Arboleaf Smart Food Scale, Kitchen Scale with Nutritional Calculator

Why it's worth it

The Arboleaf matches the Etekcity on capacity and USB charging, then beats it on two things you'll notice: it reads in half-gram increments, and its app searches more than a million USDA foods. It's also lighter and slimmer on the counter.

Half-gram steps make the small measurements less frustrating. It reads in 0.1-ounce and 0.5-gram increments all the way up to 22 pounds. If you weigh espresso, spices, protein powder or supplements, that finer resolution is the difference between a number that moves and a number that sits there taunting you. For everyday cooking it's overkill. For coffee and baking, it's the whole point.

The database is the biggest reason to choose it over our top pick. The Arboleaf app searches over a million USDA foods, by name or by barcode, and shows 19 nutrition metrics per item. It logs by day, week, month and year. The more obscure your groceries — regional produce, store brands, bulk-bin grains — the more that size pays off.

From our review of 10 smart kitchen scales, by Catherine Hayes, Senior Editor, Home & Appliances

What we like

• +Half-gram steps make the small measurements less frustrating
• +The database is the biggest reason to choose it over our top pick
• +It charges over USB and gets out of your way
• +It's compact for a scale that holds this much

What to know

• –The white glass top shows everything
• –The two-minute auto shutoff can catch you out
• –It isn't waterproof