Keeping track of your heart health has never been easier. Thanks to portable EKG monitors and smartwatches, you can check your heart’s rhythm anytime, anywhere. These devices can fit in your pocket or on your wrist, making heart monitoring something you can do on the go.
In this article, we’ll compare five popular portable EKG devices: KardiaMobile 6-Lead, KardiaMobile 1-Lead, Apple Watch Series 9, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and Fitbit Sense 2. We’ll focus on how portable they are, how well they work with mobile devices, and what kind of information they give you about your heart.
1. KardiaMobile 6-Lead Personal EKG Monitor
Why It’s Great to Carry Around:
- The KardiaMobile 6-Lead is small and easy to fit in your pocket. It gives you a super detailed heart check (six views of your heart) in just 30 seconds.
- It’s FDA-approved for detecting problems like AFib, slow heart rate, fast heart rate, and normal heart rhythms.
- You don’t need a subscription for basic heart checks, but with the KardiaCare subscription, you can get more detailed reports, store your results, and send them to your doctor.
- Works with most smartphones. You’ll need to download the Kardia app to use it with your phone.
Best For: People who want detailed heart monitoring in a portable form and don’t mind paying for extra features if needed.
2. KardiaMobile 1-Lead Personal EKG Monitor
Why It’s Great to Carry Around:
- The KardiaMobile 1-Lead is tiny and super easy to take with you. It fits in your pocket and gives you a quick heart check in 30 seconds.
- It’s FDA-approved to check for AFib, slow heart rates, fast heart rates, and normal rhythms.
- You don’t need a subscription for basic heart checks, but the KardiaCare subscription gives you more detailed reports and lets you send your results to your doctor.
- Works with most smartphones. You’ll need the Kardia app to see your results.
Best For: People who want a quick, portable heart check that fits in their pocket.
3. Apple Watch Series 9
Why It’s Great to Carry Around:
- The Apple Watch Series 9 is a smartwatch you wear on your wrist, and it also works as an EKG monitor. It checks for AFib by pressing your finger on the crown.
- It’s FDA-approved for detecting AFib, but it doesn’t check for slow or fast heart rates.
- You don’t need a subscription for its EKG feature, and the watch stores your heart data in the Apple Health app.
- Works with iPhones. You’ll need an iPhone to use all the features of the watch.
Best For: iPhone users who want a smartwatch with heart-monitoring abilities plus fitness and sleep tracking.
4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Bespoke Edition
Why It’s Great to Carry Around:
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is another wrist-based EKG monitor. You can check for AFib, and it will alert you if something’s wrong.
- It’s FDA-approved for AFib detection but doesn’t check for slow or fast heart rates.
- No subscription is needed for the EKG feature, and it syncs with the Samsung Health app for tracking your heart, fitness, and other health data.
- Works with both Android and iPhone, but it works best with Samsung phones.
Best For: Android users who want a smartwatch with EKG and fitness tracking features.
5. Fitbit Sense 2
Why It’s Great to Carry Around:
- The Fitbit Sense 2 is a lightweight smartwatch you wear on your wrist. It checks for AFib using its EKG feature, and you get instant results.
- It’s FDA-approved for AFib detection, but it doesn’t check for slow or fast heart rates.
- You don’t need a subscription for the basic EKG, but with Fitbit Premium, you can unlock extra features like sleep tracking and stress monitoring.
- Works with both Android and iPhone. It connects to the Fitbit app for tracking your heart and fitness data.
Best For: People who want a smartwatch that checks their heart and also tracks sleep, stress, and overall health.
Comparison Table of Portable EKG Monitors
| Device/Feature | KardiaMobile 6-Lead | KardiaMobile 1-Lead | Apple Watch Series 9 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | Fitbit Sense 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of EKG | 6-lead | 1-lead | 1-lead | 1-lead | 1-lead |
| FDA Approval | Yes | Yes | Yes (AFib only) | Yes (AFib only) | Yes (AFib only) |
| Heart Problems Detected | AFib, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, Normal Rhythm | AFib, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, Normal Rhythm | AFib only | AFib only | AFib only |
| Size/Portability | Pocket-sized | Pocket-sized | Worn on wrist | Worn on wrist | Worn on wrist |
| Subscription Needed for Extra Features | Yes (KardiaCare) | Yes (KardiaCare) | No | No | Yes (Fitbit Premium) |
| Fitness and Sleep Tracking | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stress Tracking | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Mobile Compatibility | Works with most smartphones | Works with most smartphones | iPhone only | Android/iPhone | Android/iPhone |
| Battery Life | N/A | N/A | 18 hours | 2-3 days | 6+ days |
| Price Range | Moderate | Affordable | Premium | Moderate | Moderate |
Which Portable EKG Monitor Should You Get?
All five of these devices are easy to carry and can monitor your heart health on the go, but they have different strengths:
- If you want a detailed heart check in a pocket-sized device, the KardiaMobile 6-Lead is the best choice. It’s great for people who need a lot of information about their heart.
- If you need a super portable, quick heart check, the KardiaMobile 1-Lead is perfect. It’s tiny and easy to use anywhere.
- If you want a smartwatch that also checks your heart, the Apple Watch Series 9, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and Fitbit Sense 2 are great options. They check for AFib and track fitness, sleep, and more. The Apple Watch is best for iPhone users, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch and Fitbit Sense 2 are great for Android users or anyone who wants more fitness and health tracking features.
Leave a Reply