LifestyleExercise

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.

Last updated: Jul 14, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score38/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Comparison of heart rate measurement accuracy among commercially available photoplethysmography-based wearable devices across exercise intensities.

observational

Jeong Y, Yoon S, Lee J, Jeong WM, Ha MS · Physical activity and nutrition (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: single session (low, moderate, high intensity treadmill exercise)
Intervention: Comparison of four PPG-based wearable devices (Polar Verity Sense, Polar Pacer Pro, Apple Watch SE, Galaxy Watch 6) during low-, moderate-, and high-intensity treadmill exercise
Outcome: Heart rate measurement accuracy assessed by mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and Bland-Altman limits of agreement
Effect Size: N/A (no effect size reported; significant differences in MAE among devices, p = 0.002)
Population: Healthy young adults (40 recruited, 37 analyzed)

Result:

PubMed: 42438855DOI: 10.20463/pan.2026.0032

Mechanism Graph

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

Limitations

  • ⚠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.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 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
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.