Top sport smart watches with heart rate monitor and pedometer

Smart watches have revived the watch market, offering users a whole range of new and useful features. One such function is a heart rate monitor, or heart rate monitor.

We researched the market and made a rating of smart watches with heart rate sensors that provide the most accurate data. We present to your attention an overview of sports watches with a heart rate monitor and a pedometer.

Apple Watch Series 2

According to a study conducted by scientists at Stanford University and the Swedish School of Sport and Health, it was found that Apple Watch has the lowest error in determining the accuracy of the heart rate of the user.

The experiment was performed in comparison with the stationary method – ECG. Despite the permissible error of +/- 5%, Apple’s smart clock showed a minimum deviation of only 2%, in contrast to other wearable devices participating in the experiment.

One of the most important elements of the smart watch Apple Watch Series 2 is a set of four sensors to measure the pulse, built into the back of the case. Researchers at the University of California (San Francisco) determined that Apple Watch was able to identify cardiac problems with an accuracy of 97%.

The built-in GPS system is used to measure the pace, distance and speed when doing sports and cycling. But the main feature is the waterproofing. The new model is waterproof to 50 meters (5 ATM) and can be worn during showering and even swimming. And for runners released a special version of Apple Watch Nike + with some built-in features of Nike.

Characteristics:

• AMOLED, 1.5 “, 272 × 340 (290 ppi) and 1.65”, 312×390 (304 ppi)
• Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth 4.0 LE
• Protection from moisture 50 m (5 ATM), IPX7, can be used in the pool
• Light sensor
• Siri
• Battery life 18 h
• Compatibility: only with iOS

Conclusion.  Apple Watch Series 2 are designed with an emphasis on sports and fitness, and a variety of sizes and colors will make a choice for both women and men. They can rightly be called the best clock-pulse meter, honestly got the first place in our top.

The price ranges from $ 269 to $ 699, offering various modifications and design of products.

Garmin Fenix ​​5

Garmin Fenix ​​5 (user manual is here), presented by the company in January 2017, is equipped with a whole range of functions, as well as optical sensors from Elevate, which are able to monitor almost all the user’s actions.

The accuracy of heart rate control Garmin Fenix ​​5 was tested by testing the employee site Androidauthority. He compared the work of the Fenix ​​5 heart rate monitor to the Wahoo TICKR X chest strap, which, according to his authoritative opinion, is considered very reliable.

It should be borne in mind that the optical heart rate monitor Garmin is not designed for classes in the pool. He works perfectly for training and sports in the open air.

While running at a distance of 8 km, Garmin recorded a maximum heart rate of 175 beats when TICKR X showed 182. As a rule, the pulse sensors on the clock in high intensity training deviate by 5 beats per minute, although this does not happen often Does not become problematic. In this exercise, Fenix ​​5 recorded the average heart rate of 152, and the Wahoo TICKR X – 163, and it took some time for the clock to record a heart rate of more than 150 beats per minute, and the breast strap gave out almost immediately.

If you want to get more accurate results, you can use Garmin Fenix ​​5 in combination with chest cardiac sensors with ANT + or Bluetooth Smart data transfer technology.

In terms of technical characteristics, they include:

• 1.2-inch color LCD display with a resolution of 240 × 240 without touch input (model 5S has a screen resolution of 218 × 218)
• Wi-Fi
• GPS
• ANT +
• Bluetooth 4.0 LE
• Protection from moisture 100 m (10 ATM)
• Battery life up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode (depending on settings), up to 24 hours in GPS mode and up to 100 hours in power saving mode UltraTrach

The new line, including the Fenix ​​5 and Fenix ​​5S models, offers 64 MB of memory, where 54 MB is available for use. It is worth noting the model Fenix ​​5X, which has 12 GB for installing maps, where you can navigate the route.

Conclusion. Garmin Fenix ​​5 position themselves as a watch for running and deliver from the training a pleasure. They can act as the best men’s sports watch with a heart rate monitor and pedometer.

The price ranges from $ 600 to $ 850, depending on the model: F5, F5S or F5X.

Polar M430

Polar M430 is a versatile all-in-one sports device that allows you to measure the heart rate on your wrist during training and running with the ability to locate, and also tracks daily activity, steps, calories and sleep. Conjugated to the Polar Flow server, the M430 turns into a reliable trainer, which can provide personal feedback, an adaptive training plan and a live guide for athletes at different stages of their training.

Polar M430 are equipped with performance monitoring functions, such as training manual, recovery analysis, intervals with vibration signals and much more.

This model can be used without a chest strap and offers 6 LED elements for optical pulse measurement, built-in GPS and the ability to connect to the smartphone via Bluetooth.

For a month the employee of the CardioCritic site, the Polar M430 watch was tested in parallel with the chest straps Suunto Spartan Sport HR and Garmin Edge 820. The results were amazing. Differences in heart rate readings with the help of chest straps and sports watches were practically not noticeable. The peaks and slopes of the Polar M430 chart follow with the utmost accuracy the heart rate, tracked with a chest strap.

The technical characteristics include:

• Monochrome 1.4-inch screen with a resolution of 128×128
• Wi-Fi
• GPS (technology of communication with satellites SiRFInstantFix)
• Bluetooth 4.1
• Protection from moisture 30 m (3 ATM)
• 8 MB of memory
• Vibrate
• Activity sensor
• 240 mAh battery with 8-hour service with running sensors

Conclusion. Polar created a solid rival company Garmin – sports watch with GPS and heart rate monitor with the basic capabilities for runners, who with confidence took the honorable third place in the ranking.

The price of the Polar M430 is $ 229.

Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR

Suunto Spartan Sport was released in March 2017 as an ideal watch with multisport functions designed for sports fans requiring speed, distance and pulse tracking, including triathlon.

These are the best watches with a heart rate monitor, providing 16 h of work in training mode and water resistance to 100 m, as well as all kinds of functions and types of training for each of the 80 sports modes, allowing you to customize the training indicators according to your personal needs.

They guarantee accuracy and comfort without the need for chest straps. However, in order to achieve exceptional accuracy of heart rate parameters, they can be interfaced with an external cardiac sensor via Bluetooth.

Sports watches with a heart rate meter and a Spartan Sport pedometer monitor the heart beats 24/7 and are compatible with a Suunto Smart touch strap for tracking the heart rate while swimming. In addition to supporting location determination, it is possible to add navigation POI waypoints.

Characteristics:

• Color touch screen with a resolution of 320×300
• GPS and GLONASS
• Digital compass
• Pulse monitor
• pedometer
• Protection from moisture 100 m (10 ATM)
• Compatibility with iOS / Android and Suunto Movescount service
• Battery life 16 h

Conclusion. This device takes the fourth place and it can be attributed to one of the best hours for running with a heart rate monitor. After all, they use for the most accurate indicators first-rate heart rate sensor from the company Valencell, which is trusted by many leading brands.

Spartan Sport Wrist HR is sold for $ 522.

Sport smart watches with heart rate monitor have optical sensors that can read the heart rate, allowing athletes, and in particular – runners, to monitor their health. However, so far none of their heart rate monitor smartwatch measures the heart rate as accurately as chest straps closely fitting directly to the heart.

If you have already purchased any of the above hours with an optical sensor, share your experience in the comments.