I got one for like $20 at Walgreens. Its always somewhere between 96-99 when i take it. I think it has a 2% accuracy claim or something

We got a $45 one off Amazon back in March when this started.

FIL started having COVID like symptoms, but two negative tests. SOB, fatigue, etc. So we decided to let him borrow or cheap pulseox. Low 90s, then high 80s, we recommended he go to the ER asap.

Turned out to be a saddle pulmonary embolism and he's lucky to be alive.

So, $45 worked well enough to catch a pulmonary embolism... would probably be fine for triggering a "I need to get professional medical aid" from COVID.

Holy cow. Glad he is okay and y'all caught it early.

Had the same thing with my wife last month. She had a major pulmonary embolism back in March, so she has been very concerned over Covid, and got an O2 sensor. Advance to last month, out of the blue had a shortness of breath walking up stairs, and tried to write it off as a panic attack (Dr. Google, and denial). After over an hour laying in bed, her pulse was 110-112, and O2 running 88-92. That was Friday night, and she was supposed to have a follow-up anyway with a Pulmonologist on Monday, so she really didn't want to go to the ER. I jump on FB and contact at couple nurses and a DR. "Might can wait until morning, but I'd go now". "Talked to a cardiologist friend, with those numbers, assume a PE until proven otherwise", and the DR "Head to the ER now, and pack a bag". Well, it was a second major round of PE one month to the day after coming off blood thinners. At her follow-up appointment, her cardiologist really made a point she is damned lucky to have survived. She is a workout junkie, so luckily she came into it with a good heart, but she had damage done (mostly back to normal already). She still has a ton of tests to go through, set for life on blood thinners.......but having that O2 sensor saved her life. It was a $30 job off Amazon.