receiving canned responses.

Value Perception

No value feedback reported.