Health & Healing

Best Blood Pressure Monitor: ReliOn vs Omron vs Microlife & More

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Winner Omron logo
Runner Up Microlife logo
Third Place Withings Logo

Are you one of 70 million Americans who suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure? If not, you likely know someone who does.

High blood pressure strikes a staggering one in three adults in the U.S. What’s worse is high blood pressure is a primary or contributing factor in an estimated 1,000 deaths a day in the United States, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Medication helps, but an increasing number of doctors, as well as the American Heart Association (AHA) also recommend taking daily readings at home to keep your hypertension in check.

Wrist vs Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

Are wrist blood pressure monitors as accurate as arm monitors? They can be, if used exactly as instructed – to get an accurate reading your arm and wrist must be at heart level and remain absolutely still.

The AHA recommends arm blood pressure monitors, but for people with very large upper arms or who find the physical pressure from readings uncomfortable, there are some good alternatives on the market.

What Is The Best Blood Pressure Monitor?

With hundreds of home monitors on the market , to know which is the most accurate blood pressure monitor  We’ve done the research and given you the best blood pressure monitor reviews with accuracy ratings, cuff sizes, ease of use, pricing and more to help you make a potentially life-saving choice.

Winner: Omron Series Blood Pressure Monitor Review

Omron Platinum blood pressure monitor for arm

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The Omron Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor (BP786) is our top pick for Best Blood Pressure Monitor with high marks for accuracy, durability and ease of use.

Omron is widely touted as the number one choice by pharmacists and physicians, and user testimony appears to back up that claim. And that’s why their our pick for best blood pressure cuff.

Key Features

  • TruRead technology automatically takes three consecutive readings one minute apart and calculates the average.
  • ComFit Cuff inflates around the entire arm to avoid incorrect cuff positioning ensuring a more accurate reading.
  • Indicator lights show you if your reading is in the normal or hypertension range.
  • A wireless connection allows you to easily track and record readings.

Pros

Cons

  • Automatically takes 3 readings (AHA recommended)
  • Supports 2 separate user accounts
  • Arm cuff fits 9″ to 17″ upper arm circumference
  • Can store up to 200 readings (or 100 per user)
  • Mobile apps to track readings and email them to your physician
  • Manufacturer has well-established reputation for durability
  • On the pricey side
  • No USB port
  • Customer complaints about incompatibility with some smartphones
  • No batteries included

Pricing

  • Price: $178.34
  • AC adapter included (4 AA batteries not included)
  • 5 year device warranty; 1 year cuff warranty
  • Compatible with iPhone 4S & higher, iPad 3 & higher, iPad Mini; iOS 7+, Samsung Galaxy S III & higher; Android OS 4.3+

Runner-Up: Microlife Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor ReviewMicrolife automatic blood pressure monitor

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The Microlife Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor is second in our picks for Best Blood Pressure Monitor. The Microlife has gentle touch operation, last memory recall of up to 30 readings and has a 3-year limited warranty.

However, Microlife lacks some of the more advanced features and technology, despite its high ratings and reported accuracy. So if you need a no-frills, dependable, simple and easy-to-use monitor, it’s worth considering.

Key Features

  • Digitally controlled inflation and deflation minimizes potential for mistakes
  • Last memory recall for tracking progress
  • Medical grade accuracy

Pros

Cons

  • A/A rating and clinically accurate
  • Simple to use
  • Comes with 4 AA batteries
  • One-touch operation
  • 3-year warranty
  • No advanced features

Pricing

  • Price: $38.90
  • 4 AA batteries included
  • 5 year warranty

3rd Place: Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor Review

Withings blood pressure monitor

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The Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor for Apple and Android allows you to read, track and communicate your blood pressure anywhere with nothing more than an arm cuff, your smartphone and an app. Withings Wireless gets high marks for its ease of use, accuracy and portability.

It gives color-coded feedback on the LED screen, connects via WiFi and Bluetooth, a rechargeable battery and unlimited data storage. You can also store up to 8 measurements. You can even share your data with your doctor via the iOS app.

Pros

Cons

  • Automatic wireless sync with Withings mobile apps
  • Dual connections (Bluetooth and wired)
  • FDA approved medical device
  • Arm cuff circumference 9″ to 17″
  • Auto mode feature takes three consecutive readings
  • Easy to read results and charts – results saved in their Cloud
 

 

  • No irregular heartbeat detection
  • App buggy at times
  • Must have a compatible smartphone

 Pricing

  • Price: $129.95
  • No warranty information available
  • Compatible with all iOS 7.0 and higher devices (iPhone and iPad); Android 4.0 or higher smartphones and tablets using Bluetooth connectivity or your smartphone’s cable

Best Wrist Monitor: Omron Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Review

Omron Gold blood pressure monitor

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Omron, our top pick above, wins again as our choice for the best wrist blood pressure monitor. Reliability is Omron’s major strength, and that’s the most important feature for an accurate blood pressure monitor.

Wrist monitors aren’t considered as accurate as their upper arm counterparts, and they’re harder to use. However, Omron’s Portable Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor (BP652) succeeds in making your readings as easy and accurate as possible.

Pros

Cons

  • Automatic Advanced Averaging feature displays the average reading from up to 3 readings in the past 10 minutes
  • Automatically activates (and indicates with a flashing blue light) when your wrist is at the optimum heart level
  • Saves your last 200 readings
  • Irregular heartbeat detector
  • Supports two users
  • Readings can take longer than with upper arm cuff
  • Many customer reviews say readings are too low
  • Readings tend to be 15-20 points off when compared to upper arm monitor, according to doctor recommendations
  • Difficult to adjust to your wrist

Pricing

  • Price: $68.50
  • 2 AAA batteries included
  • 5-year warranty

Video: Withings’ Tips On How To Take Your Blood Pressure At Home

Withings gives you some helpful tips on how to accurately self-monitor your blood pressure using a home device in this 90-second video.

Stay In Control Of Your Health, The Smart Way

Only about half of people with high blood pressure have it under control. Using a more accurate blood pressure monitor to take regular readings at home can be a huge help in keeping your condition in check.

Make smart technology work for your health, not against it. Check out our reviews of the best smart toothbrushes and online doctors.

Sally Jones

While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s graduate school for journalism and public relations, Sally began a long career researching and writing about hard-to-understand topics, such as insurance and finance. Her additional experience in marketing, fundraising, public relations and financial planning at various foundations and nonprofit organizations over the years has given her the practical tools to inform consumers about making the smartest business and personal financial decisions. Her work has appeared in many notable media outlets, including The Washington Post, Entrepreneur, People, Forbes, Huffington Post, and more. Speaking of smart living — growing up in the (at-the-time) per-capita murder capital of the U.S. (Richmond, VA) taught her a thing or two about the need for personal and home safety. Sally stays on top of all the latest gadgets and services to protect her and her teenage daughters from potential predators and thieves. And she brings this knowledge to every article she writes.
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