Most health devices do one thing. A thermometer takes your temperature. A pulse oximeter reads SpO2. An ECG records heart rhythm. You end up with a drawer full of single-purpose gadgets, each with its own app, its own charger, and its own learning curve.
Withings looked at that drawer and asked: what if all four fit in one hand? The BeamO is a 4-in-1 multiscope -- contactless thermometer, 1-lead ECG, digital stethoscope, and pulse oximeter -- packed into an 80-gram polycarbonate body. We've been using it daily for six weeks.
$249.95
Retail price
$299.95 at Apple Stores
4-in-1
Medical functions
Thermometer, ECG, stethoscope, oximeter
80 g
Device weight
Polycarbonate body
8 months
Battery life
Single charge
Snel oordeel
Withings BeamO
The most versatile consumer health device available. Four clinically useful measurements in one pocket-sized tool at $249.95.
Four Devices, One Body
The BeamO is roughly the size of a TV remote -- flat, rounded, and surprisingly light. A 1.9-inch RGB TFT LCD dominates the front face. Flip it over and you find the contactless thermometer lens, two ECG electrodes, the stethoscope bell, and the SpO2 sensor window.
Each function activates contextually. Point it at a forehead and HotSpot V2 infrared thermometry kicks in. Place your fingers on the electrodes and the ECG begins. Press the bell against your chest and the piezoelectric stethoscope records.
FDA-Cleared, Not a Toy
The BeamO's ECG module received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2025 for atrial fibrillation detection. This is the same regulatory standard applied to the Apple Watch ECG and AliveCor KardiaMobile. The 30-second recording produces a single-lead electrocardiogram suitable for AFib screening.
Contactless Thermometer: HotSpot V2
Withings' HotSpot V2 uses a 16-zone infrared sensor array to map skin surface temperature across the forehead. Instead of a single-point reading, it captures a thermal map and extracts the peak -- eliminating the "aim and pray" problem of cheap IR thermometers.
In onze tests against a Braun ThermoScan 7 (ear) and Kinsa Smart Stick (oral), the BeamO consistently landed within 0.3°F of reference readings. That's clinically acceptable for home screening.
Best Practice for Accuracy
Wait 15 minutes after exercise, eating, or coming indoors before measuring. Hold the BeamO 1-3 cm from the center of the forehead. The on-screen guide shows a heat map in real time so you know when you're positioned correctly.
ECG: 30-Second AFib Screening
Place your right thumb and index finger on the top electrode, left thumb and index finger on the bottom. Hold still for 30 seconds. The screen displays your real-time waveform, and within moments the algorithm classifies the result: Normal Sinus Rhythm, Atrial Fibrillation, or Inconclusive.
The waveform quality surprised us. Clean P-waves, sharp QRS complexes, and minimal baseline wander -- even without gel. Withings credits dry electrode material science borrowed from their ScanWatch line.
Withings+ Cardiologist Review
For $9.95/month, Withings+ sends every ECG recording to a board-certified cardiologist for review within 24 hours. You receive a written interpretation in the app. For anyone monitoring post-cardioversion rhythm or newly diagnosed AFib, this alone justifies the subscription.
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Digital Stethoscope: The Steepest Learning Curve
This is the BeamO's most ambitious -- and most demanding -- function. A piezoelectric sensor behind the stethoscope bell captures heart and lung sounds, amplifies them digitally, and records a 20-second clip. The app visualizes the phonocardiogram waveform alongside the audio.
Withings includes guided tutorials that walk you through auscultation positions: aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid, mitral, and posterior lung fields. The tutorials are genuinely helpful.
Not a Replacement for Clinical Auscultation
The BeamO's stethoscope captures sound well enough for a physician to review remotely during a telehealth visit. It does not diagnose murmurs or lung pathology on its own. Think of it as a recording tool, not a diagnostic one. The value is in sharing high-quality audio with your doctor between visits.
That said, the recordings we shared with a pulmonologist were described as "clearly usable" and "better than most phone-recorded attempts." The digital amplification and noise filtering make a real difference compared to holding a phone against your chest.
Pulse Oximeter: Clean SpO2 and Heart Rate
Press your index finger against the sensor window on the back of the device. Within 15 seconds you get SpO2 percentage and pulse rate. Our readings matched a Masimo MightySat within 1% SpO2 and 2 BPM -- well within consumer-grade expectations.
The screen displays a real-time plethysmograph waveform, so you can visually confirm signal quality before trusting the number. This is a detail most consumer oximeters skip entirely.
Connectivity and Ecosystem
The BeamO connects via BLE 5.0 and Wi-Fi for automatic cloud sync. An optional LTE model is available in select markets for fully untethered operation -- useful for elderly parents or remote monitoring setups where phone pairing isn't practical.
All data flows into the Withings Health Mate app, which remains one of the most polished health platforms available. Every reading is timestamped, trended, and shareable as a PDF for your physician.
CES 2024 Triple Winner
The BeamO won three CES 2024 Innovation Awards before it even shipped. Now shipping globally and available at Apple Stores for $299.95 (or $249.95 direct from Withings), it has delivered on the promise those awards anticipated.
BeamO vs. Buying Separately
| Feature | Function | Withings BeamO | Separate Devices | Separate Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermometer | Thermometer | HotSpot V2 IR (16-zone) | Braun ThermoScan 7 | $45 |
| ECG | ECG | 1-lead, 30-sec, FDA-cleared AFib | AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L | $149 |
| Stethoscope | Stethoscope | Piezoelectric digital | Eko CORE 500 | $349 |
| Pulse Oximeter | Pulse Oximeter | SpO2 + HR + pleth waveform | Masimo MightySat | $299 |
| Total | Total | $249.95 | 4 devices, 4 apps | $842 |
| Weight | Weight | 80 g | ~450 g combined | -- |
| App | App | 1 (Health Mate) | 4 separate apps | -- |
✓Pros
- Four medical-grade functions in one 80-gram device
- FDA-cleared ECG with optional cardiologist review within 24 hours
- 8-month battery life eliminates charging anxiety
- HotSpot V2 thermal mapping is best-in-class contactless thermometry
- All data unified in one app with PDF export for physicians
- BLE + Wi-Fi + optional LTE covers every connectivity scenario
- $249.95 replaces $842+ in separate devices
- CES 2024 triple Innovation Award winner
✗Cons
- Stethoscope requires real practice and guided tutorials to use properly
- $9.95/month Withings+ subscription needed for cardiologist ECG review
- SpO2 sensor slightly slower than dedicated finger-clip oximeters
- No blood pressure measurement -- still need a separate cuff
- Apple Store pricing is $50 higher ($299.95)
- Stethoscope cannot diagnose on-device -- recording only
- 1-lead ECG cannot detect all arrhythmias (only AFib)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The 1-lead ECG module received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2025 for atrial fibrillation detection. The thermometer and pulse oximeter functions meet consumer medical device standards. The stethoscope is classified as a recording and transmission tool, not a diagnostic device.
No. All four measurement functions work without a subscription. Withings+ ($9.95/month) adds cardiologist ECG review within 24 hours, advanced health reports, and priority support. The ECG recording and AFib detection algorithm work without it.
In onze tests, the HotSpot V2 infrared thermometer consistently read within 0.3°F of a Braun ThermoScan 7 ear thermometer and Kinsa oral thermometer. The 16-zone thermal mapping eliminates the positioning errors common with single-point IR thermometers.
Yes. A pulmonologist we consulted described the recordings as 'clearly usable' for remote assessment. The digital amplification and noise filtering produce audio quality superior to phone-recorded attempts. Recordings export as audio files shareable during telehealth visits.
The Apple Watch ECG and BeamO ECG are comparable for AFib screening. The BeamO adds three functions the Apple Watch cannot do: contactless thermometry, digital stethoscope, and dedicated pulse oximetry with plethysmograph waveform. If you want a comprehensive home health toolkit beyond what's on your wrist, the BeamO fills that gap.
