Pulse oximeters are a valuable tool to use for at-home fitness testing or oxygen-level monitoring, helping people participating in high altitude activities stay safe. Oximeters are also essential for many people around the globe who suffer from cardiopulmonary conditions of all kinds including but not limited to COPD, emphysema, asthma, and heart conditions of all kinds.
If you’re required to go for blood gas testing on a regular basis, your specialist has likely sent you on the search for an appropriate at-home device to measure your blood SpO2 levels on your own, in between lab visits. While at-home devices can’t have nearly the range and accuracy of a million-dollar blood gas analyzer, they are accurate enough to give a pretty good picture of how well your body is taking in oxygen at any given time.
Read Our Guide on Choosing the Perfect Pulse Oximeter!
If you’re in the market for a pulse oximetry device to measure your SpO2 levels right from the comforts of home, you can’t go wrong with the following list of our 6 highest rated and most accurate oximeters available on the market right now.
Top 6 Pulse Oximeters
#1.Acc U Rate Pro Series CMS 500DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter
The Acc U Rate Pro is one of the most highly rated pulse oximeters on Amazon and among the best entry level SpO2 readers available. The claim on this product is that it’s accurate to plus/minus 1% saturation. It’s able to read up to 240 bpm pulse rate too, while reading as low as 30 bpm for athletes and others with exceptionally low heart rates.
The black display features large red text that’s very easy to read. This fingertip O2 reader also has a built in infrared filter to block out ambient light, for better performance in well lit conditions. Last, a built in motion filter helps to improve accuracy even if you’re moving when readings are taken. Excellent value for the price.
#2.Deluxe SM-110 Two Way Display Finger Pulse Oximeter
This recently updated design from Santamedical features a number of improvements over their previous models. A two-way, large text display makes it easy to read results from a number of different directions. This pulse oximetery device also reads SpO2 levels to within a 1% accuracy range.
This unit also has a wide pulse reading range, able to measure pulse rates from 30 – 254 bpm, and all measurements are displayed within 10 seconds of putting the device on. The SM-110 comes with a carrying case and necklace/lanyard for easy portability. All Santamedical devices come with a 2-year warranty for your piece of mind.
#3.Santamedical Generation 2 SM-165 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter
This is another pulse oximeter from Santamedical. While similar in accuracy and reliability to the SM-110, the SM-165 comes with more convenience features, for a few extra dollars. With a completely adjustable finger clamp, this is actually the perfect SpO2 monitor for people with large fingers who find the regular, non-adjustable clamps on pulse oximeters to be cumbersome and hard to put on.
The SM-165 is totally portable, with a carrying case and necklace/lanyard. The six-way display is a bright blue OLED with black background, which is designed to be read from all directions. This pulse oximeter is well worth the money and comes with Santamedical’s standard 2-year warranty.
#4.MeasuPro Instant Read Digital Pulse Oximeter
The MeasuPro Instant offers an additional step up in features for those looking for an easy-to-use pulse oximeter to monitor their health. As you would expect, this unit measures SpO2 levels with precision accuracy (+/- 2%). This oximeter features both an irregular heartbeat and a low oxygen saturation alarm.
The screen is adjustable and can be rotated on the clamp in 4 different directions. The display is easy to read and the brightness can be adjusted to maximize battery life and/or make it easier to read in low light conditions. Best, the reader turns on automatically as soon as it registers a pulse reading, meaning no buttons to worry about. The MeasPro Instant comes with a full 2-year warranty.
#5.Finger Pulse Oximeter by Vive
The VIVE Precision is another really nice pulse oximeter. It’s very accurate and highly rated for precision SpO2 and pulse readings. The Precision also features an irregular heartbeat and low oxygen saturation level alarm, to ensure you’re never left thinking everything’s alright when it’s anything but.
This oximeter from VIVE is precision tuned and FDA approved. Portability is never a concern with the included belt clip case and necklace/lanyard included in the package. It has a vibrant, multi-angle display with a black background and large bright blue readout. Last, the VIVE Precision comes with a 2-year warranty for your protection.
#6.Quest 3-in-1 Pulse Oximeter
The Quest 3-in-1 is easily one of the most portable and reliable oximeters on this list. It’s ultra-lightweight and only about the size of two normal sized index fingers. The 3-in-1 features an auto on/off display for maximum battery life and convenience, while the display itself has a very sharp OLED readout that can be viewed from multiple angles.
The display outputs your PR (Pulse Rate), SpO2 (Pulse Oxygen Saturation) and additionally gives the PI% (Perfusion Index Rating). The 3-in-1 from Quest also features a low/high pulse rate alarm and low SpO2 alarm to signal when your readings are out of range. Though not listed in the specs, the 3-in-1 comes with a complete 2-year warranty.
Pulse Oximeter Comparison Chart
| Acc U Rate® | Deluxe SM-110 | Santamedical SM-165 | MeasuPro | Finger Pulse | Quest 3-in-1 | |
| Rating | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Build Quality | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Ergonomics | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Value for Money | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Accuracy % | 98% | 100% | 100% | 98% | 99% | 99% |
| Pulse Rate |  |
|
|
|
|
|
| SpO2 | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Perfusion Index % | N/A | |
|
N/A | N/A | |
| FDA Approved | |
|
|
N/A | N/A | |
| Automatic start-up | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Automatic shut down | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Irregular heartbeats alarm |
N/A | |
|
|
|
N/A |
| Battery included | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Battery life | 30 hours | 40+ hours | 40+ hours | 30 hours | 30 hours | 30 hours |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | 1 year | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Conclusion
Experts all agree that regardless of what you use them for, pulse oximeters are a sensible alternative to expensive blood gas testing. This is especially true for those who’re at risk for hypoxemia such adventure athletes, pilots, and people with health problems that prevent their bodies from taking in enough oxygen to maintain proper health.
Athletes will appreciate the benefits of knowing whether their exercise efforts are being rewarded with increased oxygen uptake. Pilots can prevent altitude sickness from setting in and endangering their crew or cargo by consulting their oximeter a few times during each flight.
Then there’s the ability for those with cardiopulmonary issues to monitor their health and get help before oxygen saturation levels get too low. Of course, there’s no substitute for a thorough clinical assessment, but oximeters can alert you before there’s a serious problem, prompting you to relax and seek immediate medical care.
Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with us. We hope you’ve enjoyed this read, and now have more confidence in your ability to choose a reliable pulse oximeter for monitoring your own SpO2 levels.
