You might not be familiar with its name but pulse oximeters have been used along with other popular medical devices such as the blood pressure monitor and stethoscope. A pulse oximeter is a device that is used to measure the level of oxygen in your blood and heart rate. The coronavirus epidemic has increased the demand for pulse oximeters across the globe. However, some doctors are skeptical about its efficiency and accuracy. Since people avoid leaving their homes, purchasing pulse oximeters seems to be the only choice for people.
If you were planning to get your hands on one, we would like you to first give this guide a read. We shall discuss some of the best pulse oximeters along with things you need to consider before purchasing one.
Things to consider when buying a pulse oximeter
Accuracy
The first and foremost thing to consider is both efficiency and accuracy. As already mentioned, doctors and users tend to be a bit skeptical about its results. However, manufacturers claim that pulse oximeters today are highly accurate. If you are someone who is suffering from severe oxygen issues, the home pulse oximeters may not show accurate results. Regardless, opt for one that displays the most accuracy and efficiency so that you are sure about the results.
Factors affecting accuracy
As already mentioned, pulse oximeters are designed to give accurate readings. However, some factors can come in between the readings. Since pulse oximeters clip on your fingers, you must have properly cut nails and no nail polish. This could create a problem for the reading to penetrate.
Furthermore, before using a pulse oximeter, make sure that your hands are not cold. Warm them up a bit to ensure accuracy. Lastly, position the pulse oximeter properly on your finger. In the case of poor positioning and your finger not being stationary, the result will not come out accurately.
Size
Most pulse oximeters are designed for average fingertips. If you either have small or large fingertips, chances are that the reading will not be accurate. Therefore, consider buying a pulse oximeter that sits/clips properly on your fingertips to get a proper reading.
Battery life & Durability
Even if you are purchasing a budget-friendly pulse oximeter, the battery life & durability should justify its value. You would not want to purchase a product that gives up on you after the third use. Plus, the battery life should last long along with the device giving an accurate reading for years to come.
Recommended Products
Amemo Pulse Oximeter
The Amemo Pulse Oximeter is Amazon’s choice, to begin with. Trusted by customers and doctors alike, this device is made from high-quality materials for optimum durability. Furthermore, it gives accurate readings and deviates less than 1% under lab conditions. With its user-friendly interface, the Amemo Pulse Oximeter is a perfect option considering its price.
Key Features:
- Easy to use
- Made from high-quality material
- Accurate readings
iProven Pulse Oximeter
iProven introduces its pulse oximeter that is precision-engineered to measure both heart rate and oxygen saturation levels. Designed for home use, this device helps you improve your fitness levels and provides real-time visual feedback. Featuring smart alerts, the iProven Pulse Oximeter lets you know when your saturation levels drop too low.
Key Features:
- Real-time visual feedback
- Designed for fitness and health check
- Precision-engineered
Health Tree Pulse Oximeter
Measuring blood oxygen with extreme accuracy is this pulse oximeter from Health Tree. It can catch accurate readings even if you are moving frequently and gives readings in just five minutes in low perfusion situations as well. You could use this device to keep a check on your fitness and make use of its user-friendly interface to get multiple readings within a few minutes.
Key Features:
- Provides readings in just 5 seconds
- Plethysmograph waveform and pulse bar graph
- Auto-shutdown
FaceLake Pulse Oximeter
The FaceLake Pulse Oximeter has been designed keeping in view swimmers, bikers, runners, and others looking for a reliable product for measuring accurate pulse readings. This product is recommended by Amazon for its high-customer rating and free accessories that come along with it. To top it off, its price and 1-year warranty makes it a solid option amongst its competitors.
Key Features:
- Provides results in 10 seconds
- Measures heart rate
- Measures blood oxygen saturation level
Santanedical Pulse Oximeter
The Santamedical Pulse Oximeter is a clinically tested product aimed at providing accurate results. This is a proven product that gives consistent accurate readings. With only 8 to 10 seconds to spare, this device will catch your pulse rate, blood Spo2, and pulse strength as well. It can easily clip onto average size fingertips with ease and display the results using a simple bar graph.
Key Features:
- Quick readings
- Easy to use
- Compact and light-weight
Lovia Pulse Oximeter
The Lovie Pulse Oximeter is easy to carry and use. You could use this device for around 30 hours without having to recharge it. Furthermore, to preserve the battery, it will shut down automatically if unused for 5 seconds. Measuring your heart rate, pulse rate and Spo2 levels with this product is both easy and accurate.
Key Features:
- Reliable & Accurate
- Auto-shutdown
- Easy to use and carry
Meetwin Pulse Oximeter
Utilizing high-speed computing chips and optical detection technology, the Meetwin Pulse Oximeter is a powerful device that can accurately measure your pulse rate, oxygen saturation, and perfusion index. The charts and graphs are easy to understand and the device shuts itself down to preserve the battery when there is no signal within 8 minutes. Lastly, it takes readings in a few seconds and displays results with pinpoint accuracy.
Key Features:
- Easy to carry
- Fast & Accurate
- Portable design
Axayinc Pulse Oximeter
The Axayinc Pulse Oximeter features a monochrome LED screen display, which notifies and sends an alarm if the Spo2 level drops below 94 or if the pulse rate is below 50 or above 130. Furthermore, this product is designed to provide accurate readings while consuming low power. If not used for 16 seconds, the device will automatically shut itself down. Therefore, providing a long-lasting battery.
Key Features:
- Auto-shutdown
- Monitors Spo2, pulse rate, and heart rate
- Low voltage prompt
CMI Health Rechargeable Pulse Oximeter
The rechargeable pulse oximeter by CMI Health has been manufactured according to ISO 9001, CE, and ISO 13485 standards. Its pulse rate accuracy is 2 bpm, whereas the Spo2 reading is accurate to 3% between 70%-100% saturation levels. You can manually set the rates at which you want the device to sound alarms. And since it is rechargeable, you will need to worry about replacing batteries every time.
Key Features:
- Rechargeable battery
- CE, ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified
- Easy to read display
Innovo Wrist Pulse Oximeter
The Innovo Wrist Pulse Oximeter features a new generation of sensor technology for measuring Spo2 and Pulse Rate. Even though it is wrapped around your wrist, it is still able to record accurate pulse, heart, and Spo2 rates. The Bluetooth replaced for the USB port allows you to record pulse and Spo2 rates in real-time. Lastly, the Innovo Wrist Pulse Oximeter can monitor and record your Spo2 and pulse rate even while you are sleeping.
Key Features:
- Overnight monitoring
- Extreme precision
- Visual & auditory alarm
Final Word
This guide features some of the best pulse oximeters used by people across the globe. Based on the accuracy, ease of use, battery life, and price, these products have ended up in our top recommendations. With that, we are sure to have helped you find the most suitable option that satisfies your needs as well. Our top pick would be the Amemo Pulse Oximeter. It is a solid combination of accuracy, ease of use, and reliability. Furthermore, its measuring capability considering its budget-friendly price is at par with some of the most expensive pulse oximeters.