Xiaomi Mijia iHealth clinical infrared thermometer for $24

People measure their body temperature in different ways – from the simple hand on the forehead to estimating the temperature to using the thermometer in different body openings. Ths is a lot easier with an infrared thermometer, which of course is also available from Xiaomi. But is it necessary to buy a Xiaomi Mijia iHealth thermometer?

• Xiaomi Mijia infrared clinical thermometer
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Why bother to order in China?

With a price tag of $25 the thermometer is cheap in comparison with most models in this country. Nevertheless you can already find one for round about $20 – for example on Amazon – if you like. In the end, the Xiaomi version must have some advantages in order to be considered at all. Xiaomi has chosen a nice design again, which is probably not that important for most people. Another important factor is the ease of operation. And, of course, Xiaomi is expected to provide the usual good workmanship and quality.

If all this is given, then the thermometer can be worth it. If not, you will find something comparable for less money.

How does it work?

As the name suggests, the temperature is determined by infrared measurement. This does not even require contact with the skin, the measurement can also be carried out at a distance of a few centimetres. According to Xiaomi, the sensor used comes from the German manufacturer Heimann.

There’s only one button. A single press turns on the thermometer, a second press starts the measurement. This takes about one second, after which the result in °C is shown on the display with one decimal place. This could be a problem for customers from the U.S., who use Fahrenheit instead of Celsius. Unlike what you might expect from a Mi Home product, the app is not supported. No measured values are stored either.

With dimensions of 13.7 x 1.33 x 1.53 inches, it is very compact and takes up very little space. In the lower end there is space for two conventional AAA batteries, which give the thermometer a weight of 90 g. The AAA batteries can be used for a wide range of devices.

Advantages and disadvantages

The fundamental advantage of an infrared thermometer is that, unlike measurements in the mouth, ear or rectum, it can also be used for sleeping persons without any problems. Sleeping children do not have to be woken up to measure fever. In addition, the method is the most uncomplicated and comes without any circumstances for the patient. The disadvantage is the higher fluctuation of the measured values in comparison with conventional clinical thermometers.

Our opinion

This is not the first time that Xiaomi has built a health product. Apart from the misplaced iHealth branding, the thermometer is a really nice, handy device. But there is not really a price advantage, as usual with most China gadgets. On Amazon, one finds enough infrared thermometers that are equal or at least only minimally more expensive. Therefore, the Xiaomi clinical thermometer is by no means bad, for the money it serves its purpose.