·Apple Watch

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Excels in Heart Rate and Sleep Tracking Accuracy, New Test Reveals

A recent in-depth analysis by bioinformatics scientist Rob ter Horst has put the Apple Watch Ultra 2's health monitoring capabilities to the test, specifically focusing on its heart rate and sleep tracking accuracy. The results, benchmarked against popular devices from Garmin, Whoop, and Samsung, position Apple's flagship wearable as a top performer.

In the video published on his YouTube channel, "The Quantified Scientist," the researcher evaluated an Apple Watch Ultra 2 running a watchOS 26 Beta version. The primary goal was to measure its data accuracy against specialized, professional-grade equipment.

During indoor running tests, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 demonstrated remarkable precision, with its heart rate data nearly mirroring the readings from a Polar H10 chest strap, which served as the reference device. The deviations were minimal compared to its competitors. The Whoop MG had a deviation of about 6%, the Garmin Forerunner 570 was off by 7%, the Garmin Fenix 7 by 9%, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 showed a 3% deviation.

Indoor testing


The Ultra 2's superior performance was even more pronounced in outdoor running and cycling tests. While the Apple Watch remained close to the reference values, competitors struggled more. For instance, the Forerunner 570's deviation reached 12% during cycling, and the Whoop MG's deviation exceeded 15%.

However, the researcher noted a limitation common to most wrist-based wearables. In activities involving significant wrist strain, such as weightlifting, a chest strap remains the more reliable option for stable heart rate detection. The Ultra 2, like its peers, may struggle to maintain accuracy under these conditions.

In the sleep tracking analysis, the test used the Hypnodyne ZMax, an EEG-based device, as the benchmark. Compared to this professional equipment, the Ultra 2 achieved an accuracy of approximately 73% for REM and deep sleep stages, and an impressive 86.5% for light sleep. This places it at the forefront of the wearable market, even slightly outperforming the Oura Gen 4 smart ring. In contrast, devices from Samsung, Whoop 4.0, and the Garmin Fenix 7 were significantly less accurate in this test.

In conclusion, this scientific test highlights the Apple Watch Ultra 2's exceptional capabilities in health monitoring. For activities like running and cycling, its heart rate accuracy is nearly on par with a dedicated chest strap, and its sleep stage analysis is among the best in the consumer wearable space, outclassing many of its main rivals.

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