The stress and anxiety all around certainly don’t help those suffering from blood pressure issues, who now more than ever are forced to measure their blood pressure frequently in order to take their medications. And right now, Garmin—the company best known for its fitness and navigation watches—is expanding its range of health products with a new smart blood pressure monitor: the Index BPM. For Garmin users already tracking their fitness and health data in the Garmin Connect app, this product fills a significant gap in monitoring one of the most important heart health parameters.
The Index BPM monitor features a different design compared to traditional blood pressure monitors. Instead of the standard setup with a display unit and pump connected to the cuff via a flexible tube, Garmin has developed a product that is entirely centralized in one compact and rigid device, relatively lightweight compared to other blood pressure monitors.
Somewhat surprisingly, the device runs on four AAA batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable battery, which seems like a missed opportunity to create a smaller and lighter device. However, Garmin promises up to 9 months of use before battery replacement is needed.
The cuff fits an arm circumference of 22 to 42 cm, but fitting it to the arm poses a significant challenge. Unlike traditional cuffs, the material is stiffer and includes only Velcro panels instead of a continuous strap, which requires much greater precision when tightening. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that the monitor is directly attached to the cuff, making the setup cumbersome—it's difficult to stabilize the unit and tighten the cuff at the same time.
The device features a monochrome OLED screen, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and storage capacity for over 100 readings between syncs. Three physical buttons allow for user profile selection (up to 16 users), starting the measurement (which includes three readings with a one-minute gap between each), and choosing the sync method.
The real strength of the device lies in its smooth integration with the Garmin Connect app. Users can view recent readings directly on the app's main screen, track trends over time, and generate 4-week reports to share with their doctor. The app allows users to set personal parameters and monitoring goals, and to configure reminders for regular measurements—a crucial feature for those who tend to forget to check their blood pressure regularly and need to.
The price of the new blood pressure monitor is NIS 749 (at authorized retailers and on the Ronlight website).
Device Advantages
• Easy logging: Automatic sync eliminates the need for manual entry of readings, saving time and reducing errors.
• Reliable sync: Dual connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) ensures efficient data transfer to the app, with better performance than other Garmin devices.
• Compact design: The all-in-one structure saves significant space compared to traditional blood pressure monitors.
• Multi-user support: Programmable for up to 16 different users, each synced to a separate Connect account—a unique feature not available in other Garmin devices.
• High accuracy: In comparison tests, the device showed impressive accuracy with only minor differences from verified devices.
• Perfect integration: For existing Garmin users, this is a natural extension of the brand’s health ecosystem.
Significant Drawbacks and Weaknesses
• High price: At NIS 749, the product is significantly more expensive than independently verified blood pressure monitors available for NIS 120–200.
• Measurement difficulty: The compact design compromises ease of use. The cuff is cumbersome and difficult to put on, especially for people with very small or very large arms.
• Inflexible cuff: The stiffer material and limited Velcro system make proper adjustment challenging, which is critical for accurate readings.
• Outdated battery choice: Using AAA batteries instead of a rechargeable battery seems like a missed opportunity to produce a lighter and more compact device.