If you’re looking for a great smartwatch to monitor your heart rate, it is important that you get the one that is extremely accurate and also perfect for your specific needs. As you’re here, it’s safe to assume that you value your health and want to sustain a good heart while avoiding any unexpected shortcomings.
Having a good heart rate monitoring system on your wrist makes a huge difference on how to maintain your health. It can notify you if it detects abnormal heart rates, track your heart rate during workouts or sleep, and essentially all day long.
It can also sync the data to your phone so the companion app can make long-term charts to determine the current situation of your heart. If you have access to that, you can get checked out if you see a potential issue with your heart rate, which can be a life saver, especially if you had complications with your heart before.
Making sure that you purchase a device that can manage track your heart rate accurately and also has systems in place to show your long term heart health, can be extremely difficult and confusing.
That’s why I’ve selected the best heart rate monitoring watches that are suitable for a wide variety of users. That means hopefully you’ll find a device that provides all your personal smartwatch needs, while monitoring your heart rate properly.
Best Smartwatches for Heart Rate Monitoring in 2021
While evaluating the Heart Rate Monitoring capabilities of a large number of smartwatches I noticed many of them were giving inaccurate results at times. I’ve taken out all such devices and after an even deeper complete evaluation of the remaining devices, I’ve narrowed it down to the top 7.
So, if you are looking for a great smartwatch that does heart rate monitoring right, these are going to be your absolute best options.
1. Best Overall: Apple Watch Series 6
- OS: WatchOS 7
- Display: 1.78-inch OLED Touch
- Water Resistant: 5 ATM
- Sensors: ECG, Pulse Oximeter, Heart Rate, Altimeter, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, etc.
- Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Apple is making some of the most advanced smartwatches in the industry right now and the Watch Series 6 is the best health & fitness smartwatch they have created till now. It has one of the most accurate heart rate monitors in any smartwatch and it’s simply excellent at being a smartwatch.
Compatibility & Connectivity
Now, do remember that you can use an Apple Watch only if you are an iPhone user. Any other devices including Android phones or even Apple’s own iPads aren’t compatible. On the connectivity side, you get 4G LTE (optional), Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (Dual-band), and GPS/GNSS.
Heart Rate Monitoring & Health
The company has included its latest-gen Optical Heart Rate Monitoring sensor in the Series 6. The device will track your heart rate all-day in different patterns. It will track your heart rate periodically during walks, continuously during workouts, and generally when you’re still. The measurements are extremely accurate.
Other health & fitness features include ECG, Blood Oxygen Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Swim Tracking, Workout Tracking, dedicated Sports Modes, and it can even send Emergency SOS to a group of pre-selected users, if you collapse unexpectedly and need immediate medical attention.
Design & Build Quality
One of the most iconic things about the Apple Watch has to be its industrial design. The rectangular frame with rounded edges and the glass wrapping around the sides has created an all-around immersive and premium look. Unless you only prefer circular watch cases, you are going to love Series 6’s design language.
You get three build options including the baseline Aluminum case and the premium Titanium or Stainless Steel cases. They are available in two sizes including 40mm for smaller wrists and the slightly bigger 44mm. There are also tons of band styles to choose from including the newly announced Solo Loop.
Display
It’s no surprise that the LTPO OLED display on the Apple Watch is one of the best quality ones out there. You get a 1.78-inch panel on the 44mm variant and a smaller 1.57-inch panel on the 40mm variant. In both cases the colors look amazing, the texts & visuals look sharp, and thanks to OLED, it can achieve perfect blacks.
Apple lets you create your own custom watch face which is pretty cool but, you can also select one from their massive library. The always-on display is twice as bright compared to Series 5 and the overall brightness of the watch peaks at 1000 nits.
Performance
The Apple S6 chip is powering up the Watch Series 6 and it is around 20% faster compared to last year’s S5. Combined with 1GB of RAM, the performance is damn good. The apps open almost instantly and navigating through UI elements is buttery smooth.
WatchOS 7 has been improved a lot and it works perfectly in-sync with the home-baked hardware. There is 32GB internal storage which is more than enough to store as many apps and watch faces as you may need.
Battery Life
One area where the hyperactive operating system and powerful hardware does take a toll, would be the battery life. Apple claims around 18 hours of mixed-use and that’s mostly accurate. However, pushing the device too hard with a lot of GPS activity or calling or music streaming, will drain the battery significantly faster.
Is this watch for you?
If you own an iPhone, there is nothing better than the Apple Watch Series 6 to monitor your Heart Rate alongside doing full-on health & fitness tracking. It is also an amazing piece of tech to be earring on your wrist with all the bells and whistles you can possibly need. So, if budget isn’t in the way, get the Watch Series 6.
- Extremely accurate heart rate monitoring
- ECG & Blood Oxygen Monitoring
- Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem
- Industrial design and premium build options
- Optional 4G LTE connectivity
- Only works with iPhones
- The LTE variant is significantly more expensive
2. Best Runner Up: Fitbit Sense
- OS: Fitbit OS
- Display: 1.59-inch OLED Touch
- Water Resistant: 5 ATM
- Sensors: ECG, Pulse Oximeter, Heart Rate, Skin Temperature, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, etc.
- Battery Life: Up to 6 days
When it comes to health & fitness, Fitbit has implemented one of the most accurate sets of monitoring features in their wearables. So, it’s no surprise that the flagship Fitbit Sense does Heart Rate Monitoring really well while also having the best fitness stuff Fitbit currently has to offer.
Compatibility & Connectivity
Fitbit supports pairing with both iOS & Android. So, if you’re using a Google Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola, iPhone, or any other smartphone, it should be supported. They also make the app for Windows & MacOS. For connectivity, you’ll be getting Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and GPS+GLONASS.
Heart Rate Monitoring & Health
The Sense is using the company’s most advanced optical heart rate sensor alongside a technology called PurePulse 2.0. This allows the watch to track your heart activity all of the time you’re wearing the device.
The device can also show low/high heart rate notifications and during workouts you can see your current heart rate directly on the screen. Fitbit uses Heart Rate Variability (HRV) to detect changes in time between each heart rate to determine if the body is showing signs of illness or stress.
Other than that, you also get ECG, Blood Oxygen Monitoring, Stress Monitoring, Skin Temperature Monitoring, Swim Tracking, Workout Tracking, Distance Tracking, Step Counting and more.
Design & Build Quality
The company has kept its classic squircle shaped case but this one is slightly different from the older gen devices. Firstly it has replaced the side button with a haptic sensor and you also get a fancy Stainless Steel bezel to add some style to the Aluminum case.
The build does feel premium and you can even customize the device with different styles of bands available on Fitbit’s website.
Display
Fitbit is using a large 1.59-inch AMOLED panel for the Sense and it is gorgeous. Alongside having an always-on mode, the display also reaches a max brightness of 1000 nits so outdoor visibility is great. As far as quality goes, it has perfect blacks, punchy colors, and sharp visuals.
The thick black bezels are still there, so that is something you may or may not be bothered by. I’d personally like to see them go away in the next iteration.
Performance
One of the things that always go downhill for Fitbit’s wearables is performance. Now, there are necessarily any major issues with opening apps or swiping through menus. But, compared to some of the similarly priced competitors, it does feel a bit slow or less snappy to be exact.
Fitbit OS on the other hand is pretty easy to use and does come with third-party app support. You do get access to more than a hundred watch faces but, you can only store 5 of them on your watch at a time.
Battery Life
With typical mixed usage, you can get up to 6 days on a single charge. That means you need to charge it once a week. Using too much GPS or steaming a lot of music on Spotify will drain the battery way faster but, it does support fast charging that can fill up 10-80% in just 40 minutes.
Is this watch for you?
If you are an Android user or you do have an iPhone but don’t want an Apple Watch, the Fitbit Sense is a great smartwatch for you. It is one of the most advanced Heart Rate monitoring devices and an excellent health & fitness tracker.
In case you don’t mind the slightly slower performance, the thick black bezel, and the haptic sensor, I have no problem recommending the Sense.
- Advanced heart rate monitoring
- HRV monitoring support
- Beautiful AMOLED display
- Almost a week long battery life
- Third-party app support
- Thick black bezels around the display
- Mediocre performance
3. Best from Samsung: Galaxy Watch 3
- OS: Tizen OS
- Display: 1.4-inch OLED Touch
- Water Resistant: 5 ATM/ IP68
- Sensors: ECG, Pulse Oximeter, Heart Rate, Barometer, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, etc.
- Battery Life: Up to 2 days
Another big player making excellent wearables is Samsung and their Galaxy Watch 3 does Heart Rate Monitoring really well. It is also the latest flagship from the company, so it comes with all the new features while retaining some of the signature stuff from the company.
Compatibility & Connectivity
Unlike Apple, Samsung does support iOS and Android devices alongside their own Galaxy-branded smartphones like the S21 and Note 20 series, for example. However, the restriction comes in the form of cellular connectivity as you can’t use the functionality on the cellular model unless you own a Galaxy smartphone.
Speaking of connectivity, you get 4G LTE (optional), Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n alongside, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou.
Heart Rate Monitoring & Health
Being the top of the line device, the Galaxy Watch 3 spots top-notch hardware for heart rate monitoring. It can monitor your heart rate all day long and of course, when you’re working out or running, it can do that constantly. It will also show you alerts in case your heart rate is abnormally high or low.
Alongside all the automatic magic, you can also monitor your heart rate manually in case you need it. Other than that, you get ECG, Blood Oxygen Monitoring, Stress Tracking, Sleep Tracking, Workout Tracking, Distance Tracking, Fall Detection & SOS (a very useful feature for seniors), and more.
Design & Build Quality
It’s no surprise that the Galaxy Watch 3 is one of the finest made wearables from Samsung. The round-shaped case is crafted using Stainless Steel and it also has the iconic rotating bezel that lets you navigate through the UI. In case you want to go more premium, there is also a Titanium variant available.
You can get the device in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm and you can also choose a few band styles for both. The device comes with a leather band by default.
Display
Samsung makes the best AMOLED displays in the entire smartphone industry so, of course, their wearables have top-notch displays on board. The Galaxy Watch 3 comes with a 1.4-inch (1.2-inch on the 41mm) display and thanks to self-lit pixels, it can achieve perfect blacks.
The texts and visuals are sharp and colors look really great too. Samsung does offer a huge library of watch faces for customization, and there is even an always-on display mode.
Performance
The Exynos 9110 powering the Galaxy Watch 3, was homebaked by the company and it is definitely one of the top row wearable SOCs out there. The device comes with 1GB RAM and the overall performance is solid with no lags or stutters and fast app opening times.
The 8GB internal storage is not a lot by any means but, you can store a bunch of apps and offline songs just fine. Samsung’s Tizen has matured a lot and alongside being extremely user friendly, it also has a large number of third-party apps availability.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 can go up to 2 days on a single charge with mixed-use. That’s actually not bad considering the powerful hardware and the hyperactive OS. However, taking calls over LTE, using GPS continuously or streaming a lot of music will drain your battery faster.
Is this watch for you?
If you like Samsung’s ecosystem and especially, if you’re using one of their smartphones, the Galaxy Watch 3 should be your choice of wearable. It does accurate heart rate monitoring, excellent health & fitness tracking, and it is great for daily smartwatch stuff.
- Accurate heart rate monitoring
- Excellent build quality
- Optional 4G LTE connectivity
- Blood Oxygen Monitoring & ECG
- Fall detection & SOS
- 4G network doesn’t work with non-Galaxy smartphones
- ECG doesn’t work globally just yet
4. Best Under $250: Garmin Venu
- OS: Garmin OS
- Display: 1.2-inch OLED Touch
- Water Resistant: 5 ATM
- Sensors: Pulse Oximeter, Heart Rate, Altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, etc.
- Battery Life: Up to 5 days
The Garmin Venu is another great device that can do precise heart rate tracking, has one of the best displays in the entire Garmin smartwatch line-up, and doesn’t really break the bank like some of the flagship stuff from the company.
Compatibility & Connectivity
There are no ecosystem restrictions on the Venu which means your current iPhone or Android smartphone should be compatible. On the connectivity side, you get Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, ANT+ alongside, GPS, GLONASS & Galileo.
Heart Rate Monitoring & Health
The two major areas of focus for Garmin has been Fitness & Sports, and the Venu is no exception. The device can monitor heart rate with precision and accuracy. It tracks your heart rate all day, but the frequency will vary based on your activity. The device will issue an alert if it detects abnormally high or low heart rate.
Other than that, the device can also do Blood Oxygen Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Stress Tracking, Hydration Tracking, Respiration Tracking, Workout Tracking, Distance Tracking, and dedicated sports modes. It also has Garmin Coach which is the company’s personal guided coaching platform for marathons.
Design & Build Quality
Garmin has kept their classic circular design approach and the case is made out of the same fiber-reinforced polymer they have been using for a while now. They did however added a Stainless Steel bezel to add some style to it and that does make it look a bit more premium.
The build quality does feel sturdy and the device comes with a Silicone band which feels nice & comfortable. You can get a few color combinations as well and they do look pretty stylish.
Display
The Venu is one of the only wearables in Garmin’s line-up to spot an OLED display. The 1.2-inch panel is great with excellent colors, infinite contrast with perfect blacks, and great pixel density resulting in sharp texts & visuals. That makes it way better in quality compared to even some of the Garmin flagships.
There is also an always-on mode and the outdoor visibility is actually pretty good too. So, in case you want a Garmin smartwatch that actually has some focus on the display, the Venu makes the most compelling case.
Performance
Garmin isn’t known for having high-performance hardware in its smartwatches. However, the Venu handles day to day stuff like navigating through menus or opening apps, just fine. It is of course not as fast as the offerings of Apple & Samsung but, it gets the job done without significant lags or reoccurring stutters.
Garmin OS works really well too and it is super-easy to get used to. You also get third-party app support and it also supports offline music downloads which is really useful if you want to store a playlist or two on your device.
Battery Life
Unlike some of the other devices from the company, the Venu doesn’t really have a super-long battery life. But, it still pulls a respectable 5 days with typical mixed usage. Now, if you’re using GPS & streaming music at the same time, it can get as low as 6 hours so, keep that in mind. There is also no fast charging available.
Is this watch for you?
In case you like Garmin’s approach to health & fitness, the Garmin Venu is surely going to be an excellent choice for you. It does excellent heart rate monitoring, maintains the basics & adds advanced features on top, and doesn’t break the bank either. So, in case that’s all you need, go ahead and get the Garmin Venu.
- Precise heart rate monitoring
- Colorful OLED display
- Advanced health & fitness features
- Garmin Coach for personal marathon training
- Long lasting battery life
- Doesn’t have Pace Pro
- Mostly made out of plastic
5. Best with Wear OS: Moto 360 3rd Gen
- OS: Wear OS
- Display: 1.2-inch OLED Touch
- Water Resistant: 3 ATM
- Sensors: Heart Rate, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Ambient Light, etc.
- Battery Life: Up to 1 day
The Moto 360 3rd Gen would be the go-to choice in case you’re looking into Google’s Wear OS powered devices. Alongside doing heart rate monitoring really well, it is filled up with cool features and it is also one of the most well-built devices in its price segment.
Compatibility & Connectivity
Google also doesn’t put unnecessary restrictions on compatibility. That means the Moto 360 should be compatible with your current smartphone regardless of if it is running iOS or Android. For connectivity, there is Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, alongside GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.
Heart Rate Monitoring & Health
The Moto 360 does accurate heart rate monitoring. The values come out accurate and it does track your heart rate throughout the entire day. You can view the heart rate directly on the watch and get detailed stats in the Google Fit app. You can also ask Google Assistant to check your heart rate, using your voice.
Other than that, it does have Sleep Tracking, Workout Tracking, Distance Tracking, Swim Tracking, Step Counting, and more. It doesn’t have some of the fancier & premium stuff like Blood Oxygen Monitoring & ECG so, in case you need those, you may want to look elsewhere.
Design & Build Quality
Motorola has taken a step ahead and used Stainless Steel instead of Aluminum which is more common at this price. They have even used Titanium screws to ensure better structural integrity and it comes with both Silicone & Leather bands in the box.
The shiny circular case looks premium and it is super comfortable to wear as well. So, clearly design & build are one of the most important areas for the third generation of Moto 360.
Display
The 1.2-inch OLED panel is great with pitch black levels, punchy colors, infinite contrast, and sharp texts. There is also an always-on display and the outdoor visibility is great too with 1000 nits of peak brightness. You can even customize it with a number of different watch faces.
Performance
Motorola has gone with a Snapdragon 3100 and 1GB RAM for the Moto 360. This combination provides fast & smooth performance with no noticeable stutters or lags and fast app opening times.
Wear OS has improved a lot over the years and it is extremely easy to get used to. You also get access to Google’s Play Store and its massive app library. Yes, you can use Google Maps for navigation and install several third-party apps you might need. The 8GB storage is enough to store a good number of apps on your watch.
Battery Life
Just like any power-hungry OS and powerful hardware combination, the Moto 360 can last up to a full day with mixed usage. Now based on your usage habits, this is going to vary a lot. But, even if you manage to drain the battery in the middle of the day, the device can go 0-100% in just 60 minutes.
Is this watch for you?
The Moto 360 3rd Gen is one of the best Wear OS powered devices out there and if you’re an Android user, this one is going to fit in just right. But, if you do want premium features like ECG & Blood Oxygen monitoring, you need to increase your budget a little more and get something else.
- Premium build quality & stylish looks
- Accurate heart rate monitoring
- Great performance
- Always-on display
- Good value for the price
- No Blood Oxygen Monitoring
- Still on Bluetooth 4.2
6. Best Affordable Apple Watch: Apple Watch SE
- OS: WatchOS 7
- Display: 1.78-inch OLED Touch
- Water Resistant: 5 ATM
- Sensors: Heart Rate, Altimeter, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, etc.
- Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
In case you’re an iPhone user but you do not have the budget to afford the Series 6, the Apple Watch SE should be just perfect for you. It also has extremely accurate heart rate monitoring hardware, the same Apple ecosystem flexibility, and it costs way less.
Compatibility & Connectivity
Just like every other Apple Watch, the Watch SE also doesn’t work with anything but iPhones. The connectivity side is no compromise though, with 4G LTE (optional), Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi (single-band), and GPS+GNSS.
Heart Rate Monitoring & Health
Unlike the Series 6, the Watch SE does not have the latest sensor array for Heart Rate Monitoring but, regardless of that, it can take stunningly accurate readings and yes, you do need to ensure that you have a good fit to ensure the accuracy.
Alongside that, you also get all of the other good stuff like Sleep tracking, Workout Tracking, Step Counting, Distance Tracking, Swim Tracking, dedicated Sports Modes, and more.
Design & Build Quality
The design of the SE looks extremely similar to the Series 6 and that’s because the SE uses the outer shell of the Series 4 and that’s where Apple first introduced the updated form factor. However, it only comes with an Aluminum case option, so you can’t get those premium build options. You do get all the band options though.
Display
Apple uses the exact same 1.78 inch and 1.57 inch sized LTPO OLED panels for the Watch SE. Although the image quality is extremely close, there isn’t an always-on display. The brightness still peaks at 1000 nits, the blacks are perfect, and the colors look amazing.
Performance
The Watch SE incorporates the Apple S5 chip which is the last-gen flagship and couples that with 1GB of RAM. This ensures a superfast performance and it is definitely the best performing device in its segment. It is 20% slower than the Series 6 on paper, but you won’t notice it unless you check them out side by side.
WatchOS 7 works exactly the same way but you do miss out on the ECG & Blood Oxygen apps as the required sensors aren’t present. You do still get 32GB of Internal Storage so, that’s a really nice bonus to have.
Battery Life
Just like the Series 6, the Watch SE can handle up to 18 hours of mixed usage on a single charge. However, the S5 is indeed slightly less energy efficient compared to the S6. So, in case you push the device hard, it’ll indeed drain faster compared to Series 6. So, do keep that in mind.
Is this watch for you?
The Apple Watch SE is an extremely good value for money as far as Apple Watches are concerned. It cuts a few corners from the premium feature side of things, does accurate heart rate monitoring, and integrates seamlessly in that Apple ecosystem. If you find that compelling enough, get the Watch SE.
- Accurate heart rate tracking
- Great value for money
- Seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem
- Smooth performance
- Optional 4G LTE
- No Blood Oxygen Monitoring or ECG support
- Only works with iPhones
7. Best Value for Money: Fitbit Versa 2
- OS: Fitbit OS
- Display: 1.34-inch OLED Touch
- Water Resistant: 5 ATM
- Sensors: Pulse Oximeter, Heart Rate, Thermometer, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, etc.
- Battery Life: Up to 6 days
If you are on a tighter budget but you do not want to compromise on the accuracy of heart rate monitoring and the availability of overall features, the Fitbit Versa 2 is going to be right up your ally. It even has the good old tactile button that was replaced with a haptic sensor in the newer models.
Compatibility & Connectivity
As mentioned earlier, Fitbit doesn’t have any ecosystem restrictions, so your current Android smartphone or iPhone should be compatible. On the connectivity side of things, you get Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and GPS.
Heart Rate Monitoring & Health
Thanks to Fitbit’s dedication to health & fitness, the Versa 2 has one of the most advanced heart rate monitoring systems under the $200 price point. The device can monitor your heart rate all day long and it has a lot of the same features as the flagship Sense.
This includes HRV (Heart Rate Variability), and the device can also differentiate between different scenarios like walking and resting and track accordingly. During workouts, it’ll track your heart rate continuously and all of this data will be available on the Fitbit app.
Other than that there is Blood Oxygen Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Skin Temperature checking & variation monitoring, Swim Tracking, Workout Tracking, Distance Tracking, and more. To view more detailed stats and check things like Skin Temperature Variation, you’ll need a Fitbit Premium subscription.
Design & Build Quality
The design language of the Versa 2 is pretty similar to it’s newer siblings but there are a couple of major differences. The case has Fitbit’s signature squircle shape but the black bezels around the display are thicker and the display cutout is a perfect square instead of the new squircle that blends-in with the bezels.
The side button is there instead of the new haptic sensor which may or may not be your thing. The overall design looks good, the form factor is pretty thin, the Aluminum build feels sturdy, and you can customize the look with different bands available on Fitbit’s website.
Display
Fitbit has gone with a 1.34-inch OLED display and it can achieve a peak brightness of 1000 nits. It even has an always-on display mode which is rare around this price point. As far as the quality is concerned, it is pretty good with nice colors, infinite contrast, pitch blacks, and sharp visuals.
The square shape might look a bit odd inside the squircle frame at first but, you do get used to it quickly. The always-on display has good outdoor visibility, so it won’t struggle under direct sunlight.
Performance
The performance, like other Fitbits from recent times, isn’t anything special. The device doesn’t have any major hiccups while navigating through menus or opening apps but, it doesn’t feel as fast and snappy as some of the competitors. You may or may not be bothered by that but, Fitbit needs to start using powerful hardware.
Fitbit’s software, on the other hand, has gotten really good over the years. It is extremely easy to use and it even has third party app support. However, unlike the newer models, the company hasn’t added Google Assistant support to the Versa 2, so, you’re limited to Amazon Alexa for voice control.
Battery Life
The lightweight software and not so demanding hardware results in some really good battery life. The device can go up to 6 days with mixed usage and takes around two hours to fully charge. There is no fast charging support though.
The battery life will be shorter if you stream a lot of music or use GPS all the time. But, in case you are doing light usage, you can get through a full week.
Is this watch for you?
If you’re on a tight budget, the Fitbit Versa 2 is the only device that provides an excellent set of features built around Heart Rate Monitoring. There are also some advanced health & fitness monitoring features that are generally found in much pricier options. So, this is the one to go for if your first priority is fitness.
- Advanced heart rate monitoring features
- Blood Oxygen Monitor & Skin Temperature Sensor
- Almost a week long battery life
- Always-on display & good outdoor visibility
- Great value for money
- The display cutout can look weird
- Mediocre performance
Frequently Asked Questions
Smartwatches that can monitor Heart Rate, have sensors at the bottom that can detect the amount of blood flow in your veins, hence calculating your blood pressure, by reflecting specialized Green lights on your wrist.
High-end devices can use other types of lights like Infrared alongside, to measure the same in different situations.
A good heart rate monitoring system can keep tracking all day long. However, the frequency of tracking changes based on user activity. For example, when you’re sitting down or sleeping, the smartwatch will check your heart rate once in a while, but during workouts, it’ll check continuously.
The most common thing that causes inaccurate heart rate measurement is the fit. If your watch doesn’t fit snugly on your wrist, its sensors can face issues taking your SpO2 measures.
Other than that things like tattoos can also cause issues by partially or completely blocking the light coming from the heart rate sensor. So, it’s recommended you avoid tattooing your wrist.
Things like Workout tracking, Sleep tracking, Swim tracking, and personalized Fitness Charts can use Heart Rate as a key measure.
Verdict
Keeping your heart rate in check helps you to maintain a healthy heart and as you’re looking for something to do that, you are definitely on the right path. Considering the fact that you made it till the end, you probably have selected the perfect smartwatch to monitor your heart rate.
But, in case you’re still confused, let me make it a bit more simple for you:
- If you use an iPhone get the Apple Watch Series 6. In case you’re lower on budget, get the Apple Watch SE instead.
- In case you prefer the Samsung ecosystem instead, the Galaxy Watch 3 is the way to go.
- If you want advanced heart rate monitoring, premium features, and no-restrictions, get the Fitbit Sense or the Garmin Venu.
- If you need something cheaper but, don’t want to compromise on too many features, get the Fitbit Versa 2.
- If you want to use Google’s ecosystem instead, get the Moto 360 3rd Gen.
Check which one of the above categories you fall in and get the device associated with it. It’s that simple! If you found this helpful, maybe consider checking out other articles on the website, exploring different types of smartwatches and their amazing features.
