The 10 Best Pulse Oximeters of 2024

There is a growing concern about everyone’s health. This awareness has been at the focal point of every discussion across the globe. As such, many people have resorted to taking control of their own lives in the comfort of their homes.

This emerging trend seems to be taking effect from all societies in different parts of the world. For that reason, don’t feel left out when you can possibly monitor how your body works right from your home, outdoors or even in the office.

To do so, you will need the best pulse oximeters on the market. These devices come in different designs, functionality, and prices. But the most important thing about them is that they will help you monitor your blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation in your blood.

This is important especially when dealing with chronic lung diseases, sleep apnea syndrome and asthma. With that in mind, you should consider acquiring your own pulse oximeter so you may stay aware of vital signs within your body. Learn more about the best pulse oximeters of 2020 in the following review and buying guide.

Related:The 10 Best Blood Pressure Monitors

Best Overall: Wellue O2 Ring Oxygen Tracker

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Have peace of mind by acquiring Wellue O2 Ring Oxygen Tracker to help you enjoy every moment of your life. With this device on your finger, you can always know the trend in your heart rate and oxygen saturation in your blood. This is because the device gives you adjustable vibration feedback from time to time as you go about your usual business.

Given that this pulse oximeter is small and lightweight, you can take it anywhere with you. Besides, it feels comfortable while it is on your finger. This makes it a perfect choice for uninterrupted monitoring of your vital signs across the night.

Durable and easily adapted to most fingers, this device is designed to serve a wide range of people. Most importantly, it comes with a free professional PC and App report to indicate the graphic sleep trend and blood oxygen saturation level. On top of that, the app shows you the motion and heart rate while the device is on your finger.

Best Pick: AccuMed Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

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Weighing about 1.76 ounces, the AccuMed Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is lightweight in design to provide you with a convenient way of using it. This product comes with a travel case that keeps it safe against scratches or damage when moving around with it.

For easy access, you can attach the lanyard to the device or the case and carry it as you go about your daily activities.

The rotating crystal clear display allows you to view the readings with remarkable clarity in landscape or portrait formats. Also, the auto rotation enables the pulse oximeter to detect the slightest movement of your hand when you clip it on your finger.

Even though this device is not built for medical applications, you can use it to detect or monitor vital signs during and after strenuous activity. In other words, you can check your oxygen saturation in blood after your workout in the gym or at home with the help of this simple pulse oximeter.

Best Value: Zacurate Pro-Series 500DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

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Manufactured according to FDA and CE standards, Zucirate Pro-Series 500 DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is a device for all your daily needs. Whether you are a pilot, a sports enthusiast or someone who wants to know their SpO2 levels, this device is just right for you.

With its accuracy and reliability, this model can determine your blood oxygen saturation level (SpO2) in as little as 10 seconds. As a result, the product’s efficiency will save you time and agony of waiting for too long for the outcome.

To make it more convenient, the results are displayed on a digital LED screen on your pulse oximeter. Also, the device gives you full SpO2 value of up to 100 percent, making it the only pulse oximeter to achieve this feat.

Featuring a finger chamber complete with SMART Spring System, this product can accommodate different finger sizes of both the adults and young children. Kids as young as 12 can use it to monitor oxygen saturation levels in their blood.

mibest OLED Finger Pulse Oximeter

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The mibest OLED Finger Pulse Oximeter is easy to use the device that comes fully equipped with a one-button operation. This is to make your work easier as well as saving the power for extended use.

This classic device spot checks and displays the results in real-time much to your delight. In addition to that, this product uses a pulse bar graph to help you check your pulse signal strength.

With its luxury and reliability, this device uses an accurate dual color to display SpO2 in four directions, four display modes and ten levels of brightness.

Above all, this pulse oximeter comes in handy with a battery low indicator to save power and also to allow you to monitor vital signs for an extended period. The device is suitable for people of all ages and comes with a one-year warranty.

Innovo Deluxe Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

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If you are looking for one of the world’s most innovative and highly advanced pulse oximeters, look no further than the Innovo Deluxe Fingertip Pulse Oximeter.

This device comes with the perfusion index and plethysmography to determine the optimal time for the readings to appear. These two great features eliminate second-guessing in order to give you accurate and reliable results.

Most significantly, this pulse oximeter boasts a multi-directional display which you can rotate to give you six different layout options. This feature allows you to choose the best layout that you can easily read. At the same time, it helps you to switch to a new layout for another person to conveniently see the readings.

Other features that make this device effective include the auditory and alarm function, hypoallergenic finger chamber, a large battery level indicator, lanyard loophole, and one-button operation.

Santamedical Generation 2 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

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If you want an accurate way of checking your pulse rate or blood oxygen saturation levels, take advantage of Santamedical Generation 2 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter. This device uses cutting-edge technology to give you fast and reliable results.

This is made possible with the help of a self-adjusting finger-clamp and simple single-button design on the device.

This state of the art pulse oximeter provides you with three important features in one solution. These features include the SpO2, plethysmography, and pulse rate. Collectively, these features ensure that you get accurate results within a matter of seconds.

Santamedical Deluxe SM-110 Finger Pulse Oximeter

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Here comes another product of Santamedical with newly improved features to make your work easier and exciting. This pulse oximeter uses a two-way display mode to help you view the readings from two different directions.

Precise and reliable, this device is designed to quickly determine your blood oxygen saturation levels within the shortest time possible. Also, the device gives you fast SpO2 readings including pulse measurements to save you time and agony of waiting.

Unlike other devices, this one is made to serve a wide range of finger sizes for both adults and children. In this case, you can place it on your children’s fingers to monitor their blood oxygen saturation level and pulse rate, in the same way, you will do for yourself.

Concord Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

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The Concord Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is a quick, accurate and easy to operate the device. It can easily measure your pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation level, and pulse strength. The device is best suited for pediatric and adult use, meaning it is built for all ages.

With its two-way rotating display feature, you can view the readings on the large LED display from two different directions.

The auto power-off is also included in the design to save power and extend battery life. This explains why it takes over 30 hours for the device to drain 2 AAA batteries. Most importantly, this pulse oximeter comes with a 2-year warranty to give you confidence when using it.

WRINERY Premium Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

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This is one of the best pulse oximeters that can deliver fast, accurate and reliable oxygen saturation level results. Besides, this model is built to last long and withstand all environmental conditions. This means that you don’t have to worry about being too careful when handling it.

WRINERY Premium Fingertip Pulse Oximeter gifts you only the best features that include a long-lasting battery, easy to carry wrist/neck cord, soft case, and belt loop. That is the reason this device works better for skiers, bikers, climbers aviators and anyone involved in outdoor activities.

Zacurate Children Digital Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

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Zucurate Children Digital Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is built to take care of your children’s needs including adults. This model from Zacurate is portable, easy to use and non-invasive.

These features make it safe and effective when monitoring your child’s SpO2 or pulse rate. What you need to do is to insert your kid’s finger into the chamber and everything else will fall in place.

Apart from its functionality, this model has an adorable animal design to entice your kids into accepting it. Besides, it features a plethysmograph wavelength technology that takes a shorter time to determine the readings.

Other features that make it worth every penny include the multi-directional display, portability, and adjustable OLED brightness to make the reading in bright light or darkness easy.

There you have it! The above-mentioned pulse oximeters have been carefully picked based on their great features, affordability, and efficiency in determining the blood oxygen saturation levels among different people.

These devices are mainly designed for use at home or when taking part in outdoor activities. For instance, they help aviators, athletes or those suffering from certain illnesses to check their SpO2 levels.

By using these great features, many people have been able to monitor vital signs within their bodies or save the lives of their loved ones.

With that in mind, you can check the buying guide below to find out what you need to look for before purchasing your ideal pulse oximeter. This guide covers a wide range of factors and questions with answers to help you visualize how pulse oximeters work when used as instructed by the manufacturers.

Take your time and study each model to understand how it works and if it can possibly help you achieve your health goals.

What is a Pulse Oximeter?

A pulse oximeter is an important device that you can quickly use to monitor your oxygen saturation. The device is easy to use and will give you feedback as soon as possible.

To add on that, it can take measurements of your oxygen levels in the blood without the need for any invasive method. This shows how effective and important this device is to you or your loved ones.

Typically, a pulse oximeter is small and you can carry it easily from one place to another. This means you can use it from any location and at any time you want to.

All you have to do is to clip it onto your finger and everything else will flow as you watch. In other words, the device will start taking measures or readings as soon as you clip it onto one of your fingers.

In addition to taking readings of your oxygen level within the blood, the pulse oximeter can provide you with information about your heartbeat rate. This is good news to you such that you will always be able to monitor how your heart works in real-time.

So, how does a pulse oximeter take the measurements? It is simple and straightforward.

To begin with, arterial blood flows from your heart to the rest of your body. This blood is usually fresh and rich in oxygen. While flowing to other parts of your body, this oxygenated blood diffuses to a network of the surrounding cells and tissues.

But if there’s a lack of oxygen in your blood, your body parts and tissues will not have enough oxygen and this means something else.

Oxygen deficiency in your body is hazardous and detrimental to your entire body system and can have a negative impact on your health. If this happens, just know that it is a sign of a serious pulmonary problem.

That explains why you need to use a pulse oximeter to monitor the progress of your heart and blood circulation in particular.

Most of the health workers, especially the Respiratory Therapists use this device to constantly check the oxygenation levels in their patients. Such a move promotes a better understanding of the patients’ overall cardiopulmonary status. Furthermore, this step helps them find working solutions regarding their patients’ well-being.

Those with cardiopulmonary problems should acquire and keep their own pulse oximeters to use them when the need arises. As such, they will find these devices to be of great convenience in solving their health issues.

That is the main reason we came up with this comprehensive list to provide you or anyone else with the best options when it comes to using pulse oximeters.

Every device reviewed above is of very high-quality and readily affordable for anyone interested in them. These products are available at Amazon.com and come with great prices and attractive designs. This means you can get your ideal pulse oximeter sooner than you ever thought.

What Does Your Pulse Oximeter Measure?

Pulse oximeters are designed to measure the arterial oxygen in percentages. To be precise, this measurement denotes the amount of oxygen in your blood hemoglobin which is expressed as SpO2.

SpO2 is a ratio between the deoxygenated and oxygenated blood. In actual sense, this is how you can determine the oxygen saturation in your blood.

As you continue using this device, there are parameters that come along and you need to be familiar with them. For example, there is the heart rate which is normally abbreviated as HR and is calculated with the percentage of oxygen in your blood.

SpO2 and HR complement each other and most of the health experts find this parameter readout to be quite informative.

How Does Your Pulse Oximeter Work?

These devices use a simple principle when measuring your heart rate or pulse rate. In this case, your blood absorbs a certain amount of light to show the contrasting effect of the oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood. This distinction in the appearance of your blood is shown clearly with the wavelength that passes through it.

The finger clip located on the pulse oximeter consists of a transmitting light source. This light is responsible for emitting a broader spectrum of light when the pulse oximeter is in operation. At the other end, there is a receiver to measure the amount of light that passes through.

On the receiving end, there is a diode that is capable of sensing or detecting the light wavelength. The circuit and processing components inside the pulse oximeter work out some calculations to give the results within a short time.

However, your pulse oximeter compensates for the finger size, ambient light and absorbance nature of your tissues. This happens so often to prevent your pulse oximeter from giving you wrong results caused by certain errors.

There is also a reference curve in the memory section of the device whose function is to calibrate all incoming readings. Once calibrated, the device uses the same curve to normalize the readings. As a result, there is usually an increase in the precision or accuracy of the results displayed by your pulse oximeter.

What Should You Look For When Buying Your Pulse Oximeter?

Accuracy

The first factor to consider before buying your pulse oximeter is the accuracy. This factor is important in many different ways and for good reasons.

First, an accurate pulse oximeter will give the right readings that are free of errors. Secondly, it will save you time when it comes to finding the correct readings.

Most of these devices are designed to deliver accurate results that fall within ±2 percent of the actual oxygen saturation level in your blood.

This level of precision is what you need in order to help you analyze different trends in your blood. It also helps you to check your SpO2 levels to know if they are within the normal range.

Response Time

From the accuracy, the next factor you need to put at the back of your mind is the response of the device you want to buy. Some time back a number of pulse oximeters were a little bit slower in calculating the readings. These devices took an average of 30 seconds to deliver the results.

But the modern pulse oximeters are capable of giving the results within 10 seconds. This is a great improvement and a way to minimize your anxiety of knowing the outcome. For that reason, consider buying a pulse oximeter with the best response time to save your time and ease your tension.

Alarms and Alerts

If you are looking to use the pulse oximeter when exercising, you probably won’t need alarms and alerts. But if you intend to monitor yourself in the comfort of your home, then these features will work best for you.

Most of the pulse oximeters use a beep to let you be aware of your pulse. So, when shopping for this device, alarms and alerts should be one of the features to look out for before making your final decision.

Ease to Carry

The good news for you is that most of the pulse oximeters are small enough to fit in your hand or pocket. This should tell you that you can move around with your pulse oximeter without even feeling its weight in your pockets or hand.

However, carrying your device in the pocket can accidentally turn it on without your knowledge. To avoid such incidents, you must look for a pulse oximeter that comes fully equipped with a lanyard.

Quite a number of these devices come with their carrying bags to make their portability easy, safe and convenient. Take your time to check for this factor to make your selection of a pulse oximeter easier and quicker.

Finger Receptacle Size

The main reason why you should consider a finger receptacle size when looking for your pulse oximeter is to ensure that this device can fit well on your fingers. This is the case especially if you have a small finger or you are intending to use it on a small child. With that in mind, make sure to take into account the finger receptacle size before picking the pulse oximeter.

The Size Matters a Lot

The size is another critical feature to look out for when shopping for the pulse oximeter. The size will not only make it easy for you to use this device but will also promote portability. This is way, you will find it easy to use this device anywhere and at any time of your choice.

Display Brightness Versus Battery Life

Some of the pulse oximeters with light-emitting diodes (LED) are usually hard to read in certain conditions. Regardless of this setback, these devices are more energy-efficient than other models.

Durability

No one wants to spend their money on an item that will last them a short while. The same case is true when you are looking for your pulse oximeter.

Obviously, you won’t settle for a device that will serve you for a very short time. Instead, you will consider taking a long-lasting device to get value for your money.

When it comes to pulse oximeters, you will be glad to settle for those with removable silicon covers. The covers protect the device against scratches in addition to preventing damages resulting from drops and other accidents.

Devices that come with shells made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic are more durable than those made of polypropylene plastic shells. So, take note of this difference when buying your pulse oximeter.

Style Options

Despite the fact that pulse oximeters are meant to monitor the level of oxygen saturation in your blood, they also need to look stylish and somehow futuristic.

They don’t have to look like historical relics even if their main function is something unrelated to style. That is why most pulse oximeter designers provide different options in terms of style and color to suit the needs of different end-users.

Warranty or Money-Back Guarantee

Warranties and a money-back guarantee are meant to give you confidence about the product you are about to buy. As such, you need to take into consideration this factor when looking for a pulse oximeter.

Even though these devices are cheaper and available, it is always wise to look out for their warranties before settling the payment. This means that the manufacturers of the same devices are ready to give you support whenever the product shows defects or malfunctions. Warranties and money-back guarantees show that the pulse oximeter you are about to buy will do its intended purpose and nothing should worry you afterward.

How Do You Operate a Pulse Oximeter?

One thing you need to understand about the pulse oximeter is that it is a non-invasive device used in monitoring part of your body system. Before these devices came into practice, doctors and health experts would draw blood from you to perform several analyses in a bid to find the exact percentage of oxygen saturation.

But the introduction of pulse oximeters has made this process timeless, effortless, safe and cheaper. What is needed in this case is to clip the device on your middle finger, earlobe, and toe and you are good to go.

A few models of pulse oximeters are surface probes which means you can just attach them to your chest or forehead to take the readings.

For you to get reliable readings, you must try to reduce your movements as much as you can. If you use the finger clip, ensure that there is no nail polish to make the reading quicker and accurate.

These simple steps and measures will help you obtain an accurate representation of your arterial blood oxygen saturation.

When you follow the right procedure, the readout will show up in a matter of seconds. This is a very important feature when using the pulse oximeters to monitor the level of oxygen in your blood. Pulse oximetry plays a critical role in different emergencies or situations where real-time monitoring of patients’ vital signs is necessary.

Which Finger is Best Suited For the Pulse Oximeter?

Pulse oximetry is not a new technology as some people tend to think. The technology has been around since the 1980s. The only changes that have taken place are the advances in this technology. As a result, we have seen a tremendous increase in reliability and efficiency in the last few years since these devices became a reality.

With the pulse oximeters, accuracy is of paramount importance, especially when it comes to taking oxygen saturation measurements. Different studies show that clipping each finger influences different results. This shows that there is one finger that you should rely on for accurate readings.

From the studies, the verdict pointed to the middle finger on the right hand as the only spot to give accurate readings. The thumb of the same hand came in second followed by other fingers.

These findings are somehow surprising not only to medical practitioners but also to all clinicians. Surprisingly, the same studies revealed an interesting observation among healthcare workers. The observation showed that more than 80 percent of clinicians clip the device on the index fingers of their patients when taking the readings.

What are the Expected Ranges for the Pulse Oximeter Readings?

So far we have discussed what the pulse oximeter measures and how it works. At the moment we need to discuss the normal ranges for blood oxygen saturation levels and heart rate. Something like this :

• Oxygen Saturation-95 to 100 percent
• Heart Rate-60 to 100 beats per minute

These values are only applicable to an average adult and not kids or the elderly. These ranges differ from one age group to another.

Even though the normal range is 95 to 100 percent for oxygen saturation, this level is not dangerously low unless it goes down to 90 percent. In such a case, experts refer to it as hypoxemia. This implies that there is a very abnormally low level of oxygen in your blood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the Pulse Oximetry Pose any Risks?
A: The answer is no. There are no risks of using your pulse oximeter. But the main concern here is ensuring that the device gives accurate readings. These readings are important for Respiratory Therapists, medical professionals, and doctors in general. These individuals rely on accurate results to decide on which treatment to provide the patient.

Q: How Accurate is Your Pulse Oximeter?
A: According to the findings from the American Thoracic Society, your oxygen level readings as per the pulse oximeter, are considered to be accurate most of the time.

This is due to the fact that most pulse oximeters provide readings of up ± 2 percent of the actual oxygen saturation if the same readings are obtained from an arterial blood gas draw.

In some cases, the results come out to be inaccurate if you are wearing nail polish, artificial nails when your hands are cold or have poor circulation of blood. Also, your pulse oximeter may give wrong readings if you have very dark skin.

Q: Is There a Way to Calibrate My Pulse Oximeter to make it more accurate?
A: Just like any other portable health device, you are advised to take with you your pulse oximeter to your physician so you may compare your readings and that of your doctor’s pulse oximeter readings.

Q: Can You Use Your Pulse Oximeter Overnight?
A: No! You cannot use your pulse oximeter overnight because these devices are designed to be all single-use items. This means you cannot use your pulse oximeter all round the clock.

Q: Are the Pulse Oximeters the Same type as Those Used By Medical Professionals?
A: According to several reviews on various sites, medical professionals use pulse oximeters to perform their duties. This answers the question above by admitting that some pulse oximeters are more or less the same as those used by medical professionals.

Q: Should You Adjust Your Pulse Oximeter Readings if You are on Supplemental Oxygen?
A: It is a good idea to always consult with your doctor before taking further steps in changing your prescribed oxygen therapy.

Q: What are the Common Applications for the Consumer-Grade Pulse Oximeters?
A: Consumer pulse oximeters aren’t designed for use as medical devices. Instead, they are used to monitor vital signs for anyone especially those taking part in routine exercises.

Q: What is the Difference between Hypoxemia and Hypoxia?
A: In most cases, these names are used interchangeably. But they are different in many ways. Hypoxemia means that your SpO2 has gown below the normal healthy range, why hypoxia indicates that your SpO2 has gone so low and death is inevitable.

Q: Can You Buy a Pulse Oximeter From Amazon?
A: Yes, you may purchase your pulse oximeter on Amazon. All the devices in our review above can be found on Amazon at affordable rates for anyone.

From this information, you may take advantage of our listings in comparison to the Amazon reviews to settle on the right pulse oximeter for your daily use at home or when taking your usual exercises. These devices are quite helpful and affordable for those who might need monitoring the oxygen saturation levels in their blood.

Conclusion

In the ever-changing world of industrialization, stress remains a serious issue among many people. Mostly, stress affects the body and mind due to the effects of dangerous chemicals and substances found in the breathable air and chemical or pathogens exposure in food.

Emotional stress experienced from time to time contributes immensely to the oxidative damage within the body. This impacts your body negatively, leading to different health complications that throw your body out of its homeostasis.

This calls for immediate action and that’s where the best pulse oximeters come in. These devices help you to monitor vital signs in your body as you go about your daily routine. With these devices, you can always detect a problem in your body and seek the right medication to keep you going.