I have a heart condition and was told to get a smartwatch to track my heart rate. The one I bought only checks every 10 minutes, but my heart issues come and go really fast, so it’s not helpful.
The watch cost me around $40 Canadian, and that’s about what I’d like to spend. I can stretch to under $100 if needed. Does anyone know if there’s a way to tell if a watch monitors heart rate 24/7 before buying? Most of the ones I’ve seen online don’t make it clear.
A lot of the cheaper ones can technically track continuously, but the accuracy isn’t great. You might want to look into the Polar H10 chest strap instead. It’s often used as a reference for heart rate accuracy on smartwatches. You can connect it directly to your phone, and some smartwatches can pair with it too.
You could try a refurbished Galaxy Watch 3 on Amazon for less than $80. It’s a solid choice, and I think you’ll like it.
Garmin has watches with continuous heart rate tracking that update a couple of times per second. You can view a graph on the watch or through the phone app. Some models even have abnormal heart rate alerts. If you want ECG features, you’ll need one of the higher-end models like the Venu 3 or Fenix 7 Pro.
Fitbit might also be worth looking into. The Charge 6 tracks continuously, but I’m not sure if the app shows averages for 5 or 10 minutes.
Your health is really important. It’s worth thinking of this as an investment. While cheaper options might seem good now, your family and loved ones would want you to prioritize your wellbeing over saving a few dollars. This is something I’m trying to remind myself of too.