If you’ve ever tried to assess a sick child over FaceTime with a doctor—or kept an anxious eye on a parent with heart or lung issues—you already know the problem: a thermometer alone just doesn’t cut it.
Temperature is helpful, sure. But it tells you nothing about what’s happening with the heart, the lungs, or oxygen levels.
That’s the exact gap Withings is aiming to close with BeamO—a handheld, 4-in-1 device that combines a contactless thermometer, 1-lead ECG, pulse oximeter, and digital stethoscope in something roughly the size of a small TV remote.
This post breaks down what BeamO is, how it works, where it shines in real-world home and telehealth use, and what to think about before buying one.
Withings calls BeamO the world’s first “multiscope.” Think of it as a next-generation thermometer that also captures core vitals usually checked during an in-person exam: temperature, heart rhythm, oxygen saturation, and heart/lung sounds.
In one compact device, you get:
BeamO debuted at CES 2024 and was positioned as a way to bring clinic-style vitals into the home—and into telehealth visits. Since then, it’s received FDA clearance in the US and is now marketed as a kind of “mini health clinic” for families.
BeamO is designed to capture meaningful data fast—usually in under a minute.
A contactless temporal artery thermometer scans the forehead, making fever checks quick and non-invasive for both adults and kids.
Stainless steel electrodes let you record a 1-lead ECG by holding the device. It can flag rhythm irregularities like atrial fibrillation, with optional cardiologist review via the Withings+ service.
A multi-wavelength PPG sensor functions as a pulse oximeter, measuring blood oxygen levels and pulse.
Piezoelectric sensors on the back of the device capture heart and lung sounds when placed on the chest or back. Recordings can be replayed, stored, or shared with clinicians.
Through the Withings app, users can generate PDF health reports or share live data via HealthLink during teleconsultations—so clinicians can actually see and hear what’s happening in real time.
BeamO supports multiple users with profile recognition, making it practical for households rather than just individuals.
Up to 8 months on a single 1-hour charge—important for devices that tend to live in a drawer until someone gets sick.
BeamO packs several medical sensing technologies into one unit:
All of this syncs via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to the Withings app (and, in many regions, Apple Health), where trends, reports, and telehealth sharing are managed.
Important note: BeamO doesn’t diagnose. It collects clinically relevant signals that clinicians—or Withings-affiliated cardiologists—can interpret.
Telemedicine is here to stay, but it’s historically lacked the physical exam tools clinicians rely on. BeamO is an attempt to narrow that gap.
Instead of juggling a thermometer, pulse oximeter, and maybe a basic stethoscope, BeamO consolidates everything into one connected, shareable device.
Withings has leaned hard into clinical validation here.
For healthcare professionals, the real test will be signal quality and workflow integration—but the infrastructure (HealthLink, PDFs, optional cardiologist review) clearly targets serious use, not just casual wellness tracking.
BeamO shines most in a few common scenarios:
Parents with young children
Adults with cardiac risk or known arrhythmias
Patients with chronic lung disease
Caregivers & multi-generational households
In many ways, BeamO is a smart evolution of the old “family thermometer”—from a single data point to a compact multi-signal assessment tool.
BeamO is also listed in major retail ecosystems (including Apple’s online store in some regions) with Apple Health integration.
BeamO makes the most sense if:
If you prefer ultra-simple, standalone tools with no apps or subscriptions, a basic thermometer and pulse oximeter may still be enough.
Withings BeamO turns the humble thermometer into something far more powerful: a compact, FDA-cleared health scanner designed for modern telehealth, chronic disease monitoring, and family care.
It won’t replace clinicians or full physical exams—but as a signal-collection tool, it meaningfully improves what patients and providers can do remotely. Used well, it helps answer the hardest home-care question with better data:
Is this something to watch… call about… or go in for right now?
For anyone building a connected home health setup—or advising patients on tools that genuinely complement care—BeamO is one of the most clinically interesting consumer health devices available today.
