Are you planning to get a blood pressure monitor soon? Be aware that this month of July could offer some promotional opportunities. With the summer sales ending on August 1, the discount period has indeed begun. Other dates to keep in mind, the shopping event reserved for Amazon Prime subscribers, Prime Day, which will take place on July 11 and 12. Regarding our comparison of the best blood pressure monitors of the moment, no change to report, in the absence of the release of new products, our selection remains up to date.
Our blood pressure monitor testing procedures
In order to carry out this comparison of the best blood pressure monitors, we have identified the best-selling devices on the market, then selected and tested the 10 most promising blood pressure monitors on paper for several days.
To evaluate these blood pressure monitors, we first measured our blood pressure every morning on an empty stomach and at a fixed time in order to obtain reliable, consistent and comparable results.
We also assessed the presentation of the results, necessary for the proper understanding and interpretation of measurements. We ended this first test phase by timing the time required to calculate each measurement.
We are interested in thegeneral ergonomics of the different devices by checking the quality of the armbands, the quality and readability of the screen and ease of use.
We then reviewed the options offered by blood pressure monitors, focusing on the data storage capacitythe type of measures assessed as well as theapp ergonomics when there was one. Finally, we took care of the power supply mode and took into account the size of the blood pressure monitors.
The best connected blood pressure monitor: Withings BPM Connect
The Withings BPM Connect is certainly one of the benchmarks on the connected blood pressure monitor market. Compact, precise thanks to the oscillometric operating method and comfortable at the cuff, it is also very easy to use. For example, you will have the option of choosing a simple blood pressure measurement or a more complete triple measurement, including heart rate.
Also noteworthy is its small integrated LED screen that is very readable day and night. The device can register a maximum of 8 users and has unlimited data storage thanks to the Health Mate app (usable over Wifi or Bluetooth). If the application is not particularly intuitive, it is complete and compatible with other health and fitness applications, allowing the centralization of data. You can also transfer your data directly to your doctor. Finally, we appreciated its long autonomy provided by a good capacity rechargeable battery.
The best value for money blood pressure monitor: Beurer BM 55
A benchmark on the blood pressure monitor market, the Beurer BM 55 offers blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, as well as an overall assessment of mental and physical rest using the oscillometric method. This model is very ergonomic, in particular thanks to its large, bright and backlit screen offering a clear display. It is also equipped with a color scale placed next to the screen which facilitates the understanding of the results obtained. However, we noticed that some keys lacked responsiveness.
Also, only 2 user profiles can be saved on the device, with max 60 data per person. You can, however, transfer the data to the free Beurer HealthManager Pro software using the USB port on this device. The cuff is latex-free and one-size-fits-all, so it fits all arms and is super easy to fit, including the bad position indicator. For power, the Beurer BM 55 works with 4 AAA batteries and on the mains. Note that a storage pouch is provided by the manufacturer.
The best blood pressure monitor at a low price: Omron X2 Basic
More entry-level, the Omron X2 Basic is nonetheless reliable in measurements and easy to use. Compared to more expensive blood pressure monitors, it certainly offers fewer storage options but it often gave more reliable readings than many of the blood pressure monitors we tested. Thanks to the oscillometric method, it can easily measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as heartbeat.
Easy to use thanks to the winding guide on the cuff, the Omron X2 Basic is quite universal, adapting to arms from 22 to 32 cm in circumference. The LCD screen located on the housing is well oriented but in the absence of backlighting, it becomes unreadable in the dark. Finally, the device can only save the last measurement performed and it can only accommodate one user profile.
The best “one-size-fits-all” blood pressure monitor: Omron X3
The Omron X3 stands out from the competition with its universal size cuff (22 to 42 cm) and its ease of use. Another positive point, its wide cuff offers better contact with the arm to improve measurement and it has a winding guide and a bad position detector.
Besides measuring blood pressure and heart rate, it also reports any abnormalities such as hypertension. You can save two profiles on the device, and up to 60 data per user. If the large LCD screen is very readable, the absence of backlighting makes it impossible to use in the dark. No color code either to facilitate the interpretation of the results obtained. The device is however very ergonomic thanks to its distinct and easily identifiable buttons. Finally, the supplied cover makes the blood pressure monitor easy to transport.
How to choose a blood pressure monitor?
Following the recommendations of healthcare professionals and our product experts, here are the key criteria to consider before buying a blood pressure monitor.
1 – Upper arm, wrist or connected blood pressure monitor?
- Upper arm blood pressure monitors are the most widely used by healthcare professionals. These automatic devices are easy to use and usually offer the most reliable data.
- Wrist blood pressure monitors are less bulky but being placed further from the heart the results are less reliable than for arm blood pressure monitors.
- Connected blood pressure monitors (arm or wrist) are more expensive but offer the best user support with monitoring and sometimes interpretation of measurements. When they are devoid of a screen, however, they require the use of a smartphone.
2 – Systolic, diastolic pressure, what data is measured?
- Blood pressure monitors mainly measure 3 data: systolic pressure (which corresponds to the moment when the heart contracts and ejects blood into the arterial network, this is the “maximum force” of the blood), diastolic pressure (which corresponds to the moment when the heart expands and fills between two contractions, the “minimum force” of the blood) and the number of beats per minute.
- Be aware that some blood pressure monitors are also equipped with arrhythmia detectors that can detect irregular heartbeats.
3 – What size should I choose for the cuff?
- In order to obtain reliable results, it is important to place the cuff correctly and at the correct height. By materializing the arm from the smartphone application, some connected blood pressure monitors ensure that the cuff is positioned correctly to guarantee an accurate measurement.
- Be aware that many brands offer universal cuff sizes, ranging from 22 to 42 cm. Others offer different sizes ranging from S to XL.
4 – The quality of the display
- Your display screen needs to be large enough to see your results properly.
- Choose screens that are color coded so you can better understand your results. Likewise, the presence of a backlight is a plus for using your blood pressure monitor in the dark.
5 – The number of users and the memory
- For optimal performance, opt for blood pressure monitors that can record your previous measurements. Generally, it is possible to store between 30 and 100 measurements.
- If you want to use the device with several people, make sure that it can accommodate several user profiles.
Withings BPM Connect: the best connected blood pressure monitor
Beurer BM 55: the best quality/price ratio blood pressure monitor
Omron X2 Basic: the best blood pressure monitor at a low price
Omron X3: the best “one-size-fits-all” blood pressure monitor
Other blood pressure monitors tested
- A&D Medical UA-767F : Despite its many qualities, we preferred to exclude this model from our list because during our tests, we found the swelling of the cuff quite painful
- Omron X7 : We found this blood pressure monitor very expensive. Moreover, some of its features require a premium subscription, which increases the price of the product even more. We also encountered connection and synchronization difficulties when using it, which led to data loss.
- Omron Evolv : We encountered great difficulties pairing with this device. Moreover, it is very expensive and some of its apps require a premium subscription which only increases its price. Finally, it is only possible to create a single user profile on the application.
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