What is the best watch for pulse and blood pressure
The Best Blood Pressure Monitor Watch of 2024
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Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
While there are several blood pressure monitor watches on the market, Omron HeartGuide is the only one with FDA clearance.
Even if you dont have a diagnosis of high blood pressure (hypertension) or a family history of it, its important to keep an eye on your blood pressure numbers, especially as you age or if youre pregnant.
Since blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day, its best to be able to take readings often.
While blood pressure is traditionally measured with a blood pressure cuff, some devices claim to provide accurate measurements via your finger or wrist. These options may seem convenient, but that doesnt mean theyre the best choice.
Read on to find out more about their accuracy and get our top pick for the best blood pressure monitor watch.
Several smartwatches on the market claim to measure your blood pressure. We reviewed several options, including the FitVII and the MorePro Activity Tracker, but most did not meet our rigorous vetting criteria. This is because most dont have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance.
While more FDA-cleared devices, like the LiveMetric LiveOne Band, are expected to be available in the future, only one option currently fits the bill: the Omron HeartGuide. It has FDA clearance and is a class 2 medical device.
FDA clearance vs. FDA approval
FDA clearance isnt the same thing as FDA approval.
Unlike class 3 medical devices that support or sustain life, wrist monitors are categorized as class 1 or class 2 low risk medical devices. Low risk medical devices dont require FDA approval to be marketed. The FDA doesnt guarantee the results of the watch you buy.
But these watches still have benefits. They may give accurate or near-accurate results that provide valuable information for example, if you have high blood pressure during pregnancy. They may also provide information about how your blood pressure responds to exercise.
Just dont rely on watches as your sole blood pressure monitoring device. This may be especially important if you have high blood pressure or take medications that make you prone to low blood pressure (hypotension).
- Style: smartwatch
- Battery life: 23 days
- Water resistance: none
Healthline's review
This FDA-cleared medical device uses an inflatable cuff inside the watchband that you activate when you want to take your blood pressure. Readings take around 30 seconds.
It syncs to a companion app called Omron Connect, which provides information about your readings. The app collects and stores your data in the form of color-coded graphs that help you see trends in your readings, based on variables like exercise and time of day.
The Omron Connect app is available for both Android and Apple devices.
- FDA-cleared medical device
- fast readings
- simple, easy-to-read display
- extended warranty available from the manufacturer
- high price point
- some reviewers say it's bulky
- not water resistant
- Display: transflective memory-in-pixel LCD
- App connectivity: Omron Connect, HeartGuide
- Built-in GPS: no
- Smart notifications: no
- Music control: no
- Mobile payments: no
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, blood pressure, distance, pace, sleep metrics
- Sport modes: none
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
According to the
You may get a more accurate result from a wrist monitor by keeping your wrist on your heart during your reading.
You can also double-check your watchs accuracy by comparing its readings with those received in a medical setting. You can do this by taking your watch to a doctors appointment and testing yourself immediately after getting an upper arm cuff reading.
Available research
Large-scale testing for accuracy hasnt been done on blood pressure monitor watches or fitness trackers containing a blood pressure reading feature.
A few small studies have looked at the accuracy of specific watch models, with uneven results.
A
If youre concerned about your blood pressure, talk with a healthcare professional. Readings from a blood pressure cuff might not be accurate enough to reveal whether youre at risk of developing high blood pressure.
Talk with a doctor if youre frequently experiencing the following symptoms:
Is there a smartwatch that monitors blood pressure?
Major smartwatch manufacturers, like Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit, are still developing their blood pressure tech for FDA clearance in the United States.
In the meantime, Omron offers an FDA-cleared blood pressure watch.
Do any blood pressure watches work?
The accuracy of blood pressure watches varies according to the product. Always read the reviews thoroughly on any blood pressure tracking watch you purchase to get an idea of accuracy.
A blood pressure watch isnt a replacement for regular monitoring by a medical professional. If you have a health concern and need to have your blood pressure measured at home daily, its a good idea to invest in a standard blood pressure cuff at home.
Is there a wearable device for blood pressure?
Yes, but most of them are not FDA cleared. The only option thats currently FDA cleared is the Omron HeartGuide.
Blood pressure monitor watches may provide accurate readings, although this hasnt been proven in large-scale studies.
To get the most accurate, consistent results, choose an option thats been cleared as a medical device by the FDA.
If you have a health condition like high blood pressure, dont rely on wrist monitors alone for your readings. No watch takes the place of monitoring by a healthcare professional.
The 11 Best Heart Rate Monitor Watches for 2024
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We picked the FitBit Versa as best overall heart rate monitoring watch after assessing features, functionality, and price. But weve taken the pulse of other top options.
You might love the motivating tempo for workouts or a cadent call for calm a smartwatch heart rate monitor provides. But when its time for an upgrade, what perks or features make it the best, for you?
Its important to note that watch-style heart rate monitors arent medical devices and
Weve clearly broken down our top picks for you here in case you want some bonus features or generally prefer the watch style.
- Battery life: up to 6 days
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, heart rate, sleep metrics, distance, pace, oxygen saturation, skin temperature, breathing rate, heart rate variability, menstrual health
- Sport modes: 40+ of the usual, plus niche workouts like: swimming, bootcamp, canoeing, cross-country skiing, indoor climbing, kayaking, martial arts, paddleboarding, skating, skiing, snowboarding, and surfing
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
The Fitbit Versa 4 tops this list due to its overwhelmingly positive reviews and variety of features, including 24/7 heart rate tracking thats displayed directly on its home screen.
Additionally, you can use the Fitbit app to view historical reports and trends over time.
Keep in mind that the premium version of the Fitbit app costs $9.99 per month.
The Versa 4 also syncs with your phone and tracks your:
- calories burned
- steps
- sleep metrics
Whats more, the watch is water-resistant up to 164 feet (ft) or 50 meters (m), and the battery lasts up to 6 days, though it will drain more quickly if you use GPS or enable the always on display.
- built-in GPS
- 24/7, always-visible heart rate tracking
- multiple bands and watch face options available
- doesn't support music control
- some reports of issues with accuracy of fitness tracking
- short battery life, according to some reviewers
- Display: AMOLED touch screen
- Water resistance: up to 164 ft (50 m)
- App connectivity: Fitbit, iOS, Android
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: yes
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Battery life: 6+ days
- Metrics tracked: heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, sleep
- Sport modes: 40+, including running, cycling, strength training, and yoga
- Price: $$$
Healthline's review
The Fitbit Sense 2 is a good option if youre interested in improving your overall health, since its equipped with:
- a continuous heart rate monitor
- a sleep tracker
- all-day stress detection
It includes a built-in GPS and activity tracker with more than 40 exercise modes and provides a Daily Readiness Score with personalized insights to help you get the most out of your workout.
It can help identify patterns of stress and offers guided breathing practices and meditation to help you manage your emotions.
It also features a built-in voice assistant and syncs to your phone to provide notifications and enable contactless payments while shopping.
Whats more, its water-resistant up to 164 ft (50 m), so you dont have to take it off before showering or swimming.
Healthline writer Grace Gallagher reviewed the Fitbit Sense for 6 months and reported that it was packed with features. She found the heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking to be the most helpful features.
While she wasnt a fan of using the exercise function to track specific activities, she liked that the watch still tracked her time in the Active Zones, so she could easily glance down and see her heart rate.
She also commented on the watchs haptic button an indent that gives vibrational feedback when pressed saying that the lack of an actual button does take a little bit of getting used to, but it becomes intuitive eventually.
She felt that the Sense itself is intuitive to use.
- built-in GPS
- all-day stress detection
- variety of sports modes
- some reports of issues with heart rate accuracy
- lacks some features of other smartwatches, such as music control and third-party apps
- Display: 1.5-in AMOLED display
- Style: smartwatch
- Water resistance: 164 ft (50 m)
- App connectivity: Fitbit, TRX Training, and more
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: no
- Mobile payments: yes
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Battery life: up to 7 days
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, distance, pace, stress
- Sport modes: running, biking, pool swimming
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is a good choice for people with small wrists, as the slim face and band will not feel clunky or overwhelming. The low profile watch estimates your heart rate and your oxygen saturation levels (how much oxygen is getting to your tissues).
For people with heart or lung conditions, measuring oxygen saturation regularly serves as an early warning system. If your levels are dropping, you can take steps to correct the situation or seek medical attention before it becomes too severe.
This measurement might also help you assess whether your current medical treatments are working.
Additionally, the device tracks your heart rate continuously throughout the day and features a stress monitor with guided breathing exercises for high stress moments.
As with other options on this list, you can use this watch to keep tabs on your sleep and activity levels and pair it with your smartphone to receive notifications.
The Vivosmart 5 has a battery life of up to 7 days and is water-resistant up to 164 ft (50 m).
- equipped with stress monitor and guided breathing exercises
- sleek, slim, and lightweight design
- has a smaller touch screen than some may prefer
- can be difficult to set up, according to reviewers
- Display: OLED display
- Style: smartwatch
- Waterproof rating: 5 ATM (about 50 m)
- App connectivity: Garmin Connect, iOS, Android
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: no
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
Best for people with heart conditions
- Battery life: up to 24 hours
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, heart rate, sleep metrics, distance, pace
- Sport modes: aerobics, biking, bootcamp, canoeing, circuit training, core training, cross-country skiing, CrossFit, dancing, elliptical, golf, HIIT, hike, indoor climbing, kayaking, kickboxing, martial arts, mountain biking, outdoor workout, paddleboarding, Pilates, powerlifting, rollerblading, rowing machine, running, skating, skiing, snowboarding, spinning, sport, stair climber, strength training, surfing, swim, tennis, treadmill, walk, weightlifting, weights, workout, yoga
- Price: $$$
Healthline's review
The Google Pixel Watch is billed as Googles most accurate heart rate tracking watch (Google owns Fitbit). This model tracks heart rate once per second.
In certain regions (including the United States and Canada), the Pixel offers electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring, which detects irregular heart rhythms. It uses an electrical sensor that requires you to touch your finger to the crown of the watch for the duration of the EKG reading.
The heart rate data also informs a Daily Readiness Score, which tells users whether its best to rest or work out on a certain day.
The Pixel watch has a built-in blood oxygen sensor that dropped in 2023.
Like most other smartwatches, the Google Pixel Watch tracks:
- steps
- calories
- GPS
- sleep
- different types of workouts
Its also water- and scratch-resistant and has 4G LTE capabilities, so it can function as a phone.
I havent had a smartwatch before, but had previously used the Fitbit 4. I wanted the same fitness tracking ability, but enhanced with additional smartwatch benefits. I chose the Pixel watch because I already have (and love) the Pixel phone and had purchased the Pixel Buds Pro.
Having all three seamlessly interact was a major plus, as was the fact that Google purchased Fitbit, so the familiar abilities, and interaction with my existing Fitbit profile, would persist. The watch is comfortable and stylish.
I would recommend it for anyone who wants a smartwatch that is also a pretty solid fitness tracker. Its particularly good for someone who already has other Google products.
Theres a bit of a learning curve for getting all the apps you want, setting up your screen, navigating, and synching it with phone and earbuds, but its fairly quick to set up the basics and get going.
It includes two differently sized bands, and each has enough options to ensure it could fit most wrists.
Laramy Applekamp, Content Project Manager
- sophisticated and accurate heart rate tracking
- 4G LTE for access to apps when not connected to Wi-Fi
- blood oxygen sensor
- Display: AMOLED touch screen
- Style: smartwatch
- Waterproof rating: 5 ATM (about 50 m)
- App connectivity: Google app suite Spotify, Pandora, Fitbit
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: yes
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Battery life: up to 14 days
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, heart rate, distance, pace, stress, sleep metrics, menstrual tracking
- Sport modes: cardio, elliptical, stair stepping, yoga, pool swimming, track running, virtual running
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
The Garmin Forerunner 55, which is geared toward runners, offers the following features:
- GPS capabilities
- coaching plans
- an activity tracker
- safety features in case you get into an accident
And all this is in addition to continuous heart rate tracking on your wrist.
The watch will alert you if your heart rate appears to be too low or too high while at rest.
As a bonus, its a smaller, lightweight watch thats designed to feel comfortable during long runs.
The Forerunner 55 connects to your phone, allowing you to receive notifications and control your music. It has a waterproof rating of up to 164 ft (50 m), so you can even swim in it.
According to the company, the watch has a battery life of up to 2 weeks with regular use. However, if you use the Forerunner 55 with continuous GPS, youll likely have to charge it after 20 hours.
- built-in GPS
- safety features such as incident detection
- several activity modes, including running
- relatively short battery life with continuous GPS use
- certain displays can be hard to read, according to reviewers
- doesn't have a touch screen, which some people may prefer
- Display: sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
- Style: smartwatch
- Waterproof rating: 5 ATM
- App connectivity: Garmin Connect, iOS, Android
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: no
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Battery life: up to 14 days
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, distance, pace, stress
- Sport modes: 150+ sport modes, including outdoor running, treadmill, walking, indoor walking, outdoor cycling, pool swimming, rowing machine, and elliptical
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
Featuring more than 150 sports modes and a built-in GPS, the Amazfit GTR4 is a great option for athletes and gym-goers alike.
The sports modes include:
- running
- cycling
- swimming
- hiking
- dancing
- basketball
The GTR4 can even automatically recognize eight sports without you selecting one first.
Like many other smartwatches, its water-resistant up to 164 ft (50 m), so it can be worn in the shower or pool and used to track swims.
It includes one-tap measuring for four health metrics:
- heart rate
- blood oxygen saturation
- stress levels
- breathing rate
Its also equipped with Alexa and an offline voice assistant and has an extra-long battery life of up to 14 days after a full charge.
The Zepp app (which was previously called Amazfit) records daily exercise and notes any changes. This can be helpful for early detection of health issues.
However, some reviewers note that syncing the app and the watch can be tricky, especially if the watch is not fully charged.
- long battery life
- more than 150 sports modes
- equipped with Alexa and offline voice assistant
- does not allow users to reply to text messages
- some reports of negative experiences with customer service
- syncs with Zepp app, which many customers describe as difficult to use
- Display: AMOLED touch screen
- Style: smartwatch
- Waterproof rating: 5 ATM (about 50 m)
- App connectivity: Alexa, Zepp, iOS and Android
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: no
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: no
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Battery life: up to 10 days
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, speed, distance, active time, heart rate, steps, sleep quality
- Sport modes: outdoor running, indoor running, outdoor walking, indoor walking, indoor cycling, outdoor cycling, yoga, rowing
- Price: $
Healthline's review
Hundreds of budget-friendly fitness watches are available for less than $50, but this one stands out due to its:
- quality
- sleek design
- numerous positive reviews
In addition to 24/7 heart rate monitoring, the Willful Smart Watch offers:
- sleep and activity tracking
- phone notifications
- menstrual cycle tracking
- reminders to move regularly
The device is also waterproof, although it doesnt track swimming metrics.
Many reviewers comment on the excellent battery life. One mentions that after about 2 days of regular use, the battery charge was still at 60%.
- affordable
- includes nine sports modes
- features extra-long battery life
- not compatible with tablets or PC
- offers fewer features than other smartwatches
- doesn't track swimming metrics
- Display: touch screen
- Style: smartwatch
- Waterproof rating: IP68
- App connectivity: FunKeep
- Built-in GPS: no
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: no
- Returns: returns within 30 days
- Shipping: free shipping
- Battery life: 23 days
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, blood pressure, distance, pace, sleep metrics
- Sport modes: none
- Price: $$$
Healthline's review
The Omron HeartGuide is one of the few smartwatches on the market that tracks blood pressure. In fact, its one of the first to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a blood pressure tracking tool.
The watch tracks your heart rate and displays your data in easy-to-read graphs on the accompanying app. Its a reliable option for older adults or people concerned with their overall heart health.
In addition to continuous heart rate monitoring, the Omron HeartGuide includes sleep and activity trackers.
While its designed for people with heart concerns, the Omron HeartGuide is easy to use and is a great choice if youre seeking a heart rate watch thats simple to use and has a more classic design.
The battery lasts 23 days with regular use. Just keep in mind that the Omron HeartGuide isnt water-resistant and shouldnt be worn in a pool, in the shower, or while washing dishes.
- monitors blood pressure
- easy to use
- FDA-approved
- not water-resistant
- some reports of issues with accuracy
- may be too bulky for daily use
- Display: transflective memory-in-pixel LCD
- Style: smartwatch
- Water resistance: none
- App connectivity: Omron Connect, HeartGuide
- Built-in GPS: no
- Smart notifications: no
- Music control: no
- Mobile payments: no
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Battery life: up to 18 hours
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, heart rate, sleep metrics, distance, pace, blood oxygen levels, body temperature, menstrual cycle tracking
- Sport modes: walking, running, cycling, elliptical, rower, stair stepper, HIIT, hiking, yoga, functional strength training, dance, cooldown, core training, Pilates, tai chi, swimming, wheelchair, multisport, other
- Price: $$$
Healthline's review
Though its pricier than many other smartwatches on the market, the Apple Watch Series 8 is packed with useful features and may be well worth the investment for some.
In addition to continuous heart rate monitoring, the Apple Watch offers:
- sleep tracking
- blood oxygen readings
- guided meditations
- music control
- fall detection
- fitness tracking
It can also take an EKG reading, which may help detect early signs of a health condition known as atrial fibrillation (AFib).
It can connect with your iPhone and sync to a variety of apps, including many popular health and fitness apps.
The Series 8 has a larger touch screen than previous versions and an always-on retina display, making it easy to check the time without touching the screen or raising your wrist.
While the heart rate monitoring is the same on the Series 7 and 8, the 8 has additional features, including more robust temperature sensors that can help track ovulation and menstruation, and crash detection in the event of a car accident.
Plus, its water-resistant up to 164 ft (50 m) and boasts a battery life of up to 18 hours on a single charge. The Series 8 also has a Low Power Mode that allows the battery to stay charged for up to 36 hours.
According to Apple, the battery can reach an 80% charge in just 45 minutes, thanks to its fast-charge feature.
- charges very quickly
- available with cellular connectivity and GPS
- equipped with a long list of features and functions
- requires an iPhone to use
- same battery life as previous version
- expensive
- Display: retina display
- Style: smartwatch
- Waterproof rating: up to 164 ft (50 m)
- App connectivity: Apple app suite, Spotify, Pandora
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: yes
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Battery life: up to 40 hours
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, heart rate, distance, pace, sleep metrics, cardio and muscle loads
- Sport modes: 130+ modes, including cycling, running, swimming, and fitness
- Price: $$$
Healthline's review
The accuracy of heart rate monitoring watches has improved with time, but chest straps are still considered the gold standard in research.
Polar makes both a chest and a wrist strap for its core device. You can purchase the Vantage V2 with the Polar H10 chest strap for even more precise heart rate readings plus personalized feedback and suggestions to support post-workout recovery.
The Vantage V2 is equipped with more than 130 sports modes, including:
It not only tracks your heart rate but also estimates your cardio and muscle loads while you train to help you optimize your workout.
It also features:
- guided breathing exercises
- sleep tracking
- music control
- push notifications from your smartphone
Additionally, its waterproof up to 328 ft (100 m), includes built-in GPS, and syncs with a variety of fitness and health apps.
- waterproof to greater depth than all others on this list up to 328 ft (100 m)
- provides personalized training recommendations
- lightweight and comfortable
- can be paired with a chest strap for precise heart rate readings
- expensive
- some customer reports that the strap may irritate sensitive skin
- lacks some features of other smartwatches, including contactless payments and music storage
- Display: color touch screen
- Style: smartwatch
- Water resistance: up to 328 ft (100 m)
- App connectivity: iOS, Android
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: no
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Battery life: up to 40 hours
- Metrics tracked: calories burned, steps, heart rate, distance, pace, sleep metrics, oxygen saturation
- Sport modes: 90+ modes, including running, hiking, cycling, yoga, and weightlifting
- Price: $$$
Healthline's review
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 integrates seamlessly with Strava, a popular tracking app among cyclists. This makes it a suitable choice if you prefer to stay active on a bike.
The Galaxy Watch 5 continuously displays your heart rate and will notify you if it detects a heart rate thats too low or too high.
One distinguishing feature is that it can function as a smartphone if you have an Android device since it offers:
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
- LTE connectivity
The watch is also lightweight and water-resistant up to 5 ft (1.5 m).
The battery life is about 40 hours, though it will be less with continuous workout monitoring or the always on display enabled.
- highly responsive touch screen
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and LTE connectivity
- sleek and durable design
- shorter battery life than some other smartwatches
- not compatible with iPhone
- limited watch faces available
- Display: color AMOLED
- Style: smartwatch
- Waterproof rating: 5 ATM (about 50 m)
- App connectivity: Android, YouTube Music, Bixby
- Built-in GPS: yes
- Smart notifications: yes
- Music control: yes
- Mobile payments: yes
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
Heres a quick look at how our top picks compare:
Healthline assembled this list based on the following criteria:
- Functionality: We included watches that measure heart rate while offering other valuable features, such as sleep tracking and fitness tracking.
- Reviews: The watches on this list have mostly positive customer reviews.
- Suitability for specific needs: We considered watches designed for certain populations, such as athletes and people with heart conditions.
- Price: We included watches at various price points to suit different budgets.
- Vetting: The watches on our list have been vetted to ensure they align with Healthlines brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. You can read more about our vetting process.
With so many options available, choosing a reliable heart rate monitor watch can be overwhelming.
The Fitbit Versa 4 is our top pick because it features 24/7 heart rate monitoring. It tracks your heart health over time and displays your current heart rate, whether resting or exercising.
Furthermore, it shows your metrics on the main screen, so you dont have to navigate elsewhere.
Still, you may want to consider other factors, such as:
- cost
- customer reviews
- features
Very few smartwatches only measure heart rate. Most connect to your phone, and many offer features for athletes, such as GPS and activity tracking, or for people with heart or lung conditions, such as blood pressure and oxygen saturation monitoring.
Alternatively, if youre looking for the most accurate heart rate readings possible for example, to help
In addition to telling you how your body responds to your exercise routine, keeping tabs on your resting heart rate can help you detect heart issues early to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Dr. Dia Smiley, a cardiologist in New York City, notes that monitoring your heart rate can detect issues, such as irregular heart rhythm and fast and slow heart rates, even if symptoms are not obvious or present yet.
Smiley also says that if you have a history of heart issues such as AFib (atrial fibrillation), checking your heart rate can help identify an arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat.
Some heart rate monitoring watches, including those from the following brands, have technology that can detect irregular heart rhythms:
Using a heart rate monitor during exercise
Plus, knowing how often and how long youre exercising at a heart rate close to your maximum heart rate can help you
Several factors can affect the accuracy of heart rate monitoring watches, including the:
- specific brand
- your activity level
- the position of the sensors on your skin
Though heart rate monitoring watches arent as precise as medical devices such as electrode-containing chest monitors, theyre generally accurate and can be a useful tool to help track your heart rate.
Smartwatches can be helpful for identifying certain heart issues.
Dr. Nick West, chief medical officer and divisional vice president atAbbotts vascular business, notes that heart rate monitoring watches may help detect abnormally fast or irregular heart rhythms, including AFib.
According to West, There are early reports of smartwatches picking up early signs of heart attack from analyzed changes in electrical activity. However, he also says this technology is still being developed.
According to the American Heart Association, a typical resting heart rate for healthy adults is in the range of 60100 beats per minute.
However, your resting heart rate can vary based on many factors, such as:
- age
- sex
- physical fitness level
- health status
If AFib or an irregular heart rate is your primary concern, youll want to pick a smartwatch that can specifically detect an irregular heartbeat.
Some devices, such as the following models, can be more reliable since they have FDA clearance for AFib notifications:
- Apple Watch
- Fitbit
- Google Pixel Watch (which uses Fitbit technology)
Heart rate monitor watches are available to fit every budget and need.
In addition to price, youll want to factor in:
- available features
- battery life
- customer reviews
While the options in this article are one place to start, if your main priority is the accuracy of your heart rate reading, you may want to consider a chest strap monitor if that works for your body type instead.
Regardless of which device you choose, its important to alert a healthcare professional to any concerns you may have about your heart rate data.
