Smartwatches show mixed accuracy in health tracking

7 articles · Updated · theSun · May 5

Devices from Apple, Samsung and Garmin generally track steps and steady heart rate well, but readings can falter during high-intensity exercise, strength training, sweat or loose straps.
Sleep tracking can estimate when users fall asleep and wake, but not sleep stages with clinical precision, while calorie counts vary widely from actual energy expenditure.
Newer ECG, blood oxygen and stress features may flag patterns but are not medical diagnoses; experts say watches are best used to monitor trends and support healthier habits.

Your smartwatch's health data is often inaccurate. Is it truly making you healthier, or just creating a new wave of digital anxiety?

As new FDA rules blur the line, how can you tell if your health tracker is a helpful guide or an unregulated medical risk?