On a daily basis, we use a multitude of electronic devices, some of which have been replaced by the mobile phone, such as GPS, the camera… Even other analog devices have been replaced, such as the calendar or the diary . The smartphone does not distinguish between devices used daily and those used more sporadically.
But the cell phone does not always end up winning. In recent years, we have seen major brands attempt to implement a new sensor in mobile phones, without much success. We are talking about the thermometer. Phones like the Pixel 8 Pro include a temperature sensor that, while usable, is not suitable for medical measurements in Europe.
And it’s not the only brand to have tried this. A few years ago, HONOR launched a model with this feature, the Honor Play 4. However, since 2020, when this phone was announced, we have not seen more models from the brand with this feature.
It is possible that the precision obtained by these sensors is not high enough to be used for normal purposes, that is, measuring body temperature, especially that of the little ones, who tend to be the sickest . And if it is not suitable for this, it is necessary to buy another type of thermometer, and as you have it, it is common to use it for everything.
Other approaches have attempted to do this through applications, obtaining precise results, but without having commercialized a product. Even smart watches with a temperature sensor do not allow it to be used to measure skin temperature.
A very inexpensive accessory
To try to fill this gap, Some companies have phone accessories that provide them with the sensors needed to be able to take measurements with the required accuracy.. One of them is Misura, which has a thermometer that connects to the cell phone through the charging port.
This allows energy to be drawn from the device, without having to charge it or change the batteries at any time. The brand itself indicates that the operation is instantaneous and once plugged in you can take the measurement immediately. This measurement is done with a precision of 0.1 degrees, so while it’s not exact, it gives us a narrow enough range to know whether a person has a fever or not.
Thermometer integrated into the mobile
Among the features of this device is the absence of an application, which would be highly recommended because you could keep track of how a person’s temperature is changing, instead of writing the data by hand, which can be done on your cell phone, of course. The results are visible on a large OLED screen with very clear numbers, allowing anyone to use it. On the other hand, this lowers the price of the device, which is only 17 dollars. There are three variations, depending on the connector type. You can buy one with the micro SUB connector, another with USB-C and another with the Lightning connector that iPhones from generations before 16 have. In stores like AliExpress the price is even lower, a little more of 5 dollars.
Option with app
There is another thermometer from another company that does this. use the mobile screen to view the recorded temperature. The device is different, with a cylindrical shape and also connects to the phone via the charging port. In this chaos, the price is higher, around 50 dollars. It is available in two versions, one with the Lightning port and another with the USB-C port.
It can be used with the application developed for this purpose and which will give the measurement on the mobile screen. Data can be shared from the app with other applications installed on the mobile on which the thermometer was used.
ambient temperature
If you want to measure the temperature of a room, there are devices that do it continuously. There are obviously smart thermostats and radiators that incorporate this function, but it is also possible to have a thermometer linked to the cell phone.
Measure the temperature in the room
A good option is the temperature and humidity panel that Xiaomi offers under its Mijia brand, which can be purchased for less than 10 dollars. It has a highly visible LCD screen that allows you to always have the data in view. Furthermore, syncs with mobile app, which can even warn us if a room has a temperature that is too high or too low for a baby. It connects via Bluetooth to the mobile, synchronizing data with each pass. If you are looking for an option with a much larger screen, the larger diagonal model is available, which costs just under 20 dollars.
For a similar price, there are other devices with Wi-Fi, so syncing with other devices in the house is viable. For example, you can turn on the heating when the temperature drops below certain degrees. Many of them are compatible with the Smart Life app.
