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Change in VO2 Max since upgrading to watchOS 26?

johnl1275

johnl1275

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 9, 2007
76
103
Has anyone noticed a change in their VO2 max readings after upgrading to watchOS 26? Prior to upgrading my VO2 max was around 45. Then the day I upgraded it jumped to 49 and then today it is at 50. I have not done a lab test recently so I am not sure what my actual VO2 max is, just wondering if anyone has seen the same thing.

I am in a marathon training block at the moment and am seeing some gains that I have been very happy with, but a 5 point bump in Vo2 seems like a pretty big jump...
 
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Hmmm. Mine has dropped from 42 to 41 since the update (which was last week with the RC).
 
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Seems like a change in algorithm. O2 measurement isn’t the issue, as I’m outside the USA. Mine went from 48 to 50.4
 

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Yeah, mine increased with the new iOS and WatchOS updates. This is on a Series 8 Watch. When I first opened the Vo2 section of the Health app after the upgrade & workout, I got a prompt asking me if I wanted it to recalculate my past readings. I answered yes to that prompt.
 

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Interesting that this is deliberate. I got no such prompt. I’m now up to 50.8 today. Where does the Learn More… button take you?
 
Dave 123 said:
Interesting that this is deliberate. I got no such prompt. I’m now up to 50.8 today. Where does the Learn More… button take you?
Click to expand...
It sends me to the Apple Support page https://support.apple.com/en-us/108790. There is a blurb at the bottom of that page:

"If the Health app detects that your previous cardio fitness estimates could be more accurate, you'll have the option to update your data. In Cardio Fitness, tap Update under Update Your Data. After you update, the Cardio Fitness Data Updated notification shows you the results of the update and how your estimates changed."
 
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Yeah mine jumped up a bit, too — 1.8 units in the space of a few days.

I had a proper test done in a lab a year ago, and it came out about 5% above what the watch had estimated, i.e. the watch was previously underestimating my VO2 max. So it makes sense that mine would jump up if they made the algorithm more accurate.

Interesting how some people's measurements are decreasing whilst others are increasing — I'd have kinda thought it would be one or the other. Mine went up by an average of 2.7 ml/kg/min after doing the update, not gonna complain about that 😁
 
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I tried this update and now days later my phone still says it's "updating..." my scores. I've seen of a few others having this problem on Reddit, but so far no fix. Anyone running into it here?
 
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Something that confused me with my readings was that after updating to watchOS 26 I saw a jump of 1.8 units from the previous reading … but then when I ran the update that latest reading jumped up again by another 3.5 units 🤨 I would've thought that latest one would stay the same, seeing as it was using the new watchOS 26 algorithm when it was taken? Anyone got any theories what's going on there?
 
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It's possible that my drop happened on Friday because of my birthday - I'm now a year older - because it's been consistent on Saturday and Sunday. If that's the reason, it would be a lot smarter if it decreased 1/365th of that amount every day of the year.
 
I ran into the same issue. My V02Max jumped 6 units after three runs. I wish we knew how the math changed.
 
Perturbance said:
Yeah, mine increased with the new iOS and WatchOS updates. This is on a Series 8 Watch. When I first opened the Vo2 section of the Health app after the upgrade & workout, I got a prompt asking me if I wanted it to recalculate my past readings. I answered yes to that prompt.
Click to expand...
I didn't get that prompt to update my calculations - I have a Series 9 watch...unless I missed it with the updates.
 
Yup - I've been in the 53.5-54.2 range the past year and through current marathon block. Did a track workout this morning after updating to 26 and I hit 56.2. I've heard new algo is more accurate to those who have done actual testing (I haven't). This is with my ultra2, btw. Going to update my 6 and see what happens because that one is consistently 2 points or so lower than the Ultra (and i think they've been on same version).
 
Asthmatic Kitty said:
Yeah mine jumped up a bit, too — 1.8 units in the space of a few days.

I had a proper test done in a lab a year ago, and it came out about 5% above what the watch had estimated, i.e. the watch was previously underestimating my VO2 max. So it makes sense that mine would jump up if they made the algorithm more accurate.
Click to expand...
Good to know, thank you!

Wonder why some people get a recalculation option and others don’t.
 
Same here - recalculated and +3. I dont believe it. Says I’m now 55-56 avg. Way too high compared to my fitness level
 
My data after updating to watch os 26 increased about 3 points.
I got the option to update the past data and did it. It not only increased the past data, but also the newer ones already on WOS 26 to about 5 points higher than before. I also noticed that the volatility increased looking at the past data taking into consideration when I'm trainning for a marathon and the off-season. It also mentioned after the update that my average data increased by 4.1 points although the last month I noticed the 5 points increase.
 
My VO2mac went from a steady 36 to 32 after the update. I am 75 and run 3 miles per day usually with 5 mile run on Sunday. It still good for my age just disappointing.
 
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