Best Pulse Oximeters - Comparison and Reviews
Keeping track of your body’s oxygen levels and your heartbeat is critical for those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Also, athletes often benefit from recording their vitals and oxygen levels, as it can help illuminate areas of weakness.
Portable fingertip pulse oximeters are affordable, accessible, and easy to use.
What Is A Pulse Oximeter?
An oximeter is a device that can be used to determine the amount of oxygen in a person’s body. Individuals with lung conditions, heart conditions, or breathing impairments typically use an oximeter to ensure that their body is getting enough oxygen.
How Does A Pulse Oximeter Work?
A pulse oximeter goes on the tip of a finger. It then emits a combination of infrared and red light, which passes through the top of the fingertip. The light detector plate then analyzes this light beneath the finger.
Both an individual’s oxygen level and heart rate can be determined with a fingertip pulse oximeter. Wrist pulse oximeters are also an option, and they work the same way as fingertip pulse oximeters do. However, the best wrist pulse oximeters tend to use stronger lights, and more of them.
What Are The Benefits of Using a Pulse Oximeter?
A pulse oximeter performs two essential functions: To determine the amount of oxygen in a person’s bloodstream and determine the heart rate of that person.
Still, there are several benefits of using a pulse oximeter, including some for those without cardiovascular or respiratory conditions.
Detect Problems Earlier
Pulse oximeters can consistently monitor oxygen saturation throughout the day, week, month, or year. Keeping a consistent record of oxygen levels allows both medical practitioners and their patients to detect abnormalities and potential problems before they become life-threatening.
So, in this way, one of the most significant benefits of using a pulse oximeter is that it could just save your life!
Keep Track of Heart Rate
Fitness gurus, exercise enthusiasts, and those just starting a workout routine can all benefit from using a pulse oximeter. Understanding heart rate is critical to achieving the optimal physical benefits from exercise.
If your heart rate is too low, you likely won’t be burning very many calories. But if your heart rate is too high, you could be putting yourself in a dangerous situation, and doing damage to your heart.
A portable, easy-to-use pulse oximeter can be used before, during, and after exercise to help individuals keep track of their heart habits. Remaining aware of your heart rate during and after physical activity is especially critical for ex-smokers, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing heart conditions.
Qualities To Look For In A Pulse Oximeter
Those looking for the best fingertip pulse oximeter should consider a few crucial factors before making a final purchasing decision. The importance of each of these factors will vary from person to person. Ultimately, the best pulse oximeter for you depends on your specific health needs and personal preferences.
Accuracy
Perhaps the essential aspect of any oximeter is its accuracy. You may find a pulse oximeter that comes with an abundance of neat features, but if it doesn’t produce accurate readings, it is not worth much.
Adjustability and Comfort
Another thing to consider is the adjustability and comfort of your preferred pulse oximeter. The best pulse oximeters fit fingers of all sizes and don’t pinch hard enough to restrict blood flow to the digits.
Warranty
A pulse oximeter can potentially extend a person’s life, so you’ll want to make sure that the oximeter you have your eye on has a decent warranty. Most pulse oximeters come with at least a one-year warranty. After all, you’re likely going to be using it for quite a while!
Ease of Use
If your pulse oximeter is too complicated, you’re less likely to use it. This could eventually become a life-threatening issue. That’s why it’s vital to choose a pulse oximeter that is easy to use and read.
Devices with large digital displays are an excellent option for elderly users. Alarms are also an attractive additional feature to look for, as they serve as convenient reminders for forgetful users.
The Best Pulse Oximeters
Let’s explore the best fingertip pulse oximeters and find out what makes them stand out from the crowd! All these pulse oximeters are budget-friendly, ensuring that both you and your bank account are happy.
Features and Specs
The Zacurate Pro Series 500DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter has an accuracy of plus or minus 2%, which is a standard deviation for fingertip pulse oximeters. It can fit persons of 12-years and older.
With a battery life of 40 hours, the Zacurate Pro Series Oximeter does outlast many competitors. The LED display screen is large and well-lit, making it easy for users to read their results. Also, this pulse oximeter can register SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation levels) up to 100%.
This tiny device comes with the two AAA batteries needed for it to function, and it also comes with a nifty silicon cover and lanyard. These additional features allow users to keep the oximeter close and well protected against multiple types of damage.
To make the deal even sweeter, this fingertip pulse oximeter comes with a one-year warranty. Unfortunately, this oximeter often ceases to function after a year, making the warranty a little redundant.
Seeing as how this model is the second-most affordable option on this list, prospective users may want to weigh the excellent price against the likelihood of having to buy another model next year.
Pros
- It comes with a standard one-year warranty.
- It has an easy-to-read, well-lit display.
- It includes batteries, lanyard, and silicon cover.
Cons
- May not continue to function after one year of usage.
Features and Specs
While still affordable, the Innovo Deluxe Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is the most expensive options on this list. With the added expense comes a slightly higher level of quality, and a few additional features, the other oximeters might lack.
The Innovo Deluxe Oximeter has an alarm function that can alert users when SpO2 and heart rate have fallen below or exceeded preset levels. This function provides a direct, hard-to-miss warning for users who may rely on that warning to seek immediate medical attention. Also, the device beeps every time your heart beats, which is a helpful auditory feature.
The digital display may be somewhat challenging to read, if only because it displays quite a lot of information. A wavy plethysmograph represents the user’s heartbeat, and above that is a pulse strength percentage, SpO2 percentage, and heart rate (shown in BPM). Some users may initially have a little trouble deciphering this information.
The Innovo Deluxe Oximeter’s battery life of 40 hours is excellent and ensures that the device can function for an extended period between charges. The device gently clamps onto a person’s finger or thumb, and the hypoallergenic chamber is sure to be a comfortable fit for nearly anyone.
With one exception, of course. Individuals with particularly small fingers and hands may want to consider an alternative oximeter, as this model tends to produce inaccurate readings for those with tiny fingers.
Also, those hoping for a warranty will have to personally contact Innovo’s customer service team with a proof of purchase. It seems like a lot of trouble.
Pros
- A helpful alarm can alert users of dangerous SpO2 and heart rate levels.
- Hypoallergenic material is skin-friendly.
- It provides plenty of information for users hoping to track their vitals.
Cons
- May not be suitable for individuals with small fingers.
- Warranty may prove a little tricky to obtain, and warranty benefits are undisclosed.
Features and Specs
The easy-to-read, well-designed Deluxe SM-110 Two Way Display Finger Pulse Oximeter is the most affordable option on this list. Though it may be budget-friendly, it’s a quality pulse oximeter that can provide accurate, reliable readings.
The finger chamber adjusts to the size of your finger, maximizing efficiency. Also, it’s hypoallergenic, minimizing painful skin reactions such as rashes. Results appear in seconds on a brightly-lit LED screen. In addition to numbers, SpO2 levels are shown in the form of a bar graph.
This pulse oximeter is appropriate for users aged 12 and older. The automatic shut-off function ensures that the device enjoys the most extended battery life possible. But wait, it gets better! This oximeter includes a practical carrying case and neck/wrist cord, ensuring that it never gets lost.
Perhaps the Deluxe SM-110 Two Way Display Finger Pulse Oximeter’s most significant flaw is its inability to show a reading of 100%, even if that is the true SpO2 of the user. However, considering how easy it is to use this oximeter, users can easily forgive this flaw.
And those that do are rewarded with a fantastic two-year warranty, courtesy of SantaMedical. It’s a challenge to find a pulse oximeter with a better warranty.
Pros
- A rare two-year warranty comes with this oximeter.
- The device is designed for maximum ease-of-use.
- The automatic shut-off function improves long-term battery life.
- The most affordable pulse oximeter on this list!
Cons
- It doesn’t include useful additional features such as alarms.
- Cannot register a SpO2 of 100%.
Features and Specs
The Metene Portable Oximeter is perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing, sleekest-looking pulse oximeters on the market. With a solid off-white body and a crisp, clear LED display, you can brag to people that your stylish oximeter is a useful fashion accessory! The included lanyard ensures that you’ll have the opportunity to show it off to interested family and friends.
Operating the Metene Portable Oximeter is a breeze. Users clamp the tiny device to their fingertip and press a single button. Within thirteen seconds, the results are brightly displayed. The soft silicon film on the inside of the machine keeps users comfy while the oximeter generates a reading.
Besides its modern look, the thing that makes the Metene Portable Oximeter stand apart is its outstanding accuracy. Not only can it register results of 100% SpO2, but its accuracy is also comparable to that of a hospital-grade oximeter.
Imagine walking around with a 2.4-ounce piece of gorgeous medical equipment around your neck! As soon as you receive this oximeter and remove it from the packaging, you can begin using it. The batteries are included, making the entire process that much more convenient.
Also, users that find any manufacturing flaws or reading inconsistencies have a full year after the purchase of the oximeter to return and report these failings. This one-year warranty is standard, but great to have, nonetheless.
Pros
- Contemporary, almost futuristic look and design retain a high ease-of-use.
- As accurate as hospital-grade oximeters.
- Lightweight and easily transportable.
Cons
- It takes a full thirteen seconds to display results, which is slightly longer than comparable oximeters.
Features and Specs
SantaMedical took all the useful information that the Innovo Oximeter provides and designed it to be easier to read and understand with their SantaMedical Generation 2 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter. The digital OLED display offers a high level of clarity, making information easier to see and read.
The SpO2 level and pulse rate are displayed numerically. Still, the display also generates a handy plethysmograph that shows changes in the arterial blood volume and pressure through a series of waves.
Unlike many other comparable oximeters, the SantaMedical Generation 2 Oximeter has a low battery alert to help users keep their devices powered.
Some users have found that their oximeters malfunctioned or ceased to work after a few weeks or months of use. The one-year warranty included in the purchase of this oximeter ensures that a working replacement is only a phone call or email away.
Individuals who decided to purchase this oximeter should be aware that the device only works when the user is entirely still. Those with difficulties keeping their bodies, limbs, or fingers still during the process may want to consider a different model.
Pros
- It condenses a lot of useful information into an easy-to-read display.
- A low battery alert helps users keep the device charged.
- OLED screen for extra brightness and clarity.
Cons
- Devices have been known to malfunction after a short period of use.
- Users must remain completely stationary while using this oximeter.
Our Pick for Best Fingertip Pulse Oximeters
Each of these fingertip pulse oximeters has positive and negative qualities. The importance of each of these qualities depends on your personal preferences and needs. However, we couldn’t help but feel that one of these oximeters outshone the rest in terms of accuracy, ease of use, and warranty.
The Metene Portable Oximeter is a unique device. Not only is it easy on the eyes, unlike some blocky, alarm-clock styled oximeters (we’re looking at you, Zacurate Pro Series 500DL). But it also produces readings that are so accurate, they rival oximeters that physicians and nurses use.
Accuracy is the most crucial aspect of an oximeter. That’s why we believe that the Metene Portable Oximeter is the overall best fingertip pulse oximeter.