Withings - BeamO 3-in-1 Health MultiScan - Silver

The idea of the BeamO is super cool - a small handheld device that can take a lot of different health measurements to help you stay happy and healthy. However, in reality it's not quite as useful as I would have hoped, especially considering the cost. PROS - Excellent Temperature Reading - Accurate and Easy ECG - Easy to Use - Small and Portable - Rechargeable and Charge Last a Long Time - Bright Easy to Follow Screen CONS - No Blood Oxygen Level Reading - Stethoscope Could be Better Overall, I do like the Beamo. I have used MANY different electronic forehead/ear thermometers over the years and have found them to be difficult to get consistent readings. However, the Beamo excels at this. Having used it to take my temperature many times over the last few weeks, it has been very consistent, and I trust its accuracy. Likewise, I love the ECG - it's much easier to use than trying to do that on a smart watch. I am able to get excellent and accurate measurements every time with no problem. The design for ECG's is perfect. However, one of the disappointing things is that even though there is an Oxygen Blood Level built into the Beamo it's disabled. I'm guessing this is due to some type of patent issue here in the U.S. and therefore not necessarily their fault, but it is a missing health measurement in a pricey device. As for the stethoscope, I was able to get it work for my heart, but I question the usability of it for a medical professional. I think it would have been better if there was a port at the bottom and a separate more traditional stethoscope piece that you plugged in to do the reading. Holding the Beamo against your chest and still is not as easy and it seems to pick up a lot of sound other than your heartbeat. Even in a perfectly silent room with me holding it perfectly still on my bare chest and holding my breath, I would still occasionally get the "Too Much Noise" message and the resulting recording did have a lot of "static" noise to it. But in spite of there definitely being background noise, I could make out my heartbeat in the readings when listening back to them on the app. I don't know if that would be good enough for a medical professional or if the background noise would interfere. I've only tried doing the lungs reading once, but didn't seem to get anything clear with that. The design of the Beamo is where it shines. It's small and easy to hold and use, yet still has a nice bright display. It walks you through every measurement and shows very easy to follow "videos" on the display so you know where to place the Beamo for any reading. For example, when recording your heartbeat with the stethoscope, it guides you through placing it on different spots to take a collection of readings. And even while it's taking readings the display is always showing you what it's doing. The Withings app is also fairly easy to use and you can see and listen to all your readings there. It's built as an overall health app and can sync up with your Apple Health info as well. Withings, the maker of Beamo, also offers a "+" subscription service that gives you things like having a medical professional look at your readings, and providing deeper analysis of some of your measurements, but it's not something that seems really worth it to me. My final assesment is this - the Beamo is a really cool device and good for a few things. But it costs almost as much as an Apple Watch which can do an ECG and Pulse Rate and Blood Oxygen Level and monitor Sleep Patterns and a ton of other things besides the health stuff. I just feel like the Beamo is way over priced for it's current limitations and for the actual things it would be useful for. But if it were on sale for half price or if someone just has extra money they want to spend, it's great for what it does.

Withings makes many unique health devices and this Beamo 3-in-1 multi-scan may be at the top of that list. True to Withings, it’s attractive, purposeful, and uncomplicated. But I can’t say it’s “for everyone.” After using for a few days, I’ve concluded its most relevant for households that rely on telemedicine. To my thinking, Beamo’s signature feature is its stethoscope and ability to share heart and lung audio readings to medical facilities. Beamo also packs in a contactless thermometer and EGC reader too, which it how it’s a 3-1 device. But unless you need the stethoscope function or use tele-medicine, why pay for a feature you won’t use? There’s plenty of excellent digital thermometers and EGC readers. So, while Beamo is a neat device, I’d say ask your health care provider whether it will prove useful in your situation. BEAMO & SETUP Before unboxing, download the Withings app (iOS and Android) if it’s not already on your phone. It’s essential to Beamo. Once logged in (free account required) you are ready to pair Beamo to the app. From there Beamo presents a few “welcome” and TOS screens which need user assent to move on. Finally, it invites you to take your first ECG. It’s crucial you do it then to save time. The ECG function will be fully activated until the first reading is verified by a clinician. For me, this took a day, but Withings says it could take up to 48 hours. All other features function out of the box. I’ll get into the fine points of the app later in this review. Size wise, Beamo is comparable to a regular “3 Musketeers” candy bar. It’s ABS medical white plastic, but it’s sleek and has comfortable contours that offer a satisfying, confident in-hand feel. Operationally, it mimics a TV remote. A large center “enter” push button and an outer 4-direction ring. Click the center button to illuminate the LCD screen and navigate to the “patient’s” name. You can add up to eight people, which is important if you want to save data to the right person’s “account.” But there’s also a guest mode. From there select the desired function and follow the on-screen instructions. That’s it. Beamo’s various sensors live on its top, bottom, and right side. As such the screen rotates from horizontal to vertical depending on how it’s being held so that it’s always easy to read. Data is stored on Withings servers, which, understandably, might alarm some. The Beamo is FDA approved and HIPPA compliant, so I’m not concerned the data isn’t stored on device. This also means you can view your health info on multiple devices. Like most devices these days, it has an internal rechargeable battery. A USB-C port is on the side for this purpose, though it can also be used to listen to the sounds captured by the stethoscope too. While I’ve only been using Beamo for a few days it doesn’t seem to use much battery and mine is still on 100% after its initial full charge. A USB-C to A charge cable is included as well as a USB-C to mini jack, but no charger or USB-C to C cable. FUNCTIONS 1. Thermometer Of all Beamo’s functions, the thermometer is the most universally useful because everyone gets a fever at some point. It’s intuitive. Select the “Temperature” option and place Beamo’s open end close, but not on, the center of the forehead. You’ll feel a single vibration when it starts. Slowly move toward an ear. A double vibration pulses when it’s done with the temperature on the display. Thanks to the vibrations, it’s easy for me to take my own temperature. The whole process takes a few seconds. Of course, user friendliness doesn’t matter if the reading isn’t correct or consistent. To test this, I made several readings and then repeated a few minutes later. Each time I got a 98.6 F -ish reading, +/- .10 degrees. I also took a few readings with the thermometer ¼” from my forehead and those readings dipped to the 97 F degree range. So, it seems for accuracy, closely hover the forehead. 2. Electrocardiogram (ECG) I find Beamo’s ECG the least impressive of all its functions only because it’s the ubiquitous single lead variety found in smart watches and fitness devices. With the Beamo being a health device, not an activity tracker, I wonder why it’s not more advanced. One lead ECGs are great, but it’s not as valuable as a multi-lead one for those with existing heart conditions. Plus, Withing’s flagship Body Scan scale is 6-lead. The ECG is still a nice to have feature, especially if you don’t own or regularly wear a smart watch. Same as with temperature readings, obtaining an ECG is a quick, comfortable experience, but not immediately intuitive. I’ll explain. For an EGC, select it, and the on-screen instructions, with illustration, guides the user to place the left and right forefingers on the respective contacts. That seems straight forward enough. I took it literally and placed my fingers over the entire span of the contacts and started the process, which takes 30 seconds, same as with all 1-lead ECGs. My heartbeat rhythm displayed in real time, but it looked odd, like a bumble bee flying around in unpredictable motions. If I wasn’t already familiar with the ECG function on my other devices I might have panicked. I assumed there was an error, but unsure if it was me or the Beamo. I retook the ECG, but this time put my fingertips on just the first ½ of the contacts. That yielded a correct-looking reading. Since the on-screen instructions just say to touch the electrodes, not where or where not, I’m glad I figured this out and can offer this as something to be aware of if you get one. In my use, neither Beamo nor the app report the state of my sinus rhythm, only that “ECG Recording Complete.” The app implies the user should have a doctor evaluated it, which seems odd since every other device I have with ECG capability tells me whether my sinus rhythm is normal. That includes my Withings Body Scan scale. However, it does track with this device being tele-health focused. 3. Stethoscope (heart and lung) The final, and standout feature, is the stethoscope, which records audio from both your heart and lungs. This process is a more time consuming and awkward than getting a temperature or ECG. Medical science is universal to Beamo needs readings in several precise spots just as a doctor would take in-person. These areas are illuminated on-screen to that an accurate, useful recording is made. Heart recordings can be done solo, but lung recordings need Beamo to be placed on the back, so a helper is required for a complete reading. To start, navigate to the stethoscope function, select, and click on heart or lungs as desired. There is also a “wide” option that records both heart and lungs and any other internal sounds. Beamo’s screen guides you where to place its smooth end to get a correct recording. For best quality audio you’ll want to be down to under clothes, just like at the doctor’s office. When the process is complete the recording will appear in the app. You can listen to it from the app, but no analysis or advice is offered aby Withings unless you subscribe to its W+ service. Subscribers get 4 analyses per year by a board-certified cardiologist. A 14-day trial is included with Beamo, but I have not tried it yet. So, to be clear, the stethoscope recordings are purely to share with clinicians when you can’t be in-person. Unless you have medical training and can interpret internal body sounds the recordings offer no immediate information to the user. It’s for this reason I think the Beamo is best suited for people who depend on or prefer tele-health in non-emergency situations. THE APP Every device has an app these days and Beamo is no different. I’ve discussed setting it up, but I’ll go into more detail on its functionality. It works, and coordinates with, all Withings devices. The more you have the more accurate health picture it offers. But even if you don’t have any other Withings products it can share its information with Apple Health, Google Health, and Google Fit. I send my temperature to Apple Health since I have a few other non-Withings health and fitness smart devices. It’s great to have a new health data point in Apple Health. Much of the app’s analysis features are subscription only. Since I have not initiated my free trial yet I can’t comment on its usefulness. It offers the aforementioned four cardio checks annual and monitors trends in your information and offers advice or warnings. For non-subscribers it displays bare bones information from Beamo’s readings. The “Body Temperature” section lacks any graphs for a visual of a trend for a particular time range, but you can see a clump of readings, rather than one at a time, or search for a particular day’s results. If you are feeling ill you can also check off pre-entered symptoms for future reference. However, I’m unable to find a way to make custom notes. In the “Heart” area ECG readings can be viewed as a movie rather than a static image. As a lay person that doesn’t offer me any insight, but it might assist a medical professional. This is also where the stethoscope heart recordings are accessed. These can be heard on the phone’s speaker. That could be useful if playing directly to a doctor in-person. Lung recordings are found in the “Respiratory” section. All information collected by Beamo can be shared electronically with a health professional via the app by setting up a “Health Link.” There’s also an option to share as a PDF.

New to my home is the Withings BeamO 3-in-1 Health MultiScan device because I wanted a single device that could handle temperature checks, ECGs, oxygen readings, and even stethoscope recordings – and I already have other Withings devices so it was a natural fit. From a hardware and feature standpoint, it’s got some pretty cool features that hint at the future of home healthcare! What I Like • Multiple medical grade tools in one device BeamO combines a contactless thermometer, single lead ECG, pulse oximeter, and a digital stethoscope. Everything is built into a compact, remote style body that’s easy to hold and use. The sensors feel accurate, and the guided steps in the Withings app make each measurement straightforward. • Great app integration The Withings app is clean and intuitive (see photo). It walks you through each scan, stores your readings, and lets you review trends over time. I also like that you can share ECGs or stethoscope recordings with a doctor if needed. • Telehealth friendly design This is clearly built for modern healthcare. Being able to take an ECG or record lung sounds at home and send them to a provider is incredibly convenient. I’ve noticed that you need to remain perfectly still, have a dead-quiet surrounding environment to get good readings. Mine was constantly telling me the environment was too noisy. Where It Falls Short • Limited user profiles on the device This is my biggest frustration. The BeamO itself seems to only support one main user plus a Guest mode. In a family setting, that’s not ideal. I really want each family member to have their own profile directly on the device, so their readings automatically sync to their own history in the Withings app.. The app can store multiple users, but the device doesn’t let you switch between them, which feels like a missed opportunity for a product clearly meant for household use. Bottom Line The Withings BeamO is a powerful, forward thinking health scanner with excellent sensors and a great app experience. If you’re buying it for yourself, it’s fantastic. But if you want a true family device with seamless multi user support, the current setup feels a bit limited. I’m hoping Withings updates the firmware to allow multiple on device profiles. If they do, this would easily be a five star product.

Very easy setup, scan the QR code and it walks you through the process in a few minutes. BeamO comes with the device, fabric case, instruction book, USB-A to USB-C cable and a audio jack for listening to your heartbeat. The temperature function is available immediately and gave accurate readings. I compared it with a digital thermometer we have. Just slide the contactless thermometer across your forehead for 3 seconds. For the ECG, you have to run through a number of steps and then you can take a reading. It is then sent off for review by a cardiologist. The blood oxygen sensor is not yet approved for use in the US. Listening to your heart and lungs with the stethoscope is interesting. You really need a quiet space for it to be accurate. I had an air purifier in the same room and it picked up that noise. Then my phone chirped and other noises interfered. I finally went to the basement as it is much quieter (and colder). You can also use the included audio jack and listen in while it works. The device shows to position for heart and right and left lungs. You can share your results via the app as well. While you don’t need to subscribe to use the product, more features can be unlocked with a monthly or annual subscription. This unit comes with a 14 day free trial. It offers coaching, health improvement scores, crucial health patterns, etc… Battery life is excellent. Multiple users can be saved in the device so the whole family can use it. We really liked the device and how easy it is to use. Very portable too.

Measuring a little under five and a half inches long, one and half inch wide and a quarter of an inch thick, the BeamO by Withings won me over and my family for its multifunctional features as a thermometer, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and a stethoscope; all this in such a small package. Setting it up was easy and painless. In my household, we use a combination of iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets, and the app worked flawlessly with all the devices and four users were quickly added. Up to eight user profiles can be created. The BeamO is easy to navigate with a round directional navigation button. The compact well lit LED display offers a simple menu that won’t intimidate the most technologically challenged users. The thermometer and ECG are the most popular features in my household for their ease of use. The thermometer takes seconds to use, by applying the front part of the BeamO against the middle of the forehead and sliding it to the temple and it vibrates when it captures a reading. The thermometer has been reliable, capturing every reading and transferring the data to the app as it rates the reading, and would alert you in case the measured temperature is out of range. The ECG is the other easy to use feature; you hold the two electrodes on the side of the device for 30 seconds and, as the time winds down, you can see your heart’s electrical activity on the screen, which is quite cool. The digital stethoscope is the challenging feature. Like a regular stethoscope, it can listen to the heart or lungs. The screen directions are good, but it’s been a hit or miss for me. As a novice, I often placed the sensor wrong, plus it requires a quiet environment to get a successful reading. For best results, having someone assist you is the best bet, especially when listening to the lungs since you need to place the device on your back. In my case, I have a daughter in the medical field, and using a stethoscope is part of her regular job. She gave the BeamO a good review for performance as she knew exactly where to place it. Finally, the app which is a key piece of this device. The Withings app does a good job at syncing with the BeamO’s readings. It also integrates well with HealthConnect that I use daily. You can easily share your readings with a medical professional. However, to take full advantage of the app, a subscription is required. The cost is on par with other competitors with a discount for a yearly payment versus monthly. In conclusion, the Withings BeamO is a versatile health device good for families and caregivers alike. A single healthy adult using a fitness tracker can still benefit from all the features offered by the BeamO. The ability to get three different readings from such a small device is quite impressive, although the stethoscope feature requires a steep learning curve for novices. Compared to my other dedicated health devices, it performed with good precision and I can take it everywhere with me. A good all-around performer.