If every smartwatch has one feature you need, it’s a heart rate monitor. Basic heart rate monitoring is fun for everyone, even without additional sensors like ECG and EDA sensors. By tracking your heart rate daily, you can know when you need to slow things down and when you need to talk to your doctor. For those looking for the best heart rate monitor watch, we’ve put together your favorite picks.
Track your heart rate with these watches
If you want the best Android smartwatch, Galaxy Watch 4 has been at the top of the list since it was announced and released in 2021. It’s currently the only smartwatch that combines Google’s best software with Samsung’s top-notch hardware. Also, this is the only option if you need WearOS 3 as other Android smartwatches are still waiting to receive updates.
But when it comes to heart rate monitor watches, the Galaxy Watch 4 is great here as well. Since its launch, the ability to monitor heart rate has been possible, but a software update in late 2021 introduced a new algorithm. There were some complaints about inconsistent measurements and results, but the new accuracy algorithm seems to have cleared many of them.
Other health and fitness features in the Galaxy Watch 4 Series include built-in ECG and blood pressure monitoring.The former is available in most regions, while the latter has recently become available in Canada. (Opens in a new tab) But still awaiting proper approval in the United States
When Fitbit Sense was released, I was amazed at its exorbitant price tag compared to other of the best Fitbit wearables. But all we needed to change our minds was to look at the various health and fitness tracking sensors packed into this wearable.
Not only can Fitbit Sense track your heart rate, it also monitors your heart’s rhythm thanks to the ECG sensor. To keep the heart healthy and reduce stress levels, skin electrical sensors take a closer look at the heart and how it works throughout the various activities it performs. Fitbit has gone so far as to implement a skin temperature sensor, so you can tell if your body temperature is too high.
From a hardware perspective, Fitbit Sense looks like a home run. Unfortunately, you’ll need to sign up for Fitbit Premium to get the most out of the features Sense offers. There are still many reasons to consider Sense, but if you need a complete experience, you need to remember it.
Polar is well known for providing the best smartwatches for runners on the market. And with the company’s new Pacer Pro, this is easily one of the best smartwatches we’ve seen. This is definitely aimed at people who love data points and need almost every metric. We have found that the battery life is very long, with GPS enabled for up to 7 days, or 35 hours.
The advantage of Polar over its competitors is its ease of use. As mentioned in our review, the lack of a touch screen is not a downside, as it is more reliable and easier to navigate, thanks to the five buttons on the outside of the watch. However, Pacer Pro is a bit lacking when it comes to tracking actual health and fitness, so it’s at the bottom of this list.
No extra sensors such as blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor or ECG sensor can be found. It also cannot track potential AFib issues. Designed with runners in mind, Polar Pacer Pro offers a different approach than “traditional” smartwatches that rely on hardware buttons.
The main reason for including Venu2S and Venu2Plus in this list is battery life. Venu 2S lasts up to 10 days on a single charge, or 19 hours with GPS enabled, while Venu 2 Plus lasts 8 hours. Garmin continues to impress with the new smartwatches and fitness trackers, which continues with the Venu2S.
Thanks to the Garmin app, you can track over 25 different workout modes and over 1,600 different exercises. For health tracking, Venu 2S provides 24/7 heart rate monitoring, informing you to take a step back and perform breathing exercises.
Unfortunately, the Venu 2S can’t answer messages or make phone calls, so a long battery life and lightweight design is costly. If you need or need Garmin to do both, Venu 2 Plus may be a good choice, but Venu 2S is a great option for everyone else.
Unlike some of the other options on this list, you can’t pair your Apple Watch Series 7 with an external heart rate sensor. However, we cannot deny the variety of health and fitness benefits that Apple wearables offer. In particular, Series 7 offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, resting heart rate, cardio fitness, and even built-in ECG to detect potential heart problems.
Battery life is a fact that we continue to complain about, but Apple has tried to implement various features to make up for it. This includes Always-on Display, the ability to display Apple’s activity widgets on the Home Screen, and more.
You can use Apple’s own Health app on your iPhone, but the company works with some of the best fitness app developers to provide seamless integration. That way, you can synchronize your workout data across platforms without worrying too much about headaches.
Not surprisingly, the biggest drawback of the Apple Watch is that you requirement iPhone. It doesn’t work at all on the best Android smartphones, but you can always get an iPhone SE (2022), an old replay iPhone, etc. just to set up everything.
Unless you are familiar with the world of fitness smartwatches, you may not be able to recognize the Amazfit brand. However, the company has steadily pushed out new and exciting wearables over the past few years. The company’s flagship product, the GTR 3 Pro, allows the fitness tracking department to combine minimalist design with a lot of “cozy”.
Built into the GTR 3 Pro, you can choose from over 150 different sport modes in addition to monitoring your heart rate. As you can see in the review, it provides a “less than 10% deviation” compared to Series 7. However, Amazfit makes it easy to share your workout data with third-party fitness apps such as Google Fit.
GTR 3 Pro has many other features, including a digital assistant, thanks to Amazon Alexa. However, many third-party apps cannot be downloaded to the watch itself. In addition, the included band is not suitable for those who want to go running or go to the gym.
Not all smartwatches are created the same
There are so many different smartwatches and fitness trackers on the market that you can spin your head. When deciding which heart rate monitor watch is right for you, it’s important to know exactly what you’re trying to track. Of course, heart rate monitoring is important, but some smartwatches offer different features than others.
For this reason, I chose Galaxy Watch 4 as the best one. Samsung regularly pushes updates on its flagship smartwatch to ensure that it not only improves the overall experience, but also ensures the best possible health and fitness tracking indicators. There are many first-party and third-party bands to switch between. If your regular Watch 4 is too small to fit your taste, there is always a Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with the same sensor and the same great software experience.