O2 sensor

[Gary02468]

Has anyone else found the Note9's O2 readings much lower than the Note8's? My Note8 consistently reads 99-100%, while the Note9 shows 91-97% (even when when I take both phones' readings simultaneously). It doesn't help to clean the sensor or my finger.

But if I place part of my palm (at the base of the thumb) over the sensor instead of using my fingertip, the Note9 properly shows 99-100%. (If I hold my breath first for a minute, the reading declines by a few percent, so using my palm isn't just making the sensor falsely max out all the time.)

I don't really mind having to use my palm, but I'm wondering if it's just my Note9 whose O2 sensor doesn't work accurately for fingertips, or if they all have that quirk.

 

[strikeIII]

Or is the Note 8 just not accurate...

 

[Gary02468]

Or is the Note 8 just not accurate[?]

I should also have mentioned that my Note8 readings have been similar to those from any other device I've used, including "real" ones. The Note9 (for fingertip measurements) has been ther only outlier for me.

 

[jlangner]

Has anyone else found the Note9's O2 readings much lower than the Note8's? My Note8 consistently reads 99-100%, while the Note9 shows 91-97% (even when when I take both phones' readings simultaneously). It doesn't help to clean the sensor or my finger.

But if I place part of my palm (at the base of the thumb) over the sensor instead of using my fingertip, the Note9 properly shows 99-100%. (If I hold my breath first for a minute, the reading declines by a few percent, so using my palm isn't just making the sensor falsely max out all the time.)

I don't really mind having to use my palm, but I'm wondering if it's just my Note9 whose O2 sensor doesn't work accurately for fingertips, or if they all have that quirk.

Yes, noticed yesterday. I was always 97-99 on Note 8, now 93-97. Lol, I was like wtf, I have never been in the yellow before.

 

[Gary02468]

Yes, noticed yesterday. I was always 97-99 on Note 8, now 93-97. Lol, I was like wtf, I have never been in the yellow before.

Thanks for the confirmation. I suspect it has to do with the different placement of the flashlight LED, which is left of the sensor stack on the Note9, but at the top of the sensor stack on the Note8.

Do you also find that you get an increased reading if instead of using your fingertip, you use the heel of your thumb, covering both the flashlight and the sensor stack?

 

[David Anyadike]

But if I place part of my palm (at the base of the thumb) over the sensor instead of using my fingertip, the Note9 properly shows 99-100%. (If I hold my breath first for a minute, the reading declines by a few percent, so using my palm isn't just making the sensor falsely max out all the time.)

Thank you! I had taken for granted how accurate the oxygen levels were on my Note 4, and was stunned to find that my Note 9 was often getting oxygen levels five percentage points different than my Note 4 and my real oxygen monitor. Your palm technique is surprisingly accurate and consistent. Thank you so much!