Best Ear Thermometers in the UK

Being the #1 thermometer recommended by doctors worldwide, the Braun Thermoscan 7 is one of the most high-end and accurate models with lots of novelty features making it stand out from the competition. Let's take a closer look at it.

Regarded as a benchmark for accuracy, Braun has fitted this thermometer with the unique pre-warmed tip and ExactTemp technology. Using this technology, the unit pre-warms the tip to the comfortable temperature to minimise the cooling effect inside the ear canal. The ExacTemp guidance system, in turn, confirms the correct position of the tip with a light and a beep, which contributes to the accuracy of measurements.

The unit has a large LCD display with backlighting, thanks to which it is easy to take nighttime measurements. What is also convenient is that it supports two temperature scales - Fahrenheit and Celsius - so you can quickly switch between them by simply pressing the power button on start-up. As far the memory function goes, the model stores the last nine readings - plenty enough to track your health condition.

The other thing that distinguishes the Braun Thermoscan 7 from many other models is that it comes with hygienic probe covers included in the set. Namely, you get 21 covers for free. This minimises the risk of cross-contamination if the thermometer is used by multiple family members. Besides that, using these covers allows preventing earwax residue from affecting the accuracy of readings.

If you're looking for something more than just a simple ear digital thermometer and would like to get the most of your money, the KKmier 4-in-1 model may catch your fancy. This thermometer is one of the most sophisticated and advanced models in the KKmier series that can bring quite a lot to the table.

To begin with, the thermometer is aimed for both adults and kids and features two modes: Child forehead mode (for 0-6, 6-12 years) and Adult forehead mode (above 12 years). In either mode, based on your age peculiarities, it will provide highly accurate measurements without contacting your skin. To help you visually interpret the reading, the display changes colour and lights up green if everything is ok and flashes orange or red indicating low (37.6°C - 38.0°C) or high fever ( 38.1°C and more). It also produces 6 short beeps to warn users about the high temperature.

Though digital thermometers offer the ultimate ease and comfort of use, some affordable models often lack precision. So, if you are on the lookout for a moderately-priced thermometer that would still deliver very accurate results, you can’t go wrong with the forehead and ear thermometer from ANKOVO.

Straight off the reel, we would like to plunge into the tech specs of this device. The multiple repeated clinical tests have proven that the measuring results you’ll get with this thermometer are ±0.2°C/0.4°F accurate even under varying environmental conditions, which is a perfect precision as compared to a standard deviation of ±0.3°C/0.5°F. More than that, to double-check the measurements when accurate readings are of some special importance, you can use the thermometer in the ear mode and compare the results afterwards.

To measure the temperature in the outer ear canal, you should simply remove the cap and insert the top inside the ear, making sure that the ear canal is free from obstructions or excess earwax. The reading will appear on the screen within a second or so. The backlit display is big and clear, so it should be easy to see even for those individuals who have poor vision.

Widely used by the National Health Service and being the #1 brand among doctors, Braun products are among the most accurate and reliable devices in the healthcare industry. However, if you think that Braun thermometers should necessarily cost a fortune, the IRT3030 ThermoScan 3 model is here to prove the opposite. Available for less than £35, it’s a simple device but it offers professional accuracy and can give even some more expensive models a run for their money.

The biggest mark in favour of this model is its quick response time. Actually, it’s the only thermometer in Braun's lineup that is able to take measurements in just 1 second with clinically proven accuracy. Moreover, it instantly interprets the readings with a beeping sound: a single beep means that your temperature is ok, while two beeps indicate elevated temperature and four beeps notify you that the temperature is high. That’s quite a handy feature seeing that the display isn’t backlit and colour-coded.

Among other extras included, we'd like to mention a handy memory function that recalls the last temperature after switching the unit on. Furthermore, for your convenience, the large display can show the readings in Celsius (34°C - 42.2°C) and Fahrenheit (93.2°F - 108°F) so you can adjust it as it suits you.

Not dissimilar to most other digital models, this one has an auto shut-off feature so if you don't power it off manually, it'll shut down automatically after 60 seconds of non-use. For a power source, the unit uses a 3-V lithium battery that can last for months even if used daily and is fitted with a low-battery indicator that will produce a message "Battery is low" or "Battery is too low" when it's about time to replace it.

For those who are in the market for their first digital ear thermometer and don't want to pay a hefty sum of money for it, we have included the Salter Medical Ear Thermometer with Jumbo Display into our shortlist. It's a frills-free model that is capable of taking measurements from an ear canal only, yet it does its job as intended and comes at half the price compared to the majority of other ear thermometers available for sale.

Intended for taking the ultra-quick readings of human body temperature (suitable for people of all ages), this ear thermometer uses the advanced infrared technology that measures the heat generated by the ear. It delivers very accurate measurements and performs amazingly well when you check ear temperature, deviating from the norm only slightly. Actually, the max fluctuation makes just ±0.2°C, which sets it apart from other ear thermometers within the same price range.

The feature you may like about this bare-bones thermometer is that it requires neither disposable plastic lenses nor probe covers for use. The only thing you should to do is sanitise it after each usage by wiping its sensor with some alcohol-based solution or a simple hand sanitiser. Basically, this unit does the job flawlessly by providing you with super-accurate readings. The only niggle is that it doesn’t come in a case for safe storage or transportation.