Eko: Digital Stethoscope + ECG

Expensive. When I purchased the Eko I was willing to pay a premium for this commodity product given its additional functionality. I’ve highly recommended this to colleagues. Any useful features have been greedily hidden behind a paywall, downgrading my device to an audio amplifier, which I can build for single digit dollars. I now highly discourage anyone from purchasing. You pay multiple times for modest functionality: once in the overpriced HW, then continually in the subscription to unlock basic features. The hardware itself has little value without the subscription. The company has lost its way. Those of us that bought before the business model change have essentially had our devices deactivated. I expected more. Those buying now, expect to pay more or lose functionality in the future.

The stethoscope and app work great. Terrific stethoscope for heart sounds.

I enjoy the stethoscope a lot, but I never find myself wanting to pull my phone out with patients around. I think that a smart watch version of the app would be more practical.

I purchased the Core and the Duo in 2021. The Duo lasted about 2 years and is bricked. Won’t charge. Won’t hold charge. The core is poorly designed. The on button seems built to be turned on just by carrying the stethoscope around, which means it’s perpetually dead. I wouldn’t dream of paying $500 for the new one. The app works ok. A bit clunky.

Was unaware my $400+ Littmann Core requires me to pay an additional $100+ a year in order to access key features like AFIB and murmur detection. Additionally, it can’t seem to detect a correct heart rate on a recording. It also refuses to play back the recording on your phones speaker, you can’t hear it without headphones. Additionally, I have trouble hearing on patients. I can hear on myself okay. But on patients? It’s like it doesn’t even work. I thought I was going crazy because I couldn’t hear anything. Mine is engraved so I can’t return it. Bummer kinda. I was so excited, and initially thought it worked well until I used it in the hospital. Maybe I need to get the hang of it or something, but the extra “subscription fee” is almost enough for me. It’s sad because I really wanted the Eko Core 500 in the future, but with companies putting everything you physically purchase behind a paywall (think, the push-to-start button on your car or heated seats both of which came with the car you paid multiple grand for, all because it’s digital and remote) I have immense reservations. There is no way to guarantee they won’t nuke the functionality of the product I purchase (and based on reviews it seems they already did). I used to want everything to go digital. Now I’m unsure. Sad.

Don’t bother with downloading this app if you just want it for your own health & heart condition. Apparently we common folks are too dumb for it

Both the stethoscope that works with this app and the app itself are trash. I returned the stethoscope and have tried to get my money back for the app that is now useless to me and they refuse to refund it.

I purchased one basically because I have bad hearing. I love it. I’m the only nurse that has the Eko 500. There is another nurse that uses the smaller device because of hearing issues. I shared my stethoscope with a nurse practitioner the other day and she returned it to me that afternoon with compliments. I told her it is even better when you can use the app with it. There is another nurse practitioner that I work with that has been wanting one but wasn’t sure if it was worth it. She was able to try mine out and she loves it. I have probably sold two of these just by letting some nurses try it out. Thank you for helping those of us that can’t hear well. It is a great advancement. I understand LSU uses these also ! Kudos!!!!

I initially purchased the Eko Core 500 due to its appealing functionality and innovative features, particularly the murmur detection tool, which was a game-changer for clinical practice. It worked seamlessly and added immense value to my diagnostic process. However, my experience has taken a sharp turn for the worse. After a recent app update, the murmur detection feature was removed, and now it is locked behind a subscription paywall. This abrupt shift is incredibly disappointing. A feature that was integral to the device’s appeal should not be stripped away after purchase. It feels like a bait-and-switch tactic, undermining the trust customers place in the product and brand. What’s worse is that the core functionality of the device is now handicapped unless you commit to ongoing subscription fees. For a premium product like this, essential features should remain accessible without recurring costs after the initial investment. I can no longer recommend the Eko Core 500 to colleagues or anyone considering it. While the hardware itself remains functional, the reliance on the app and its sudden monetization of critical features has severely impacted its value. Unless Eko revisits this decision and restores key functionalities without requiring a subscription, potential buyers should be cautious. This is not the reliable, user-centric device it once was.

Hi why we cant buy EKO+ outside usa???