Medical Device Reviews

Thermometers

Kinsa Smart Ear Thermometer Review: A Modern Approach to Illness Tracking

The Kinsa Smart Ear Thermometer successfully bridges the gap between medical device and smart home gadget. Over our 30-day test, its core function as a thermometer proved to be fast and reliable. However, its true value lies in the Kinsa smartphone app. The seamless Bluetooth connection allows for automatic logging of temperatures to individual family member profiles, where users can also track symptoms and medications. The app's real-time guidance based on the user's data is a standout feature, offering parents valuable advice and peace of mind.

$40

Thermometers

Braun ThermoScan 7+ Review: The Gold Standard for Family Fever Tracking

After 45 days of rigorous testing, the Braun ThermoScan 7+ stands out as the premier choice for home-use thermometry. Its core strengths lie in its repeatable accuracy, attributed to the patented pre-warmed tip, and its innovative Age Precision technology. This feature, which allows users to set an age range (0-3m, 3-36m, 36m+), provides a color-coded fever interpretation that removes ambiguity. We found its performance to be exceptionally consistent across multiple users and scenarios, validating its reputation as a device trusted by pediatricians.

$60

Body Composition Scales

Oxiline Scale MD Pro Review: A New Benchmark in Accuracy and Value

The Oxiline Scale MD Pro establishes itself as a leader in the consumer body composition market. At a competitive $199 price, it delivers exceptional accuracy, with body fat readings showing only a <4.7% deviation from DEXA scans. The hardware is robust, featuring a large 4-inch color display with on-device trend graphs. Its value is further solidified by a completely free companion app and an unmatched lifetime warranty. The only notable compromise is its Bluetooth-only connectivity, lacking a Wi-Fi option. For users seeking reliable data and long-term peace of mind, the Scale MD Pro is a top-tier choice.

$199

Body Composition Scales

Hume Body Pod Review: A Mid-Range Scale Undone by Inaccuracy

The Hume Body Pod enters the market as a mid-range smart scale with a modern aesthetic and a polished companion app. At $229, it aims to provide more than basic weight data. However, its core function is critically flawed by severe accuracy and consistency issues, particularly for women and users with lower body fat, where readings can fluctuate wildly and inflate body fat percentages by up to 40%. While the hardware is physically adequate and the app is functional, the unreliability of the data, a weak 1-year warranty, and a subscription model for advanced insights make it a poor value proposition.

$229

Body Composition Scales

Withings Body Scan Review: A Feature-Rich Health Station Held Back by Core Flaws

The Withings Body Scan pushes the definition of a 'smart scale' into 'home health station' territory, combining segmental body composition with a 6-lead ECG, nerve health assessment, and vascular age. Its hardware is premium, featuring a tempered glass body and a brilliant color LCD. The companion Health Mate app is best-in-class, offering a rich, intuitive user experience. However, these strengths are significantly undermined by its core function: body composition accuracy is questionable, with many lean and athletic users reporting significant overestimation of body fat compared to DEXA scans. Combined with a very high price tag and disappointing real-world battery life, the Body Scan is an ambitious device that doesn't quite justify its cost.

$499

Body Composition Scales

InBody Dial H30 Review: Accurate Composition Tracking Held Back by a High Price

The InBody Dial H30 is a specialized body composition scale that uses an 8-point tactile electrode system (feet and hands) with triple-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to deliver more consistent results than typical smart scales. Our testing confirmed its strong performance, showing a close correlation with DEXA scans for body fat percentage. The hardware is robust and built to last. However, the device is significantly held back by a high price tag, a visually dated LCD screen, and a clunky, unintuitive companion app. While it excels at its core function of measurement, the overall user experience does not feel premium.

$349

Electric Toothbrush

AquaSonic Vibe Series Review: A Sleek and Affordable Sonic Powerhouse

The AquaSonic Vibe Series, much like its sibling the Black Series, is built around a core promise of delivering maximum value. It boasts the same powerful 40,000 VPM sonic motor, providing a clean that rivals brushes costing three or four times as much. It also includes 4 cleaning modes and a built-in timer. The key differentiator in its value proposition is the inclusion of 8 brush heads and a travel case. Our hands-on review found the Vibe Series to be slightly slimmer and lighter than the Black Series, making it very comfortable to hold. While it also lacks a pressure sensor, its performance and feature set at this ultra-low price point are exceptional. The main practical difference from the Black Series is its USB direct charging method, which some may find more convenient for travel than the wireless charging base of its sibling.

$37

Electric Toothbrush

AquaSonic Black Series Review: Unbeatable Value and Features

The AquaSonic Black Series challenges the notion that a good electric toothbrush has to be expensive. Its main draw is the sheer amount of value packed into the box. For under $50, you get the toothbrush handle, a wireless charging base, a travel case, and 8 brush heads-enough for two years of use. The performance is also impressive for the price, with a 40,000 VPM sonic motor that delivers a cleaning experience comparable to mid-range sonic models from bigger brands. It features four modes (Clean, Soft, Whiten, Massage), adding a layer of customization rarely seen at this price point. While it lacks a pressure sensor, its combination of performance, features, and included accessories is unmatched in the budget category.

$40

Electric Toothbrush

Oral-B Pro 1000 Review: The Best No-Frills Electric Toothbrush

The Oral-B Pro 1000 is a workhorse. It forgoes connectivity, multiple modes, and fancy displays for two things: an effective 3D cleaning action (oscillating, rotating, and pulsating) and an affordable price. Our review confirms that its single 'Daily Clean' mode is sufficient for most users. The two most critical features for good oral hygiene are present: a two-minute quadrant timer that pulses every 30 seconds, and a visible pressure sensor that stops pulsations when you press too hard. For users looking to upgrade from a manual toothbrush, the Pro 1000 provides the most significant clinical benefits at the lowest cost.

$50

Electric Toothbrush

Oral-B iO Series 10 Review: A Guided Clean with Real-Time Feedback

The Oral-B iO Series 10 is the brand's flagship model, and it's packed with technology. The core innovation is the frictionless magnetic iO drive, which delivers controlled micro-vibrations to the brush head for a surprisingly gentle yet powerful clean. Its standout feature is the iO Sense smart charger, which provides real-time feedback on brushing time, coverage, and pressure via LED lights, meaning you get guidance without even opening your phone. The app, however, provides a more detailed 3D tracking of 16 zones in your mouth. Our testing confirmed its superior cleaning power, with users showing significant improvement in interproximal (between teeth) cleaning compared to standard sonic brushes.

$400

Electric Toothbrush

Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige Review: The Smartest Brush We’ve Tested

The Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige represents a significant leap in electric toothbrush technology. Our 6-week clinical evaluation focused on its primary claim: personalized cleaning via SenseIQ technology. This feature monitors pressure, motion, and coverage up to 100 times per second and adapts the intensity in real-time. We found this resulted in a statistically significant reduction in user-applied excessive pressure, leading to less gingival abrasion. Plaque removal was exceptional, on par with other premium models, but the key differentiator is the AI-driven app. It provides a 3D map of the mouth, highlighting missed spots and offering actionable advice. While the price is steep, the level of detailed feedback is akin to having a dental hygienist guide your brushing every day.

$380

TENS Units

Beurer EM59

The Beurer EM59 sets itself apart from many competitors with one noteworthy feature: heat therapy. Research may show that adding warmth to standard TENS sessions can provide some relief for muscle stiffness and mild chronic pain. That said, most of its other therapy programs felt more gimmicky than useful, with little noticeable variation between modes. The unit is built reasonably well and the inclusion of TENS, EMS, and massage functions looks impressive on paper, but the practical experience doesn’t always match the spec sheet. The heat function provides some genuine benefit, yet the overall package feels less polished and less effective than more modern alternatives.

$110