PPG-based wearable devices show varying heart rate measurement accuracy across exercise intensities, with Apple Watch SE and Polar Verity Sense demonstrating highest agreement with ECG reference
In 37 healthy young adults, heart rate accuracy of four PPG-based wearables was compared to ECG across exercise intensities. The Apple Watch SE and Polar Verity Sense had significantly lower mean absolute error (MAE) and higher concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) than Polar Pacer Pro and Galaxy Watch 6, with MAE decreasing as intensity increased.
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PPG-based wearable devices show varying heart rate measurement accuracy across exercise intensities, with Apple Watch SE and Polar Verity Sense demonstrating highest agreement with ECG reference The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 38/100 (low).
The Claim
PPG-based wearable devices show varying heart rate measurement accuracy across exercise intensities, with Apple Watch SE and Polar Verity Sense demonstrating highest agreement with ECG reference
This conclusion is most relevant to: Healthy young adults (40 recruited, 37 analyzed).
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Comparison of heart rate measurement accuracy among commercially available photoplethysmography-based wearable devices across exercise intensities. (Physical activity and nutrition, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸PPG sensor captures photoplethysmography signal from blood volume changes
- ▸Signal processing algorithms estimate heart rate from PPG waveform
- ▸Motion artifacts and perfusion affect signal quality across exercise intensities
- ▸Result: Device-specific accuracy varies, with Apple Watch SE and Polar Verity Sense showing best agreement with ECG
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Healthy young adults (40 recruited, 37 analyzed)
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Study limited to healthy young adults, not generalizable to older or clinical populations
- ▸Only treadmill exercise tested; accuracy may differ for other activities (e.g., cycling, weightlifting)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which wearable device had the best heart rate accuracy during high-intensity exercise?▼
The Polar Verity Sense showed significantly lower MAE than the Galaxy Watch 6 during high-intensity exercise.
Did heart rate accuracy improve or worsen with higher exercise intensity?▼
MAE and MAPE generally decreased as exercise intensity increased, indicating better accuracy at higher intensities.
How many participants were included in the analysis?▼
Data from 37 out of 40 recruited healthy young adults were analyzed.
What reference device was used to compare heart rate accuracy?▼
The Polar H10 ECG-based chest strap was used as the reference device.
References
- 1.Jeong Y, Yoon S, Lee J, Jeong WM, Ha MS. “Comparison of heart rate measurement accuracy among commercially available photoplethysmography-based wearable devices across exercise intensities..” Physical activity and nutrition, 2026. PMID: 42438855 DOI: 10.20463/pan.2026.0032