Apple Watch 6 Accuracy (Sleep, Heart rate, Steps)

I tested the sleep tracking, heart rate and step counting accuracy of the Apple Watch Series 6.
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Instagram: / quantified_scientist
Twitter: @QuantifiedRob
👇Amazon Affiliate* (paid) links. Supports the channel, doesn't cost you any more!👇
Apple Watch 44mm: geni.us/7Dom
Apple Watch 40mm: geni.us/0gNGeO
*My opinions are completely my own. However, I do earn a small commission if you purchase any of these devices via my affiliate links. It does not cost you any more money if you use these links.
The EEG tracker I used is called the Hypnodyne ZMax: hypnodynecorp.com/ from @HypnoDyne Corp
📹Fitbit Sense videos📹
First look review and test: • Fitbit Sense Accuracy ...
Heart rate: • Fitbit Sense Heart Rat...
📹Withings Scanwatch videos📹
Unboxing and first review: • Withings Scanwatch Rev...
Sleep test: • Withings Scanwatch Sle...
Heart rate test: • Withings Scanwatch Hea...
Q&A with Withings: • Scanwatch Q&A: Answers...
⏱️This comparison is part of a larger project where I spend over 11 hours a week tracking everything in my life. If you'd like to know more:
• This mad scientist sca... ⏱️
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro / Experimental Setup
01:05 Results: Sleep prediction accuracy
03:53 Results: Heart rate accuracy
07:06 Results: Step counting accuracy
08:45 Good or bad?
There are of course several limitations to the experiment I did, they most important are:
(1) I only tested the Apple Watch on myself
(2) I only tested it for a few days
→ In future videos I will do more extensive tests.
Overall, my first results indicate that the Apple Watch is great at tracking your heart rate, much better than some other devices I tested recently. When it comes to sleep prediction, it still lags a bit behind some other devices. Though it can assess when you are awake, it does not track any sleep stages, but I will test apps that use the Watch’s sensors to do exactly this in the future. The Apple Watch seems to be good at tracking steps, though I will have to test if it overcounts steps when it is not supposed to counts steps; for instance when hanging laundry or packing the dishwasher.
See you in the next video!
🎵Music🎵
(1) Not Without the Rest by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/
(2) Wonders by JVNA
(3) Can’t Sleep (KZbin Audio Library)
(4) Classique (KZbin Audio Library)
(5) Blurry Vision (KZbin Audio Library)
Video by Pressmaster from Pexels
Video by Yerson Retamal from Pixabay
Video by Taco Fleur from Pexels
Video by Anna Shvets from Pexels
Video by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels

[@yasirsalim6454]

I've been searching for this type of testing you deserve more subs.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

I appreciate that Yasir!

[@KryptonKr]

@Ruben Muhammad bloody scammers

[@KryptonKr]

@Keanu Oakley You too scammer

[@robertrose3068]

I subbed today-watching several now

[@LS-dx9gu]

I agree!!

[@-pndax3]

THIS IS AMAZING, why did I find this by accident?

[@afuakeh]

I was thinking the same

[@CliffR]

It's so nerdy and I love it. I watch every video you post. :) thanks for what you do testing them

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks for watching Cliff😄!

[@Chase_Anderson]

Thanks for the Apple review!! I moved to Apple this year after being a long time Fitbit user and am happy to see how much more accurate it is. I agree with the sleep results, I often watch Netflix for an hour before bed with my wife after working and chasing a toddler all day with limited down time, and my Apple series 6 often thinks I’m sleeping on the couch when I’m just finally relaxing. It’s easy enough to modify though, there’s always a clear awake portion where I get up and go brush my teeth and go to bed, so I go into my source data in app and delete the phantom couch snooze which is easy enough. I feel like Apple won’t do the cycles until they can do it accurately, they tend to lag in features but do it right when they finally come out. Realistically for me the most important sleep aspects are actual sleep quantity and waking up, I was pleased to see it pick up the awakes so well which is in line with what I found (usually my bar is very solid with little to no awakes lol). Look forward to the more in depth sequel and thanks again, love your videos .

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks so much Chase! And, thanks for sharing your experiences, they indeed seem to line up with mine :-)

[@ThomasMuehler]

Gasp! I was hoping you would do this guy. YES! You’re the best. Love you dude.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks so much man!!😄

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@TheQuantifiedScientist Looking forward to watching your other videos for this guy and the Fitbit Sense and any others. You make top quality content all around and I know takes a lot of time and effort behind the scenes and I appreciate that grind!

[@applemanuk]

I just stumbled across this video and was fully expecting a scientific critique of the Apple Watch. But having just purchased my first one, a new series 6, I am thrilled to learn of it's scientific accuracy. The added benefit is that it tells the time too! Looking forward to further videos. Thanks for posting.

[@Elvenazn]

Can you do a best of sleep trackers for 2020? Sleep is going to be the new fad this decade!

[@georgea.1491]

This must be test of the month! Really good job. 👏 I’m already looking forward to you next video! Can you give us a scientific test on blood oxygen meter on Apple Watch Series 6? That would be awesome!

[@sorryitookthisname2]

Seems the algorithms are picking up on your content. Really happy they did. Best reviews I’ve seen on fitness trackers. Thank you!

[@aznddog]

Excellent video overall. Well edited and researched. Thank you.

[@XMagicStar]

I clicked on this video so fast, I don't trust anyone else for sleep tracking device reviews other than you. Thanks so much for your hard work.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad to hear that! 😄

[@deathbooker7466]

Thank you very much for the video! Critical need to knowand I love the graphs comparing the accuracy between different devices!

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much and have a great day!

[@jt87_]

Found this to be very helpful. Thank you

[@coolb3ar]

Wow Rob, the effort you put into the testing. Awesome idea to compare to more scientific devices. Do you rank somewhere all the devices, by accuracy? (Heart, sleep, steps) A rank/score list would help many with their purchasing decision. Thank you!

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

*Subscribe to my weekly Newsletter(!)* on www.robterhorst.com Instagram: instagram.com/quantified_scientist/ Twitter: @QuantifiedRob 👇Amazon Affiliate links, support the channel!👇 Apple Watch 44mm: geni.us/7Dom Apple Watch 40mm: geni.us/0gNGeO Of course, only buy it if it makes sense for you!👍

[@johnsmithington3167]

@SHILL SHOOTER But they track YOUR heart rate, not that they're perfect, but arguably the ones that track heart rate better do a better job of caloric estimation (assuming you accurately put in other variables like weight, height, age etc.). Not sure there's a more accurate, conventional way that's just as convenient.

[@inoam123]

Thank you, that was interesting. Looking forward to next videos! Would love to also hear how you use the quantified health data to improve your life.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks Itai! Improving my life with QS is still very much a work in progress, but once I feel I have something solid, I will share it for sure!! Have a great day :-)

[@fredericnataf7927]

Very useful and convincing. Many thanks

[@colinwalker4908]

Awesome research.

[@ahmmadnoorytanzim283]

that is hard work brother ... thanks

[@dmsqwerty]

Great video, thanks!

[@Bellovux]

I started watching you’re channel the other day. And I was thinking: would he do an Apple Watch... and look at this! This is great! Looking forward for more results.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks so much Jonny! Welcome aboard! Hope my new videos will be to your liking 😄

[@coffeenciggy]

This is GOLD! You are the bomb for anyone in science and interest in fitness trackers (I was in scientific research). Hitting your subscription button was one of my fastest subscription speed.. that alacrity usually only happens for food channels for me lol.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks so much! Really means a lot to hear these positive comments :-)

[@js626]

Thank you so much for your awesome videos

[@korinthios1000]

Awesome video !!

[@Stefan-od3us]

Really looking forward to the deeper dive on the sleep tracking apps. Excellent video

[@alanyang7348]

Amazing video! Love your matlab plots! Clear and intuitive! Hope to see more comparisons of trackers! Btw, can you maybe decrease the linewidth for the curves that are overlapping to show more details? Cheers!

[@Articulate99]

Thank you, always appreciate quantified studies.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad to hear that!

[@stassavchuk]

I'm really happy that I found this channel! Thanks man for doing such a job :)

[@AK-fr1jj]

Oh man, you are awesome. I’m not a scientist but I love data. And have been analyzing everything at work & my personal life for ages. A lot of which has been with gadgets like these. I own both an Apple Watch Series 6 (with auto sleep, I thought that was the best tracker) and a Fitbit Inspire 2 and really can’t figure out which one of the two to rely on for sleep tracking since there is a huge deviation. On average the Apple Watch (with auto sleep and some other apps like pillow) shows I slept for an hour longer than Fitbit. I really don’t know which one to rely on. I hope you cover something like this soon.

[@romaingirardlamamy]

Hello rob, Really curious to see how the oximeter function compare to some proper tools As well as the ECG, Looking forward to see your results! Thank you for your very interesting videos

[@annisanurfadilah5823]

I love this man✌️☺️ have been watched all of his videos

[@jdoubleuu2]

Happy to see that someone has put so much effort to test this. I’m quite happy to know that I’ve made a decent purchase

[@FoxGT34]

Yes, I can’t wait until you tests those other Apple Watch apps to test sleep stages. This channel is awesome!

[@skynet_cyberdyne_systems]

Informative !

[@einhander22]

The amount of work you put into all your videos is outstanding. You have earned a new subscriber. I just bought an apple watch and I'm on the fence about those sleep tracking apps, so I'll be waiting for that video for sure. Keep up the great work!

[@highly_zensitive]

man what a content! Really high standard!! Def subbed and cheers from Germany :D

[@zedsprocket5857]

You are fantastic at this stuff 👍👍👍

[@MichaelToub]

Great Video!

[@Djsarcasmdesolo]

What an awesome channel! I was hoping to find an accurate watch to track my sleep and the obvious benefit of having it on during the day. Might reconsider and get the EEG tracker and Chest heart rate strap :D.

[@danciura4754]

Great videos, man! Thanks for all the work you're putting in.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

My pleasure!

[@ericgarcia7423]

Great, informative, and thorough study. Thank you.

[@Eyreon]

GREAT test videos! Thank you. Do you know if the other apple watches match this accuracy in regards to heart rate?

[@nazfloyd]

thanks for doing this, dude

[@vavvaru1]

The format of your content is amazing! Keep up the amazing work. As an engineer your data driven approach saved me from buying an Oura ring. Hope your channel gets all the success it deserves

[@dermottwalsh8900]

Thank you. Great test and you again proved how accurate the Series 6 is with heart rate as I had tested with my recent hospital stress test which was 100% accurate for that 14 minute test.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks Dermott! Great to hear that you has a similar experience!😀

[@degoos13]

And again, a good and clear statement of the facts. Rob needs to get above the radar instead of below it. :)

[@stevevuoso8411]

Great videos. Can't wait to see the Apple watch sleep tracking app reviews.

[@metric152]

this is a great video. i've been curious how the heart rate tracking for the 6 measures. wish you did a video comparing the 4 to the polar strap but we're way past that now.

[@rayanelbawab4084]

This is by far the best objective review of an electronic product. By far better than all the sponsored/non-sponsored influencers that claim to understand the science behind electronic products. What a way to have a sharp and clear say on a product. When do you think the comparison between sleep apps will be on YT (AutoSleep, Pillow, etc...) ? Thanks

[@jeangiuseppe2006]

Thanks Rob, this is great, as usual! Very impressive for an optical HR to be so close to the H10. Though, I wonder if accuracy would still be so good in other sports such as HIIT or (high intensity) running when there is higher movement of the wrist...

[@EdwardsNH]

I'm thinking the weight lifting was a good representation of how it would do in hit As a personal trainer that also teaches a lot of classes, the apple watch is the most accurate when people are wearing a watch style tracker and chest strap at the same time. Especially the 6 and 7

[@seharjh3017]

Yes! I've been waiting for this! Thanks for another informative and interesting video :D

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad you enjoyed it Sehar!

[@LEYGSL]

Great comparison, thanks so much and subbed

[@richieconwaymusic]

I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel! Every time I am considering a purchase, I check here first!

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Welcome aboard! Thanks Richie!

[@vh9562]

Very nice and useful test ! Thanks for adding comparison points with other watches, it's very useful ! Looking forward to see more in-depth tests of the AW6 :-) All the best !

[@shadywest3726]

Do you know when you will post the sleep test with other apps and the step count please? Your channel is so awsome !!! Best test ever !!

[@lolomo5787]

This is what we need. An objective based review. You need more subscribers my good man.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks so much😄

[@justmicho17]

thank you for your amazing videos ! very professional

[@linaantenucci831]

Thanks a lot for the video!! I so looking forward to see the third party app for sleep stages!! I had a fitbit and the sleep track is good but for the rest it does not work! Great job with your youtube channel! :)

[@christoph2079]

Best channel. I always give a thumps up before watching...

[@OohGabbyGiggles]

Just subbed, not normally the content i watch but i was so impressed with your approach, definitely wanna support! I went down the rabbit hole to figure out accuracy because I've been using my fitbit for months now and tried on an apple watch last night and saw that there was a 20 bpm difference, my fitbit being the higher one between the two which totally caught me off guard. This information helped a lot cuz i've been considering a switch now.

[@theinstigatorr]

Your channel is awesome 👏 thanks for the amazing content

[@bitcoinhorizon]

great video, thank you

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

You are welcome!

[@umibooozu]

Finally, a real and serious test

[@jacob5895]

Was waiting for this one. Great vid, thx. Also interested in the sleep stages accuracy:)

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Noted! Thanks Jacob!

[@lancer876]

Thanks a lot for your review about iwatch series 6. Now I know what smartwatch I'm going to choose.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad I could help!

[@terrygujjar999]

I'm glad that I subscribed your channel mate! Even though I wasn't very keen on doing that. Please keep doing the good work and you're gonna get way more subs. Love from India 🇮🇳

[@dickcorn]

Fantastic video as always! Do you believe it would be fair to assume that these results would be similar for the Apple Watch SE?

[@johnmanley4528]

That's a very comprehensive review. Good job!

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thank you kindly!

[@mattbonnell7023]

Great video. The Apple Watch really blows away the Fitbit on heart rate! I just started wearing a Fitbit and I was pretty certain that the heart rate was wrong at times. This proves it. Keep up the great work.

[@kanavgupta1086]

Such an amazing video! So in depth review and to the point testing. You deserve many many more subs! I subscribed :)

[@alkalichilli]

Man awesome video. Thanks so much for doing this. I just bought myself an Apple Watch 6 and was wondering how accurate the distance tracker is. I previously owned a Fitbit HR and found out that it over calculated distance. If you could please include distance tracking in your next video would be fantastic. Thanks

[@tanestelzer1958]

Great Videos! Keep up the very informative work

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad you like them Tane!

[@wodzislawski]

Thumb up!. Great job. This video I was looking for. Maybe time to test Polar X?

[@wjlaws1672]

Many, many thanks to you for your time in making this review! I have been hesitant about investing in an Apple Watch 6, since owning a Fitbit for three years. Your analyses have (at least) convinced me to give the Apple Watch 6 a try. Looking forward to additional reviews regarding the Apple Watch!

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad I could help!

[@__aceofspades]

Always thumbs up and watch your content! Appreciate what you do! Any chance you could test a Galaxy Watch 3 or Galaxy Active 2? Both have 99% the same features, HR, ECG, BP, steps, sleep, etc and are Samsung's current flagship smartwatches, and since Google has been sleeping on watches, they are typically a top contender for any Android user.

[@dangriffin607]

THANKS for posting this . . .ALWAYS have discrepancies from my Fit Bit vs my chest strap Polar . . .Sometine 20+ bpm’s. NOW, i might consider the Apple Watch as a workout watch. Subbed!

[@kubiaxk]

Awesome video :)

[@LearningPythonProgramming]

Fantastic review! Really enjoyed the scientific approach. Would you recommend the Apple Watch over the Oura Ring 2?

[@immanuelrperiera9188]

Bro you deserve more subs 🤩

[@KS-fw9hz]

Great video, thank you!! Would love to know how accurate it is at tracking indoor walking.I have been getting a much higher step count on my apple watch compared to the machine.

[@robij3155]

Great videos bro 😎 👏🏼👏🏼👍🏽

[@Scither-]

Kudos bro 👍

[@rehansiddique8126]

Good Job 👌

[@TheIndianChieftain]

Very informative video, you will cross a million subscribers in no time - I bet. Thanks for sharing all the info.

[@CarloSnow5]

This is the kind of videos I look for when trying to know the most technical aspects of this watches.

[@voodooparadox2513]

Great videos! Really appreciated! What would you recommend for sleep on an Apple Watch? I think we agree that the sleep stages are not so useful for most people. The most important would be: how long were you in bed, when did you fall asleep, how much time were you awake and asleep, and when did you finally wake up and get out of bed. The default implementation of Apple seems to do that pretty well, right? Or would you recommend one of the apps?

[@yccdswh]

Thank you for the tests. Could you please test the heart rate and sleep monitoring of Huawei watch fit?

[@carlwong3521]

Hi. Big fan of your work. You have convinced me to get a Apple 6 Smartwatch. I would like to capture heart rate information like you do in your video. Can you point me to any instructions that will allow me to download the heart rate data off my phone or device?

[@msetmset4857]

I really like your channel, it's been months that I watch AW videos and sleep tracking and I "stumbled" on your channel only this morning "by accident". How come KZbin didn't suggest to me your channel before ??? Really strange. Keep on the good work, I've subscribed, cheers

[@samkp1000]

I came to see accidentally this video . I loved the effort taken simply Superb video man , realistic , can you do a review for amazfit gts 2 mini

[@kurtisbrischke6995]

This is superb analysis! What are your thoughts on tracking HRV with the Apple watch series 6?

[@strawken2659]

Great video, really indepth, Thanks.

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Aaron-lf2qg]

Just subbed Really gods video and I want to see more of these kinds of videos👍 Keep it up

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Thanks so much Aaron!

[@andrewcutting6172]

I’m really excited for when you get to the whoop strap since they clam to be super accurate because of how they collect data, and if their “day strain” and recovery score could be accurate.

[@roxbittman]

Your reviews of these wrist devices are the very best. Thank you! I’m glad you reviewed the Apple Watch, though I’ve no intention of getting one (I prefer the Fitbit environment despite some error surrounding HR and steps...close enough!). One big reason to not get the Apple is the incomplete sleep data. They are way behind. I’ve been using the Chinese-made Amazfit X for over a week now. It seemed very buggy at first, but has become more accurate (GPS, steps, etc) over time. It seems to calibrate as you wear it. There are still lots of complaints out there though!

[@RueLeBastards]

You help me decide to buy Apple Watch 6 Nike edition today. Thanks bro!

[@stunt2flame]

An extraordinary man!

[@PJ-mb3ue]

Thanks!

[@marcuszahran7030]

This video is so nice.. you need more subs

[@bardam830]

Wow that’s what I was waiting for thanks 😊

[@TheQuantifiedScientist]

Glad you like it!