Life Brand Digital Thermometer

My overall rating

I've used a few types of digital thermometer in the past 20 years or so- still marvel at how much easier to use than the old mercury ones. This particular model was a bit pricier than the past examples I've had, but it also delivers its verdict a...   +

I've used a few types of digital thermometer in the past 20 years or so- still marvel at how much easier to use than the old mercury ones.

This particular model was a bit pricier than the past examples I've had, but it also delivers its verdict a lot faster than most I've had, which is certainly a plus. Maybe worth the price by itself.

It consistently gives me a normal temperature in the 36.x range when I'm well, which is how it should be. I gather the expected norm is now a bit lower than the classic flat 37, not unlike how preferred blood pressure is lower than 120/80 with a bit more knowledge in medicine. And variation of a few decimals is also quite normal. You should rarely get the same reading down to the decimal if you keep taking it every minute. Apart from that, doing that distorts the reading of most devices anyway.

When I feel like I might have a fever, I use it and I can have some confidence when it says no based on its track record when well. There's plenty of reasons to feel hot and flushed without a fever, and I have a 20 year track record of occasionally feeling that way with no fever.

On the other hand, given how many people report problems, it is certainly possible that this product has had uneven manufacturing quality resulting in too many defective ones, so that's certainly something to watch for. I'm going to test against some other brand.

Right now, only real complaint is the battery door. Wow, poorly thought out. Difficult to turn to the open position, harder still to pop open. Poor.    -