Garmin was relatively late to the party when it first received approval for its ECG app in 2023, but the feature has expanded considerably since then.

Initially, only the Garmin Venu 2 Plus supported it. However, the major health feature is now available on many top Garmin watches.

Following significant updates in January and April 2025, the previously limited availability in certain regions has also been rectified. In addition to the US, the Garmin ECG feature is now available in the UK, EU, and Australia.

This explainer outlines where users can access the ECG feature and identifies which watches are equipped with the necessary hardware. We’ve also answered whether the health spot-check will roll out to more watches and regions throughout 2025. Let’s jump in.

• What is an ECG – and the best watches with the health feature

Garmin ECG: Compatible watches

The list of Garmin watches compatible with the ECG app is relatively limited. Given that the feature rolled out via an update to some of the models below, the software version is also a factor. 

Read our guide on updating your Garmin if this is a prerequisite for accessing the ECG app.

• Garmin Fenix 8 (all versions) – software version 11.28 or newer
• Garmin Enduro 3 – software version 11.28 or newer
• Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 (all versions) – software version 14.68 or newer
• Garmin Fenix 7 Pro (all versions) – software version 14.68 or newer
• Forerunner 970 – software version 5.02 or newer
• Garmin Quatix 7 Pro – software version 14.68 or newer
• Garmin Tactix 7 (AMOLED Edition) – software version 14.68 or newer
• Garmin D2 Mach 1 Pro – software version 14.68 or newer
• Garmin Venu 2 Plus – software version 11.21 or newer
• Garmin Venu 3/3S – software version 7.07 or newer

Will ECG be rolled out to more Garmin watches in an upcoming update?

If you’re hoping your existing Garmin watch will receive support for the feature in the future, we’re here to disappoint you. 

As confirmed to DC Rainmaker in January 2023, only certain watches have the necessary hardware to perform ECGs.

The tell-tale sign is the small ring around the edge of the optical HR sensor on the rear, where the watch’s bezel meets the user’s fingers, and the connecting wire is also visible.

New releases of Garmin’s more premium sports watches (and smartwatches) will likely feature support as standard, but it’s not something that the company can necessarily reverse engineer. 

Where is Garmin’s ECG app available?

Garmin’s ECG feature is now available in many countries, including most major European Union nations, the UK, and the United States. We’ve listed the entire group below, but there are also a couple of notable exceptions: Canada and New Zealand.

• Australia 
• EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Hong Kong 
• Indonesia 
• Malaysia 
• Philippines 
• Singapore 
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• American Samoa 
• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 
• Guam 
• Puerto Rico 
• US Virgin Islands 
• Vietnam 

Top tip: A quirk of Garmin ECG compatibility is that it will be enabled on a watch if you visit one of the countries listed above and set it up. It won’t be removed if you return to a non-supported country.

Will the Garmin ECG app roll out to more countries?

At the time of release, Garmin stated the following regarding the extended rollout of the app: “Garmin intends to continue expanding its portfolio of products supporting the ECG App and launch it in new regions, subject to necessary regulatory approval.”

Since then, we’ve had a breakthrough for the feature in the EU, UK, and Australia.

Following this development, it’s likely that the required regulatory approval and rollout to Canada, as well as other countries in the EU and ROW, will occur in 2025. However, Garmin tends to do these things at its own pace. So, watch this space.

How the Garmin ECG app works

The ECG app functions similarly to other watches.

You’ll need to set it up in Garmin Connect first, though—as shown above. This will serve as the hub for historical data and the location to export individual readings as PDFs (for example, to a doctor).

The app will appear on the regular list alongside exercise modes on the watch. From there, users can receive a reading by placing their index finger and thumb on the metal edge of the case for 30 seconds.

Currently, Garmin’s ECG functionality is limited to on-the-spot readings, which help distinguish between normal sinus rhythms and signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib).

The post Garmin ECG app: Compatible watches, countries and how it works appeared first on Wareable.

Smart rings are booming and here to stay. However, their newfound popularity has increased competition, making it incredibly challenging to choose between top options.

Nowadays, most smart rings feature a more discreet design and superior health insights than smartwatches. In 2025, we expect brands such as Oura, Samsung, and Ultrahuman to push the envelope even further.

We continue to rate the Oura Ring 4 as the best smart ring available right now. However, due to its mandatory subscription, it’s also an expensive option.

This means that the Ultrahuman Ring Air, RingConn Gen 2, and Samsung Galaxy Ring are great alternatives to the Oura. We were impressed by all of them during testing.

Read on for our first-hand testing summaries of the best smart rings, along with advice on choosing between them.

New smart rings that may launch in 2025

CES 2025 in January represented a bumper show for smart rings, and a host of new options are coming to market in 2025.

The most notable is the Circular Ring 2, which adds ECG and a much more premium design than the original Circular Ring. That’s interesting for those looking for heart health insights.

In February 2025, RingConn also followed up its impressive Gen 2 effort with a Gen 2 Air. Arriving in March, this could be the best budget ring of 2025. However, we’ll reserve that judgment until we’ve completed testing.

We also got one eye on the Velia Ring, a super-interesting crowdfunding project that has unfortunately left backers furious after constant delays. The Velia is insanely slim compared to Oura and others, and we were bowled over when we tried it on at CES.

Still, we can’t vouch for its accuracy or whether it will ever ship beyond its backers. April 2025 is what the founders told us, but that has now come and gone. Watch this space.

Confirmed smart ring launches for 2025:

• Circular Ring 2 (release date TBC)
• RingConn Gen 2 Air (pre-orders open; 21 March release date)

Smart rings that are due to launch in 2025:

• Ultrahuman Ring Air 2
• Samsung Galaxy Ring 2
• Amazfit Helio 2
• Velia Ring

Smart rings: All the FAQs

At a glance: The top smart rings we’ve tested

• Our top recommendation: Oura Ring 4
• The best pick for workout tracking: Samsung Galaxy Ring
• A top Oura alternative: Ultrahuman Ring Air
• For excellent smart ring battery life: RingConn Gen 2
• The best medical smart ring: Prevention Circul+

How we test smart rings:

Unlike most sites, Wareable has been testing smart rings since the early days, so we have extensive experience. We wear and compare smart rings constantly, and testing never stops. Each has been worn for months to assess how the data compares regarding tracking accuracy and long-term insights.

Best recommended smart rings from our reviews

Oura Ring 4

Price: From $349 + $5.99 a month subscription (ships globally) | Oura Store

• Weight: 3-4 grams (depending on size)
• Sensors: PPG, skin temperature, accelerometer, IR sensor to check alignment
• Color options: Silver, brushed titanium, matte black, stealth black, rose gold, gold

The Oura Ring 4 is the best smart ring money can buy, although it’s also the most expensive. Starting at $349/£349, it also requires a $5.99/£4.99 monthly subscription to access all the juicy sleep and long-term health insights. If that outlay makes you balk, then consider the RingConn Gen 2, Ultrahuman Ring Air, or Galaxy Ring listed below.

The Oura app is the most polished we’ve used. Its sleep-tracking accuracy is also exceptional, supported by consistent success in clinical trials. In addition to sleep tracking, it monitors readiness, stress, and activity, providing daily updates on core vitals, including breathing rate, heart rate, and body temperature.

• Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring Gen 3 – the differences explained

The latest updates to the Oura app have also shifted the focus to tracking health over time, including stress resistance, cardio fitness, cardio age, and how your sleep patterns align with your circadian rhythm. The app is also starting to track metabolic health. If you log meals using its AI identification algorithm, it will also assess your meal regularity.

We love Oura—but it might not be right for you

Few wearables (perhaps only Whoop) can match its simplicity, focus, and actionability. We believe it justifies the $5.99 subscription if you crave something beyond the typical, mind-melding historical graphs of countless metrics. If you don’t, the expense of Oura makes little sense. The thinner build and longer battery of RingConn 2 and Galaxy Ring are better options.

Our only key gripe with the Oura Ring 4 is its size. The brand didn’t slim down the profile for its latest generation. So, while it’s lighter and more comfortable than Gen 3, it’s much bigger than its rivals. Again, if you want the thinnest ring, Oura Ring 4 isn’t it.

• Read our Oura Ring 4 review for detailed analysis

RingConn Gen 2

Price: $299 | RingConn

• Weight: 2-3g (depending on size)
• Sensors: PPG, SpO2, skin temperature, accelerometer
• Color options: Future Silver, Matte Black, Royal Gold

Despite only shipping its Gen 1 smart ring to crowdfunding backers in early 2024, RingConn quickly followed up with a second-gen option last summer. The Gen 2’s incredibly light and thin design makes it arguably the best smart ring to own from a comfort perspective.

It’s also the undisputed battery champion. In the right settings, it can last 10-12 days on a single charge (up from the debut model’s seven-day battery life).

The design alone makes it a serious alternative to Oura and Samsung. RingConn has dropped the weight to around 2-3g (depending on your ring size), and the 2mm thickness makes it the slimmest on the market. This adds up to a feel in daily use and sleep tracking that’s as close to a regular ring as we’ve ever experienced.

Our only design concern during testing has been durability. Like most matte black rings, the edges have picked up slight signs of wear. RingConn is far from the only manufacturer to suffer from this, but it is worth keeping in mind when choosing your finish.

• RingConn 2 vs Oura Ring 4

Like the first iteration, the Gen 2 ring produces accurate sleep, health, and basic activity insights. We found that only the sleep apnea feature has a significant impact on battery life.

How does the experience stack up?

While this data is mostly acceptable, we still have reservations about the companion app. It doesn’t exhibit the same level of polish or unique insights as a platform like Oura, and the endless graphs make it feel more like a data hub rather than a cohesive companion that fosters behavior change or provides valuable insights.

For many people, that will be just fine. But the best wearables make data actionable, and you’ll have to do much of that yourself with RingConn.

Still, with a price tag that undercuts rivals, no added subscription fees, and a nifty charging case that effectively gives you 15-20 charging cycles, the RingConn Gen 2 is a tough smart ring to argue against.

• Check out our full RingConn Gen 2 review

Samsung Galaxy Ring

Price: $399/£399 | Samsung

• Color options: Silver/Black/Gold
• Weight: 2.3-3 grams
• Sensors: Skin temp, PPG, accelerometer

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is a fantastic first-generation effort from Samsung. While not as insightful as Oura Ring 4, the Galaxy Ring gets sleep accuracy and activity tracking bang on.

The ring is Android-only, features a handy charging case, and comes at a pretty lofty price of $399. That’s more than the standard version of Oura’s Gen 4 ring, but, remember, Samsung’s offering doesn’t require a subscription.

Sleep is a huge focus of the Galaxy Ring, and this is backed up with nifty sleep coaching. Its chronotype feature characterizes your sleep patterns with an animal that exemplifies your habits. You can then work on improving specific areas of your sleep habits, making it feel actionable.

• Samsung Galaxy Ring vs Oura Ring

Samsung’s Energy Score is central to the experience; we found its daily figures, based on your sleep, HRV, and heart rate, to be responsive and intelligent. Additionally, the Galaxy AI provides insights into high or low scores.

Exercise heart rate was also better than any smart ring we’ve tested. However, we recommend ignoring the automatic workout detection and starting workouts manually via the app (and taking your smartphone).

Where does it rank?

So, why isn’t this the best smart ring to buy in 2025? You don’t get as many insights as Oura and Ultrahuman, even if Samsung covers the core experience just as well.

Recommending the Galaxy Ring to existing Galaxy smartwatch users is also problematic, as it offers no distinct advantages over the company’s existing smartwatches. In fact, it does much less, as it does not provide ECG, BIA, or blood pressure insights.

We also had some concerns over inaccurate SpO2 scores from our testing. Still, for a Gen 1 product, Samsung has got a lot right here. A follow-up in 2025 is uncertain, with no credible rumors indicating a release currently.

• Check out our full Samsung Galaxy Ring review

Ultrahuman Ring Air

Price: $349 / £329 / €325 | Ultrahuman

• Weight: 2.4g-3.6g (depending on size)
• Sensors: PPG, SpO2, skin temperature, accelerometer
• Color options: Aster Black, Matte Grey, Bionic Gold, and Space Silver

The Ultrahuman Ring Air is the company’s second-generation smart ring. At just 2.4 g, it’s lighter and smaller than its predecessor, making it more comfortable to wear. However, since its release in June 2023, rivals are beginning to surpass its design and feature capabilities.

• Ultrahuman Ring Air vs. RingConn Gen 2

It primarily focuses on sleep, recovery, and stress tracking, with Ultrahuman placing a significant emphasis on analyzing circadian rhythms, managing stimulants, and promoting healthy wind-down times. The “Adenosine Clearance Window” is particularly interesting, as it guides you on when to drink coffee, and the circadian clock advises when to get light and take a walk.

Some of the metrics can feel a bit raw, and the app isn’t quite as well-designed as Oura, but it’s a solid work-in-progress. There’s also a recovery score that tracks metrics such as resting heart rate, HRV, and body temperature. These are compared to established baseline scores, and there’s a traffic light system to show if these are outside of your norms. Additionally, there are women’s health tracking features that utilize biometric sensors to monitor the menstrual cycle.

The rest of the Ultrahuman experience + price

The Ultrahuman app also features a glucose component, which integrates with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) when you purchase its M1 sensor package. Ultrahuman also supports ‘PowerPlugs’ (a range of apps and integrations), a jet lag advisor, an AFib detection feature, and partnerships for blood marker detection. So, it’s an experience that’s quickly expanding.

The Ring Air costs $349 / £329 / €325 without ongoing subscriptions, making it a good alternative to Oura in terms of cost. The metrics you get are similar, but slightly less polished than Oura’s right now.

• Check out our full review of the Ultrahuman Ring Air

Prevention Circul+

Price: $299 | Bodimetrics

• Weight: 4.9 grams
• Sensors: Blood Pressure, ECG, Oximetry, Heart Rate, Temperature
• Color options: Silver, black, rose gold

We’ve seen ECG sensors on smartwatches and fitness trackers, but now Bodimetrics (in partnership with Prevention) has also put that tech into a smart ring. It’s received FDA approval for its blood oxygen tracking—and, crucially, across all skin tones.

This clever ring tracks more than ECG. Once calibrated with a cuff monitor, it measures blood pressure too. It promises heart rate accuracy of ±2 bpm compared to medical-grade monitoring and ±3% accuracy for SpO2 monitoring as well.

Comparing the data from a blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, and other ECG wearables revealed good accuracy. However, its bulky design makes it suitable only for medical-grade tracking and condition management, not for daily activity monitoring.

The data is effectively presented but lacks actionable insights, as it mainly emphasizes vitals. If you need to monitor ECG and heart rate due to a medical condition, it serves that purpose. However, unlike consumer devices, it doesn’t indicate if you’re stressed, overtraining, or nearing your period.

What we liked

There’s more to sleep monitoring, allowing you to capture sleep duration, sleep stages (including REM time), heart rate, baseline skin temperature, and SpO2 levels, including an oxygen desaturation index.

The data seemed very reliable overall. Additionally, it can be stored freely in the app and cloud, and shared with doctors and healthcare professionals. However, with only 16 hours of battery life, you need to choose when to monitor statistics.

• Read our Prevention Circul+ review

Circular Ring Slim

$275 / £225 | Circular

• Weight: 2 grams
• Sensors: PPG sensor, bioimpedance sensor, accelerometer
• Color options: Black

Update, May 2025: Circular has recently released the Ring 2. We’ll keep the entry below intact until our full Ring 2 review is published, though we recommend holding off on the Slim.

Smart ring startup Circular offers one of the industry’s thinnest and lightest rings, the $275 / £225 Circular Ring Slim. Although we were critical in our initial review, the company released an updated version in June 2024 that addressed many of our concerns about its scratch-resistant coating and water resistance.

It tips the scales at just 2g and measures 2.2mm thick. To put these specs into context, industry leader Oura’s Generation 3 Horizon model measures in at 2.55mm thick and clocks the scales at around 4-6g, while the Circular Ring Pro is 2.75mm and 4g.

The Circular Ring Slim features a three-axis accelerometer, temperature sensor, PPG sensor, and LEDs for monitoring various metrics, including breathing rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rate.

The insights provided by the Kira+ app do lag behind the likes of Ultrahuman and Oura, but the company has now released new algorithms for workout tracking. We’re putting those to the test to see how they stack up. But for now, it’s hard to recommend the Circular Ring Slim over rivals.

• Read our full Circular Ring Slim review

Movano Evie Ring 

Price: $269 | Movano

• Weight: 3.2-3.7g
• Sensors: PPG sensor, temperature sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope
• Color options: Silver, rose gold, black (coming soon)

The Movano Evie Ring is a female-focused smart ring – so it’s one of the rare wearables designed with women’s health in mind.

We published an early review that concluded buyers should avoid the smart ring until the technical issues and basic nature of the tracking and analysis improve. On 16 September 2024, it was relaunched with many of our criticisms seemingly addressed. We’ll retest this year to see if the problems have been overcome.

On paper, Evie packs a bold design and thin build, which should make it more wearable. And the Evie Ring is available in three colors: gold, silver, and rose gold.

It doesn’t hold back on features, either. The Movano Evie will measure heart rate, HRV, sleep, respiratory rate, temperature, and blood oxygen levels. It will also track mood and menstrual cycle symptoms (via user input) and aims to provide a holistic overview of health and activity through the Daily Summary window. 

Movano has sought FDA approval for its heart rate technology, which has not yet been awarded, demonstrating its commitment to accuracy.

• Read our early Movano Evie review

Amazfit Helio

$199/£149 | Amazfit

• Weight: 3.75-4g
• Color options: Titanium
• Sensors: PPG, accelerometer, temperature sensor, EDA sensor

We love the build and design of Helio; it’s one of our favorite smart rings to date, purely in terms of appearance and feel. The titanium alloy remained scratch-free throughout our weeks of testing, and it’s also slim and lightweight. Additionally, it is 10ATM water resistant.

The company has significantly reduced the price of the Helio Ring and completely revamped the app design, making it a more budget-friendly option for those looking to explore smart rings.

As of now, it is only available in US8, US10, and US12 sizes, but the main issue is that Helio does not offer much additional functionality. It provides data, such as readiness and recovery, to the Zepp Health app, along with sleep tracking metrics that are already included in the company’s smartwatches. Additionally, it will monitor sleep heart rate variability (HRV) and resting HR.

Our testing showed that the sleep data was significantly higher than that of the Whoop, Oura, and Apple Watch. Additionally, the insights provided are not as extensive as those of the similarly priced Ultrahuman, making it seem like a poor investment.

If you’re committed to Amazfit sports watches, this ring has the potential to serve as a great companion. Otherwise, proceed with caution.

• Read our full Amazfit Helio review

Smart ring specs compared

The post Best smart rings 2025: Oura, Samsung, and top alternatives tested appeared first on Wareable.

An afterthought by many brands over the last decade, accurate stress-tracking wearables with useful features and insights are finally here.

Household-name smartwatches and fitness trackers aren’t the only devices with helpful stress management features, either. Top smart rings, such as those from Oura, and versatile wearables like the Whoop 5.0/MG are leading the way in tracking body responses.

Yet, this remains a slightly murky area of tracking. With no definitive metric for stress, each brand presents it in a slightly different way. By testing stress trackers since 2015, we’ve found the best can identify triggers, prompt breathing exercises when needed, and affirm subjective interpretations.

Like activity trackers, stress monitors don’t do the work for you. However, they can be a powerful tool for gaining a better understanding of your body.

Below, we’ll detail the best stress trackers and features we’ve tried. You’ll also find tips on getting the most out of features and insight into stress management score calculations.

Quick view: The best stress trackers in this guide

• Oura Ring Gen 4
• Whoop 5.0/MG
• Google Fitbit
• Garmin
• Apple Watch
• Samsung Galaxy Watch

Oura

How Oura stress tracking works

Oura has two core stress-tracking features: Resilience and Daytime Stress. In tandem, these features make it our top recommendation for stress tracking.

We’ve covered each in separate guides and reviews, but, as a reference, Daytime Stress is the feature shown above. It uses HRV, motion, and body temperature to plot points throughout the day on a graph. This interprets the user’s balance between stress and restoration.

The algorithm learns your baselines, and we’ve found it to be on the money compared to our subjective feelings. It’s transformed our ability to understand what triggers responses, and an Oura feature we check in with daily.

If your focus is more long-term, Resilience is the feature for you. This analyzes the balance between stress and recovery in the last two weeks. It determines your resilience with a grading ranging from Limited to Exceptional.

This is less useful for understanding triggers. However, we’ve found it especially useful for spotting when recovery (usually sleep quality, in our case) has slipped. Alternatively, we sometimes notice a change following an uptick in daily stress (usually from not winding down adequately post-exercise).

The best Oura Ring for stress tracking

The Oura Ring 4 replaced the Gen 3 in 2024, but both can deliver the stress-tracking features noted above. That means you can’t go wrong if your priority is this area.

Yet, there are differences in other areas, which we’ve highlighted in this Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring 3 guide. We recommend checking them out before settling either way.

In short, the Gen 4 ring features a lighter design and better accuracy for workouts and overnight blood oxygen readings. Considering the price difference and the required Oura subscription, we think plenty are better off with a Gen 3 ring.

Whoop

How Whoop stress tracking works

Whoop isn’t quite as comprehensive as Oura, yet it can deliver solid actionable stress-tracking data. As such, it gets our approval ahead of other alternatives.

The experience centers around a Stress Monitor score (0-1 = low, 1-2 = medium, and 2-3 = high). This assesses your body’s responses by calculating your real-time HRV and heart rate. The calculation also considers the user’s HRV baseline from the last two weeks and the typical resting heart rate.

It’s a 24/7 feature, but it does take out workouts to differentiate body stress caused by physical activity. Given stress remains high post-exercise anyway, we’re not sure why Whoop bothers to take this period out. Still, the important thing here is that the 0-3 ratings can provide an accurate representation of daily stress. When you check in throughout the day, they feel true to life.

Though more basic than Oura’s, we also appreciate the comparisons made with the same day of the week. If you live on a tight routine, it’s a good way to help pinpoint triggers and trends.

We should also reference the Whoop Journal. It can take a while to finesse the prompts, but it’s an effective tool for linking behavior to recovery.

In short, don’t give yourself a barrage of questions to sift through first thing in the morning.

The best Whoop for tracking stress

Whoop didn’t change any of the stress-related features when it introduced its latest generation devices in May. That means you can technically still use the 4.0 tracker and gain access to the insights explained above.

However, one thing that changed with the May 2025 update was the Whoop membership tiers, and this means stress insights are only available with a Peak or Life membership. If you’re on Whoop One, you’re limited to insights on strain, sleep, and recovery, although this still includes access to the Journal.

In reality, this doesn’t change much if your key focus is on gaining stress insights from Whoop, since the cheapest membership that allows them (Whoop Peak) is nearly the same price as before.

We have comprehensive guides on choosing between Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG, as well as determining which Whoop tier to select if you’re new or upgrading. For most people, though, the Whoop 5.0 hardware and a Peak membership are the right fit.

Google Fitbit

How Google Fitbit stress tracking works

Fitbit – nowadays owned by Google – has always been at the forefront of holistic, mindful tracking. And its range of wearables does a solid job of tiering these features.

The most advanced of these are Body Responses. When electrical changes on the skin occur during sweat secretion, the Google Pixel Watch’s cEDA (continuous electrodermal activity sensor) activates. If it detects a spike, it will notify you and ask you to log your feelings.

You can then view and track these events in the Fitbit app, using them to understand what affects body stress. In testing, we’ve found it a bit of a hit-and-miss system. Occasionally, it pops up accurately 10 minutes after a stressful event or change of social setting. But it’s a lot of work to go through and make the links yourself by looking at tags.

It’s unlike Oura’s Daytime Stress, which is passive. And, ultimately, logging your mood around the same time as a body response change is also often inconvenient.

All Google/Fitbit devices can access the Stress Management Score. While the cEDA sensor measures responses, the stress score uses estimates from heart rate and sleep data. It uses a 0-100 measurement, and low scores can highlight the need to pay attention to your body.

We’ve not found this overly engaging, with scores remaining similar even with big changes to sleeping routines or daytime stress. However, it’s a handy feature to check in on if you want a big-picture view of your stress.

The best Google Fitbit devices for tracking stress

To get the most out of Google Fitbit’s stress tracking, you must opt for a device with an EDA sensor. However, this limits you to the Pixel Watch 1-3, Fitbit Sense 2, or Fitbit Charge 6.

We recommend Google’s Pixel Watch line (particularly the 45mm Pixel Watch 3) ahead of that pair of Fitbit models. It can tap into the army of third-party stress and wellness apps available on Wear OS. However, this does come at a higher price than Fitbit’s trackers.

Just be aware that Google won’t be make any more Fitbit-branded smartwatches, so future support would seem fraught. A Charge 6 update may also land in 2025.

The rest of the range also offers stress-tracking features, for those who don’t care about the body response check-ins. Devices like the Inspire 3, Versa 4, and Luxe all have the Stress Management Score.

Garmin

How Garmin stress tracking works

Garmin’s core stress tracking is much more basic than its sports tracking and training features. It uses 24/7 HRV measurements to break down stress into rest, low, medium, or high zones, offering a 0-100 figure to summarize your day.

Although there aren’t insights into this stress monitoring, encouragements to log mood, trends, or any guidance, it does help to see how your body reacts to different situations. Really, the strength of Garmin’s stress tracking is away from this score and in the Body Battery feature.

This isn’t strictly a stress-only feature, as sleep and activity also factor in. Yet, receiving an accurate representation of remaining energy is the HRV measurement’s most useful application.

Garmin’s stress tracking/HRV measurements also feed into Training Readiness, which uses tracked stress history as part of its score, the Performance Condition scale that pops up at the beginning of outdoor workouts, and the Recovery Hours (which will suffer if your body experiences high stress).

HRV Status is also a medium-term assessment of the balance of this recovery insight. Though, again, not strictly a stress-only feature, it’s still a clever and personalized way of assessing the balance of your training or spotting signs of illness/stress.

On the more holistic end, guided breathing exercises are available on some Garmin watches.

However, Garmin is generally consistent with its approach. The brand views stress through the prism of training and conditioning, meaning much of the stress data requires self-interpretation.

The best Garmin for tracking stress

Almost all modern Garmin watches are compatible with the 0-100 stress tracking and Body Battery features. As noted above, these are accurate and solid enough tools if your bigger priority is training and you want some stress tracking on the side to feed into this.

However, the training-focused stress – HRV Status, Training Readiness, Recovery Hours, and Performance Condition – are more scattered across the seemingly endless amount of Garmin watches we’ve tested.

If you don’t want to plump for a hardened, classic Garmin sports watch, the device that offers the best blend of all these features is the Garmin Venu 3/Venu 3S. If the price is too much, you can consider the Garmin Vivoactive 5 – it only omits Training Readiness from a stress perspective compared to the latest Venu.

Samsung

How Samsung stress tracking works

As with some of its rivals, Samsung uses a combination of HRV and HR measurements to generate stress-tracking insights. This includes spot readings, 24/7 summaries, breathing exercises, and access to the Google Play Store’s apps.

With the brand’s latest Wear OS skin (One UI Watch 6), users can also access the Energy Score. This is also accessible via the brand’s debut ring, the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

For us, the daily stress overviews didn’t particularly cut through when testing any of Samsung’s latest wearables. They’re presented similarly to Garmin’s low-to-high graphs. However, the Energy Score is an effective related feature.

It calculates this using HRV and HR, activity levels, and sleep hours data – all adjacent to body stress. Plus, the Galaxy AI summaries in the Samsung Health app often feature holistic and personalized advice on your body’s needs.

The best Samsung wearable for tracking stress

Samsung is far from a leader when it comes to stress tracking. However, its watches have access to a broad app selection and a smart ring is also an option. This makes the brand a viable option for those who want to add stress insights to their wider tracking.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (above) is comfortably the best smartwatch for doing so. However, it’s also the most expensive and not the friendliest design for women or those with smaller wrists.

The Galaxy Ring is the best alternative, coming in cheaper and with much better battery life.

Apple

How Apple Watch stress tracking works

The latest Apple smartwatches still don’t have a stress monitor feature built in, although there are third-party Apple Watch apps that will do the trick.

Instead, and in the typical Apple fashion of deviating from convention, the Mindfulness app is where users are sent to tackle stressful feelings. Overhauled in watchOS 8 in 2021, the app comprises three key parts: Breathe, State of Mind, and Reflect.

They’re all pretty self-explanatory. The Breathe section has actually been around since watchOS 3 and essentially guides you through in-out breathing sessions of 1-5 minutes. You can receive prompts throughout the day for these quick breathers, too.

Meanwhile, State of Mind is a a sort-of digital journal where you can chart your feelings throughout the day to build up a broader picture. And Reflect are essentially positive affirmation prompts – a fortune cookie designed to promote gratitude and perspective.

All of this data is stored in the Apple Health app for you to look back on, though we wouldn’t say they’re the most engaging set of features, or ones that help you pinpoint behaviours or track stress passively.

Apple also takes heart rate variability measurements when using its Workout app for exercise. This can be tricky to locate in the Health app, but it is one way for you to dig into workouts and identify trends related to stress on your body.

As we say, though, there are also third-party apps (like EliteHRV) that take that heart rate data to help track recovery and stress levels related to exercise.

The best Apple Watch for tracking stress

All Apple Watch devices able to support watchOS 11 are ones we currently recommend for stress tracking, given that this gives you access to the latest version of Mindfulness. This also ensures you’re able to play around with the many options on the App Store.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers the best overall experience, thanks to its improved battery life, display, and durability. However, the Series 10 and SE 2 are still highly recommended.

Just note that all three of Apple’s current-generation smartwatches are expected to be replaced in late 2025. Check out our guide to choosing an Apple Watch for more info on this.

How wearables measure stress

At the heart of how the majority of wearables monitor stress is, well, your heart. Devices like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and many of Fitbit’s trackers use heart rate monitors, which offer 24/7 feedback on our bpms (beats per minute).

In more recent years, wearable makers have developed other types of heart rate activity measurement that can unlock additional health and fitness insights. The one most relevant to this rise in stress monitoring is called heart rate variability.

Heart rate variability (HRV) relates to the measurement of the time interval between heartbeats. Unlike measuring heart rate, which relates to an average number of heartbeats per minute, these heart rate variability readings are more focused on the small fluctuations of the heart.

The key thing here is what can cause those fluctuations. These include age, body position, time of day, and your current health status, but crucially, emotional, physical, and mental experiences can impact heart rate variability.

If your heart rate variability is above its typical range, that’s commonly considered a good thing. A HRV reading lower than your recent baseline can be a sign of stress on your body. The likes of diabetes, heart disease, and cholesterol are medical issues commonly associated with some having a consistently low heart rate variability.

However, that measurement alone isn’t enough to tell you whether you’re stressed or not.

“It takes a lot of specialized expertise in mathematics, signal processing, pattern recognition, and programming to get to the point where you are providing useful information to people,” says Garmin’s Herman Bonner.

Why guided breathing exercises work

There are two main ways that heart rate variability measurements are being used to measure or track stress. The first is related to offering insight into people’s mental well-being. So, this is the kind of stress you experience when you’ve maybe got a lot on your mind.

Many wearables will use this HRV data to produce a ‘stress score’ from 0-100 which gives you a clear idea if you are experiencing a stressful moment in your day.

We have also seen the use of guided breathing exercises that lean on onboard heart rate monitors and HRV to help indicate when you’ve returned to a calmer state.

“Mindful breathing lets users take control of how they handle stress,” says Han Paik, a senior product manager at Garmin.

“When we breathe in a controlled, thoughtful manner we gradually lower our heart rate and increase the beat-to-beat variability. When this happens, the brain gets a signal from the heart that is saying ‘Relax, things are okay! No need to worry.'”

“When our breathing is rapid and shallow, our heart rate gets fast, and more inflexible. That’s when the brain and the body get the opposite message which makes us stressed.”

Playing your part: Understanding body stress

The other big area of stress tracking and wearables relates to fitness and exercise. So, this is the concept of using the same heart rate variability measurements to help indicate the strain and stresses put on the body after a workout and what it can mean from your recovery.

Companies like Whoop, Oura, and Garmin use those heart rate variability measurements to offer insights into how ready your body is ready to perform.

The value lies in using those measurements to understand trends that can help you see when you are at your optimum to tackle a workout.

A high HRV may indicate that the body is in good shape, while a low HRV during activity could indicate a person is fatigued, dehydrated, stressed, or even unwell.

“A lot of the value people get from tracking their stress comes from looking back over their days and weeks,” says Bonner.

“This is a hugely different perspective from what you get from sitting down and firing up a stress test, seeing the results, and moving on to the next thing.

“At any given moment, you tend to have a pretty good sense of whether you are stressed or not. Catching trends and ups and downs when you aren’t even thinking about it can be truly eye-opening.“

Are stress trackers accurate?

Stress monitoring can only be effective if the technology it relies on to provide insights is reliable. Optical heart rate monitors are the key source, but their accuracy and reliability have been questioned over the last decade.

If your wearable’s heart rate sensor cannot accurately measure your heart rate, you may question its reliability in indicating your physical or mental stress levels.

When we spoke with Dr. Steven LeBoeuf from biometrics experts Valencell, a company that provides optical heart rate sensors for big-name brands, they gave us their thoughts on measuring HRV, which underpins the current way of measuring stress on wearables:

“It’s really difficult to deliver heart rate variability from the wrist when you have so much movement of the wrist. Our technology works best when people are not moving,” said Dr. LeBoeuf.

It also told us of the value of moving heart rate tracking to other parts of the body (like the ear) and areas that are closer to the heart (like the chest) to improve the accuracy and reliability of the data.

The reliability of wearables in tracking stress could improve by examining other bodily data. One area being explored is sweat, with the composition of perspiration providing insights into stress hormones and offering a glimpse into emotional stress.

The future of stress-tracking wearables

Sensors that already provide these stress measurements right now will continue to improve in terms of providing more accurate data and also helping users act on it. That challenge that comes from how people make sense of that says – something Bonner believes will improve.

“Your watch can recognize that you are experiencing an elevated state, but it doesn’t necessarily know why that is the case,” he tells us. “The individual user still needs to bridge that gap, using their awareness of how potential stressors might affect them.“

“The next stage is going to be taking the stress and recovery data that wearables collect and putting it to use,” adds Bonner.

“You will start to see stress tracking insights used to ground and tune personalized lifestyle and training tips,” says Bonner. “Obvious opportunities exist for tuning the scheduling and strenuousness of your workouts based on things like daily stress and sleep quality.”

Stress and wearables are still in their early days, and what they could look like in just a few years time is an exciting prospect.

The post Best stress trackers 2025: Long-term living tests with Oura Ring, Whoop, Fitbit, and more appeared first on Wareable.

With heart rate monitors now standard in smartwatches and fitness trackers, electrocardiograms (ECG/EKG) have rapidly become a common feature in health wearables.

The technology is designed to help people keep closer tabs on their heart health and is used to help identify atrial fibrillation (Afib), a serious medical condition that is a leading cause of stroke.

ECG was thrust into the wearable spotlight via the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018, but it can now be found on smartwatches from Samsung, Google, Fitbit, Huawei, and Garmin.

What is ECG, and why is it a useful feature for a smartwatch? We discuss all of the key details below.

• Read next: Best smartwatches reviewed and rated

ECG smartwatches: FAQs

Best current-gen smartwatches with ECG

The following is the list of current-gen smartwatches that include an ECG function.

You can click through to our full, in-depth reviews of each and read what we thought of the ECG functionality. We’ve also grouped them and discussed how each brand handles ECG readings in the section below.

• Apple Watch Series 10 (and 4-8)/Apple Watch Ultra 1-2
• Huawei Watch 5/Huawei Watch D2/Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (and 6-4)/Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
• Google Pixel Watch 3 (and 2/1)
• Fitbit Sense 2/Fitbit Charge 6 (and Charge 5)
• Garmin Venu 3 (and Venu 2 Plus)/Garmin Fenix 8/Garmin Forerunner 970
• Withings ScanWatch 2
• Coros Vertix/Coros Apex 2/Apex 2 Pro/Coros Pace Pro

ECG watches and wearables available today

While ECG was once a premium feature reserved for flagship wearables, it’s now present in multiple devices from each brand. Given that the feature almost always works identically across an ecosystem, we’ve grouped the current devices with ECG from different manufacturers and explained how it works.

Apple Watch Series 4-10 | Ultra 1-2

The latest Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2—plus older models—boast ECG functionality, with sensors built into the ceramic heart rate monitor under the watch and the Digital Crown.

Fire up the ECG app, pop your finger on the crown, and you’ll be guided through the reading.

You’ll be notified whether the reading is regular or shows signs of atrial fibrillation, and an EKG graph of your heart rate will be logged in the Apple Health smartwatch app, which can be downloaded and shared with your doctor.

Apple has FDA approval for its ECG and clearance in the European Economic Area, and more than 20 countries now have the ability to use the health feature.

• How to use the Apple Watch ECG feature

Samsung Galaxy Watch (all models)

The Galaxy Watch 7 is the latest and greatest Samsung smartwatch in town, and ECG measurement is still a big part of its appeal. However, you will need a Samsung smartphone to use the feature.

The ECG app is available on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra, as well as the Watch 6 Classic, Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch 4, and Watch 4 Classic.

When you place your finger on the sensor built into the top physical button, it takes a 30-second reading. You’ll also need to remain still with your forearm resting on a flat surface.

Samsung’s Health Monitor app is live in the US and South Korea, and it’s also received clearance in Europe.

Specifically, it’s available in Iceland, Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Belgium, Lithuania, Netherlands, Greece, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and the United Kingdom.

Moreover, Japan, Indonesia, UAE, Chile, India, and China are all confirmed, too.

Garmin Fenix 8 | Venu 3 | Forerunner 970

After introducing the feature relatively late, Garmin now has many watches within its stable capable of running the ECG feature.

At the time of writing, this list encompasses the Garmin devices with the Elevate 5 heart rate sensor, given that it also packs in the required architecture for an ECG reading. This includes the Fenix 8, Fenix 7 Pro, Forerunner 970, Epix Pro (Gen 2), Enduro 3, Venu 3, and Venu 2 Plus.

Garmin’s ECG feature is now available in many countries, including most major EU nations, Australia, and the US. The UK, Canada, Switzerland, and New Zealand are a few notable exceptions.

The feature works by having the user place their index finger and thumb on the metal edge of the device’s bezel or on the top-right button for 30 seconds to obtain a reading. The watch will display the heart rate rhythm and indicate whether it is sinus (normal) or Afib.

You’ll need to set it up in Garmin Connect first, which will also serve as a hub for historical data and a place where you can export individual readings as PDFs. 

• Everything you need to know about the Garmin ECG feature

Fitbit Sense 2 | Charge 6 (and previous generations)

The Fitbit Sense 2 stands as the sole health watch from the company, equipped with various sensors, such as ECG. However, it’s also available on the Charge 6 fitness tracker.

It’s the only fitness tracker form factor capable of taking an ECG reading, making it a great option for people who prefer not to wear a smartwatch. To take the reading, you pinch the sides of the case, and the data is sent to the Fitbit app.

With the Sense 2, users can perform ECG spot checks by opening the app, touching their fingers to the aluminum case, and holding as instructed on the watch for an ECG to be taken. Again, this can be exported via a PDF.

The PPG sensor also continuously scans for abnormal rhythms, including high and low heart rates. That means it can alert you to possible issues without taking manual scans, and if you suffer from a condition, you can better understand potential triggers.

The Fitbit ECG sensor has gained entire FDA and CE approval for use in the US and Europe.

Google Pixel Watch 1-3

It’s not just Fitbit’s devices that Google enlists to take electrocardiograms, with the Pixel Watch 3 (and the original Pixel Watches) also offering the skill. 

Like with the Apple Watch, this is taken through the crown on the outer edge of the watch through a 30-second scan. 

Results are then sent to the Fitbit app for your perusal, with a full history and timeline of your readings shown.

Huawei Watch 5 | Watch GT 5 Pro

Huawei has received regulatory approval for its ECG feature in Europe, allowing users to perform heart rate rhythm spot checks on its newer smartwatches.

It’s been added to the current flagship, the Huawei Watch 5, and is also available on the newer upper mid-range Watch GT 5 Pro and the Watch D2 (below).

Taking a heart rate measurement will show you whether your heart rhythm is normal or Afib on the watch, and save a result to Huawei Health. 

In the app you can also log any accompanying symptoms and see an ECG graph, which can be shown to your doctor, to assist in any conversations.

Huawei Watch D2

We’ve split off the Huawei Watch D2 because it’s such a drastically different proposition from the other Huawei devices featuring ECG. This is the brand’s dedicated health watch, which offers blood pressure monitoring and ECG detection, making it a serious health device.

It’s certainly not a comfortable or sleek smartwatch for casual wear, but as we discovered in our review, it’s a practical, health-focused smartwatch. This device is designed for medical-grade surveillance of your vital signs, and it’s likely suited for those with a pre-existing condition.

As with all things Huawei, we are unlikely to see a release for this one in the US. 

Withings ScanWatch 2 | ScanWatch Light | ScanWatch Nova

The Withings ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Light are the company’s current-gen hybrids, along with the more premium Nova and Nova Brilliant models. These are among the top hybrid watches on the market, with a focus on health and wellness monitoring rather than fitness tracking.

The ECG feature works similarly across the board, and it remains one of the most proactive we’ve tested in this regard. You can take off-the-cuff ECG readings to check for AFib; the results can be presented in a PDF to show to your doctor. It will also look for irregular heart rhythms.

The optical heart rate sensor checks your heart rate throughout the day for irregular beats, and if it thinks you may have them, it will suggest that you take an ECG test.

There’s not too much difference between the core ScanWatch models, with the premise and broad design being the same. The Light is the more budget-friendly alternative to the ScanWatch 2 (above), and the Nova editions are more expensive, but the tracking experience is much the same.

Coros Vertix 2 | Apex 2/2 Pro | Pace Pro

Coros is gradually expanding its ECG functionality to more watches. The Pace Pro, released in late 2024, is the latest (and first) of the brand’s running watches to feature this technology. However, it has also been part of the Vertix and Apex ranges for some time, including on the most recent second-generation models.

However, it’s not a health feature like those found on other smartwatches. Instead, the Coros sensor is designed to provide a more accurate assessment of heart rate variability, which is used to gauge your recovery after workouts. Poor HRV scores can also indicate stress, overtraining, or alcohol intake. 

HRV scores are commonplace in fitness wearables but are usually measured via the PPG sensor during sleep. We like that Coros has gone down a novel route that aligns with the brand’s specialty.

How does ECG smartwatch tech work?

An ECG captures the small electrical signals produced by your heart’s beats beneath the skin, displaying them as a trace. This enables trained professionals, devices, or wearables to gain insights into your heart’s function and identify any potential abnormalities.

“In the simplest sense, it can tell you the heart rate (how fast), the rhythm (how regular), the state of the conduction system and muscle tissue (heart attacks), and even the level of certain chemicals like potassium in the blood, and the effect of medication,” says Dr. Keith Grimes, GP and Clinical Innovation Director at Babylon Health.

In a medical environment, an electrocardiograph typically involves attaching electrodes to the skin near the heart. This setup measures the electrical activity generated during heart contractions. The gathered electrical signals are transmitted to a receiver that records the data, allowing for an analysis of the heart’s rhythm and identification of any irregularities.

What about ECG readings in consumer devices?

The technology in the Apple Watch (and other at-home ECG devices) functions differently.

Instead of applying electrodes to your skin, the Apple Watch requires you to touch your finger to the digital crown. After waiting for 30 seconds, your heart’s electrical activity creates a red trace on the watch screen. When finished, the app will inform you if the trace shows a normal heartbeat, known as a sinus rhythm, or an irregular heartbeat.

On the Fitbit Sense, once you open the ECG app, you’ll be prompted to place your fingers on the corners of the watch’s frame for 30 seconds to take a reading. It will then indicate whether you have a normal sinus rhythm, if there are signs of atrial fibrillation, or if the reading is inconclusive.

Samsung’s ECG-equipped smartwatches utilize a touch-sensitive button that you place your finger on for 30 seconds. Afterward, they measure your heart rate and rhythm, classifying it as either normal sinus rhythm or AFib.

The biggest difference between an electrocardiograph at a hospital and the ECG technology in your Apple, Fitbit, or Samsung smartwatch is that the former uses 12 leads while the latter uses a single lead. In the simplest terms, the 12-lead device takes multiple readings of your heart, while the single lead takes just one.

A single lead ECG has limited capabilities and provides just one view of your heart. It cannot reliably detect all heart rhythm abnormalities or worsening heart problems. Additionally, it cannot identify the electrical changes that occur during a heart attack or reveal an abnormal heart structure.

Apple clarifies this, but it’s important to distinguish between the benefits of an ECG performed in a hospital and those provided by home technology.

How can ECG tech save your life?

An ECG performed by a medical professional can detect various heart issues. However, ECG devices intended for home use are not quite fully developed yet.

Here are several ways the ECG technology in your Apple Watch or Samsung smartwatch can currently save your life, including the issues it can identify and those it may be able to.

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition characterized by an irregular and rapid heartbeat. This common condition can be life-threatening. Its intermittent nature adds to the challenge of detection. Notably, both Apple and Samsung have received FDA clearance to identify this condition, while Fitbit’s new Sense watch is still awaiting FDA approval for similar capabilities.

ZDNet writer Jason Perlow participated in the early testing of Apple’s Atrial fibrillation detection and, thanks to the data collected, identified a problem with his heart in 2018.

The reason personal devices are effective at recognizing this particular kind of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), and the reason Perlow cites for its effectiveness in his case, is because you can take them at any time.

Unlike getting an ECG at the hospital, you can monitor your heart throughout the day. “Irregularities in heart rate can be episodic, and difficult to capture,” explains Dr. Grimes, “So a personal ECG that you carry with you can help clinicians record when palpitations happen and help with diagnosis.”

This means you can take a 30-second ECG whenever you feel symptoms and also better understand the context of what may have brought them on. For example, if you just got back from a run and you’re feeling a bit off.

Advice on harnessing the ECG feature

Dr. Tony Faranesh, a senior research scientist at Fitbit says the optimal way to identify atrial fibrillation through heart rate tracking is to screen while at rest, making sleep ideal for detection.

On Fitbit’s devices, that’s done by using its optical-based PPG heart rate sensor. The ECG sensor, like Apple and Samsung, is used for spot checks.

Like Apple, it seems that Fitbit won’t be continually scanning for signs of Afib, though Apple and Fitbit both use the PPG sensor to check for irregular rhythms such as high or low heart rate.

Dr. Julia Reynolds, Associate Director at Innovation Agency, tells us that the Kardia Mobile built by startup AliveCor is sometimes even prescribed to patients for this exact reason.

“Individuals may be given a mobile ECG device by their health professional if they are concerned they may have paroxysmal Atrial fibrillation – that’s when it comes and goes. That way, if they are feeling signs and symptoms, they can take their ECG when they are experiencing symptoms.”

The problems with false positives – and negatives

ECG devices available to consumers can detect a range of heart problems, whether cleared or not, but that doesn’t mean they should replace a trip to your doctor.

“Reading an ECG is tricky,” Dr. Grimes explains. “Current technology uses machine learning to detect common abnormalities, but personal ECG, like the kind you find on the Apple Watch, is not as accurate as medical devices.”

Personal ECG devices are proven to save lives, but on the flip side, they can still miss major problems or cause people to worry they have heart issues when they don’t. Dr. Grimes calls these “false negatives” and “false positives.”

Although many in the medical profession are warning people to be wary of the results they get from their Apple Watch or other ECG devices, having more control over our health at home will become more widespread over time.

That means instead of advising against ECG devices, people need to be informed that readings might not always be accurate. If you see a reading you’re concerned about, it’s best to head to a medical professional to get it checked out.

The post Best ECG smartwatch: Our experiences and ECG explained appeared first on Wareable.

Smart ring leader Oura is expanding its tracking ambitions with two metabolic health features: Meals and Glucose.

Touted as steps toward a more holistic, AI-guided approach to metabolic health, the move is anchored by its partnership with Dexcom—and is the first fruits of the $75m partnership announced last November.

The glucose monitoring giant’s FDA-approved Stelo—available in the US without a prescription—will play a big role in the new Glucose feature. It will integrate to allow users to see real-time glucose data from the biosensor alongside their usual sleep, stress, and activity metrics in the Oura app.

Users will see contextual graphs and insights into how their blood sugar levels are responding to their meals, sleep, and activity. However, making sense of this data will also depend on how much trust users are willing to place in Oura Advisor, the company’s AI-powered coaching system.

Advisor currently provides guidance in the Oura experience’s key areas: sleep, activity, readiness, and stress resilience (all with a neat ability to remember conversations for later context). Yet, it’s still early days for the AI tool in dietary and metabolic advice.

For those who integrate a Stela in the Oura app, there will also be a ‘Time Above Range’ metric to dive into. As the name would suggest, this refers to time spent above a target glucose range (and also includes AI-powered analysis of glucose trends for that day). 

‘Meals’ makes it out of beta, but availability is limited

Meanwhile, the Meals feature is officially out of beta testing following this latest update. It still appears to work as before, letting users photograph or upload images of their meals to be scanned by AI for quick nutritional analysis. The app breaks meals down by protein, fiber, carbs, sugars, and even processing level, skipping calorie counts entirely.

Though I like the philosophy behind Meals, it wasn’t a feature I engaged with hugely during the beta phase—perhaps that will change with more information flooding in from Glucose alongside it.

At launch, both features are US-only—though the brand has stated that Meals will expand internationally later this year.

Also, it’s worth noting (in case it wasn’t clear initially) that Glucose will only be accessible for those who are using a Stelo biosensor. A 30-day supply costs an additional $99 (two sensors, each lasting 15 days), though both the ring and CGM are eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement.

Whether users will find lasting value in these additions—or end up with more data than they can practically use—remains to be seen. However, we look forward to testing them out over the coming months.

The post Oura expands into metabolic health with meal tracking & Dexcom-powered glucose insights appeared first on Wareable.

While VO2 max estimates were once exclusively reserved for lab settings and high-end sports watches, Oura has developed a way to give users insight into their cardiorespiratory fitness.

Dubbed ‘Cardio Capacity’ by the smart ring giant, this estimate is based on the same measurement followed by other manufacturers; it’s looking at the maximum amount of milliliters of oxygen your body can use per minute during exercise.

That said, there are a couple of quirks to be aware of when measuring VO2 max on Oura. Below, we’ll explain how the feature works and how it compares to Garmin and Apple.

How Oura defines and measures VO2 max

As we say, VO2 max in Oura-land is ‘Cardio Capacity’—and this is, as the company describes, an age-adjusted estimate of the aerobic metric.

Cardio Capacity is graded in different categories: Peak, High, Fair, and Low. This is akin to what you’ll often see with Oura measurements, like Stress Resilience. However, in the case of your VO2 max, your estimate is judged relative to your age group.

‘High’ or ‘Peak’ means your score is, well, high or very high for your age group, while ‘Fair’ or ‘Low’ means your VO2 max is average or below for your age group.

Initially, Oura will estimate your VO2 max and adjust it based on your sex at birth, weight, height, and age. However, it’s important to dive a little deeper if you want the most accurate insights.

That’s where the following two methods detailed below come in.

For a more accurate estimate: Take the walking test

Similar to how the likes of Apple and Garmin require you to exercise outdoors for a certain amount of minutes before you’re given a VO2 max value, Oura gives you the option to improve the accuracy of your reading by taking a 6-minute walking test.

Instructions are all located within the Heart Health section of the Oura app, but, essentially, you’ll need to enable location services (which you also should if you want the ability to locate a lost Oura ring) and then walk at a brisk pace on a straight, level, and uninterrupted route with your phone and ring connected.

During this test, Oura will calculate your distance traveled and heart rate and reckons you’ll need to perform this around once per month to keep it accurate and up to date.

If you already know your score: Manually add your VO2 max

In addition to the walking test business, Oura also allows you to add a VO2 max value manually, perfect for when you’ve had gold-standard lab tests (or trust another wearable is closer to a lab test you’ve taken in the past).

Where you can find Oura VO2 max estimates

Cardio Capacity is located in the Heart Health section of the Oura app, which launched in May 2024. To access it, open the app, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner, and then click Heart Health.

Here, you’ll be able to see your initial VO2 max estimate and, once you’ve taken the walking test detailed above (or manually added data), your trending figure.

As with other Oura metrics, you’ll receive personalized tips and guidance based on your trend and score. This is also where a feature like ‘Future Me’ will appear.

What is Future Me?

Since your VO2 max declines with age, Future Me provides a view of how you can expect your future Cardio Capacity to compare to the average expected decline.

In the graph, as shown above, you’ll see two lines: the dotted blue is your potential Cardio Capacity if you maintained or increased activity, while the solid white line is what’s expected to occur based on current activity levels.

To give it some real-world feel, Oura frames this within the context of climbing stairs, and grades it from ‘Challenging’ to ‘Manageable’ to ‘Effortless’.

Is Oura’s VO2 max estimation accurate?

Based on our experience over the last year since launch, Oura’s interpretation of VO2 max provides an accurate enough and useful insight into cardiovascular fitness. We also like that novel features such as ‘Future Me’ are thrown in.

Our first estimate was a fair chunk lower than what we’ve come to expect from lab tests, Garmin, Whoop, and Apple, providing a value of 45 milliliters of oxygen consumed per minute. This doesn’t appear to have been updated natively (because we haven’t done another walking test since this feature launched), but the graph has been updated each month with data from Apple Health.

For reference, Garmin currently has us pegged at 54 (and excellent for our age, we’ll have you know), while Apple estimates 49. A lab test from last year had us at around 51, so Oura’s measurement seems more closely aligned with Apple on the low side.

Unlike other manufacturers, Oura doesn’t explicitly note that measurements will become more accurate over time. The trick is to have different data sources linked in Apple Health (like us) or take regular walking tests.

The post VO2 max on Oura explained—and how the estimate compares to Garmin and Apple appeared first on Wareable.

There are many tips and tricks to get the most out of Whoop, but getting set up with one of the platform’s widgets on iOS is a superb time-saver.

Instead of unlocking your phone, opening the app, and spying the battery percentage in the corner, you can use a lock screen or home screen icon to shortcut the process.

Below, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions on how to get set up with a lock screen or home screen Whoop widget on iOS.

Set up a Whoop lock screen widget

You’ll need to ensure your iPhone has iOS 16 or later and the Whoop app is at least version 4.6.135 or later for lock screen widgets to become available.

During setup, you’ll also get to pick between tons of different metrics: sleep performance, recovery percentage, performance summary (calorie, last night’s HRV, today’s average HR), daily summary (sleep performance, recovery percentage, strain), strain score, or strap battery.

Since we often check the app after waking up and digest the summary of our main stats, we find the battery-related widget the most useful. You can add your favorite by following the steps below.

1. From the iOS lock screen, touch and hold an empty area until the view zooms out and gives you the option to ‘Customize’.
2. Tap ‘Customize’, then ‘Lock Screen’, and then tap one of the boxes with an outline.
3. Find the Whoop widgets, sift through the options, and select your favorite.
4. Select ‘Done’ in the top-right corner.

Tip: We’ve experienced Whoop widgets disappearing from the lock screen on some occasions. Removing the app, redownloading from the App Store, and re-adding the widget fixed the issue.

Set up a Whoop home screen widget

Like the lock screen widgets discussed above, Whoop on iOS provides plenty of sneak peeks from the home screen widgets.

Again, there are requirements – you’ll need iOS 15 or later running and version 4.6.10 or later of the Whoop app to access this set.

These are a bit more of a window in the Whoop app than the lock screen widgets, though there are only two options: a square or rectangular box of the same daily overview.

1. From your iOS home screen, touch and hold an empty bit of space on the screen until all the icons begin to wobble.
2. Tap the ‘+’ icon in the top-left corner.
3. Scroll to find the Whoop collection of widgets.
4. Choose between the square or rectangular size and select ‘Add Widget’.
5. Tap ‘Done’ in the top-right corner.

The post These iOS widgets are the best way to check your Whoop battery level appeared first on Wareable.

Oura and Google Fitbit are teaming up to help a project that goes beyond their typical fitness and sleep tracking realms: opioid relapse prevention.

In a new initiative led by the non-profit Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), the smart ring giant has partnered with Duke University, the University of North Carolina, Google Fitbit, and several other players to explore how wearables can detect early warning signs of opioid relapse.

The goal? To create an early detection tool by combining real-time biometric and behavioral data, like changes in sleep patterns, mood shifts, and signs of increased stress, to flag when someone may be at risk of relapsing.

The project is focused on individuals in recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD). This group faces a high risk of overdose, especially in the critical weeks and months after treatment.

A five-month pilot study will test the feasibility of this approach. Participants will wear devices like the Oura Ring and Google Fitbit devices like the Pixel Watch 3 to continuously collect data, which will then be used to train models capable of predicting high-risk periods. If successful, the system could alert caregivers or health professionals when intervention is needed, offering a vital chance to prevent overdose deaths before they happen.

The implications, of course, are enormous—drug-related deaths hovered around 100,000 in the US last year, and the opioid crisis is still deemed a public health emergency by the government.

This project represents a rare instance of wearables helping shape future behavioral health from the frontline. Whether AI can spot relapse before it happens remains to be seen, but we’ll keep an eye on the results of this one.

The post Oura joins forces with Google in opioid relapse prevention project appeared first on Wareable.

Almost every major smartwatch or sports watch will now estimate your VO2 max without you having to take a gruelling lab test.

It’s often branded differently from ‘VO2 max’ on your device or companion app, but it’s now prevalent across the industry. Apple, Garmin, Whoop, and Oura are just some of the companies using bespoke algorithms to detect your fitness level.

It means what was once a metric for elite athletes has become a piece of fitness data that recreational runners and gym lovers can start to obsess over and pay attention to.

But… what exactly is VO2 max—and, most importantly, can you trust a fitness tracker or smartwatch to give you an accurate reading? This guide delves into the murky world of VO2 max to help answer those questions and more.

• Heart rate variability – everything you need to know

What is VO2 max?

VO2 max refers to your body’s ability to use oxygen during exercise. It’s typically measured in milliliters consumed per minute per kilogram of body weight (mL/kg/min).

The amount of oxygen you transfer to your blood changes and increases as you start exercising; VO2 max is the level at which the amount of oxygen being processed maxes out and plateaus.

As you train, your body learns to process more oxygen, which improves your aerobic fitness and performance. So, VO2 max is the best measure of your fitness and a great way to track your improvement in performance.

Why is VO2 max such a good metric?

We’ve written thousands of words here at Wareable about heart rate, and how it’s a constant figure that can provide a baseline for your training.

While that’s true, it’s only a constant measure of effort—e.g., how hard you’re working. In reality, it can be hugely affected by heat, terrain, and fatigue, among other factors.

VO2 max isn’t affected by outside factors. Instead, it’s a measure of your potential. While it does a different job than training by heart rate, it’s an unbeatable tool for gauging your fitness.

Which devices track VO2 max?

There are plenty of wearables to choose from if you want to get up close and personal with your VO2 max. Here’s just a small selection of the brands that offer it right now:

• Apple
• Coros
• Garmin
• Google/Fitbit
• Huawei
• Whoop
• Oura
• OnePlus
• Samsung
• Polar

Why is tracking VO2 max essential for fitness fans?

So, what are the benefits of knowing your VO2 max? Garmin offers a good explanation in its support page of the ‘VO2 Max Estimates‘ that some Garmin watches can deliver.

VO2 max offers a better understanding of your fitness level. It looks at the maximum rate at which you can bring oxygen into the body and transport it to muscles to fuel your aerobic energy production.

A low VO2 max score can indicate poor fitness levels, while a higher score can suggest a greater capacity to perform during exercise.

Your VO2 max will adjust depending on your lifestyle and training habits. This allows you to track your improvement and understand your potential if you get back into shape.

Garmin has sought to make it more insightful for those who aren’t runners, with specific VO2 max estimation available for trail running and cycling on newer watches.

You can compare the VO2 max figures to those of others to see how they compare. This can help you better understand the level of fitness you need to reach to be competitive in a competition or to keep up with other fitness-loving friends.

How is VO2 max calculated on wearables?

A proper VO2 max test in a lab requires wearing a mask while completing an increasingly strenuous treadmill run. The volume of oxygen entering and leaving your lungs is measured, and blood oxygen is tested using blood samples taken from the finger.

A wristband or watch cannot provide the same level of detail, so measurements will always be estimates based on each brand’s in-house algorithms. This is also why there are often significant discrepancies between scores on different wearables. Everybody measures it differently.

One key variable you can control is inputting your age, sex, and weight into the device correctly, as this data underpins many of the assumptions your device will make about you. The next crucial element is pace/speed, which is almost always measured accurately enough from modern smartwatches and sports watches.

However, heart rate data also makes up a significant portion of the equation, and this is harder for wearables to assess accurately. We recommend an HRM chest strap for maximum accuracy when working out (particularly at the higher heart rate ranges required for a VO2 max test). Still, devices from reputable brands such as Apple, Google, and Garmin are all accurate enough from the wrist.

In a white paper on its methods, which are fairly typical for wearable devices, Firstbeat (part of Garmin) describes its process of gathering VO2 max data:

1. The personal background info (at least age) is logged.
2. The person starts to exercise with a device that measures heart rate and speed.
3. The collected data is segmented to different heart rate ranges and the reliability of different data segments is calculated.
4. The most reliable data segments are used to estimate a person’s aerobic fitness level (VO2max) by utilising either linear or nonlinear dependency between the person’s heart rate and speed data.

How to change your VO2 max score

Working on your aerobic activity is still the best way to affect your VO2 max score, and Firstbeat says that you should see a physiological change in 4-12 weeks.

“A beginner may increase his/her fitness level during 4-10 weeks of successive training by up to 10-20%,” its white paper says.

But it’s also key to ensure that your exercise intensity matches your VO2 max. If you’re not training hard enough, your levels could decrease.

How accurate are VO2 max estimates?

Wearable tech is based on many estimations, and we often compromise on accuracy for convenience. That’s certainly the case here, where a proper VO2 max test is expensive, gruelling, and uncomfortable.

There isn’t data for all VO2 max devices, but in its white paper, Firstbeat claimed a 95% accuracy based on 2,690 runs from 79 individuals. Given the simplicity of acquiring the data, we judge that to be a pretty decent compromise.

“In a vast majority of the measurements, the error was below 3.5 ml/kg/min and the error was evenly distributed around the mean value. For perspective, the error in a typical indirect sub-maximal test is 10-15% and in a direct laboratory test about 5%,” the report said.

With the rise of optical (light-based) heart rate monitors offering VO2 max testing, there is a big question over accuracy. Companies still use chest straps to generate those VO2 max assessments, as it remains the gold standard. Ultimately, if you’re not generating high precision, it will be hard to truly benefit from it.

Things are getting better on the optical heart rate monitoring front. However, there’s a reason why many companies that offer VO2 scores still recommend using a chest strap for getting accurate training and fitness insights.

Can your VO2 max score be wrong?

You do have to be careful about VO2 max. When running uphill, your heart rate is typically higher and your speed is slower, which could be evaluated as a lower fitness level. The opposite can be true for downhill runs. But all should be well if your runs and training schedule have a good mix of routes.

Those who exclusively run trails can find VO2 max estimates to be too low, thanks to the inherently slower nature of running away from the asphalt. That’s why Garmin introduced a trail-specific VO2 max score on its outdoor watches.

Ultimately, make sure you get out plenty of times and track sessions and workouts before you start obsessing over your scores.

The post VO2 max guide: Understand and increase your fitness level with wearables appeared first on Wareable.

Smart ring challenger RingConn has announced a budget-friendly Gen 2 Air that will launch on 21 March for $199.

The new ring isn’t too different from the Gen 2 launched last year—one we were impressed by, giving it 4/5 stars in our full review. However, it’s set to fill a crucial role in the company’s offerings, providing a significant upgrade (at least on paper) over the previous entry-level model, the Gen 1.

From the brand’s initial announcement, the most notable omissions appear to be the lack of a charging case (one of our favorite Gen 2 features) and sleep apnea detection.

Otherwise, users can access the same subscription-free health tracking and AI insights that rolled out at the end of last year. The new ring also boasts a slightly lighter ‘titanium steel’ build, hence the ‘Air’ tag.

However, it doesn’t seem to be any slimmer or shaped differently, so we’re surprised to see the battery life dip to 10 days (compared to Gen 2’s 12-day estimate). Instead of a handy charging case, users will recharge via an Oura-like charging dock.

It’s also only available in silver or gold, so there are no black or rose gold editions like the more expensive sibling. Still, with seven different protective covers available for the Air, users can add more variation if they please.

Fans also receive a $30 discount by subscribing to RingConn’s newsletter before 7 March, making the budget ring an even more enticing option. We’ve just begun testing the Air and will deliver our full verdict over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

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