I Tested the Apple Watch's New Heart Rate Sensor to See If It's Really Better Than Garmin's

Key Points:

• The Apple Watch Series 12 features a redesigned optical heart rate sensor with larger LEDs arranged in a circle, which Apple claims is the most accurate heart rate sensor in a wearable device.
• In tests comparing the Series 12 to the Garmin Forerunner 570 and a chest strap reference, both devices performed well but exhibited different flaws; the Apple Watch sometimes missed data points and overestimated values, while Garmin occasionally lagged at the start of intervals.
• The Series 12 showed significant improvement over previous Apple Watch models, closing the accuracy gap and earning a place alongside Garmin's best sensor in the A-tier for heart rate accuracy.
• Despite these advances, the reviewer hesitates to crown the Apple Watch as definitively the best, noting its occasional data gaps and overestimations, and emphasizing that chest straps remain more accurate than any optical sensor.
• Overall, Apple has made notable progress in heart rate sensor accuracy, matching Garmin’s top performance, but the title of "most accurate" remains nuanced depending on how data reporting and accuracy are evaluated.