FOREO BEAR vs BEAR 2, Which One Should You Buy
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
Read bio
Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
Read bio
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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Buy the BEAR 2 if you want more control, with ten intensities, four microcurrent types and a published 680 microamps, and buy the original BEAR only if you find it heavily discounted and want a simpler device with a clearance we could identify.
This comparison covers every difference that matters, such as:
- intensities and published output
- microcurrent types and massage options
- battery life
- app routines and reminders
- FDA clearance and price
and many more!
We make a competing device, PureLift, so every FOREO detail here comes from FOREO and its retailers.
Key Points:
FOREO publishes 680 microamps and ten adjustable intensities for BEAR 2, and gives no microamp figure for the original BEAR.
BEAR 2 offers four microcurrent types, Advanced, Lifting, Tapping and Sculpting, while FOREO describes the original BEAR as a classic microcurrent.
FOREO lists up to 300 minutes per charge for BEAR 2 against up to 90 minutes for the original.
We identified FDA clearance K200803 for the original BEAR and BEAR mini, but not a separate clearance for BEAR 2.
BEAR 2 is $339, while the original BEAR launched at $299 and is now mostly sold through retailers and discounters.
The two devices at a glance
Original BEAR, launched at $299, five intensities according to reviewers, a classic microcurrent, Anti-Shock System, up to 90 minutes per charge, FDA clearance K200803.
BEAR 2, $339, ten intensities, 680 microamps, four microcurrent types, five massage options, an improved Anti-Shock System, up to 300 minutes per charge.
Prices and specifications were checked on brand, retailer and reviewer pages in October 2026 and change often, so confirm them before you buy.
Intensities and output
FOREO says BEAR 2 uses 680 microamps with ten adjustable intensities, the highest microcurrent figure among the competitors we track.
FOREO gives no microamp figure for the original BEAR. A higher figure does not mean a better result, as explained in our microamps article.
Microcurrent types and massage
BEAR 2 has four microcurrent types, Advanced, Lifting, Tapping and Sculpting, with Advanced as the default. FOREO describes the original as a classic microcurrent.
FOREO says BEAR 2 has five massage options and the original BEAR does not.
Anti-Shock System
Both have FOREO's Anti-Shock System, which adjusts the current to your skin. FOREO says the BEAR 2 version measures skin moisture 200 times per second.
Battery and app
FOREO lists up to 300 minutes per charge for BEAR 2, against up to 90 minutes for the original.
BEAR 2 adds treatment reminders and three app-guided treatments.
FDA clearance
We identified FDA clearance K200803 covering the original BEAR and BEAR mini, and could not identify a separate clearance for BEAR 2. Ask FOREO which clearance covers the model you buy. How to check is in our guide to checking a clearance.
Which one to buy
Buy BEAR 2 if
You want more intensities, a published output and longer battery life, and you will use the extra microcurrent types. Our review is in our FOREO BEAR 2 review.
Buy the original BEAR if
You find it heavily discounted and want a simpler device with an identifiable clearance.
Consider the BEAR mini if
You want the smallest, cheapest FOREO for a lower face routine. See our FOREO BEAR mini review.
How the BEAR range compares with other brands
FOREO BEAR 2 is compared with NuFACE in FOREO BEAR 2 vs NuFACE TRINITY and with ZIIP in ZIIP HALO vs FOREO BEAR 2.
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
Our comparison with FOREO is in PureLift vs FOREO BEAR.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FOREO BEAR and BEAR 2
BEAR 2 has ten intensities, a published 680 microamps, four microcurrent types, five massage options and up to 300 minutes per charge. The original has a classic microcurrent and up to 90 minutes per charge.
Is FOREO BEAR 2 worth the upgrade
If you want more control and longer battery life, yes. If you want a simple routine, the original or the mini may be enough.
How strong is FOREO BEAR 2
FOREO publishes 680 microamps for BEAR 2, the highest microcurrent figure among the competitors we track.
Is FOREO BEAR FDA cleared
We identified FDA clearance K200803 for the original BEAR and BEAR mini, but not a separate clearance for BEAR 2.
How much is FOREO BEAR 2
BEAR 2 is $339. The original BEAR launched at $299.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.