Koogeek, a company that specializes in smart vital measurement devices, sent us their T1 ear and forehead “smart thermometer” to review.
First off, the T1 is extremely easy to use. There are two buttons: one to power on (hold for two seconds), and one to measure temperature. The power button also doubles as a toggle button between the function for ear and forehead measurements.
The device powered up quickly, needed no warm-up time, and outputted a measurement in about a second. Such a quick measurement would come handy in a feverish, fussy baby. The notification sound was a surprisingly-pleasing “bleep”, which indicated that the measurement was complete. The accompanying app connected easily with Bluetooth, looked great, and kept a record of previous temperatures. When I tried it on myself, it gave me an ear temp of 36.6ºC and forehead temp of 37.0ºC. No fever here! While it currently doesn’t have FDA clearance for the T1, Koogeek is working on getting the paperwork through the system.
Though usage of the T1 was quick and easy, the build quality is on the lower end and almost feels toy-ish. Also, the thermometer would have been better if it had come with a backlit screen for readings at night. You’ll have to shine a light on its LCD or start up the app, a minor inconvenience that might be intensified if you end up waking up your sick child with a bright light while reading their temperature. Lastly, people I tested the T1 with remarked at the lack of ear covers – you’ll have to clean the earpiece manually each time you use it.
Overall, the Koogeek is an easy-to-use and cheap ear and forehead thermometer. It’s got no fancy frills, but gets the basic job done. The app gives you a history of readings – really the main feature you’d want from a smart thermometer. It’s available at a low enough price that it has the potential to become popular with a lot of people around the world living on a tight budget.
Product page: Koogeek Smart Thermometer…