Updated 16 Apr 2015
Microlife
BP A2 Basic
Snapshot: The Microlife BP A2 Basic arm blood pressure monitor has a hypertension indicator and can store 30 readings. But how accurate is it?
Join us now to unlock this content
Unlock all of Consumer from just $7 for 7 days
- Heaps of buying advice so you can choose with confidence
- Independent reviews of thousands of products and services
- Personal advice an email or phone call away on our advice line (members only)
Test results
Overall score
Accuracy
Ease of use
Good points
- Good accuracy.
- Easy to use.
- Very good screen with large-sized numbers.
- Has irregular heart beat display and hypertension indicator.
- Can be operated from mains power (adapter is an optional extra).
But
- Takes some effort to align cuff with artery.
- Not as comfortable as other models (pressure stays on the arm too long).
How we test
Overall score includes:
Accuracy (80%)
Ease of use (20%)
To check the monitors’ accuracy we took readings from a group of 10 men and women of varying ages. We then compared the results with those obtained from a recently calibrated hospital-grade blood pressure monitor.
Ease of use is assessed on the instructions, how easy the monitors were to operate, screen quality, the information displayed, and how comfortable the cuff was.
Key data
Model
Avg price
Specifications
Type
Batteries
Features
Irregular heart beat display
Hypertension indicator
Data storage
More Info
Notes
Member reviews
"Inaccurate Reading and Uncomfortable"
02 Mar 2018, Graham P.
Product use: 1 month or less
Pros:
Has good screen information.
Cons:
Inaccurate reading. A nurse took my BP twice with her equipment and twice with this machine. Nurse equip reading 120/84 and 122/86 and this is my usual BP around 120/80. The nurse used the machine and reading was 161/98 and 157/100. She would expect a small difference but the difference is substantial. I cannot understand how Consumer would have said the accruacy is 'good'. I would rate this very poor accuracy. Also the pressume of the armband is very tight when inflated making it an uncomfortable experience.
Recommend it?
No, this product has too many drawbacks.
