Know your numbers,trust the devicemeasuring them.
Buying guides for smartwatches, smart rings, blood pressure monitors, smart scales and home health devices, starting with what you want to track and which devices are validated or cleared to measure it.
Find devices by what you track
Activity, heart, blood pressure, weight, sleep and more. Each section starts with what the device actually measures.
Health Tech questions, answered
Is FDA-cleared the same as FDA-approved?
No. Most devices are cleared through 510(k) by showing they are substantially equivalent to an existing device, or authorized through De Novo. Approval (PMA) is a stricter pathway for higher-risk devices.
Read: FDA-Cleared vs Wellness Features →Are wrist monitors accurate?
Some are validated, but wrist readings are more affected by position. Upper-arm monitors are generally preferred for home use.
Read: How to Choose a Home Blood Pressure Monitor →Are smart rings accurate for sleep?
Rings can track sleep timing, heart rate and movement comfortably overnight. Sleep stages from any consumer wearable are estimates.
Read: Smart Ring vs Smartwatch for Health Tracking →Are smart scale body fat readings accurate?
They are estimates. Foot-to-foot BIA can differ from lab methods such as DEXA. Consistency over time is more useful than any single figure.
Read: What Smart Scales Measure (and How Accurate Body Fat Is) →Validation before features
Every device guide says whether a feature is FDA-cleared, validated in published studies, or a wellness estimate.
Each guide says who the device suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The health technology index
- 01Smart ringsSmart rings that track sleep, heart rate, temperature and activity, with sizing and subscription costs.1 page
- 02Blood pressure & heartValidated home blood pressure monitors, cuff sizing, personal ECG devices and heart rate monitors.1 page
- 03Smart scalesSmart scales, body composition by bioimpedance, and what the numbers can and cannot tell you.1 page
- 04Apps & platformsHealth platforms and apps, data sharing with your doctor, subscriptions and privacy.1 page