I just measured my blood pressure with a Moto Mod

I just measured my blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse oxygen and temperature, all from a smartphone.

Being able to measure your blood pressure on the move (without having to carry cumbersome equipment) hasn't really been possible in the past, but Lenovo wants to change that with its latest Moto Mod for the Moto Z range.

Using a Moto Z2 Force, and the new Lenovo Vital Moto Mod that was revealed at CES 2018, I was able measure my vital signs in under two minutes.

Standing on the floor at MWC 2018, I asked to place my finger inside the Moto Mod and it started to clamp around my vulnerable index digit. My blood pressure likely shot up immediately as I didn't realize it was going to start squeezing, like a normal blood pressure monitor does around your arm.

That's without mentioning how much coffee I had in my body - it is a tech trade show after all.

This Moto Mod doesn't sit on the back of the phone like most of the other add-on gadgets from Motorola. Instead it connects via Bluetooth to the phone to let you record the data.

This is the first Moto Mod I've used that feels more like a phone accessory than an add-on device, and it's not clear why this is only compatible with Moto Z handsets.

Usually you'd put the gadget up close to your chest to get the optimum results, but for the purpose of MWC the Moto Mod had to stay attached to the desk so no-one was able to steal it.

Less than two minutes went by before I was  greeted with my vital stats. Exactly how accurate the reading is remains to be seen, plus it's not a cheap add-on for your phone either at $395 (about £285, AU$500).

That said, being able to get stats like pulse oxygen and blood pressure (alongside easier to take measurements like temperature and heart rate) feels like a revolutionary step forward that could help people keep a track of health issues much easier when on the move.

MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest exhibition for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2018 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone. 

James Peckham

James is Managing Editor for Android Police. Previously, he was Senior Phones Editor for TechRadar, and he has covered smartphones and the mobile space for the best part of a decade bringing you news on all the big announcements from top manufacturers making mobile phones and other portable gadgets. James is often testing out and reviewing the latest and greatest mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, virtual reality headsets, fitness trackers and more. He once fell over.