Independent machine review

Where to buy this machine:

What do I think?

This is the first machine I’ve ever awarded a full 5 stars - and it thoroughly deserves it.

The Esaote MyLab Heron feels like a machine that’s been designed by someone who actually scans. It’s quiet - whisper quiet - even when working hard. The colour flow mapping on abdominal settings is exquisite: it’s like watching the vessels being painted on with a fine brush. Precise, clean, and confidence-inspiring. If you’ve ever struggled to interpret swirly, chaotic colour Doppler, you’ll immediately notice the difference.

The microconvex probe is a joy to use. It will comfortably handle everything from basic to advanced abdominal scanning, and even basic cardiac work - though it’s worth noting there’s no continuous wave Doppler, so for full cardiac workups you’d still need something more specialised.

It’s also extremely user-friendly. When the battery runs low, you get plenty of warning -no sudden shutoffs mid-scan. The flat, trackpad-style interface is a revelation. No fiddly trackballs to trap gel and hair. Just a beautifully tactile, grippy surface where every button is clearly labelled and easy to find by feel.

What’s even more impressive is that most core functions have two ways to control them. For example, you can adjust depth with a traditional button or by using a slick two-finger gesture on the trackpad, as prompted on-screen. It’s intuitive and cleverly customisable - you can work the way you prefer without interrupting your flow.

The touchscreen is used sparingly - and wisely. Functions that need only occasional adjustment, like Time Gain Compensation (TGC), are accessed here. TGC adjustment is fast and elegant: just a single swipe in the direction you need. Yes, you do need to glance down at the control panel to use the touchscreen - but Esaote have got the balance exactly right. Most commonly used functions are mapped to physical buttons, so you can work by feel without breaking your concentration. The only regular-use feature kept on the touchscreen is frequency, which some users may prefer as a hard button - but overall, it’s a smart, user-centric setup. It genuinely supports confident scanning - because you spend more time focused on the screen and the patient, and less time wrestling with settings.

And then there’s the price. Honestly, I can’t believe what bracket this sits in - it’s insanely good value for money. You’d expect compromises at this level, but I genuinely can’t find any that matter for general practice use. It feels robust and sturdy, more like a high-end laptop than a “laptop-style” ultrasound. It’s compact but solid, portable but premium - clearly built to last, without feeling bulky or fragile.

Summary

In short: this machine just works - and works beautifully. It’s slick, smart, and incredibly well thought through. I can’t rave about it enough. I might even buy one myself….