Study Finds 1 in 3 Americans Use Smartwatches With Many Metrics Only Estimated
Updated
Updated · BroBible · Sep 11
Study Finds 1 in 3 Americans Use Smartwatches With Many Metrics Only Estimated
3 articles · Updated · BroBible · Sep 11
Summary
University of Michigan and Hope College researchers found many smartwatch readings are algorithmic estimates rather than direct measurements, making them better for tracking personal trends than for precise health decisions.
The study says resting and steady-state heart rate, step count and outdoor pace are generally more reliable, while calories burned, sleep stages, body composition, hydration and recovery are less dependable.
Accuracy also shifts with movement, watch fit, temperature, sweat, skin tone, tattoos and body composition, and results may not match across brands because sensors, definitions and algorithms differ.
Six years after a 2020 review reached similar conclusions, the researchers said overall validity and reliability have not improved much even as devices report increasingly complex metrics.
That caution lands as nearly 1 in 3 Americans say they regularly use wearable technology, and a separate study this week found smartwatch calorie counts can miss actual expenditure by 15% to 25%.