Best oximeters to measure blood oxygen levels (2024)

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world, oximeters begin to grow in popularity. The thing is that oximeters are designed specifically to measure oxygen saturation and it is low oxygen levels that are considered to be one of the early warning signs of coronavirus.

Dr. Naftali Kaminski, who is Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, says that oximeters can be very helpful for people recovering from COVID-19. According to him, the device can be used at home to see whether the disease state is improving or deteriorating. Note that this tool is not intended for disease diagnosis and can only be applied to help reveal symptoms.

Oxygen Saturation Monitoring

In fact, the new coronavirus infection is just one of numerous health conditions that affect blood oxygen saturation levels. If you do not have any lung disease, your blood oxygen levels should be no less than 94%. Low readings can be a sign of asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer, heart failure, anemia, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

You can use an oximeter to see whether you have enough oxygen in your blood in a variety of situations. In particular, it would be beneficial to check your levels after surgery, medicine intake, or increased physical activity. An oximeter will help you see whether your ventilator is working well and can be used to detect sleep apnea. Even more, there is a product created specifically for sleep apnea sufferers — the Viatom Wrist Pulse Oximeter.

Types of Oximeters: Co-Oximeter, Pulse Oximeter, Oxygen Saturation Monitor

Both a pulse oximeter and a co-oximeter will monitor your oxygen saturation. However, they use different measurement methods and blood parameters. A co-oximeter is an invasive method that requires a blood sample to measure the arterial oxygen saturation — SaO2. This value reflects the percentage of oxygenated hemoglobin.

A pulse oximeter is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that monitors hemoglobin oxygen saturation in the blood — SpO2. Technically, pulse oximeters are less demanding, but they have limited capabilities. Unlike co-oximeters, pulse oximeters do not take into account hemoglobin that fails to carry oxygen. However, the difference is not crucial for those who just need to identify symptoms or monitor general health. Besides, the advantage of a pulse oximeter is that it offers a painless and convenient way of measuring your oxygen saturation. You can monitor your levels continuously without feeling any discomfort.

Typically, a pulse oximeter is equipped with either a sensor or a probe, or both. It also includes LED lights and photodetectors. Pulse oximeters, in their turn, can be divided into finger, handheld, and desktop devices. The first option, such as the Pulse Oximeter Fingertip (Oximetro), is the most affordable, portable, and convenient for measuring blood oxygen levels both at home and on the go.

How to Use a Pulse Oximeter

In addition to blood oxygen saturation, a pulse oximeter measures your pulse rate or how many times your heart beats per minute. Depending on the model, the device is placed on the fingertip, wrist, or earlobe. Once turned on, the oximeter passes 2 wavelengths of light through the corresponding part of the body right to a built-in photodetector.

While being a pretty sophisticated piece of technology, a pulse oximeter is surprisingly easy to use. At first, you clip it on your finger and press the button. Generally, it takes less than a minute for the device to collect the needed information and display readings on the screen. The oximeter turns off automatically after the finger is removed.

The Pulse Oximeter Fingertip (Oximetro) is clipped on your finger and calculates your SpO2, PR, heart rate as well as the strength and waveform of your pulse. The data is displayed on a large OLED screen, with the value flashing when there is any variation from the norm. The oximeter includes a free app compatible with both Android and iOS. The app allows for recording and storing up to ten hours continuously, and gives you access to real-time data, reports, and trends.

Another product, the Viatom Wrist Pulse Oximeter, is designed to be worn on your wrist. Ideal for people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, it is convenient to wear while sleeping. The device shows your SpO2 overnight trend, how many times this value drops over 4%, as well as the motion of your sleep and a heart rate. Equipped with a durable 16-hour battery, the device features a smart vibration alarm that will prompt you to change sleep position if your SpO2 is too low. The ring sensor is made with soft silicone that is perfect for any finger size.

Once you put the oximeter on your wrist, press the button. The device will begin recording and is able to store up to four sessions. After that, you can connect it to your smartphone or tablet in order to sync the data. You can use the oximeter when it is connected to your device to monitor your heart rate and SpO2 in real-time. The product comes with a downloadable app, which will allow you not only to see a detailed report but also leave comments and share the data with doctors.

The Most Popular Pulse Oximeters | Comparison Table

Customers' Choice | Most Discussed & Reviewed

Anapulse ANP100 Finger Pulse Oximeter With LED Display (Includes Carrycase, Batteries and Lanyard)

Accurate Sp02 measurement
SPO2 and PR display, bargraph display
Auto power off
Requires 2 AAA batteries (supplied)
Approximately 30 hours continuous use.

Best Value

Salter Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter, Measures Oxygen Saturation, Pulse Rate, Perfusion Index and Pulse Bar – Dual...

HIGH QUALITY OXIMETER: Are you looking to keep track of the oxygenated haemoglobin in your blood? The Salter Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is the perfect choice for on-the-spot SpO2 and Pulse Rate testing
EASY TO USE: Simply place your finger inside for as few seconds and pull it out. Your readings will clearly appear on the dual colour OLED display
YOUR METRICS: Measure Oxygen Saturation (SpO2), Pulse Rate (PR), Perfusion Index (PI) and Pulse bar with simple one button operation
COMPACT AND PORTABLE: This fingertip pulse oximeter is a useful device for people suffering from respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. The small and lightweight design, makes it easy to use during your travels
AUTO POWER OFF: To save batteries and last for many years to come, the unit is equipped with an automatic power off function

Most Popular

Pulse Oximeter,Oxygen Saturation Monitor Spo2 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Adult and Child with Omnidirectional OLED...

Best Cheap

Pulse oximeter for Finger Oxygen Measuring Device,Finger Oximeter Measuring Device Measures Oxygen Saturation...

This Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is an innovated medical device with non-invasive and continuous features for artery SPO2 and Pulse Rate (PR) detection. Very portable, it is able to measure SPO2 and PR values quickly and precisely for home use, medical, sports and more.
Features: Reliable accuracy and durability for fingertip pulse oximeter. Two Color OLED Display, four display modes. 4 Direction Display adjustable. Low voltage indicator, Real-time spot-checks. Low power consumption, 50 hours continuous to work. Low Perfusion ≤0.4%. Small and light weight, convenient to carry.
Specifications: SpO2 Measurement range: 70~99% Resolution: ±1% Accuracy: ±2% (70%~99%), unspecified (
How to Use: 1. Install Batteries. 2. Plug one finger into rubber hole of the Oximeter (it is best to plug the finger thoroughly) before releasing the clamp with the nail upwards. 3. Press button on the front panel; 4. Don’t tremble your finger when the Oximeter is working. Your body is not recommended on moving status. 5. Press the button on the front panel, if we want change display direction; 6. Read relevant data from display screen. 7. The instrument has the sleep function.
Automatically power off when no signal in the oximeter for more than 8 seconds. Widely used in hospital, home healthcare, oxygen bar, community medical centre, alpine area, sports healthcare etc.

Other Popular Oximeters

SIMBR Pulse Oximeter Blood OxygenMonitor Finger for Adult and Child, Oxygen Saturation Monitor 3 in 1 Portable...

【Fast and Accurate Measurement】SIMBR pulse oximeter adopts advanced technology to provide reliable results. It can measure SpO2 and pulse rate, giving throughout inspection of your body.
【Easy to use】Just put your finger into hole( Equipped with Glow and infrared-ray Emission and Receipt Tube) After 5s, the results of oxygen saturation will be seen clearly on the LCD screen. It automatically shuts off when no use in 5 seconds to preserve battery life.
【Auto 4 Directions Display, More Convenient】Due to bulit-in gravity sensor, values can be automatically displayed in 4 directions as your finger moves. Much more convenient for daily use. What’s more, You can adjust the screen brightness to meet your needs.
【Compact and Portable】This pulse oximeter comes with a nylon sheath for outdoor usage. Package also includes 2*AAA batteries. Once you get our product, you can use at once!
【Suits for a Wide Range of People】Based on advanced chip, oxygen saturationmonitor can be used widely for adults,child, teenage, pregnant women to monitor our health.

Pulse Oximeter, Oxygen Monitor Finger Heart Rate Monitor SpO2 Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor for Adult and Child...

➤【Suitable For All Ages】- Suitable for Elderly, Adults and health enthusiasts or anyone interested in measuring their SpO2 and pulse rate and accommodates wide range of finger sizes -adult to children (weight ≥20kg).
➤【Accurate & Easy to use】C.G.C finger pulse oximeter accurately measures your SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation levels), pulse rate and pulse strength in 8 seconds, to get measurement results within ± 1% precision, The large digital display makes it easy and quick to read the results.
➤【Trustworthy & Reliable】C.G.C Pulse Oximeter can accurately determine your SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation levels) and PR (pulse rate) after clinical and professional tests, Fast SpO2 readings, pulse measurements and display it conveniently on a large digital bright LED display.
➤【Includes Every You Need】Comes Included with 2 x AAA Alkaline Batteries, lanyard, all in a reusable custom box which can be used for storing the oximeter safely when not in use.
➤【Used by Heath Professionals】Used by Health professionals across the UK including Doctors and Nurses in NHS Hospitals and Private Surgeries. This Pulse Finger Oximeter is CE and FDA Approved.

Pulse Oximeter Fingertip, Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor with Pulse, Accuracy Heart Rate Monitor and SpO2 Meter,...

Accurate and Reliable Chip - Using the most advanced MCU chip and smart sensor,photoelectric oxyhemoglobin inspection technology is adopted in accordance with capacity pulse scanning and recording technology,so that two beans of different wavelenght of lights can be focused onto human fingertip through perspective clamp finger-type sensor.
Alarming Beeps - An alarm will be issued and oximeter LED screen will keep flashing when your SpO2 and Pulse Rate are beyond set limits.
Sports Enthusiasts for All Ages - Suitable for sports enthusiasts like mountain climbers, skiers, bikers,aviators,or anyone is interested in measuring their SpO2 and pulse rate.You should only use the pulse oximeter before or after your exercise and remain stationary while you are testing your pulse and SpO2.
Easy to Use and Portable - Our pulse monitor has an efficient One-Button operation that can check and display in real time SpO2, PR, Pulse bar graph.Furthermore,each oxygen finger monitor weighs only 50g and come with a lanyard,very easy to carry.
You Will Get - Oximeter *1,AAA batteries *2, easy carrying soft case with belt loop *1 ,neck cord *1,manual * 1.Furthermore,we care deeply about our customers and are always available if you have any questions or concerns.

Oximeter Finger, Digital Pulse Oximeter Portable, Blood Oxygen Meter with LED Display，Fingertip Blood Oxygen...

【ACCURATE AND RELIABLE】 Upgraded LED and sensor allows SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation level) and pulse rate measurement at low blood perfusion index. Plethysmograph and Perfusion Index can help you to judge whether your measured SpO2 and Pulse Rate is properly. Only need 5-8 seconds to get measurement results within ± 1% precision, very accurate and reliable.
【USER FRIENDLY DESIGN】The ABS shell, OLED screen, high-speed computing chips , anti-skip silicone inside, medical-grade silicone finger mold and various electronic components of oxygen finger monitor, all adopt high-quality materials and components. We will never use any cheap material to make oxygen monitor.
【EASY TO USE】Alarm function-Auditory alarm to warn you when your SpO2 and Pulse Rate are beyond set limits. The pulse oximeter fingertip automatically turns off 6-8 seconds. Oximeter finger chamber with smart spring system, accommodates wide range of finger sizes – children over three year old to adult.
【DESIGNED FOR HOME, EXERCISE OR TRAVEL】Suitable for sports and health enthusiasts or anyone interested in measuring their SpO2 and pulse rate, such as mountain climbers, skiers, bikers.

HealthAZ Pulse Oximeter Fingertip,Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor SpO2 Oximeter, Auto-Sleep Function, OLED...

【100% RISK-FREE SHOPPING】 Please rest assured that if you are not 100% satisfied with the Tehwaaz Pulse Oximeter, we will provide you a hassle-free replacement or full refund within three months!
【SIX reading modes EASY TO READ, ACCURATE RESULTS】The Digital Pulse Oximeter can be operated with one button and provides results in seconds. It's a great tool for athletes, pilots, seniors and adventurers. Large LED screen makes reading results easy, SpO2 and BPM results accurate +/- 2%. Understanding your measurements will be a big step towards reaching your fitness goals.
【MONITOR BLOOD OXYGEN SATURATION】Your SpO2 levels, or blood oxygen saturation levels, help you better understand how much oxygen the cells in your body are getting. When levels drop too low, know right away with a digital finger pulse oximeter.
【Easy One-button Operation】One-button operation design makes it simple and convenient to operate. Users just need to put one of his fingers into the fingertip photoelectric sensor for diagnosis, then the screen will directly show the result clearly.
【PACKAGE LIST & CUSTOMER SERVICE】- the package include, 1x oxygen saturation monitor, 2x AAA batteries, 1x lanyard and 1x Instruction manual. If you have any question, feel free to ask our official customer service from amazon

AFAC Oxygen Saturation Monitor, Pulse Oxymeter Finger Adult Child, Heart Rate Monitor, Large Screen Display, Test...

ACCURATE - AFAC finger pulse oxygen saturation monitor can accurately measure human's pulse rate and SpO2 blood oxygen rate. Safe and reliable use with high quality
FAST MEASUREMENT & EASY TO USE - All you need to do is clipping the o-x-i-meter on your finger, click the button and wait 7 seconds than heart rate and blood oxygen concentration will show on the screen with the beating pulse bar garph
WIDE MEASUREING RANGE & APPLICATION - SpO2 measurement range 0%-100%, pulse rate measurement range 25-250; suitable for athlete, old people, long-term alcoholic drinker, people with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases and work fatigue person
PORTABLE & COMFORTABLE - Light weight, small size with lanyard. You can put it in your pocket or hang it on your neck. The built-in silicone is very safe and comfortable. Your finger won't feel any unwell, even for a long time use
PACKAGE LIST & CUSTOMER SERVICE - the package include, 1x oxygen saturation monitor, 1x lanyard and 1x Instruction manual. If you have any question, feel free to ask our official customer service from amazon

Best Budget

Wawech Pulse Oximeter Fingertip for Adult and Kids,SpO2 Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor with 2 Batteries...

[Accurate and Reliable] This oximeter meets professional certification and can quickly and accurately measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate (PR) and PI (perfusion index) readings. It will automatically shut down within 15s.
[OLED and 6 Directions] Our oximeter adopts OLED screen, which is more delicate and clear than LED screen. Multi-color display, more exquisite.The oximeter has 5 levels of backlight settings for adjustment, which can be seen clearly in any environment. And there are 6 kinds of screen display directions, you can adjust at will by short press, the reading is very convenient.
[Lightweight and compact] The size of our pulse oximeter is 63x36x39mm and the net weight is 43g. It is very light and easy to carry. You can put it in your pocket or bag, or use the attached lanyard to hang the oximeter on your neck or wrist to prevent loss, a good assistant for family health.
[Beep Warning] Just put your finger in the sensor, wait a few seconds to get the data.Include 2* battery, you can start using it when you receive the product. And you can set the SpO2,PR,and PIpeak value yourself. When your measured value exceeds this range, the oximeter will beep and flash to remind you, and you can also adjust it to mute according to your needs.
【SPORT/HEALTH ENTHUSIASTS】Professional finger saturation meters are suitable for everyone, and can be widely used for athletes, pregnant women, the elderly, long-term tired workers and even children, homes, offices, sports fields, athletics and other venues.

AGPTEK Fingertip Pulse Oximeter with Batteries, Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor for Adults and Children, SpO2...

⚡【Accurate and Reliable】 Accurate measurement of blood saturation, SpO2 accuracy: ± 2%. Displays large, clear fonts, convenient for seniors to read.
⚡【Wide Use】 Finger oximeter suitable for all ages, from children to the elderly. You can easily use it at home, hospital, sports health, and community health.
⚡【Easy to Use】 With just one button, you can easily obtain accurate measurements from this sats monitor in less than 10 seconds.
⚡【Smart Energy Saving】 The oximeter will turn off automatically after 8 seconds after measuring. Battery power will be saved.
⚡【Package List】 Pulse Oximeter, 2 x AAA Battery, 1 x Carrying Case, 1 x Lanyard, 1 x User Manual. You don't need to purchase additional batteries by yourself, the oximeter is equipped with batteries so that you can use it as soon as you receive it. A protective case is used to protect the item, so that it can't be broken or scratched in life, which affects the accuracy of the measurement. Attach the convenient lanyard directly to the oximeter for easy access anytime.

Pulse Oximeter Measuring Oxygen Finger Monitor Device Saturation Pulse Frequency Adults UK Adult Kids OLED Display

This Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is an innovated medical device with non-invasive and continuous features for artery SPO2 and Pulse Rate (PR) detection. Very portable, it is able to measure SPO2 and PR values quickly and precisely for home use, medical, sports and more.
Reliable accuracy and durability for fingertip pulse oximeter. Two Color OLED Display, four display modes. 4 Direction Display adjustable. Low voltage indicator, Real-time spot-checks. Low power consumption, 50 hours continuous to work. Low Perfusion ≤0.4%. Small and light weight, convenient to carry.
SpO2 Measurement range: 70~99% Resolution: ±1% Accuracy: ±2% (70%~99%), unspecified (
Automatically power off when no signal in the oximeter for more than 8 seconds. Widely used in hospital, home healthcare, oxygen bar, community medical centre, alpine area, sports healthcare etc.

Finger Pulse Oximeter with Batteries, AGPTEK Professional Portable Fingertip Sats Monitor Probe with OLED Display...

【Easy to Use and Accurate】One-Button on, precisely and clearly shows your blood oxygen saturation level (SpO2 value) and pulse rate within seconds on big LED screen. CE approved, be sure of an accurate and reliable measurement, even suitable for doctors and other health professionals.
【Widely Use】 The universal finger clip allows the oximeter to fit wide range of finger sizes, suitable for children, adults and elderly. Vital signs at your fingertips, easy to use, an excellent health assistant at home, hospital, fitness center, community health center, etc.
【Sport & Health Enthusiast】Not only intended for medical use but also for situations where you want to know your oxygen level before and after your workout or sports such as running, skiing, hiking, cycling, or while traveling in an aircraft. Keep healthy lifestyle!
【Long Battery Life】It will automatically switch to sleep mode after 8 seconds when you take out finger from the pulse oximeter. It saves the trouble to turn it off every time as well as ensures a longer battery life.
【Measure On The Go】Include 2 x AAA batteries that will allow you to use the pulse oximeter right out of the box. The carrying case can protect it from scratches when carried on its own or inside your bag. Attach the convenient lanyard directly to the oximeter for easy access anytime.

KKmier Finger Pulse Oximeter Heart Rate Oximeter SPO2 PR PI Oxygen Saturation Monitor for Adults and Children

【Easy to use】 One button operation design makes our oximeter convenient and easy to use. You just need to insert a finger into the photoelectric sensor for diagnosis, then the screen will clearly show the result. There are also 6 rotation of the display surface and five levels of adjustable brightness.
【Automatic shutdown and long battery life】 Our finger oximeter automatically turns off after 8 seconds of inactivity. 2 AAA batteries supplied support the oximeter to take 600 measurements.
【Monitoring Principle】:Our KKmier Oxygen Saturation monitor adopts an advanced infrared detector and is CE, SAFETY data sheet and FDA certified. The finger pulse oximeter can monitor SpO2 levels or oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and per-fusion index (PI) in the blood to help you better understand the amount of oxygen being absorbed by your cells.
【HD OLED and Alarm】: The screen of our Pulse Oximeter is rota-table and has a HD OLED Display. So whether day or night, you can clearly see SpO2 level, pulse rate, bar graph, heartbeat markers and Battery Indicator through the HD display. When the measured value is abnormal, the pulse oximeter will sound an alarm.
【Professional Oximeter】 KKmier Finger Oximeter is certified by CE, MSDS, FDA, and with 12 months warranty, you can contact us anytime if there is any problem! Each of our products goes through rigorous quality testing to ensure that adults and children can get accurate Numbers through our devices.

Viatom Pulse Oximeter with Free APP for Adult and Child, Oxygen Saturation Monitor for Heart Rate Blood Oxygen...

ACCURATE AND PROFESSIONAL: Our fingertip oxygen accurately monitors measure O2 level, Pulse Rate and Pulse Strength in 8 seconds. Automatically powers on/off, 4 directional display.
FREE APP for ANDROID & iOS: Automatically receive data from the oxygen monitor in real-time, and store the received data. View the stored data at any time. Only synchronize and store data while opening the APP.
BUILD-IN MEMORY: Up to 12 groups data of O2 level and Pulse Rate in record list screen. Quickly view your last 12 times historical data with one click.
AUDIBLE & VISUAL ALERT: When measuring, if O2 level value or pulse rate value exceeds the preset limit, the device will alert with beep automatically and the value which exceeds limit will flash on the screen.
COME WITH ACCESSORIES: Includes 2 x AAA batteries placed and removed easily, a carry pouch to protect the device, and a lanyard for convenient carry.