Home / Technology / Apple Watch Heart Rate Accuracy Under Scrutiny
Apple Watch Heart Rate Accuracy Under Scrutiny
26 Sep
Summary
- New Apple Watches claim superior heart rate tracking accuracy.
- Tests show a 7 bpm difference in average heart rate readings.
- Calorie expenditure readings differed by 88 kcal in one workout.
New reports suggest the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 feature the most accurate heart rate tracking available. These wearables incorporate a Health Sensing System with a redesigned LED sensor array, allegedly measuring active and resting heart rates more frequently than previous models.
Initial testing during a 40-minute strength session showed an average heart rate of 125 bpm on the Apple Watch Series 12, compared to 132 bpm on a Garmin Fenix 9 Pro. While this 7 bpm difference is slightly outside a 5 bpm threshold for insignificant variations, the calorie expenditure figures presented a more significant divergence. The Apple Watch reported 242 kcal, while the Garmin device indicated 340 kcal, an 88 kcal disparity.
This 88 kcal difference exceeds the 20% margin of error often seen in smartwatch calorie tracking, according to a recent PLOs One study. This study noted variability due to proprietary algorithms and sensor designs across different models. Further extensive testing of the Apple Watch Series 12 against various wearables and over longer durations will be conducted to ascertain the validity of its accuracy claims.
