What's in the box?

The Naked Labs Body Scanner comes in two boxes -- one for the scale and one for the mirror.

Start with the app

Before you start setting things up, you'll want to download the app to your iOS device for instructions (the Android version is due in the coming weeks).

To get started, you'll need to log in. You can do so using Google or Facebook if you like, but I chose to stick with an email and password, instead.

Personal info

The app will start by asking a little bit about you.

Privacy concerns

From there, it quickly works to get out in front of any privacy concerns you might have regarding sharing nearly naked renderings of yourself with the cloud. That might not be enough for some folks, but I say good on the Naked Labs team for being transparent about their standards.

Community standards

The Naked Labs app also spells out the most important bits of the terms and conditions.

Terms and conditions

Finally, the app offers links to all of the fine print, and lets you choose to opt into anonymized data sharing. This is a much better approach than leaving data sharing on by default and making users search through the settings to opt out.

The fine print

Here's more of the fine print from those terms and conditions, in case you're interested.

Start the setup

OK, time to start setting the thing up. The app starts by giving you some pointers on where not to place your mirror. If you were thinking of sticking it in the bathroom, think again -- the humidity from your morning showers might damage the mirror's built-in cameras.

Think about light

You'll also want to keep the mirror in a shady spot away from direct light. And you'll obviously need a power outlet nearby (or an extension cord, at least).

Clearance

The mirror and scale require a little bit of clearance to get accurate scans of your body. The scale will sit 32 inches in front of the scanner while in use, and you'll want to keep a 24-inch radius around it clear, too.

Let's unbox it!

Time to start unpacking. Step one: the scale.

Floor types

The scale comes with screw-in feet to help it sit steady on carpet, provided the carpet isn't more than an inch thick.

Take a look

Here's how it looks on the bottom. Note the built-in holder for the USB-C charging cable that you'll use to top up the scale's battery (you just plug it into the hard-wired mirror).

Battery alerts

And don't worry, the app will let you know when it's time for a recharge.

Box No. 2

With the scale set up, it's time to turn our attention to the mirror. That means opening box no 2. You'll start by screwing two pins into the base.

Base assembly

The baseplate clamps onto those pins, and keeps the included Allen wrench securely stored away, too.

Out of the box

With the baseplate in position, it's time to tip the mirror up and out of the box. Making progress!

Power

The power cord threads through the baseplate. You'll put a heavy cover on top to hide it away and to keep the mirror standing steady.

Bluetooth pairing

With the mirror plugged in, it's time to connect to it. You'll use Bluetooth for this.

Connect the scale

Next, you'll turn the scale on and plug it into the mirror.

Voila!

Boom! One body-scanning smart mirror and smart scale, ready to go.

More setup

Well, almost ready. We've still got a little bit of setup left. We'll start by connecting the mirror to our home's Wi-Fi network, giving it a name, and making sure that the firmware is up to date.

Good to go

OK. Now we're all set.

Time to scan

Ready for our first scan? We've got a few things to consider first. For instance, we'll want to make sure that there isn't any bright light in the room that could throw off the scanner. The built-in cameras work a little like radar, pinging waves off of your body to measure the distance and depth. That means that they don't need light in order to scan your body. You can even scan in the dark if you want.

Check your hair

The scanner recommends keeping your hair short and away from your neck. Ponytails and buns will work if you have long hair, though you can also just put on a shower cap or a swim cap.

Big hair is a problem

If your hair is long or frizzy, it might throw the scanner off.

Clothing optional

As for clothing, you'll want to wear tight-fitting underwear that doesn't alter your body's natural form. And yes, you can scan in the buff if you so choose.

Here we go

All right, one last check before we start scanning...

Align the scale

It's important that the scale is in perfect alignment with the mirror during your scan. Luckily, there's a handy red laser that'll show you right where to place it. Neat trick!

Practice your stance

With the scale in the right spot, you'll want to practice standing on the scale in the correct stance. You'll need to step onto the scale within a few seconds after initiating the scan, then hold still as it slowly rotates.

Let's do this

All right, here we go...

That was easy

Standing on the scale as it spins isn't difficult -- the motion is gentle and slow. Afterward, you'll step off and wait for the data -- all 4GB of it -- to be compiled and compressed into a smaller-size 3D rendering you can view on your phone.

FAQ

The app runs through some helpful tips and answers to frequently asked questions as you wait for your first scan.

Metrics

Some good info about what all the mirror is tabulating, here...

Accuracy

As for accuracy, the Naked Labs Body Scanner claims it can measure things like chest circumference and arm length to within one-quarter of an inch. As for body fat, the scanner uses a proprietary algorithm that claims an accuracy of +/- 2.5 percent.

Your first scan

Here's a peek at my first scan. You can set it as your baseline scan upon which future measurements will be compared, and you can also tag each scan with labels like "good day," "bad day" and "diet."

The app also lets you check all sorts of body measurements, or rotate and zoom if you really want to scrutinize the way you look. You can also view two scans side by side to compare the way your body has changed over time.

Tech support

One last note: The Naked Labs team offers very decent tech support. We had a small Bluetooth hiccup early on during testing, and after calling the number in the app, they were able to sort us out within minutes. Plus, I got this nifty scan of myself on the phone with them when they checked to see if their solution worked!

Note that this scan didn't return any measurements -- if the mirror detects that you're wearing clothing or that something else is throwing the scan off, it'll let you know that there's something wrong and ask you to scan again.