Health Devices

Health Devices News & Reviews

Continuous glucose monitors, ECG patches, smart scales, and FDA-cleared medical wearables — scored and ranked daily.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a continuous glucose monitor and do I need one?
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a sensor worn on the skin that measures blood glucose levels every few minutes without finger pricks. Devices like Dexcom G7 and Abbott FreeStyle Libre 3 are now available without a prescription in many countries. If you have diabetes, pre-diabetes, or want to understand how food, sleep, and exercise affect your metabolism, a CGM provides data that no smartwatch can yet match.
Are consumer ECG monitors accurate?
Consumer ECG monitors like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Kardia Mobile 6L produce medically meaningful data for detecting atrial fibrillation. They are not diagnostic tools and cannot replace a clinical 12-lead ECG, but they are FDA-cleared for AFib detection and have been used to identify previously undetected cardiac conditions in real-world use. For anyone with cardiac risk factors, they are worth using.
What health wearables are FDA cleared in 2026?
FDA-cleared consumer wearables in 2026 include: Apple Watch (ECG, irregular rhythm notification, blood oxygen), AirPods Pro 2 (hearing aid), Withings ScanWatch 2 (ECG, AFib detection), Dexcom G7 (CGM), Abbott FreeStyle Libre 3 (CGM), and Kardia Mobile (ECG). FDA clearance means the device has demonstrated safety and effectiveness for specific clinical indications.
Can a smartwatch replace a blood pressure monitor?
Not yet reliably. While Apple Watch Series 11 includes blood pressure monitoring, it measures trends rather than absolute values and is not intended to replace a traditional cuff-based monitor for clinical use. For people with hypertension who need to log readings for their doctor, a validated cuff monitor remains the standard. The technology is improving rapidly — cuff-less accurate blood pressure measurement is expected to become viable by 2028.