From measuring heart rate to detecting stress using sweat and blood oxygen levels, everything is now possible on your smartwatch. One such useful health feature that’s still underpenetrated in the smartwatch market is ECG. Thankfully, the majority of the premium health-centric smartwatches now offer ECG to detect arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation and save lives. In this article, we’ll check the top ECG smartwatches to measure irregular heart rate rhythm.
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What is ECG Tracking on Smartwatches?
Unlike a regular PPG heart rate scanner, ECG or electrocardiogram is not only more accurate but also can detect heart problems such as irregular heart rate rhythm called atrial fibrillation.
When you start ECG measurement on the watch, it completes a circuit from the heart to your wrist to record the time and strength of the electrical signal that makes the heartbeat. The software then monitors these signals to check whether the upper and lower heart chambers are in rhythm.
If they’re not in rhythm, it could indicate Arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythm). Arrhythmia is a condition where a person’s heartbeat is irregular or not in rhythm. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common type that can cause blood clots, heart strokes, or even complete heart failure.
ECG tracking on smartwatches can alert you if your heart rate rhythm is irregular. Remember that ECG tracking or any other health-tracking feature on smartwatches should be used as a mere indication and not as medical equipment. Here’s more about how ECG works on a smartwatch.
Best ECG Smartwatches to Measure Irregular Heart Rate Rhythm
We have figured out the best ECG smartwatches to measure irregular heart rate rhythm. Follow up on the article to get the perfect ECG smartwatch for yourself.
Apple Watch (Series 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and Ultra)
The Apple Watch has been capable of ECG measurement for quite some time now. It has an electrical heart rate sensor along with an ECG app that allows you to take an ECG test anytime anywhere.
You have to put the opposite hand’s finger on the crown button of the watch for 30 seconds. It will then record the electrical pulses and combine the data to detect if your heart rate rhythm is abnormal.
Here are the Apple Watch models that support ECG tracking:
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch Series 5
- Apple Watch Series 4
The new Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra have Apple’s latest electrical heart sensor that can measure ECG more accurately and precisely. Apple has also added a temperature sensor in these models that not only can track your skin temperature, but is also helpful for female cycle tracking and period prediction.
Crash detection is another feature that you’ll find on the 2022 editions of the Apple Watch. These watches are crack resistant, and dust resistant with an IP6X rating. They also include WR50 and WR100 water resistance ratings.
Key Highlights (Apple Watch Series 8):
- Display: 1.61″ & 1.9″ LTPO OLED Display
- Battery Life: Up to 18 Hours (Up to 36 Hours with Low Power Mode)
- Water/Dust Rating: WR50 & IP6X
- ECG Sensor: Available
- Special Feature: Crash Detection
Key Highlights (Apple Watch Ultra):
- Display: 1.92″ LTPO OLED Display
- Battery Life: Up to 36 Hours (Up to 60 Hours with Low Power Mode)
- Water/Dust Rating: WR100 & IP6X
- ECG Sensor: Available
- Special Feature: MIL-STD 810H3 Certified
Samsung Galaxy Watch (Active 2, 3, 4, 4 Classic, 5, 5 Pro)
Samsung has been offering ECG monitoring on its Galaxy Watch series, starting with Watch Active 2. The current-gen models- Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro equip an evolved and polished version of the same, thanks to the new electrical heart sensor embedded in the BioActive module that helps measure ECG.
Here are the Galaxy Watch models that support ECG measurement:
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
The Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro also have a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) sensor that can monitor all your health parameters from body fat percentage to BMI and skeletal muscle weight.
The new Galaxy Watch comes with a Sapphire Crystal Display that is much stronger to prevent scratches. The Watch 5 Pro has a titanium body whereas the normal Watch 5 has an armor aluminum body. It runs on Samsung’s One UI based on Google Wear OS supporting all the Google services for the smartwatch.
Key Highlights (Galaxy Watch 5):
- Display: 1.2″ & 1.4″ Super AMOLED Display
- Battery Life: Up to 40 Hours
- Water/Dust Rating: IP68 + 5ATM
- ECG Sensor: Available
- Special Feature: Fast Charging
Key Highlights (Galaxy Watch 5 Pro):
- Display: 1.19″ & 1.4″ Super AMOLED Display
- Battery Life: Up to 80 Hours
- Water/Dust Rating: IP68 + 5ATM
- ECG Sensor: Available
- Special Feature: Titanium Body
Fitbit Sense 2
The Fitbit Sense 2 is an advanced health-centric smartwatch that features an ECG sensor. It can track atrial fibrillation and sends high & low heart rate notifications. You can check all the heart health data with the ECG app on your phone.
This smartwatch also features a cEDA scan sensor for stress management, a skin temperature sensor, built-in GPS, built-in Amazon Alexa, a daily readiness score, and over 6 days of battery life.
Key Highlights:
- Display: 1.6″ AMOLED Display
- Battery Life: 6+ Days
- Water/Dust Rating: 5ATM
- ECG Sensor: Available
- Special Feature: cEDA Scan
Fitbit Versa 4
The Fitbit Versa 4 is not only a fitness smartwatch but also a productive gadget that supports many utility features. It does not have a dedicated ECG sensor, but it still supports irregular heart rate rhythm notifications which can be used to detect atrial fibrillation.
This smartwatch features built-in GPS, built-in Amazon Alexa, Google apps support including Google Maps and Google Wallet, 40+ exercise modes, over 6 days of battery life, and 5ATM water resistance.
Key Highlights:
- Display: 1.57″ AMOLED Display
- Battery Life: 6+ Days
- Water/Dust Rating: 5ATM
- ECG Sensor: Not Available
- Special Feature: Google Apps Support
Google Pixel Watch
The Google Pixel Watch is a new product by the company in the smartwatch industry. It is a high-end smartwatch that features an ECG sensor to track atrial fibrillation and check all heart health data with an ECG app.
Talking about some other features, it has fall detection and emergency SOS, the latest Google Wear OS with most Google services, Exynos 9110 SoC, and Fitbit Health and Fitness support. It also has 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
Key Highlights:
- Display: 1.2″ AMOLED Display
- Battery Life: Up to 24 Hours
- Water/Dust Rating: IP68 + 5ATM
- ECG Sensor: Available
- Special Feature: Recycled Stainless Steel Finish
Withings ScanWatch
The Withings ScanWatch is a hybrid smartwatch that has an analog dial with an e-ink display embedded for smart features. It is a clinically validated smartwatch that has an ECG sensor to track atrial fibrillation and check for irregular heart rate rhythm.
This smartwatch features sleep tracking, continuous heart rate tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, 24/7 activity tracking with connected GPS, and 5ATM water resistance. It also has an operating temperature range of 14F to 113F making it usable in extreme cold and hot conditions.
Key Highlights:
- Size: 38mm and 42mm
- Battery Life: Up to 30 Days
- Water/Dust Rating: 5ATM
- ECG Sensor: Available
- Special Feature: Hybrid Stylish Design
COROS VERTIX 2
The COROS VERTIX 2 is a rugged smartwatch that also allows you to measure ECG and track irregular heart rate rhythm with heart rate variability. It is an adventure smartwatch that has global offline mapping and dual-frequency GPS.
This smartwatch has a diamond-like coating with sapphire glass and a titanium body, up to 60 days of battery life in normal use, and up to 180 hours in full GPS tracking mode. It has a 5-satellite navigation system including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou.
Key Highlights:
- Display: 1.4″ LCD Display
- Battery Life: Up to 60 Days (Up to 180 hours in Full GPS Tracking Mode)
- Water/Dust Rating: 10ATM
- ECG Sensor: Available
- Special Feature: Rugged Titanium Body
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Ecg Better Than Heart Rate Monitor on Smartwatches?
Yes, ECG is far better than a normal heart rate monitor on smartwatches because it tracks your heart rate rhythms and checks if it is going normally or showing variations. ECG measures electrical impulses around the heart that makes the heart beat by creating a circuit from your hand to your heart.
Therefore, ECG provides more accurate and precise data about your heart’s health condition as compared to normal optical-based heart rate monitoring.
Q. Can a Smartwatch Detect a Heart Attack?
Smartwatches cannot detect serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. Although, ECG smartwatches can monitor your heart’s health and notifies you about irregular heart rate rhythm which may cause severe heart problems if not gets treated on time.
Q. What Heart Problems can ECG Smartwatches Diagnose?
ECG smartwatches can detect atrial fibrillation which is the most common type of irregular heart rate. It tracks electrical impulses of your body to generate heartbeats and notifies you if there is something wrong happening in your heart’s health. It can give you an idea of the actual condition and alert you to consult a doctor immediately if your heart has any signs of atrial fibrillation.
Q. How Accurate is ECG on a Smartwatch?
The Apple Watch is the benchmark for accurate health tracking with almost 99% of accuracy in health-tracking. And smartwatches like Withings ScanWatch are clinically validated which makes them more usable for ECG tracking.
Although the ECG smartwatches are accurate enough, you should not consider them as medical equipment and don’t rely on them completely. If it shows any sign of irregular heart rate rhythm, you should visit a doctor straight away.
Q. How Does a Smartwatch ECG Differ from an ECG Monitor in Hospital?
The standard ECG monitor records electrical signals of your heart using waveforms with 12 leads. Whereas, the smartwatch ECG only has a single lead which can only monitor basic heart function. Therefore, smartwatch ECG is less reliable and cannot replace medical-grade equipment.
The standard ECG monitor that doctors use is more sensitive and specific for detecting atrial fibrillation as compared to a smartwatch ECG.
Q. What to Do if You Diagnose Heart Problem With ECG on a Smartwatch?
If you take an ECG test on your smartwatch and it shows any signs of atrial fibrillation, then you don’t need to panic, you can visit a doctor and show the ECG results whenever you have time. But, if you are feeling unwell and are getting alerts, you should consult a doctor at the earliest possible time.
Wrapping Up
These were the top smartwatches with ECG to measure irregular heart rate rhythm. We have also answered the most common questions about ECG on smartwatches that you may have in your mind. Do share your take on ECG smartwatches in the comments below, and stay tuned with WearablesToUse for more informative articles!
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