Inaccurate heart rate measured

[Lalamper]

Hi guys,

I just want to know if you have the same issue like me with your Apple Watch heart rate monitoring.

AW (S2) measures HR quite well when I am resting. However, as soon as I start a workout (running) it happens many times that AW can not show HR value (greyed out), or it shows about the half of my real HR.
Of course, it fit well, not too tight, not too loose, no tattoos, etc.

Issue also continues after workout, while AW is measuring resting HR. In the example below I am after a 20 mins of running, and it is impossible that my HR can decrease by 98 after 1 minute (from 157 to 59 BPM).

http://kephost.com/image/J90i

Any idea? Should I return my AW in warranty? I have heard that Apple defines it as improper wearing..

 

[Newtons Apple]

Very common. My AW will show like 60bpm when walking briskly sometimes. I have owned all three and all do the same. Sometimes is does not records any BP at all.

 

[Lalamper]

Very common.

Good to know.. but is there any solution? or covered by warranty? in this case AW is good for nothing as a fitness device.

(Sometimes I got the notification of closing activity ring while sitting in front of my computer and just reading, my hand does not move...)

I am little bit disappointed.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Good to know.. but is there any solution? or covered by warranty? in this case AW is good for nothing as a fitness device.

(Sometimes I got the notification of closing activity ring while sitting in front of my computer and just reading, my hand does not move...)

I am little bit disappointed.

It is why I picked Garmin or Fitbit for fitness, they are way more accurate for me.

I tried moving, tightening and anything else you can think of and sometimes it simply does not work or gives an inaccurate reading.

Some activities continue even when not doing anything like "move". It "knows" you are using calories just to maintain body temp.

 

[HengenJL]

I've seen this same thing with my Series 2. For intense workouts I will wear 12South's ActionSleeve. It moves the watch up onto your bicep. For me it provides a more accurate reading. https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/actionsleeve

 

[mtneer]

Is the Apple Watch snug on your arms? Sometimes during activity, my Apple Watch rides lower closer to the wrist and the sensor loses good skin contact leading to erratic readings.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

For activities it's best to have a separate HR sensor. Check out the Scocshe Rhythm Plus. Best $80 ever spent. As accurate as a Polar chest strap but comfortably worn on the arm. Compared to my chest straps in the beginning and dead on accurate.

For best possible AW only HR you need to: 1)shave a patch, 2)tighten one notch, 3) wear a sweat band on the arm just above the watch to catch sweat. Even then all wrist based OHRs struggle. This is true of several Garmins I've tried including the otherwise awesome Fenix 5X I currently have. The Scocshe broadcasts HR in bluetooth and ANT+ simultaneously so AW and Garmins can read it. Good luck

 

[Lennyvalentin]

I just want to know if you have the same issue like me with your Apple Watch heart rate monitoring.

Sometimes. At times, it won't register my pulse at all (I'm fairly sure my heart is still beating!), or pulse so low that the workout ring won't move. Annoying, if your goal is to fill the ring for the day.

I'm going to try shaving my arm under where the back of the watch sits on my arm, maybe that'll improve reliability.

 

[BlueMoon63]

Hi guys,

I just want to know if you have the same issue like me with your Apple Watch heart rate monitoring.

AW (S2) measures HR quite well when I am resting. However, as soon as I start a workout (running) it happens many times that AW can not show HR value (greyed out), or it shows about the half of my real HR.
Of course, it fit well, not too tight, not too loose, no tattoos, etc.

Issue also continues after workout, while AW is measuring resting HR. In the example below I am after a 20 mins of running, and it is impossible that my HR can decrease by 98 after 1 minute (from 157 to 59 BPM).

http://kephost.com/image/J90i

Any idea? Should I return my AW in warranty? I have heard that Apple defines it as improper wearing..

Seems to be common for some and totally uncommon for others. I can lose my heart rate from time to time but for the most part, I can golf for 2-4 hours and only lose the HR 5-6 times total. Others may have huge problems. I don’t get it and they probably think I am exaggerating. I always wear my watch on hole tighter when I golf or workout. When golfing though, the watch will slide a little just from all the sweat. Same for running.

Wish I had a great answer other than one hole tighter but even that doesn’t seem to work for some.