Blood Pressure Monitor Reviews
What’s the best home blood pressure monitor for your needs? In this article, we offer a few suggestions by reviewing the four top-selling monitors.
The Top Home Blood Pressure Monitors
Omron TruRead 780 Omron IntelliSense 712C
Omron HEM-790IT Advanced Omron HEM-650 Wrist Monitor
Click to See More Best-Selling
Home Blood Pressure Monitors
Each of the four monitors we review:
- Fulfills a different need
- Has been reviewed by hundreds of people who own the product
- Has been rated by its owners as an outstanding blood pressure machine
- Offers automatic cuff inflation and deflation for more accurate readings
- Has been rated by its owners as easy to use
We make a recommendation about who should use each type of monitor.
The four best-selling monitors are the Omron HEM-780N3, Omron HEM-790IT, Omron HEM-712C, and the Omron HEM-650. The first three are all automatic upper arm cuff blood pressure monitors; the last is a portable wrist cuff blood pressure monitor.
1. Omron HEM-780N3 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with ComFit Cuff
Omron HEM-780N3 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor w/ ComFit
The HEM-780N3 has been reviewed by nearly 900 people who purchased the unit, with 82% rating this product with 4 stars or higher. This comment from a primary care physician who purchased a unit to monitor his own high blood pressure was typical: “[T]he best I’ve seen. . . . The easy to apply cuff, auto inflation, accuracy, memory, averaging feature, and AC converter all make it worth the slightly higher price.” The doctor became a convert after letting several of his patients calibrate their HEM-780 units against his office unit and seeing how accurate they were.
The HEM-780N3 uses Omron’s patented IntelliSense technology to ensure that the upper arm cuff inflates to the proper level each time you use the monitor. To gain an accurate reading, it’s essential for the cuff to fit properly. A cuff that fits too loosely fails to exert enough pressure. A cuff that is too tight exerts too much pressure and can actually be painful for the user. IntelliSense removes any question about a proper fit.
This is especially helpful for people who experience arrhythmia or some heart disorders, because their blood pressure often fluctuates. For these people, a cuff that fits too tightly can be especially uncomfortable. With the IntelliSense technology, each user gets an individualized level of inflation, for a perfect fit every time.
Omron’s TruRead averaging mode takes 3 consecutive measurements at one-minute intervals and displays the average automatically. This is the method advocated by the American Heart Association. The 780N3 includes both the TruRead and Single Read mode averaging systems. With the Single Read Mode with Advanced Averaging, the unit takes three readings within 10 minutes of one another and displays the average automatically.
Features
- Detects and warns of hypertension
- Detects morning hypertension*
- IntelliSense monitor inflates cuff to the ideal level with each use
- Extra-large digital display panel for easy-to-see blood pressure and pulse readings
- ComFit, their patented cuff, which fits arms 9 to 17 inches in circumference**
- Detects and displays symbol for irregular heartbeat
- Memory for storing results of 200 readings
- TruRead and Single Read modes for averaging 3 readings
- Date and time display
- Separates and stores result for 2 users
- Includes 4 “AA” batteries
- Includes an AC adapter
- Clear, illustrated English/Spanish instruction manual
- Carries a 5-year warranty
* Morning hypertensionis associated with an increased risk for stroke. Because many people experience significantly higher blood pressure readings in the morning, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that you measure your results in the early morning and the evening. With this feature, you can review 8 weeks of your morning and evening weekly blood pressure averages to determine whether your morning readings are higher.
**The ComFit cuff is pre-formed and expands to fit both medium and large-sized arms (9 to 17 inches). Simply wrap the cuff around your arm and press start. The monitor does the work for you.
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The HEM-780N3 Is Recommended For:
- People who have been warned they have an irregular heartbeat
- People who may experience higher readings in the morning and need to monitor for morning hypertension
- People who need an easy monitor that inflates and deflates for them
- People who take medication for hypertension and need to stay on top of their daily readings
- People with extra-large upper arms (more than 13″) who may need a larger cuff
- People who want the assurance of accuracy based on long-term automatic averaging of their readings
- Households with two users who need to track their results
Learn more about the HEM-780N3 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor.
2. Omron HEM-790IT Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with Advanced Omron Health Management Software
HEM-790IT Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with Omron's Health Management Software
Eighty-four percent of 475 HEM-790IT owners who reviewed the product rated it 4 stars or higher, including 300 who gave it 5 stars. They found it “reliable, consistent, durable, and accurate.”
The HEM-790IT goes a step further than the HEM-780N3. The unit includes Omron’s patented ComFit cuff, IntelliSense technology, and Single mode and TruRead averaging systems. And it adds Omron’s patented Health Management Software.
What Is Omron’s Health Management Software
This is software that displays your blood pressure and pulse results graphically on your computer. You can download the software to your PC computer using the USB cable included in the package. Your systolic, diastolic, and heart rate results are all mapped for you to see. The results let you see the difference between your results in the morning and those taken in the evening. You get a clear, detailed visual of the trends in your readings over time.
Features
- Detects and warns of hypertension
- Detects morning hypertension*
- IntelliSense monitor inflates cuff to the ideal level with each use
- Health Management Software for PC download and visual tracking of results
- Extra-large digital display panel for easy-to-see blood pressure and pulse readings
- ComFit, their patented cuff, which fits arms 9 to 17 inches in circumference**
- Detects and displays symbol for irregular heartbeat
- Memory for storing results of 200 readings
- TruRead and Single Read modes for averaging 3 readings
- Date and time display
- Separates and stores results for 2 users
- Storage case
- CD-ROM
- Clear, illustrated English/Spanish instruction manual
- Includes 4 “AA”
- Includes AC adapter
- 5-year warranty
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The HEM-790IT Is Recommended For:
- People who want everything the HEM-780N3 offers but would pay about $5 more to be able to download the results to their PC computer.
Learn more about the HEM-790IT blood pressure monitor with PC software.
3. HEM-712C Automatic Inflation Digital Blood Pressure Monitor with IntelliSense
HEM-712C Automatic Inflation Monitor with IntelliSense
As one of the best-selling upper-arm blood pressure monitors, the HEM 712C received ratings of 4 stars or more from 87 percent of 222 owners who reviewed this product. Of those, 142 gave it a full 5 stars.
Owners liked its flexible, contoured upper arm cuff for people with small- to medium-sized arms. This unit has fewer features than some of the more expensive units, but for people who don’t need those features, it was a perfect balance of features and cost.
Two potential drawbacks: The unit only stores results for one user. Neither an AC adapter nor batteries are included.
Features
- Regular cuff with a 9″ to 13″ circumference
- IntelliSense monitor inflates cuff to the ideal level with each use
- Large digital display panel for blood pressure and pulse readings
- Detects and displays symbol for irregular heartbeat
- Memory for storing results of 30 readings
- Date and time display
- Clear, illustrated English/Spanish instruction manual
- 2-year warranty
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The HEM-712C Is Recommended For:
- People who want a top-quality monitor that is accurate and reliable, but lacks some of the features offered by the two previous units costing $5-10 more.
- This unit is only recommended for people with “normal” upper arm sizes. People with very large arms should consider one of the two previous units. People with very small arms might be best served by the wrist monitor below.
Learn more about the HEM-712C upper arm cuff monitor.
4. Omron HEM-650 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with APS (Advanced Positioning Sensor)
HEM-650 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with APS
Arm cuff monitors are generally considered more accurate than wrist monitors, but some wrist monitors do get favorable reviews from owners. The Omron HEM-650 wrist blood pressure monitor was reviewed by more than 300 people who had purchased the unit. Seventy-seven percent gave the unit 4 stars or higher.
Generally, the wrist monitor met three needs:
- When people needed a convenient travel unit, wrist monitors were easier to pack and carry.
- For people who were not able to use their left arm because of medical conditions, wrist monitors worked better.
- For people who had extra-large or extra-small upper arms, some preferred a wrist cuff to an arm cuff for comfort and accuracy.
Reviewers liked the portability of the wrist unit. Several pointed out that it was easy to pack in their suitcase for trips. Most believed that the accuracy of their monitors compared favorably to upper arm units, which many also owned.
One reviewer wrote that he had purchased the unit for his elderly mother who was no longer able to use her left arm. She found the monitor easy to use and easy to read because of the extra-large display. He wrote, “She doesn’t have to write anything down. She takes it to her doctor and he can read back through the last 90 days (one reading per day).” An added benefit for his mother is that the unit detects irregular heartbeats and indicates the finding with a picture.
Another reviewer wrote that the irregular heartbeat indicator caused him to go to his doctor, where he discovered he was having a heart attack. The unit saved his life.
Many noted and loved that the monitor senses when the wrist is in the correct position for taking a reading. A beeping sound indicates when your wrist monitor is in the proper position. Once it is, the unit automatically begins the reading.
However, some people did not like this feature. They felt the sensor was too sensitive, making it difficult to get a good reading. Another big drawback for some: The 650 only holds results for one person. So if a husband and wife both need to monitor their blood pressure, they each need their own units.
Features
- Advanced Positioning Sensor – cuff will not inflate until the arm is in the correct position
- Patented IntelliSense® SigmaCuff™ technology automatically determines the correct amount of pressure required for an accurate reading and then inflates
- Fits wrist sizes 5.25-8.5″
- Irregular heartbeat detector
- Extra-large digital display
- Reads the pulse
- Date and time stamp
- Memory stores 90 results with averaging of the last three readings
- 5-year warranty
- 2 “AAA” batteries
- Carrying case
- User manual
What Is the APS?
The wrist cuff must be in the right position to get an accurate reading. The APS (Advanced Positioning Sensor) automatically confirms when the wrist monitor is in the correct position. A beep sounds to let the wearer know that the wrist monitor is elevated properly; the cuff is level with the wearer’s heart. This helps ensure an accurate blood pressure reading.
The HEM-650 Is Recommended For:
- People who need a travel blood pressure monitor
- People who have a medical condition that prevents them from using an upper arm monitor on their left arm
- People with extra-large or extra-small upper arms
- Families that only need results for one user
- People who can benefit from having an auditory sensor tell them when the cuff is in the correct position for accurate readings
Learn more about the HEM-650 automatic wrist blood pressure monitor.
A summary of what each monitor offers follows.
Comparison of Automatic Digital Blood Pressure Monitors
| Monitor | Cuff | Special Features | Validated | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omron HEM-790IT | Upper arm, ComFit, 9-17", Automatic inflation, Built-in artery marker | Hypertension indicator, Morning hypertension detection, Irregular heartbeat detection, Intellisense cuff, TruRead averaging, Extra-large digital display, Health Management Software, Pulse monitor, Includes AC adapter, carrying case, 4 AA batteries, CD-ROM, USB cable, Clear, illustrated English/Spanish instruction manual | Yes | 5 years |
| Omron HEM-780N3 | Upper arm, Regular cuff, 9-13", Automatic inflation, Built-in artery marker | Hypertension indicator, Morning hypertension detection, Irregular heartbeat detection, Intellisense cuff, TruRead averaging, Extra large digital display, 2-person/200 total memory, 8-week morning/evening averaging results, Pulse monitor, Includes AC adapter and 4 AA batteries, Clear, illustrated English/Spanish instruction manual | Yes | 5 years |
| Omron HEM-712C | Upper arm, ComFit, 9-17", Automatic inflation, Built-in artery marker | Irregular heartbeat detection, Intellisense cuff, Advanced averaging, Large digital display 30 memory storage, Pulse monitor Clear, illustrated English/Spanish instruction manual | Yes | 2 years |
| Omron HEM-650 | Wrist, Fits 5.25 to 8.5", Automatic inflation | Irregular heartbeat detection, IntelliSense SigmaCuff, APS confirms correct placement, Advanced averaging, Extra-large digital display 90 memory storage, Pulse monitor, Clear, illustrated English/Spanish instruction manual, 2 "AAA" batteries, Carrying case | Yes | 5 years |
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Related Articles:
Best Blood Pressure Monitor Features: What to Look For
How to Monitor Your Blood Pressure at Home
Why Monitor Your Blood Pressure?
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