Garmin Index BPM: Is It Really The Best Smart Blood Pressure Monitor?

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Specs:

• Price: $149.99
• Unit dimensions: 2.3 inches x 5.7 inches x 1.6 inches
• Display resolution: OLED Monochrome (128 pixels x 64 pixels)
• Weight: 0.7 pounds
• Arm circumference: Nine inches to 16.5 inches
• Storage and memory: Up to 100 or more measurements on-device
• Connectivity: WiFi and Bluetooth
• Battery: Up to nine months with replaceable AAA batteries

For those who need to keep an eye on their blood pressure, taking routine readings throughout the day can be time-consuming, and waiting to see a health care provider for an appointment even more so. To make the process easier and allow people to take fast, accurate readings at home, smart blood pressure monitors like Garmin Index BPM are some of the latest wearables to hit the health technology market as the demand for home monitoring continues to grow. This all-in-one smart blood pressure monitor can measure both blood pressure and heart rate, which its wearer can then view on its built-in display.

Still, Garmin Index BPM isn’t the only smart blood pressure monitor on the market, so what makes this new device stand out from competitors? Our review will take a look at not only our first impressions, but exactly how the Garmin Index BPM works, what  connected features it offers and who might benefit from buying this FDA-cleared medical device.

What Is the Garmin Index BPM?

Key Features:

• FDA-cleared medical device
• All-in-one design with integrated display
• Optional Garmin Connect app syncing
• Set reminders to take blood pressure readings
• Can be used for up to 16 users
• Promises nine months of battery life

Garmin Index BPM is a new smart blood pressure monitor from Garmin International, which is the brand behind Garmin GPS products and Garmin smartwatches. It operates as your typical blood pressure monitor, but without all the clunkiness that blood pressure monitors can often have. Instead, Garmin Index BPM is a compact adjustable cuff that you wear on your upper arm just over the bend of your elbow that delivers readings right to the device’s built-in digital display. This smart blood pressure cuff measures both blood pressure and heart rate, reading your systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a series of one or three consecutive readings (multiple readings can help confirm your results are accurate, since blood pressure can fluctuate).

From there, you can also view your blood pressure and heart rate readings in your Garmin Connect account with the Garmin Connect smartphone app, which is a tool for tracking, analyzing and sharing health data from paired Garmin devices like the Garmin Index BPM. This smart blood pressure monitor is powered by WiFi and Bluetooth technology to help send health data to the Garmin Connect app that you can then easily share with your health care providers; Garmin Connect can also be used alongside the Garmin Index S2 smart scale or several Garmin running watches like Garmin Venu. Plus, Garmin Index BPM can generate readings for up to 16 users. The cuff is also adjustable from nine to 16.5 inches to fit most arm sizes.

How Garmin Index BPM Works

Garmin Index BPM uses WiFi technology to measure your upper arm blood pressure. You can use Garmin Index BPM as a stand-alone device, or you can sync your readings to your Garmin Connect account via Bluetooth. In your Garmin Connect account, you can view readings over the course of one year, which is important for tracking any changes in your blood pressure or heart rate. Most people, however, use blood pressure monitors for immediate readings.

Garmin Index BPM shows instant results on the device’s built-in OLED monochrome display, and you can also set up notifications to help remind you to take blood pressure readings. The device uses four AAA batteries and promises nine months of battery life. Since the medical device is FDA-cleared, you also have the option of using FSA or HSA funds to purchase it.

How to use the Garmin Index BPM

To use Garmin Index BPM, place the adjustable cuff over your upper arm just above the bend of your elbow as you would with a traditional blood pressure monitor. Then, press the button to begin measuring your blood pressure and/or heart rate. The CDC recommends resting your arm with the cuff on a table at chest height and putting both feet flat on the ground with your legs uncrossed for accurate readings. It also recommends avoiding eating or drinking 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure, and to sit in an upright chair for five minutes beforehand.

The fit

Garmin Index BPM comes with an adjustable cuff that ranges from nine to 16.5 inches, so it should fit most people. The CDC recommends that your cuff be snug, but not too tight, and worn over bare skin. You should never measure your blood pressure over clothing, since this can lead to inaccurate readings. Since the Garmin Index BPM is extremely lightweight at just 0.7 pounds, it’s comfortable to wear. Still, if your arm is very small, you may find that there’s a lot of excess fabric, but this shouldn’t impact your readings; it would be more of an annoyance, if anything. Luckily, there are no hoses or wires snaking out of the device, which traditional monitors have.

Reporting accuracy

Since this device is FDA-cleared, it’s clinically validated to provide accurate results. Still, like any medical device, it will need to be used properly, and it can be tricky to measure blood pressure correctly if it’s something you’re not familiar with. For that, we recommend having a health care provider show you how to measure your blood pressure. Keep in mind, however, that while Garmin Index BPM is FDA-cleared, it’s not FDA-approved, which is a higher standard granted to such devices (keep reading for more information on the differences).

While the device is relatively new, user reports are slowly trickling in about its accuracy. Some users say Garmin Index BPM provides spot-on blood pressure reports when compared against other devices (like a traditional OMRON monitor), but other users say the readings are far from accurate. A handful of users complain that both systolic and diastolic numbers can be off by as much as 20 points. Then, there are those in favor of Garmin Index BPM, saying it compares nicely to and even beats out the popular Withings BPM Connect smart blood pressure monitor.

Battery life

Garmin Index BPM uses four AAA batteries and promises nine months of battery life. Since the device was just released in September 2022, it’s too early to say if that promise holds true. This battery life estimate may vary, however, depending on how often you use the device.

Garmin Connect Integration

Garmin Index BPM is designed to be integrated into Garmin Connect, the health ecosystem and smartphone app from Garmin. Some users report that pairing to the app via Bluetooth is quick and easy, but that some blood pressure readings don’t make their way over to Garmin Connect. Other users, however, note no issues with performance, so it could be luck of the draw.

Garmin Connect offers a My Day view that you can sync your blood pressure readings to and view as soon as you launch the app on your smartphone or tablet. Garmin Connect also syncs to Garmin fitness trackers, smart scales and more, so if you have multiple Garmin products, you can view all of your health data and insights in one place. Still, if you’re planning to connect your Garmin Index BPM to your Apple Watch or the newer Apple Watch Ultra, don’t get your hopes up. As of now, Garmin Connect can’t receive data from Apple Health or an Apple Watch.

Who Should Buy the Garmin Index BPM

The Garmin Index BPM can be an excellent choice for busy people on the go who need to measure their blood pressure for health reasons, or simply want to stay on top of it. Since this cuff is easy to transport and highly compact, it can be taken to work, school or more without having to worry about untangling messy wires or hoses; this monitor can also be used discreetly if needed.

Yet aside from folks on the go, it’s an excellent choice for the average individual who wants a fast and easy way to measure blood pressure at home. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure or other chronic conditions that warrant regular blood pressure readings, a device such as this one can help you remember to take your readings thanks to its notifications system.

The Garmin Index BPM is also an attractive option for people who like having all of their health data in one place, since it syncs to Garmin Connect. If that’s the case, however, then you may want to invest in a Garmin smartwatch or smart scale so your health data includes multiple sources.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Garmin Index BPM

If there’s no medical reason for you to take blood pressure or heart rate readings on a regular basis, you may not benefit from the high price tag of a Garmin Index BPM, which retails for just under $150. A traditional blood pressure monitor or heart rate monitor will still provide readings at a fraction of the price.

Warranty and Return Policy

The Garmin Index BPM comes with a one-year warranty that guarantees the product free from defects in materials or workmanship, which is active from the date of purchase. If you buy your blood pressure monitor on garmin.com, you can start the return process by submitting a return request online. Any products bought in retail or online stores like Amazon must be returned to the location or website where they were bought. Depending on where and when you purchased your Garmin Index BPM, your return window may vary, but it usually hovers around 30 days.

How Garmin Index BPM Compares to a Traditional Monitor

The Garmin Index BPM works almost exactly like a traditional monitor, but it doesn’t have hoses or wires that traditional monitors usually have. It’s also an all-in-one design, so your readings and your arm cuff are integrated into the same device (versus having a cuff attached to a reader or a pump by a long hose). Most traditional monitors show your systolic and diastolic blood pressure and sometimes your heart rate, and Garmin Index BPM shows all three. You may find, however, that Garmin Index BPM works faster, simply because it has less parts to prepare and use.

FAQs

Here’s everything else there is to know about Garmin Index BPM.

Is the Garmin Index BPM accurate?

While Garmin Index BPM is FDA-cleared, the jury is still out in terms of its accuracy. Since the device was just released in September 2022, it’s a newer item that many users are just now getting. Some users report that it’s highly accurate, while others say their readings are off.

Do Garmin watches track blood pressure?

No, Garmin watches don’t track blood pressure. While wrist blood pressure monitors exist, these watches aren’t equipped to read blood pressure, but they can read your heart rate.

Related Post: The Best Blood Pressure Watches

Is the Garmin Index BPM FDA-approved?

As of this time, the Garmin Index BPM is not FDA-approved, but FDA-cleared. FDA clearance means that a manufacturer (like Garmin) can demonstrate that their product is “substantially equivalent to another (similar) legally marketed device.” FDA approval is a higher standard which means the FDA has determined that the benefits of that product outweigh the risks.

Does the Garmin Index BPM track heart rate?

Yes, in addition to tracking your blood pressure, Garmin Index BPM can also track your heart rate. Many newer blood pressure monitors come with the ability to track both.

Final Thoughts

Garmin Index BPM can be a handy health device to have in your home. As a smart blood pressure monitor, it simplifies the process of getting blood pressure and heart rate readings, while also giving you the ability to send your health data to the Garmin Connect app. While this device comes with many nifty features, like a purported nine-month battery life and the ability to support up to 16 users, customers have mixed reviews on the monitor’s accuracy. Overall, we recommend investing in a smart blood pressure monitor if you take regular readings, but it’s too early to say if Garmin Index BPM is a better buy than other leading smart blood pressure cuffs.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.