Best Of Smart Health And Home: Connected Scales, Ambient Lighting, And Portable Espresso | Vol. 7
Five editorially chosen picks: one hero, three supporting acts, and one wildcard. This drop is designed to be browsed as a full collection, not just a pile of affiliate links.
Hero Pick
WITHINGS Body Scan Connected Health Station
The most advanced smart scale on earth, capable of segmental body composition and ECG readings.
At a glance
Everything in this drop
WITHINGS Body Scan Connected Health Station
The most advanced smart scale on earth, capable of segmental body composition and ECG readings.
Nanoleaf Elements Wood Look Hexagons
Modular smart lighting panels with a wood-grain veneer that look like decor when turned off.
OutIn Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine
A battery-powered portable espresso maker that heats its own water.
LaMetric Time Wi-Fi Clock
A retro-styled pixel display clock that tracks notifications, weather, and subscriber counts.
Snow Peak Shimo Stein 700
A vacuum-insulated, stainless steel beer stein with a foldable handle.
Deep dive
Why each pick earned its place
WITHINGS Body Scan Connected Health Station
The most advanced smart scale on earth, capable of segmental body composition and ECG readings.
Price
£348.99
Editorial rating
4.5 / 5
The Hero Product. We've crowned this the Hero of the collection because, frankly, it knows more about your insides than you do. It's not just a scale; it's a terrifyingly accurate judgment station that grabs you by the handles and reads your soul (and your segmental body fat).
Most smart scales just guess, but the Body Scan sends a signal right through you to tell you exactly which limb is letting the team down. It's the closest you'll get to a medical check-up without the cold stethoscope or the waiting room magazines.
If you're ready to turn your morning weigh-in into a full-blown data science project, this is the one. Just don't blame us when it tells you your 'fitness age' is 'Victorian Ghost'.
The Irresistible
- Segmental Analysis: It breaks down fat and muscle mass by body part. Finally, you can prove your left arm is just 'bulking'.
- Nerve Health: It actually assesses sweat gland activity in your feet to track nerve health. It is absurdly thorough.
The Clever Part
- The Handle: That retractable handle isn't a gimmick; it completes the electrical circuit for the upper body scan. Smart engineering.
- The App: The Withings Health Mate app is arguably the best in the business for visualising your gradual decline (or improvement).
The Fine Print
- The Wait: You have to stand there holding a handle like a statue for 90 seconds. It feels like an eternity in a cold bathroom.
- The Price: It costs as much as a gym membership you won't use.
The Reality Check
- The Vascular Age: It gives you a 'Vascular Age' score. There is no pain quite like being told your arteries are ten years older than your face.
Nanoleaf Elements Wood Look Hexagons
Modular smart lighting panels with a wood-grain veneer that look like decor when turned off.
Price
£150.67
Editorial rating
4.0 / 5
We usually find RGB gamer lights about as tasteful as a neon sign in a library, but these managed to sneak onto the list. They are the 'grown-up' version of the flashing tiles you see on Twitch streams.
By wrapping the tech in a wood-grain veneer, Nanoleaf has created something that actually looks like furniture when it's switched off.
It's a clever attempt to bridge the gap between 'smart home enthusiast' and 'person who owns actual books'.
The Irresistible
- Ambient Glow: The light is tunable white (cool to warm), creating a genuinely cosy, fireplace-like atmosphere.
- Decor First: When off, they just look like a geometric wooden art installation. No ugly black plastic squares.
The Clever Part
- Music Sync: Watching the lights ripple in time to jazz is surprisingly relaxing (and only slightly hypnotic).
- Touch Reactive: You can tap them to turn them on or trigger scenes. It feels very Star Trek.
The Fine Print
- The 'Wood': Let's be honest, it's plastic that "looks" like wood. Up close, the illusion wavers slightly.
- Adhesion Anxiety: Prepare to pray to the gods of double-sided tape that these don't peel your plaster off.
The Reality Check
- The Cables: Hiding the power cable hanging from a piece of 'wall art' is a logistical nightmare they never show in the promo photos.
OutIn Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine
A battery-powered portable espresso maker that heats its own water.
Price
£139.99
Editorial rating
4.0 / 5
For the caffeine addict who refuses to compromise, even when stranded in a layby or halfway up a mountain. Most portable espresso makers have a fatal flaw: you still need to carry a thermos of hot water.
The OutIn Nano fixes this by heating the water itself, which is frankly a thermodynamic miracle in something the size of a water bottle.
It's loud, it's battery-hungry, and it produces a shot of coffee that is shockingly legitimate. It's freedom, brewed at 20 bars of pressure.
The Irresistible
- Self-Heating: It boils the water for you. This is the game-changer.
- The Crema: The 20-bar pump manages to produce a genuine, thick crema. It's not just 'strong coffee'; it's actual espresso.
The Clever Part
- Versatility: It takes Nespresso pods (easy cleanup) or ground coffee (for the purists).
- Build Quality: It feels dense and premium, not like a plastic toy that will shatter in your rucksack.
The Fine Print
- Battery Anxiety: Heating water takes a lot of energy. You get 3-4 cups per charge. Don't be the generous one offering coffee to the whole campsite.
- The Wait: It takes about 3-4 minutes to heat up. When you need caffeine, that is a long time.
The Reality Check
- The Panic: The terror of seeing the battery light flash red when you haven't had your morning shot yet is a specific kind of adrenaline.
LaMetric Time Wi-Fi Clock
A retro-styled pixel display clock that tracks notifications, weather, and subscriber counts.
Price
£159.00
Editorial rating
3.5 / 5
Why look at your phone when a blocky, retro box can yell notifications at you from across the room? The LaMetric Time is for the person who wants to feel like a stock market trader from 1989, but with Instagram likes instead of ticker tape.
It's a charming little distraction machine that sits on your desk and scrolls information that you probably don't need, but definitely want to see.
It's pixel art meets productivity, and it's surprisingly addictive to watch your life scroll by in 8-bit format.
The Irresistible
- Vanity Metrics: Displaying your YouTube subscriber count or Instagram followers live on your desk is the ultimate ego boost.
- The Ecosystem: It plays nice with everything-Sonos, Netatmo, Philips Hue. It's a great smart home controller.
The Clever Part
- The Display: The matte finish and bright LEDs make the pixel art pop. It looks fantastic on camera.
- App Store: There's a community-driven store with thousands of clock faces and apps.
The Fine Print
- Wi-Fi Pickiness: It can be temperamental with 5GHz networks. It prefers the slow lane of 2.4GHz.
- Speaker Quality: It claims to be a Bluetooth speaker. Do not use it as one. Your ears deserve better.
The Reality Check
- Configuration Rabbit Hole: You will spend more time customising the pixel icons than you will actually doing the work you sat down to do.
Snow Peak Shimo Stein 700
A vacuum-insulated, stainless steel beer stein with a foldable handle.
Price
£65.00
Editorial rating
4.5 / 5
The Wildcard. This is the Wildcard pick, mostly because spending this much engineering effort on a beer vessel is both ludicrous and absolutely necessary. Snow Peak has taken the simple concept of 'holding liquid' and over-engineered it to within an inch of its life.
It's a 700ml vacuum-insulated titan that declares you take your hydration-or intoxication-very seriously. It's heavy, it's industrial, and it makes a standard pint glass look like a fragile toy.
You don't need it, but once you feel the cold steel against your palm, you'll wonder how you ever drank from mere glass.
The Irresistible
- Thermodynamics: It keeps beer cold for hours. Literally hours. You will finish the drink long before it gets warm.
- The Capacity: 700ml means it holds a proper pint with room for a aggressive head. No spills.
The Clever Part
- Folding Handle: The handle folds flat against the body for packing. It's a small detail that makes it weirdly portable.
- The Lip: The rim is thick and rounded-it feels substantial to drink from.
The Fine Print
- Hand Wash Only: It's a premium item, so don't you dare put it in the dishwasher.
- Metal Taste: Purists might argue drinking beer from metal affects the flavour. We argue cold beer is better than warm beer.
The Reality Check
- The Look: You will look like a Viking at the dinner table. Whether this is a pro or a con depends entirely on your company.