Last Updated on July 9, 2023
EDITOR’S NOTE: Read our open thread on the 2022 Welby Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor here. You can also read our review of the Welby Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor here.
I’ve been taking my blood pressure at home for years. Since I was a teen, I’ve dealt with white coat hypertension, which means my blood pressure readings are high at the doctor’s office because I get nervous (I mean really, really nervous), but they are normal at home. My white coat hypertension wasn’t that big of a deal until shortly after I got married and began planning to get pregnant, and I was facing the prospect of all those prenatal visits to the doctor. I needed a reliable way to take my blood pressure at home so I could show my OB/GYN that I was okay, so I purchased a home blood pressure monitor.
My pregnancy years are behind me now, but I still take my blood pressure from time to time at home to give the readings to my primary care doctor. I started years ago with a name-brand Omron blood pressure machine with arm cuff. After a few years, that one wore out, and I replaced it three years ago with a similar Welby Blood Pressure Monitor from Aldi.
My 2015 Welby Blood Pressure Monitor came with a storage bag and manual. It uses an arm cuff with automatic inflation, and it came with a wide range cuff in addition to the traditional-sized cuff (the monitor currently in Aldi stores includes a wide range cuff). Setting time and date are fairly easy, and my monitor has an “M” Memory button that, when pressed once, will provide an average of my past three readings, with systolic and diastolic pressures as well as pulse rate. If I continue to press the Memory button, it will provide the last 60 readings with date and time stamps. If there are more than 60 readings, the oldest value is overwritten.
The monitor has an LED screen display, and it also has voice output and will speak to me when I turn it on, instructing, “Put the cuff at the same level as your heart. Do not move and keep quiet. It is okay. Let’s begin.” It’s kind of silly, but I like that the monitor tells me things are okay. Upon completion, the machine speaks my reading aloud to me and states whether my blood pressure is optimal, normal, pre-hypertension, mild hypertension, and so on, according to the World Health Organization standards. It also detects irregular heartbeat.
Many doctors like patients to bring their machines into the office to be calibrated to make sure the readings are accurate. I did that with my old Omron machine, but I have not brought this one in. However, my husband, who has enviously normal blood pressure at the doctor’s office, makes a good guinea pig; his readings on my machine are similar to what he gets at the doctor’s office. I believe the Welby machine is accurate, or pretty close to accurate. I’m confident that the machine is good enough that it would clue me in if I have a potential problem.
My monitor also is still operating nicely at three years old. I recently got an error message while attempting to get a reading once, which may be a sign that the monitor is beginning to age or it may just mean I need to replace the batteries soon, but I simply restarted it and it worked fine. It does have a 3-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects in material or workmanship, which is helpful.
Over the years, home blood pressure monitors have helped save my sanity when dealing with white coat hypertension. Thankfully, Aldi offers a monitor that fits easily into my budget.
The Verdict:
Aldi’s Welby Blood Pressure Machine is accurate and easy to use with a digital screen display, voice output, automatic inflation, an irregular heartbeat detector, and a memory feature that stores the last few readings. The monitor is helpful if you are monitoring high blood pressure or if you’re like me and deal with white coat hypertension and have trouble getting accurate readings at the doctor’s office. Recommended.
I bought one from aldi’s about 3 weeks ago here in bryan,Texas. The measurements have been way too long. Can this thing be adjusted??
Daisy Heskett
Is not accurate. Measurements are way too LOW!!! Can this thing be adjusted??
i keep getting erratic readings within a minute or two. i can’t get tech support any suggestions?
user manual is crap. Does not give instructions about how to set day and time. Readings are same as doctor office.
Not accurate. I need to take the measurements at least three times and take the average.
Mine gives accurate readings and proves dependable. I, too, like the way this one speaks aloud. (To the person who claims the manual doesn’t explain how to work the settings: please read it again, because it most certainly does explain how to do that.)
Looks like yours is the only one that’s accurate!!!
Really? There are only 5 comments stating their units are inaccurate, and we know there had to have been far more than only five units sold, so I don’t know about that. I’m in my 60’s, not that that matters, and was just released from hospital having had constant BP monitoring. I was also just at my doctor’s office, and my readings have been inline with both the doctor and hospital. All I can speak for is my unit, obviously, and it appears to be working accurately.
Actually, recounting the reviews stating inaccurate readings, I counted three complaints, not five. My error, but there are even fewer complaints of inaccuracy. Perhaps most units work well, I just don’t know.
One complication is that Aldi has been selling variations on this monitor for years, so it’s entirely possible some model years are more accurate than others. (I’m not sure offhand if they’ve ever changed vendors or not.) We saw that with the weather station Aldi used to sell.
While that may be, I have no idea of the accuracy of all of their sold units and there are only three complaints on this website in regard to unit accuracy, which is hardly definitive of my unit being the only accurate unit. Some thoughts might be best left unsaid. Some people complained their units are inaccurate, and Some people state their units are providing accurate readings. I think we have room for both sides.
I bought a Welby wrist Blood Pressure Monitor.
We will see how it works…
Nice case come with the unit! I also went online and read about wrist monitors and some tend to sometimes run on the high side! But will definitely add a message under reply to say the case of if mine is accurate or not! Also depends on if the cuff fits properly as well as where you put it an if you put it on correctly!Also they say use the same area daily as well as Heart level feet flat on floor, sit up straight
I bought Welty blood pressure monitor and mine is way off. I brought it to the doctor ‘s office and in comparison with doctors BP monitor mine is very inaccurate . Dr took My BP twice and it was normal, my machine was over 40 points higher first time and 30 points seconds time on the other arm.
I do not like this wrist blood pressure monitor by Welby. I am taking it back to Aldi for a refund. The readings are not accurate at all.
Where can l get one. My son is blind and need one.
It’s not currently in Aldi stores. https://www.aldireviewer.com/why-cant-i-buy-this-product-at-aldi-anymore/
I have the cuff type monitor. The instruction manual is inaccurate as to the placement of the cuff on your upper arm, therefore, all my readings have been inaccurate according to my doctor. I
have tried to contact cust serv. No answer. Emailed german company who designed it. No response. Please respond to this and let me know if manual is accurate after all.
I don’t know if your monitor is the exact same model and year as mine, so I can’t speak to questions about your manual. Your best bet is to ask Aldi. https://www.aldireviewer.com/contact-aldi/
Watch “Blood Pressure Monitor upper arm” on YouTube
https://youtu.be/32zsTeFMkUg
This is the same model I have. The manual shows the artery mark at the bottom of the arm and the tube in the middle with my palm up. My doctor says the artery mark should be in the middle pointing at my palm and the tube at top of my arm. The video does not show the artery mark.
I don’t what else to say. The video is exactly how you’re supposed to take BP at home with a cuff. My daughter is a physician. She showed me and it’s the same as the video. Best wishes to you on taking your BP.
I bought one a few days ago and find it works very well and seems to be quite reliable. I like that it can (or at least claims it can) detect an arrhythmia. The only complaint I have, which is really not much of a complaint at all, is that the case is very soft. It doesn’t prevent the unit from being accidentally turned on while in its case if one puts pressure over it. However, I find this unit to be truly worthwhile. It’s now on clearance for $12.49 in my area, and will disappear (if it hasn’t already). Regular price was $24.99, and even at that price it would’ve been worth it. It comes with 4 AA alkaline batteries, so you’re ready to go right away. I haven’t yet found a way to turn off the talking and am not sure it’s possible to do so, but that’s OK with me.
You can turn down the volume so you can’t hear it. The instructions are in the manual.
I bought one of these several years ago, I use it everyday, very accurate, I was looking to buy another one to give to a family member.
Outstanding
Aldi is selling these again starting on March 27th, 2024, while supplies last.