Withings BPM Core Review
The Withings BPM Core is a 3-in-1 clinically validated blood pressure monitor that claims to go deeper by providing more comprehensive data, with the addition of ECG and digital stethoscope functions to identify and monitor your heart health. We’ve been keen to see just how easy it is to use and just how well it integrates with Apple Health, one of its key selling points.
Design & In-Use
A traditional blood pressure monitor has a sleeve with a chord that feeds itself into a device with a screen that records your data. The Withings BPM Core is a clean piece of hardware to use as it removes any need for a separate device by integrating the brains of the operation into a cylindrical hub on the sleeve. This sleek and rather compact design makes it easy to handle or take with you on travels. Its inbuilt battery seems to go on and on, not needing charging since we took ownership 3 months ago.
To use, you simply strap the device around your arm (and it is soft and comfortable to wear prior to operation), hit the button atop the cuff, and let it squeeze your arm, checking your blood pressure in the process. Results are displayed on an easy-to-read LED display on the side of the unit, providing an immediate blood pressure reading. It does allow for these readings to be discarded if you are checking someone who isn’t registered to the device, by assigning them as ‘guest’, which is a great feature. These results are also transmitted to the Withings ‘Health Mate’ app for a more in-depth analysis, and the BPM Core will store this data so it can be transferred to your device when convenient.
The blood pressure readings appear to be accurate with data taken from individuals, subsequently and across longer periods, which tally with readings from prior equipment. The heart rate reading was like for like the same as the Apple Watch when viewed in real-time. To gauge further readings from the additional hardware features offered by the BPM Core you need to place the small, flat white surface firmly against your chest while gripping the metal cylinder. The electrocardiograph will activate running an ECG, and also the digital stethoscope will listen to your heartbeat. These checks provide an assessment of your heart's electrical activity and heart rate. The ECG works almost every time and always confirms previous ECG results we’ve received from other devices, whereas the digital stethoscope does not. A recording is made that can be listened to in the app and we’ve got the knack of ideal placement for clear audio playback. We have to say that hearing your own heart beat is a little surreal. However, the app cannot analyse anybody’s recording from our testing, which renders the feature a bit useless, albeit we suppose the info could be appraised by a professional ear.
App & Apple HealthKit Integration
The Withings BPM Core comes with a companion app, that is available for both iOS and Android devices, called ‘Health Mate’. The app is imperative for setting the device up and can be used on multiple devices, allowing family members to all have their specific data assigned to their own profile. It’s easy to use and provides detailed information about your blood pressure readings, giving you the opportunity to track your readings over time and providing helpful tips for improving your overall health, and the ability to share data with your doctor or healthcare provider. Used with the app this device can help you gauge your health status. Blood pressure tracking can alert you to many concerns, from either high or low readings, and prompt you to seek medical advice if necessary.
However, the really interesting functionality comes from the seamless integration with Apple HealthKit. With the BPM Core included, our Apple Health roster has blood pressure data to build a stronger picture of our health. Electrocardiograph (ECG) data is useful if you don’t already own an Apple Watch, and even if you do it adds to the collective nevertheless. Weirdly, the digital stethoscope that has been iffy in our usage, cannot be passed onto Apple Health as there is no subset for this, so it can only be viewed, or rather heard, in the Withings Health mate app.
Verdict
£299 is a lot of money for a blood pressure monitor, but the Withings BPM Core is certainly one of the best designed pieces of health hardware we’ve seen, and assuredly deserves to be treated under the wearables category for smart health devices that have flawless Apple HealthKit integration. It doesn’t just look refined, but is easy to use and provides accurate blood pressure and ECG readings (although the ECG is less necessary if you own an Apple Watch). The data is easy to determine through the HealthMate App interface. With respect to the digital stethoscope, whilst it is an intriguing and novel idea to be able to hear your own heart, that’s as far it goes, as the recordings appear to be ineffective, with no information from these recordings having been gleaned from our usage. We suspect this might be a software issue that could potentially receive an update to improve the situation, rather than a hardware complaint, as the recordings are really clear on playback.