Xiaomi continues 'internet of things' push with new smart scale and power strip

China's largest smartphone manufacturer has expanded its drive into customers' homes with five new products, including a smart scale and a smart power strip.

Xiaomi chief executive Lei Jun revealed the new products at an event in Beijing today to mark the upcoming fifth anniversary of the firm, now one of the world's highest valued private technology companies at US$45 billion.

While three of the products are upgrades of existing items, the smart scale represents a step further into not only customers' living rooms – where Xiaomi has already rolled out air purifiers and televisions – but also the bathroom.

The minimalist, round-edged scale only has a simple LED panel on the front, but paired with the Mi Fit smartphone app can be used to track user's weight and body mass index (BMI) over time.

The scale and app, which also pairs with the Mi Band fitness tracker, are compatible with both Android and iOS

The company claims that the scale is sensitive enough that it can track your weight to within 50g and will be able to tell the difference in mass after a user has drunk a bottle of water.

Up to 16 people can track their weight using the scale and app. It will go on sale on April 8 in China for 99 yuan.