It depends on what you’re looking for, explains Dr. Sheikh. Some people prefer the “old-fashioned” analog scale. If it’s accuracy you’re after, a digital scale is better as it will give you a more precise number, out to one or two decimal places, whereas an analog scale requires you to make more of an estimate based on where exactly the needle falls. Also, the mechanics of an analog scale can degrade over time, making it less reliable than a digital scale, long term.