The best thermometer for cold and flu

Angela Lang / CNET

Withings’ Thermo is undoubtedly the most elegant model I’ve tested, but also the most expensive. This immediately readable thermometer measures in time, ie you stroke your forehead and measure your body temperature from your temporal artery. The thermo doesn’t even have to be in contact with your skin – it can be up to half an inch away – which makes it one of the most hygienic options and you don’t have to bother your sleeping child to measure their temperature with this forehead thermometer.

The Thermo has 16 infrared sensors that record several thousand temperature measurements simultaneously. This means that this intelligent thermometer delivers an extremely accurate temperature reading. I think it’s good that the Thermo is also incredibly easy to use – when the measurements are recorded, it vibrates twice – no unpleasant beep. You need to use the Thermo app to set up the thermometer and view the history of the measurements. However, the app doesn’t have to measure your temperature. In addition, the display on this thermometer is extremely easy to read.

This thermometer is not rechargeable – it requires two AAA batteries, but the battery life is approximately two years.

Look, I understand that an almost $ 100 instant reading thermometer seems absurd to most people, but the sleek design and ease of use make it (about a million times easier than a mouth thermometer and about a zillion times easier than a rectal thermometer) The Thermo is a worthwhile choice if this price doesn’t put you off.

Read our Withings Thermo preview.

Angela Lang / CNET

The Kinsa was one of the first intelligent thermometers on the market, and its products were specially developed for children. The smart ear thermometer connects to the Kinsa app on your phone to keep a log of all temperature values ​​so you can follow the course of the fever.

The app also provides care instructions for every reading – for example, to make sure you or your child is getting enough fluids – and information about when to see a doctor or go to the emergency room. You can also tell the app when you took or administered medication to lower the fever.

The Kinsa thermometer measures temperature in less than two seconds, which helps a writhing child who doesn’t want to sit still get an accurate reading. One of the only downsides to this digital ear thermometer is that you need the Kinsa app to set up the thermometer. So if you are not interested in logging your temperature data in an app, skip this model for one of the other ways to measure the temperature on this list.

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Angela Lang / CNET

Braun’s ear thermometer reminds me of the type of thermometer that I got to know as a child at the pediatrician – back when in-ear models were not available at home. This older school design looks a bit dated compared to Withings or Kinsa’s models, but works just as well.

This infrared thermometer makes it easy to measure the temperature from infants under one month to adults. There are three preset age ranges from which you can choose when measuring temperature: up to three months, three to 36 months and 36 months and more. The thermometer stores up to four current measurements and measures your temperature in just a few seconds.

My biggest blow to the ThermScan 7 is that you have to use disposable plastic probe covers to take a temperature measurement. The thermometer detects whether the plastic cover is missing and only works if you put one on. In comparison, Kinsa’s model works without a cover. However, speaking to a colleague who has children and uses this thermometer, he says that he doesn’t mind the probe covers because he doesn’t have to clean the thermometer before taking a temperature measurement.

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Angela Lang / CNET

If you want to buy a classic mouth, armpit or rectal thermometer, Vicks model has everything you need and a little more. It has a large, clear, backlit display that glows in different colors when your body temperature is normal or elevated or when you have a fever.

It is supplied with a plastic cover, is easy to clean (key for an oral and / or rectal thermometer) and provides reliable and accurate measurements. I can’t ask for more with this type of thermometer, especially when I take a thermometer for children’s temperature. While I was testing the Speed ​​Read model, I would recommend that too Vicks ComfortFlex digital thermometer. It’s the same thermometer, but has a flexible probe that makes it more convenient for oral temperature measurements than other types of rod thermometers.

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Ear, forehead and surface temperature

iProven Dual Mode forehead and ear thermometer

Angela Lang / CNET

The iProven forehead and ear thermometer is the most versatile of all options on this list. The probe can measure your forehead and ear temperature and measure the surface and air temperature. That means you can check if your baby’s or child’s bathing water is not too hot, or record the room temperature.

This thermometer stores up to 35 temperature values, which is impressive, but also unnecessary – especially because it is not possible to assign these temperatures to individual people.

My problem with this thermometer is that the temperature values ​​were less consistent than other models I’ve tested, and an accurate value is somehow the crux of a thermometer. Depending on where I was pointing at my forehead, I always got different results in the range of 96.0 to 98.0 degrees F. In comparison, the Withings Thermo gave me constant readings between 98.3 and 99.1 degrees F. This is because the iProven model allows it to take a measurement wherever you point at it. So if it doesn’t point to your temporal artery, you may get inaccurate readings.

When testing with the other two ear thermometers on this list, Braun and Kinsa, I again got inconsistent results, even though I followed the instructions in the manual and made sure that the probe was in the same position and angle in my ear each time is placed. Both Braun and Kinsa gave me consistent readings with just a a few tenths of a degree Difference.

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Angela Lang / CNET

In theory, the SmartTemp Wireless Thermometer is a good idea. Not so much in the execution. Instead of having an indicator on the actual device, it connects to an app on your phone to show temperature readings. Apart from the fact that the app is visually outdated and chunky, I hate that the thermometer is unusable without it. There is no way to measure your temperature without opening the app. What is the use of a thermometer if it cannot measure the temperature alone?

It’s also $ 10 more than the Vicks Speed ​​Read. I could go on, but I won’t. Just skip this thermometer.

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