Withings, the brand best known for its smart scales and smartwatches, has announced a never-before-seen new product.
The BeamO is a palm-sized home monitoring device (or “multiscope”) that can provide a comprehensive view of your heart and lung health. It combines an ECG, which records heart rate and rhythm, with a stethoscope to measure lung health, a thermometer and an oximeter, which tests blood oxygen levels.
To use it, simply place the BeamO on your forehead or over your heart or lungs, depending on the measurement you want to take. The data is then sent to the Withings app via Wi-Fi, which will be upgraded via a software update to be compatible with the device. The update will also allow Withings users to upload details of any medication they are taking and record side effects.
Withings
BeamO measurements will be tracked in the app, which will also provide information explaining what the numbers mean, as well as practical tips.
In fact, when it comes to smart scales, the Withings app is one of the best available for this reason: it doesn’t just show a measurement number, it explains what that number means.
The BeamO will support multiple profiles in the app, so it can be used by the whole family.
Knowing that temperature is the only measurement commonly taken at home, Eric Carreel, founder and president of Withings, hopes that “BeamO will be the thermometer of the future, offering the possibility of assessing temperature and observing the state of the heart and lungs.
It will also allow you to take measurements daily or as needed, and track health statistics over time.
Withings
Additionally, users will be able to share data with their healthcare provider, making remote appointments more accurate and useful.
A complete set of measurements will take less than a minute and users will be alerted of fever or any cardiovascular problems, including atrial fibrillation – although this is subject to FDA approval in the US. ECG capabilities will also require FDA approval in the United States.
One thing that may surprise is the price, which is lower than you might think. The BeamO will cost £199.95 in the UK and $249.95 in the US and is expected to launch this summer in June.
For context, Withings’ top-of-the-line smart scale, the Body Scan, costs £349.95/$399.95. The Body Scan also includes an ECG, as well as taking several other body composition measurements. You can read our review of Withings’ most expensive scale to find out more.
If you’re wondering whether the BeamO will catch on, the popularity of the much more expensive Body Scan suggests it has the potential to pique people’s interest.
As you might expect, the BeamO is packed with technology to make these measurements possible. There are light-based photoplethysmography sensors and electrodes on the sides for blood oxygen and heart rate readings. But the device is classified as a 1-lead ECG, compared to the Body Scan’s 6-lead, meaning it’s not as sensitive as Withings’ smart scale.
Withings
A user’s temperature is taken via a temporal artery scan; the technology is an improved version of Withings’ existing Thermo device.
Finally, the stethoscope measures chest or back sounds using a piezoelectric disk and the sounds can be heard through headphones (the device has a USB-C to jack adapter) or transferred to the application. It appears there’s a bit of a learning curve for taking this last measurement: Withings says the app will contain “tutorials” to help users take “accurate heart and lung measurements.”
But is this the future of at-home health testing? Only time will tell.
If you’re interested in a Withings smart scale, we have advice on whether you should go for the Body Scan, Body Comp, or Body Smart.
And if you want Withings technology in watch form, check out our reviews of the ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Light.
