Apple Watch Series 12 Matches Polar H10 in Heart Tests, Posting 0.98 Running Correlation
Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · Sep 18
Apple Watch Series 12 Matches Polar H10 in Heart Tests, Posting 0.98 Running Correlation
3 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · Sep 18
Summary
The Quantified Scientist found Apple Watch Series 12’s revamped heart-rate sensor tracked closely with a Polar H10 chest strap, with near-perfect indoor cycling results and a 0.98 correlation during running.
Weightlifting produced the weakest result at 0.97 correlation, but reviewer Rob ter Horst still called it strong for a wrist sensor and better than about 85% of devices he has tested.
Compared with his longer-term Apple Watch Series 11 testing, overall accuracy looked broadly similar, though the older model performed slightly better in running—suggesting Apple may still be tuning Series 12 algorithms.
A manual count of about 5,000 steps also showed the Series 12’s step tracking was generally accurate, with only slight overcounting in some cases.