Fever thermometer test 2021: good models from Beurer, Braun, Nokia & Co.
A good clinical thermometer should be a must in every household. GIGA shows the most reliable and popular rectal, oral and armpit thermometers.
Medical thermometer 2021: All test winners and recommendations at a glance
Bestseller at Amazon Bestseller at Otto Test winner contactless clinical thermometer Stiftung-Warentest-Sieger stick thermometer model Beurer Express FT 15 / 1I Braun ThermoScan 5 Nokia Thermo (Withings Thermo) Domotherm Rapid 10s Price (approx.) 10 euros 60 euros 85 euros 7 euros Advantage Flexible measuring tip Fast and pleasant infrared measurement Comprehensive functions via mobile phone app Somewhat long measurement time Disadvantage Display not immediately understandable Replacement caps generate follow-up costs Relatively expensive Measurement time Offer Amazon Otto Amazon Aponeo Compare prices idealo idealo idealo idealo
A clinical thermometer cannot heal, but it is still an indispensable instrument for suspected or pre-existing illnesses. Regular measurement of body temperature provides objective readings and is more helpful than a subjective feeling about one’s own state of health. In the case of babies and young children, it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their condition is correct. According to the recommendation of the health portal of German pharmacists, a clinical thermometer belongs to the “Basic equipment” in the household.
Fever thermometer bestseller on Amazon: Beurer Express FT 15/1
Advantages:
Flexible measuring tip fever alarm
Disadvantage:
Readiness for use is signaled by a cryptic “Lo” on the display
The constantly updated bestseller list “Rectal, Oral & Underarm Thermometers” on Amazon provides good information on recommended thermometers. The contact thermometer can regularly be found high up Beurer FT 15/1. The customer rating is 4.3 out of 5 stars, with over 500 reviews submitted.
A practical feature is the flexible measuring tip, which is intended to facilitate measurements in the mouth or anus. The message “Lo” on the display could be a bit confusing: It means that the clinical thermometer is ready for use (see operating instructions). From a body temperature of 37.8 ° C, the Beurer Ft 15/1 emits an acoustic warning signal (30 short beeps in 10 seconds). The Stiftung Warentest (edition 09/2021) rated the Beurer FT15 / 1 with 2.3 (“good”), which was enough for 3rd place in the test field (8 stick thermometers).
Fever thermometer bestseller at Otto: Braun ThermoScan 5 IRT6020
Advantages:
Fast and convenient infrared measurement. Hygienic protective covers
Disadvantage:
In the case of very high fever values, inaccurate replacement caps generate follow-up costs
That Braun ThermoScan 5 is always at the top of the bestseller list of thermometers at Germany’s second largest online retailer Otto. It is an infrared ear thermometer, and Otto customers were almost entirely positive about it. The handling was classified as “easy”. However, according to Stiftung Warentest, it “only measures precisely up to 40 degrees”, above that “it became less precise”.
The disposable protective caps for the Braun ThermoScan 5 are hygienic, but also generate waste and other costs. 40 replacement caps are available in stores for around 7 euros:
Test winner contactless clinical thermometer: Nokia Thermo (Withings Thermo)
Advantages:
Fast and accurate No skin contact Extensive smart functions via mobile phone app
Disadvantage:
Relatively expensive Cannot be set up in 5 GHz WLANs
The magazine TESTBild (issue 01/2018) tested 15 clinical thermometers, including non-contact models. The test winner in this category with the grade “good” (2.4) is the “Nokia Thermo“, Which is also known in the trade as”Withings Thermo “can be found. Reason for the different names: Nokia sold its health division to the Withings company in 2018.
The Nokia / Withings Thermo measures an exact value in three seconds – without skin contact. To do this, run it along the forehead with a little distance (measurement on the temporal artery). At almost 100 euros, the model is extremely expensive, but it can set itself apart from conventional clinical thermometers with numerous useful functions. One of them is synchronization via WLAN, in which the recorded measured values ​​are stored in the associated app (iOS and Android). The health protocol created in this way for up to 8 users can be helpful when visiting a doctor.
The manufacturer’s video shows how to set up the Withings Thermo and synchronize the data with the app:
Winner at Stiftung Warentest 2021: Domotherm Rapid 10s
Advantages:
Very good measurement accuracy Inexpensive
Disadvantage:
Somewhat long measurement time (approx. 14 seconds at 38.5 ° C)
If you can do without smart functions and are looking for a thermometer that simply measures body temperature precisely, you will get it Domotherm Rapid 10s. It can be found in stores for around 7 euros and took first place among the stick thermometers in the current test by Stiftung Warentest (issue 09/2021). The overall grade is 1.9 (“good”).
The battery of the Domotherm Rapid 10s can be exchanged by the user, standard button cells (SR41, 1.55 V) are used.
The best clinical thermometers: This is how I put the recommendations together
In this summary, I have mainly incorporated research in specialist journals, but also my own experience. Fever thermometer models will be presented that have received special praise from the press and customers and are therefore recommended for purchase. Sources used: TESTBild (edition 01/2018, available digitally from Readly), Stiftung Warentest (edition 09/2021; online article 09/2015). The test procedure of the Stiftung Warentest is explained in detail on the corresponding website.
Buying a clinical thermometer: what you should know
Fever and COVID-19
For current reasons: One of the most common “corona symptoms” is fever, as a survey by the Robert Koch Institute from June 2021 shows:
A reliable clinical thermometer can definitely help to investigate an initial suspicion. A final diagnosis can only be provided by a medical test!
Clinical thermometers: formerly mercury, now digital and smart
So-called expansion thermometers with toxic mercury were previously widespread and have not been allowed to be sold in Europe for over ten years. If you still have such a specimen at home and want to get rid of it, you should hand it in at recycling centers with a pollutant collection point, as it is hazardous waste.
Nowadays are predominant digital clinical thermometers where an electronic sensor is responsible for temperature measurement. One can distinguish between three types:
Contact thermometer: If you need body contact, measure the temperature orally (in the mouth) or rectally (in the anus).
Ear thermometer: Are held briefly in the ear canal. Measure the thermal radiation of the eardrum.
Contactless thermometers: Measure the body’s thermal radiation from a distance of a few centimeters.
the Price range for clinical thermometers is great. Usable models are available for 3-10 euros. For high-end thermometers with an app and recording function, up to 100 euros are due. Due to the Corona crisis However, there are occasional excessively high prices at which a provider tries to make a profit from the current situation.
Where is the best place to measure a fever?
With contact thermometers, the right measuring point on the body is decisive, which together with a sufficient measuring time leads to a correct measured value. “The rectal measurement in the anus is the most reliable. The temperature under the tongue is 0.3 to 0.5 degrees lower, measurements under the armpits or other skin areas are unreliable, ”says Dr. Wesiack, a specialist in internal medicine in Hamburg, told T-Online.
Measuring the temperature of children is a particular challenge, as when taking an oral measurement, for example, they are “only allowed to breathe through their nose for a few minutes, not open their mouths and not even bite the thermometer,” according to the professional association of paediatricians e. V. notes.
Infrared thermometers for the ear can make the measurement easier in children, but parents must make sure that they are targeting the eardrum and that there is no incorrect measurement due to ear wax (see “Teething A to Z” by DDr. Med. Peter Voitl).
When does one have a fever?
The professional association of German internists e. V. names the following temperature values ​​(measured in degrees Celsius) to determine a fever:
36.5 ° C – 37.4 ° C: normal temperature 37.5 ° C – 38.0 ° C: subfebrile temperature (“elevated temperature”, no fever yet) 38.1 ° C – 38.5 ° C : Mild fever 38.6 ° C – 39.0 ° C: Moderate fever 39.1 ° C – 39.9 ° C: High fever 40.0 ° C – 42.0 ° C: Very high fever Note on our own behalf
Fever is a serious health issue. GIGA cannot give any professional advice here, but only provide an overview of currently available clinical thermometers that can help in recording the state of health. In the event of severe fever or other complaints, it is strongly recommended to seek medical advice.
