You take a first unusual reading, and suddenly there is a test overview in front of you: grades, rankings, winners. But which verdict can you trust, and what does “blood pressure monitor test: what to look for” actually mean? We explain what a test verdict tells you and what it doesn't. One example of solid evidence: the Beurer BM 58 is on the device list of the German Hypertension League, with the entry 2015, upper arm, ÄP.
What a blood pressure monitor test checks
A blood pressure monitor test checks how the device performs compared with other devices. It applies to a specific date and follows the criteria of the publication running it. The result is a grade, a ranking or an award.
Validation checks something else: it measures the device against a reference method in many people and shows how far its readings deviate from it. The reference method is auscultatory measurement: two trained observers listen to the sounds in the arm through a double stethoscope. Neither of them knows the other's readings.
What validation to ISO 81060-2 means
Validation to ISO 81060-2 means that a blood pressure monitor has been tested against the reference method under this standard. The standard requires testing in at least 85 subjects and passing both criteria.
Under criterion 1, the mean difference between device and reference may be no more than ±5 mmHg. The standard deviation may be no more than 8 mmHg.
A validation always applies to one specific device in one specific study population. It cannot be carried over to other models; each device stands on its own.
Where can you find tested devices? The German Hypertension League (Deutsche Hochdruckliga), for example, keeps a device list. A device marked “ÄP” is technically identical to another monitor that has already been validated. The seal is not always printed on the packaging. That is why it is worth checking the list itself.[1] We recommend doing so before you buy any blood pressure monitor.
Several of our upper arm monitors are on this list, including the Beurer BM 27, the Beurer BM 28 and the Beurer BM 53.[1] A validated monitor has been tested to make sure it gives results that are accurate and reliable.[2]
What accuracy really looks like
In everyday language, “accurate” and “precise” usually mean the same thing. With measuring devices, it is worth keeping them apart: a device measures accurately when its readings are, on average, close to the reference value. It measures precisely when repeated measurements give similar readings. A device can therefore be precise and still inaccurate: if it shows 150 mmHg three times in a row while the reference measurement gives 140 mmHg, the readings barely scatter, but on average they are off.
The standard's criteria reflect exactly this: the mean difference stands for accuracy, the standard deviation for precision.
A manual comparison measurement shows whether your own device measures correctly, and this is how it works:
- Have a manual reading taken straight after the automatic one, for example at a pharmacy or a medical supplies shop. No more than 60 seconds may pass between the readings.[1]
- Repeat this three times in total and always measure on the same arm.[1]
- On average, the differences should be no more than plus/minus 10 mmHg.[1]
Simply comparing two devices one after the other, on the other hand, is often misleading. Comparing readings from different devices directly can produce considerable differences, because blood pressure can change sharply within a very short time.[1] That is not a fault of the device, because your blood pressure itself changes.
Reading a test verdict: scale, field size, date
You read a test verdict correctly when you see five details together: publication, test title, date, grade with its scale and ranking with the number of devices tested. If one is missing, the verdict is hard to put into context. Here is an example.
This is what a complete reference looks like, using our Beurer BM 53 as an example:
| Detail | Example |
|---|---|
| Publication | chip.de |
| Test title | “Beurer BM 53 im Test” |
| Date | 22.04.2026 |
| Grade with scale | 1.4 (very good) on the German school grading scale |
| Ranking with field size | 4th of 19 in the ranking list |
CHIP's test verdict for the Beurer BM 53 is very good (1.4). In the ranking list it is 4th of 19.[3] The Beurer BM 53 is also on the German Hypertension League's device list, with the entry 2023, upper arm, ÄP.[1] Together, this gives a clear picture: a good test grade and an entry on the device list.
Also check how old a test is and whether you can read it freely. You cannot check a verdict behind a paywall, and a test that is several years old may describe a device that is no longer on sale in that form. A freely readable, current test is therefore the better basis.
What a test verdict does not tell you about accuracy
A test verdict does not tell you whether a device has been validated to the standard. A grade sums up the publication's own criteria and only applies to the tested model on the test date.
These points help you recognise a trustworthy test site:
- It names the publication, the test title and the date.
- It gives the grade with its scale and the ranking with the number of devices tested.
- The test is freely accessible and can be read in full.
- The site tested the devices itself and does not just repeat other people's results.
For the question of measurement accuracy, the German Hypertension League's list is a better place to look than a ranking list, and combining both helps you decide with more confidence.
What really matters when buying
When buying, look first at the German Hypertension League's list, then at the right cuff, and only then at features and test verdicts, because the order matters. The upper arm cuff should cover no more than two thirds of your upper arm.[1] Our cuff guide shows you how to find your size.
Our Beurer BM 58 meets the first point: it is on the German Hypertension League's list with the entry 2015, upper arm, ÄP.[1] On top of that, this upper arm blood pressure monitor with XL black display comes with well-thought-out features:
- Risk indicator with an integrated scale on the display for classifying your readings.
- Averages: the average of all stored readings and the morning and evening blood pressure of the last 7 days.
- Two users with 60 readings each.
- PC interface: with the USB cable supplied, you can easily transfer your readings to a PC.
- Cuff for upper arm circumferences of 22 to 30 cm; an XL cuff for 30 to 42 cm is available as an accessory.
Our monitors give you readings to keep an eye on at home. Interpreting an unusual reading is a matter for your doctor. Take a look at the Beurer BM 58 or compare all our upper arm blood pressure monitors.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my blood pressure monitor is accurate?
With a manual comparison measurement: within 60 seconds of the automatic reading, have a manual reading taken, three times on the same arm; on average, the readings should differ by no more than 10 mmHg. It also helps to check the German Hypertension League's device list, which includes the Beurer BM 58, for example.
Which test websites can I trust?
Trustworthy test websites name the publication, test title and date, give a grade with its scale and a ranking with the number of devices tested, and test the devices themselves. One example of a complete reference is the Beurer BM 53 at chip.de: grade 1.4, 4th of 19, test dated 22.04.2026.
What is the difference between precision and accuracy?
Accuracy describes how close a device's readings are to the reference value on average. Precision describes how widely the readings scatter when you measure repeatedly. The ISO 81060-2 standard checks both, through the mean difference and the standard deviation.
What does ÄP mean for blood pressure monitors?
On the German Hypertension League's list, ÄP marks a device that is technically identical to another monitor that has already been validated. The Beurer BM 58 has had this entry since 2015, the Beurer BM 53 since 2023.
