IFA or Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin is one of the oldest industrial exhibitions in Germany. The first show debuted back in 1924. From then on it was held annually until 1950 when it transitioned into a biannual format until 2005. This is when it went back to an annual format.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Unfortunately, it has been a couple of years since we were last in Berlin attending the show. As you’ve probably guessed, the coronavirus situation turned things upside down. In 2020 IFA was predominantly a virtual event with some limited in-person gatherings. Things were no better in 2021. In fact, in that year the organizers decided to entirely cancel the event.

But things are slowly returning back to normal and IFA 2022 is back in its usual format. The event started on Friday and concludes on Tuesday, September 6th. This will be the 59th IFA. The last in-person IFA in 2019 attracted nearly a quarter of a million visitors. All indicators are we are getting more of the same in 2022. It is quite crowded here.

Wearable technology typically makes a strong showing in Berlin and this year is no different. It’s a big deal for wearable manufacturers as the timing for product announcements is great – early September, a couple of months ahead of the all-important holiday shopping period. Most of the big players are here debuting their latest gear, including Fitbit, Garmin, Withings, Zepp Health, Huawei and Samsung.

The one obvious omission is Apple. But no surprise there as the company prefers to organize its own launch events. Xiaomi is another name missing from the list of exibitors.

Wearable tech making headlines

Fitbit

For starters, Fitbit is showcasing Sense 2, Versa 4 and Luxe 2 at the event. The trio officially launched in August. The devices are available for pre-order but they will not ship until well into September.

The company has used the Berlin platform as a launch ground for its wearables many times in the past years. All three of these devices come with iterative upgrades over their predecessors so no huge surprises there. Inspire 3 got a snazzy new AMOLED display, Versa some more sports modes and Sense 2 has the ability to capture continuously electrodermal activity.

Garmin

Garmin is another big name that is is here. This year, however, it only has one new watch on display – the Venu Sq 2. Its screen has received an upgrade as compared to the original. You now get something with a 1.41 inch display and respectable 360 x 360 pixels resolution. The device also gets GNSS support, nearly double the battery life (11 days in smartwatch mode), Sleep Score & Insights, Health Snapshot and more sports modes.

Other Garmin devices that we are expecting after IFA include Instinct Analog, Vivomove Trend and a mystery device called Austin. These names come from a list published by a local Garmin distributor so remains unconfirmed. Another possibility is a smart blood pressure monitor called Index BPM. The company has recently added the ability of Garmin Connect to write blood pressure measurements to Apple Health.

Samsung

Samsung is, of course, here once again. It always makes a big splash at IFA with a large hall dedicated to its products. Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro were made official about a month ago and the company is proudly displaying their abilities.

The Pro version is not fundamentally different from the non-Pro. But it has a titanium housing rather than aluminium, along with a larger battery and an improved Sapphire display.

You could say this edition is an evolution in the Galaxy Watch lineup rather than a revolution. The sensors inside the watches are unchanged. So heart rate, Spo2, ECG and more are all there, in the guise of a single 3-in1 sensor dubbed BioActive. The one important new addition is a temperature sensor.

Amazfit

Then we have the Amazfit brand. Zepp Health timed the announcement of the GT4 line in time for IFA 2022. Actually, the first device in this range had dropped earlier in the guise of the GTS 4 Mini.

A couple of days ago GTR 4 and GTS 4 were added to the list. They come with a bunch of nice upgrades as compared to their predecessors. This includes some design enhancements, along with Huami’s latest BioTracker 4.0 PPG optical sensor, around-the-clock SpO2 monitoring, improved sports features, dual-band circularly-polarised GPS antenna technology and on-board storage for music.

The watch that has particularly impressed us is the GTR 4. Absolutely beautiful in design it appears very premium. Look out for our review of the timepiece to drop in the weeks ahead.

Withings

Withings has a display in Berlin. Little has dropped from the French outfit in terms of new devices this year. Our hope was that we would see its Body Scan scale. And it is here. The device will be available for sale in the EU in November. Wider availability is expected early next year. For reminder, this is by far the smartest scale in existance. It has the ability to assess nerve activity, detect ECG and Afib as well as monitor segmental body composition thanks to a retracteable sensor-packed handle.

A surprise announcement was the Withings Body Comp scale. It also comes with some novel functionality such as Vascular Age and a Nerve Health Score. The latter is monitored by analyzing the sweat glands in the feet.

No sign yet of the urine analysis device we are expecting. It will likely be called Bio-Screener, and the French company has filed a few patents for this so it will likely debut at some stage.

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We don’t often write about health and fitness smartphone apps unless they come directly from a wearables manufacturer. However, the ONVY app has potential to be very useful.

Essential reading: Best fitness trackers and health gadgets

This is because it solves a problem many wearable tech enthusiasts have. The apps from different brands are typically not designed to speak to each other.

ONVY HealthTech is currently developing a health management smartphone app with more than 320 wearable integrations. This includes integrations from Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin, Polar, Misfit, Withings, Strava, Google Fit and more. The company’s aim is to empower their users to manage and optimize their physical and mental fitness with a holistic approach. 

The app has recently been made public in Beta and is available in all international iOS app stores. You can download, install and test it for free on: https://lnkd.in/d66RDpDT.

It’s not a finished product.

As this is still work in progress, the features will develop over time. So, it’s not a finished product.

Currently you are able to link all your accounts and the information will be pulled at regular intervals. It syncs in one direction – from your different apps to OMNY. I’ve had no issues with connecting my Garmin, Withings and Apple Health accounts.

For now, the home screen shows a Balance Score, Recovery, Activity, Mindfulness and Stress. Each of these is rated on a scale from 0 to 100. The info is designed to help you balance your physical and mental strain on a data-driven basis. So your ideal daily sweet spot for each of the main categories is shown “in the zone”.

I really like the way the app is designed and think it has quite a bit of potential. Something that seamlessly consolidates your data from different wearable accounts is sorely needed. Particulary for wearable tech geaks such as myself.

The company says it has a pretty exciting feature roadmap and new functionality will drop over the next few months. In time, you will get personalized recommendations and access to advanced health & performance programs. The AI Health Coach will help you to optimally balance physical and mental strain on a data-driven basis. The software will guide you to peak health & performance without damaging effects of stress or overload. At least, that’s the idea.

ONVY Health Tech are looking for early user feedback on the Beta app. As an incentive, they will give away 3 months for free for their premium features when they are launched in the 2nd half of 2022. This is an early access offer for the first 250 users that download the app.

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Why use a smart blood pressure monitor?

One in three adults are affected by the condition but as many as a third of these can be unaware of a problem. They feel the odd twinge or headache, but simply put this down to feeling a little under the weather. Consider this – hypertension is the biggest cause of strokes known. It also has a massive say in the amount of heart related problems we suffer from.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

There may be lots of gimmicks or unnecessary bits of equipment for your health available today. However, rest assured that smart home blood pressure monitors (BPMs) are highly useful. Taking regular measurements is particularly important as you get older, as the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle can build up over time. If you smoke, are obese, are physically inactive, or have diabetes or high cholesterol, you may also be at an increased risk.

While never a substitute for seeing a doctor, being able to regularly measure and most importantly track blood pressure can literally save your life. Here’s our selection of ten quality blood pressure readers you can buy right now.

Jump to

Withings BPM Core | Omron EVOLV | Withings BPM Connect | QardioArm | Omron 10 | Omron Complete | Koogeek wrist BPM | Braun iCheck7

The best smart blood pressure monitors

Withings BPM Core

Withings has a great range of devices that include smart fitness trackers, smartwatches, scales, a smart thermometer and more. It was also one of the first to bring a connected blood pressure reader to market. With BPM Core, the French outfit has, once again, broken new ground.

Honored with a CES Innovation Award, the device functions as a BPM, ECG and digital stethoscope. You can use ECG to identify atrial fibrillation (AFib). This is a serious form of irregular heart rhythm that can lead to heart failure and is a major risk for stroke. The digital stethoscope can provide early detection of valvular heart disease. This is a condition is characterized by damage to one of the four heart valves and may require surgical intervention.

The ability to monitor all three conditions (high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease), with one product is definitely a game changer. You essentially get a complete heart health checkup in 90 seconds.

For now BPM Core is only available for purchase in Europe. US availability is expected soon. You can check out our full hands-on review on this link.

Withings*

Omron EVOLV

Omron is one of the most established brands on the smart blood pressure monitors market today. The company boasts an almost bewildering range of several dozen monitors for sale. The majority of these are for use on the upper arm. Omron devices are consistently ranked as the USA’s most trusted home BPM suppliers and in terms of world sales they have sold over 100 million blood pressure units.

EVOLV is a sleek looking one-piece monitor which has no tabletop unit, no tubes and no wires. Because of this the product is highly portable and easy to operate. You wrap the entire unit around their upper arm and the blood pressure reading is displayed in bold numbers right on the face of the device.

EVOLV provides you with a complete view of your blood pressure with systolic, diastolic and pulse readings. It also detects the appearance of irregular heartbeats during measurement and gives a warning signal with readings.

With this device, the company has introduced an exclusive new heart health algorithm it calls Advanced Accuracy to measure more data points to ensure clinically-accurate readings. The algorithm also helps to eliminate interference which may be caused due to movement or other external factors.

This is a BPM that you can use it completely independently of your smartphone. All you are required to do to take a reading is press one button.

With this device Omron has married their accurate technology with connectivity. In our hands-on review, we found the operation to be very smooth, fast and noiseless. The convenience of having no bulky heavy units or long tubes cannot be overstated!

Amazon | Omron*

Withings BPM Connect

This is the successor to the Withings BPM. The main change is the inclusion of an LED display this time around for reviewing readings on the device itself.

Those who are overweight are increasing their risk of high blood pressure and the more weight you put on, the bigger your problems. Using this BPM in combination with the Withings connected scale, allows you to see improvements in your health as the weight comes off. It’s easy for someone to tell you that losing weight helps with regulating blood pressure. But actually seeing your results graphed together makes all the difference.

With only one button to press, results right on the screen, and automatic Wi-Fi sync, BPM Connect is extremely easy to use. Plus, the flexible cuff makes taking it with you on trips a breeze. The accompanying smartphone app allows you to delve deeper into your figures and monitor how they change over time.

Amazon | Withings*

QardioArm Wireless BPM

QardioArm is a unique and stylish blood pressure reader, that is clinically validated to measure your systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate with medical-grade accuracy. The monitor also includes irregular heart beat detection which QardioArm uniquely stores to help you track your heart fully.

The device is light, portable, compact, and discrete. In fact, it is rather Apple-like in design and that extends to the classy packaging. The makers made the cuff with simple in mind. It has a cuff and that’s it. No power button, no display. To use the cuff, you absolutely must have a smartphone.

QardioArm offers a number of unique features such as ‘places’. This allows you to monitor your blood pressure across multiple locations. It helps you to understand how your lifestyle impacts your health. The ‘friends and family’ function lets you follow others or allows others to follow you back, creating a support network for better health outcomes.

This is the first BPM to support Apple Health and now works with the Apple Watch. Available in a range of colours, QardioArm represents good value for money.

Read more

Amazon | Qardio*

Omron 10

Those looking for bells and whistles may want to skip this one. But overall, Omron 10 is a reliable, simple “does what it says on the tin” device.

The blood pressure reader makes sure that you have the equipment correctly fitted before use with a light telling you whether the cuff is attached correctly. As well as displaying your blood pressure, the machine will display your pulse and identify whether you have an irregular heartbeat.

Even the best BPMs sometimes deliver misreadings. Omron 10 eliminates a lot of this risk through the use of dual sensors. If the gadget detect an aberration during the reading, the unit alerts the user to the potential problem via an error code.

Omron has married their accurate technology with connectivity. With the free Omron Wellness app, users can wirelessly sync their readings to their smartphone or other mobile device. You can also sync with the Apple Health app.

For some customers, possibly older ones in particular, one of the strengths of this device may be that you can use it completely independently of your smartphone. The interface is simple enough. All you are required to do to take a reading is press one big, blue button helpfully labeled “START/STOP.” The downside is that the syncing of the data between the device and your phone is not automatic.

With a bulky, clunky-looking design, the Omron 10 cannot compete aesthetically with the sleeker, smaller, wearable blood pressure monitors. However, the high accuracy, reliability, and lower price compared to many of the other brands on the market make this a great choice.

Read more

Amazon | Omron*

Omron Complete

Omron Complete is a two in one device. The gizmo is an upper arm blood pressure monitor that also allows you to keep tabs on your ECG readings.

The fact that you get both means you’ll get a complete picture of your heart health from a single device. ECG readings are obtained by touching electrodes located on the top face and both sides of the monitor.

Complete was developed in partnership with Alivecor. It uses a new algorithm developed by AliveCor which has greater success at detecting the possibility of Afib.

Amazon | Omron*

Koogeek wrist BPM

Another

wrist BPM, Koogeek’s device is a great option for those on a budget. The gadget covers all the basics at a much lower price compared to the leading brands. In our tests, we were pleasantly surprised with the quality, ease of use and accuracy of its readings.

To take a measurement, simply press the on button on the device. The cuff will automatically start to inflate. The unit can record up to 99 reading on the device itself. To get accurate readings your arm and wrist must be at heart level.

The other option is to take a measurement with the help of the smartphone app. The red heart in the app will begin to pulse as you turn the monitor on. You are meant to use this as an indicator that the connection has been made. As you take a reading, both the blood pressure reader and smartphone app will show the measurement results and save the data.

Read more

Amazon*

Braun iCheck 7

Braun is a well known consumer products company based in Germany with origins that span back nearly a century. Its recently expanded is range of health and wellness products with two smart blood pressure monitors – the iCheck 7 and the ActivScan 9.

Both devices enable you to monitor your heart health at home through a simple colour coded system. The iCheck 7 can be worn on the wrist, while the ActivScan 9 is a more traditional blood pressure reader that works from the upper arm.

In our tests we found iCheck 7 is extremely easy to use. It works seamlessly and is fast to take measurements. This makes it ideal for storing or popping into your bag or suitcase for checking blood pressure on the go. The device is a little finicky about your arm position but this is understandable as correct positioning is important when taking readings from the wrist.

Your results are colour coded and stored on the device itself. The accompanying smartphone app is good with the ability to add in other health data. It also follows the evolution of your readings over time.

This is basically what you want in a blood pressure reader. A no hassle device that simply does the job and works well.

Read more

Amazon*

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Essential reading: Top blood pressure monitors

The devices now offer improved accuracy, sleeker designs, larger displays and better connectivity with the Omron Connect smartphone app. Blood pressure monitors that have benefitted from the upgrade include: 10 Series, Series, 5 Series and 3 Series Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitors; along with 7 Series and 3 Series Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors.

Some of these were long overdue for an update. For example while Omron 10 worked flawlessly, it came with a bulky, clunky-looking design before this latest update. It now features a horizontal dual display, and stores up to 200 readings for up to 2 users. You can, of course, sync via Bluetooth to the accompanying Omron Connect app on iOS and Android devices which allows for unlimited number of readings. Other features that are part of the refresh include a backlit display, alerts if the readings our outside the new AHA and ACC guidelines, advanced averaging and more.

Omron is one of the most established brands on the home BPM market today. Their devices are consistently ranked as the USA’s most trusted home BPM suppliers and in terms of world sales they have sold over 100 million blood pressure units.

Our favourite Omron blood pressure monitor is the Evolv. It provides you with a complete view of your blood pressure with systolic, diastolic and pulse readings. It also detects the appearance of irregular heartbeats during measurement and gives a warning signal with readings. In our hands-on review we found the device is simple to use and works seamlessly – exactly what you want from a blood pressure monitor.

Earlier this year, the company announced Omron Complete, its first blood pressure monitor with EKG capability. The company developed Complete in partnership with AliveCor. As its name implies, the novelty are the EKG measures. These can be obtained by touching electrodes located on the top face and both sides of the monitor.

The latest line of redesigned blood pressure monitors is available for purchase at www.OmronHealthcare.com and Amazon.

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Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Similar to the Withings BPM Core, Omron Complete is an upper arm blood pressure monitor that allows you to measure, store and share blood pressure and EKG readings with your doctor. The novelty, of course, are the EKG measures. These can be obtained by touching electrodes located on the top face and both sides of the monitor.

Omron Complete was showcased earlier this year at CES 2019 but it is only now that we know the actual launch date. The device also warns users for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib).

“Having the ability to measure two important risk factors for stroke in one device provides those living with AFib a simple and more accessible way to keep track of their condition and know when to seek treatment,” said Omron Healthcare President and CEO Ranndy Kellogg.

“This kind of control can mean lower risk of stroke and greater peace of mind.”

The company developed Complete in partnership with AliveCor. This is an outfit whose claim to fame is an FDA approved ECG reader that attaches to the back of a tablet or smartphone. It also comes in the form of an Apple Watch band.

Alivecore has recently received FDA clearance recently for something called KardiaAI. Its quite possible this could be the 6-lead system it said it is working on. The company’s current product range only has a single lead ECG. A more accurate ECG monitor would separate AliveCor’s products from the competition such as the Apple Series 4 watch.

If you’re interested in Omron Complete, the company said it will start taking pre-orders on April 15th via its US website. The device will set you back $199. Retail availability will expand to Amazon beginning May 1st.

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Essential reading: Top smart blood pressure monitors

Much has already been written about the FDA-recognized HeartGuide. This is the world’s first watch-sized sphygmanometer that promises readings as accurate as you would get from upper arm models. Coming up with the device was by no means an easy task. Omron has filed more than 80 new patents to create the thing.

HeartGuide has no cuffs, wires or hoses, and will even alert you to reposition your arm it if needed for improved accuracy. The device can hold up to 100 readings and works in conjunction with its mobile app, HeartAdvisor.

In order to draw correlation between your behavior and heart health, HeartGuide also keeps tabs on steps, distance, calories burned and sleep. The app tracks and graphs all this and spits out actionable insights based on your personalized data.

“There are 103 million hypertensive Americans and, this year, Omron Healthcare will offer a range of devices tailored to serve every one of them,” Omron Healthcare President and CEO Ranndy Kellogg said.

“More than 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable with lifestyle changes. It all begins with regular blood pressure monitoring and achieving better insights into your heart health.”

For a true smartwatch experience, you can also use HeartGuide to set personal daily reminders and get notifications when you receive calls, texts or emails on your smartphone. A typical user can expect to charge the device about 2 or 3 times per week, depending on usage of course.

Along with HeartGuide, Omron has also unveiled Complete, its first blood pressure monitor with EKG capability. Similar to the Withings BPM Core, it allows users to store, track and share their blood pressure and EKG readings with their doctor. It will also warn you if it spots signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib).

“Having the ability to measure two important risk factors for stroke in one device provides those living with AFib a simple and more accessible way to keep track of their condition and know when to seek treatment. This kind of control can mean lower risk of stroke and greater peace of mind,” added Kellogg.

You can order Omron HeartGuide now for a hefty $499 for delivery in March. It’s only available in the US at the moment, but other countries to follow soon (depending on regulatory approval). Omron Complete is currently under FDA review and is expected to be available for purchase in the next few months.

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Essential reading: Top smart blood pressure montiors

We’ve been waiting patiently for the first fitness watch capable of measuring blood pressure from the wrist. Omron HeartGuide is the first device capable of doing this. Granted it does this via a tiny balloon that inflates to get a reading, but it’s the first step in coming up with sensors that can achieve the same.

Originally announced at CES 2018, the ultra-compact and stylish device is the first watch-sized sphygmanometer that promises readings as accurate as you would get from upper arm models. It has no cuffs, wires or hoses, and will even alert you to reposition your arm it if needed for improved accuracy.

Omron president Ranndy Kellog revealed it was a difficult task getting this product ready for market.

“It took us a little longer than we hoped,” he said.

“Omron couldn’t simply rip the tech out of one of its existing monitors and wrap it around the wrist; the HeartGuide required a complete rethinking of how all the moving parts would work…”

The problem they encountered is that the shape and size of people’s arms and wrists differs. There are a lot of things to consider such as veins, tendons, bones and more.

Ultimately, Omron came up with a concept that inflates the bladder upwards. Furthermore, there is a main cuff on the underside of the watch case, and an assistant cuff near the buckle. Some of the components were manufactured to be smaller than a grain of rice to fit the technology in such a small space.

In addition to tracking blood pressure, the watch provides real-time information on physical activity and sleep. The data is synced to Omron’s Connect app which has seen a revamp earlier this year. The new app works across Omron’s range of connected blood pressure monitors, it’s easier to navigate, provides better graphs and allows you to share readings with your doctor.

The next step is using data gathered from HeartGuide to help users reduce heart attacks and strokes. But right now it’s a learning process. The company will need users to share as much info as possible on lifestyle habits to go with their measurements, so that it connect the dots. At the outset, Omron hopes to encourage users to take medication.

“When people skip their medication they don’t feel any different – but if you’re measuring you’ll be able to see a difference in the data.”

The gizmo features up to 7 days of battery life which is enough for 30-50 inflations per charge. As users are meant to wear it 24/7 Omron has even built in back-up components should one fail. After all, you don’t want to wake up in the morning with a swollen hand!

You can pre-order Omron HeartGuide now for shipping in March. The watch, which comes in three sizes, will set you back a hefty $499. It will only be available in the US at the outset, with other countries to follow (depending on regulatory approval). 

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Hypertension affects one in three adults but many are not aware they have a problem as there are no obvious symptoms. This is why it is important to regularly measure and track your blood pressure. But lets face it, blood pressure monitors are not the easiest devices to use.

The medical giant wants to make your life easier with its Omron HeartGuide. Due to be showcased at CES 2018, the ultra-compact and stylish device measures blood pressure with clinical accuracy at the push of a button. Best of all, there are no cuffs, wires or hoses.

Essential reading: Top blood pressure monitors

This is the first watch-sized sphygmanometer that promises readings as accurate as you would get from upper arm models. Featuring up to 7 days of battery life, the gadget figures out how you’re holding your arm, and alerts you to move it if needed for improved accuracy.

The Japanese outfit says its filed 50 new technology patents on the components. This is primarily to do with the miniaturization of blood pressure pumps, valves, and chips.

In addition to tracking blood pressure, the watch provides real-time information on physical activity and sleep. The data is synced to Omron’s Connect app which is set to receive a revamp. The new app works across Omron’s range of connected blood pressure monitors, its easier to navigate, provides better graphs and allows you to share readings with your doctor. This app will be out on February 1, 2018.

Essential reading: CES 2018, catch up on all the essential news here

The company will be submitting the Omron HeartGuide for FDA review later this year. The device should be ready for sale in the fall of 2018.

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8

Design8.5/10

Ease of use8.0/10

Use of information8.0/10

Motivation7.5/10

Pros

• Clinically accurate readings
• Comfortable cuff, lightweight
• No tubes or wires
• Track your blood pressure history

Cons

• App very basic
• Not rechargeable, runs on standard batteries

High blood pressure puts your health at risk. It can lead to coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, vision loss, and chronic kidney disease. As many as a third of people with the condition can be unaware they have a problem. They feel the odd twinge or headache, but simply put this down to feeling a little under the weather.

Essential reading: Top smart blood pressure monitors

There may be lots of gimmicks or unnecessary bits of equipment for your health, but rest assured that home blood pressure monitors (BPMs) are not gimmicks and they are highly useful. Taking regular measurements is particularly important as you get older, as the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle can build up and your blood pressure can increase. If you smoke, are obese, are physically inactive, or have diabetes or high cholesterol, you may also be at an increased risk.

Omron is one of the most established brands on the home BPM market today. The company boasts an almost bewildering range of monitors for sale, the majority of which are for use on the upper arm. Its devices are consistently ranked as the USA’s most trusted home BPM suppliers and in terms of world sales they have sold over 100 million units.

Omron’s latest connected device, the Omron EVOLV, made its debut at CES 2017. It has became widely available in retail pharmacies since.

Design

In terms of design EVOLV is a sleek looking one-piece monitor which has no tabletop unit, no tubes and no wires. Because of this the product is highly portable and easy to operate. Users wrap the entire unit around their upper arm and the blood pressure reading is displayed in bold numbers right on the face of the device.

In the box, you get the main unit, four AAA alkaline batteries, a square travel pouch and a couple of little instruction booklets. The device is not chargeable which can be viewed as a minus, but at least there are no additional wires to keep track of or get tangled in. You can take approximately 300 readings with a new set of batteries.

Manufactured in Japan, the build quality is top notch and that’s evident right away. Omron has introduced a new type of cuff which circles easily around the upper arm, fitting 22cm to 44cm in circumference. I found it very easy to put on, and strangely comforting to feel it closing in around my upper arm before I’ve even had a chance to secure the velcro fastener.

Unlike most other smart monitors, EVOLV has a LED readout which shows your latest reading so no phone or app is necessary. The internal memory allows you to store up to 100 readings, but to get the most out of the monitor, it is best to sync with the smartphone app on a regular basis. This is done via Bluetooth and it allows you to view a history of your readings and averages.

The unit has highly intuitive controls so can be used by older folks easily. There are only two buttons on the device. One of them STARTS/STOPS the monitor and the other is a Bluetooth connect button. You will find that to use the monitor, pretty much you will only need to use the START/STOP button.

BPMs that take readings from the wrist have grown in popularity in recent years. The problem is, these types of monitors are typically going to provide you with less accurate readings. This is because BPMs are extremely sensitive to body position. But even with every precaution, blood pressure measurements taken at the wrist may be less accurate because the wrist arteries are narrower and not as deep under your skin as those of the forearm. So its a choice between convenience of wrist monitors and accuracy of upper arm monitors. For me, accuracy wins every time.

Features and software

EVOLV provides you with a complete view of your blood pressure with systolic, diastolic and pulse readings. It also detects the appearance of irregular heartbeats during measurement and gives a warning signal with readings.

The company has introduced an exclusive new heart health algorithm it calls Advanced Accuracy, to measure more data points for more clinically-accurate readings. The algorithm also helps to eliminate interference which may be caused due to movement or other external factors.

When you first operate the BPM, you will need to pair with your smartphone device. Make sure the Bluetooth on your smart device is turned on, download the Omron Connect App from the App Store or Google Play; open the App and follow the set-up and pairing instructions. Your monitor is paired when “OK” is on the display.

To take a measurement, you need to be relaxed and comfortably seated, at a comfortable room temperature. Sit in a chair with your legs uncrossed and your feet flat on the floor. Position the cuff correctly on your upper arm, simply press the START/STOP button and the arm cuff will start to inflate and take your measurement. Omron’s Intellisense Technology makes sure the cuff is inflated to the ideal level for each use. Ideally, you should use the same arm when measuring your blood pressure each time because values can vary between your arms.

The device is quick to take a reading. Really quick. I’ve used it multiple times per day for over a week and have only had maybe 1 or 2 failed readings during this period. This was typically because I moved my body too much during a measurement. EVOLV will also warn you if the cuff is wrapped too loosely.

The monitor uses the oscillometric B. method of blood pressure measurement. This means it detects your C. blood movement through your brachial artery and converts the movements into a AD. digital reading.

When the monitor detects an irregular rhythm two or more times during a measurement, the irregular heartbeat symbol will appear on the display with the measurement values. An irregular heartbeat rhythm is defined a sa rhythm that is 25% less or 25% more than the average rhythm detected while the monitor is measuring your blood pressure.

As mentioned, the display shows measurements right there on your arm, no smartphone required. And that’s probably a good thing, as the Omron app isn’t all that impressive.

The monitor holds 100 readings. However, only the most current reading is displayed on the monitor. When the monitor memory reaches 100 readings, your new readings will automatically overwrite the stored readings.

By design, EVOLV doesn’t automatically sync readings with your phone. You have to launch the Omron app from your phone, power on the EVOLV and then initiate the sync from the BPM or the app. After your readings have been transferred, press the START/STOP button to turn the monitor off or allow 2 minutes two pass and it will switch itself off.

The Omron Connect app tracks your daily measurements, giving you a clear view of your overall health. The app is very simple, perhaps too simple for my liking. It shows you your latest reading, and weekly and monthly trend displayed in a graph. You also have the option of viewing and exporting all measurement data. And that’s pretty much it. The information integrates with Apple Health which is very useful as it allows you to hold all your health data in one place.

I hope Omron updates the app to include more visually pleasing ways of displaying the data, and guidance and analysis of your results would be a plus. If you prefer simplicity you will like the app. If not, you can always opt for another compatible app such as MedM BP app.

To allow other people to use this blood pressure monitor, make sure to transfer all of your readings to your Omron Connect app account so there are no readings left in the blood pressure monitor memory.

People sharing this blood pressure monitor will need to create their own Omron Connect account. Once the other person has their own Omron Connect account created, they can then take their blood pressure measurement using this device, and transfer their readings to their Omron Connect account.

Overview

Summary

Omron products have been ranked highly and much praised by doctors regularly over the past 40 years. Many renowned physicians have attested to the product quality and have recommended its use to patients. If you’re a current Omron device owner, you know how good of quality it is. The EVOLV is no exception.

For some customers, the older generation in particular, one of its strengths is that you can use it completely independently of your smartphone. All you are required to do to take a reading is press one button. The downside is, if you want to view historical readings you will need to manually initiate a sync of your data with the app from time to time.

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With this device Omron has married their accurate technology with connectivity. I found the operation to be very smooth, fast and noiseless. The convenience of having no bulky heavy units or long tubes cannot be overstated!

All in all I was really impressed with the ease of set-up and smooth operation. While self-checking is not a substitute for seeing a doctor, being able to regularly measure and most importantly track blood pressure can literally save your life.

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The post Review: Omron EVOLV, clinically accurate blood pressure readings in a sleek package appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. One in three adults is affected but as there are no obvious symptoms, a third of these can be unaware of a problem. This is why it is important to regularly measure and track blood pressure.

This time last year, we had the opportunity to preview the next generation of in-development Omron blood pressure monitors. The company took the opportunity at CES 2017 to showcase version 2.0 of the Project Zero devices – an upper arm blood pressure monitor and a clinically-validated inflatable cuff which fits it into a wrist-worn wearable.

Essential reading: Top smart blood pressure monitors

The watch-like device is the more innovative of the two. It allows users to discretely track real time blood pressure readings with a portable device, free of cuffs, wires or hoses. This is the first watch-sized sphygmanometer that promises readings as accurate as you would get from upper arm models. To achieve this, the device uses a miniaturized version of the inflatable cuff found on larger blood pressure monitors.

“The Project 2.0 technology will redefine what have become standard notions of ‘wearable’,” said Omron President and CEO Ranndy Kellogg.

“Our devices are a necessity, not a novelty. Omron blood pressure monitors are medical devices that measure far more than steps or heart rate; they provide accurate insights into your blood pressure numbers.”

In addition to tracking blood pressure, the monitor provides real-time information on physical activity and sleep. All of this health data is then synced to the Omron Connect app for iOS and Android, where the user can better manage their health and share their results with their doctor.

Typically, measuring blood pressure from the wrist is tricky business, as your arm has to be in exactly the right position to get an accurate reading. This is why it is generally accepted that upper arm monitors are more precise. Its precisely for this reason, the new wrist device features sensors that figure out how you’re holding your arm, and alert you to move it if needed for improved accuracy.

Omron has been one of the most established brands on the home blood pressure monitor market since the 1960s. The company sells an almost bewildering range of blood pressure monitors – the majority of which are for use on the upper arm.

While Project Zero 2.0 is still in development, the upper arm blood pressure monitor is on sale now. The wrist monitor will feature a rechargeable battery that will last about one week on a single charge. Now called the HeartVue, it will be available to purchase this spring.

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