Braun Pulse Oximeter 1

Last updated: 4 October 2026

What a pulse oximeter measures

A pulse oximeter shines red and infrared light through your fingertip and measures how much of it gets through. Blood carrying oxygen absorbs light differently from blood without it, so the device can estimate the percentage of oxygen in your blood. That figure is shown as SpO2.

It picks up your pulse at the same time, so the screen shows two numbers: oxygen as a percentage and heart rate in beats per minute.

Using the Braun Pulse Oximeter 1

There is one button. You clip the device onto a finger, press the button, and the reading appears on screen. It switches itself off eight seconds after you take your finger out, which saves the batteries.

The OLED screen can rotate between six layouts, so you can read it the right way up whether you look at it yourself or hand it to someone else. A lanyard comes in the box.

NHS England's guide for patients using an oximeter at home gives some practical steps. Make sure your hand is warm, rest it on your chest for five minutes first, and use a finger with no nail varnish or false nail. It suggests the finger next to your thumb or your middle finger.

Key facts

• Price: £16.99 on Amazon UK on 4 October 2026 (RRP £24.99), sold and dispatched by Amazon
• Model: YK-81CEU
• Measures: blood oxygen (SpO2) and pulse rate
• SpO2 range: 70% to 100%
• Screen: OLED, six display orientations
• Power: two AAA batteries, included; switches off after eight seconds
• In the box: oximeter, lanyard, batteries
• Weight: 80g (Amazon listing)
• Made by: Helen of Troy, which sells it under the Braun brand; made in China
• Rating: 4.4 out of 5 from 18,373 ratings on Amazon UK

Who it suits

• People whose doctor or nurse has asked them to check their oxygen at home: it gives a quick reading you can write down and pass on.
• Anyone who wants a familiar brand: it costs about the same as unbranded oximeters on Amazon.
• Households sharing one device: the rotating screen makes it easy to read on someone else's hand.

For tracking heart rate and sleep all day rather than taking a single reading, our best smart rings UK guide covers rings that log blood oxygen overnight.

The limits

The UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, does not recommend that members of the public use oximeters at home unless a qualified clinician has advised it, shown them how to take an accurate reading and is reviewing the results. A reading on its own does not tell you what to do next.

Readings can be wrong. The MHRA says darker skin can cause an oximeter to overestimate oxygen levels, so a change over time is more useful than one number. Cold hands, poor circulation, nail varnish and moving around can all spoil a reading too.

It is not for children. Braun's listing says it is for adults aged 18 and over.

Do not wait on a home reading if you feel unwell. NHS England's patient guidance says to call 999 if your oxygen level stays at 92% or less, or if you are too breathless to finish a short sentence while resting.

Where to buy it in the UK

Amazon UK sells the Braun Pulse Oximeter 1 directly, with free delivery. Before relying on one, read the MHRA's guidance on the use and regulation of pulse oximeters, which sets out the accuracy problems and when home use makes sense.

For help with the cost of routine health appointments, our Simplyhealth health plan page explains what a cash plan pays back.

Braun Pulse Oximeter 1 on Amazon UK

FAQs

How much is the Braun Pulse Oximeter 1?

£16.99 on Amazon UK on 4 October 2026, down from an RRP of £24.99, sold and dispatched by Amazon.

What is a normal pulse oximeter reading?

That depends on the person and on any condition they have, so ask the clinician who suggested using one. NHS England's patient guidance says to call 999 if your level stays at 92% or less, and to contact NHS 111 or your GP if it is 93% or 94% or keeps being lower than normal.

Are pulse oximeters accurate on darker skin?

Less so. The MHRA says darker skin pigmentation can cause an oximeter to overestimate oxygen levels, so watch how readings change over time rather than relying on one number.

Which finger should you use?

NHS England's guidance suggests the finger next to your thumb or your middle finger, warm, rested and free of nail varnish or a false nail.

Can children use the Braun Pulse Oximeter 1?

No. Braun's Amazon listing says it is for adults aged 18 and over.

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This page is general information and not medical advice. If you are worried about your breathing or oxygen levels, speak to your GP, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency. Prices and availability change. The affiliate links on this page earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and brands do not choose what we feature.

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