Study highlights unreliability of data collected by smartwatches

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Connected objects have invaded our daily, so much so that we can place perhaps a little excessive trust in some of them. For example, smart watches and fitness bracelets have become the new oracles of our well-being: physical activity, heart rate, blood oxygen level, quality of sleep cycles, etc.

With big names like Apple and its Apple Watch or Samsung and its Galaxy Watch (which we tested in its Ultra version) positioned for some at quite high prices, one might think that they are very reliable tools. However, a study published at the end of July throws a spanner in the works, inviting us to take a step back from the accuracy of the information provided by these high-tech gadgets.

Heartbeats well captured, but calories in freewheeling

The study, which scrutinizes the performance of various portable devices, delivers a mixed assessment. First reassuring observation: the measurement of heart rate is rather reliable, with a margin of error not exceeding 3%, a very respectable result. The estimates relating to maximum oxygen consumption, commonly called VO2 max, also obtain a satisfactory score.

On the other hand, the shoe pinches when it comes to counting calories burned. The study points to an inaccuracy ranging from 15 to 21%, a significant gap for users who are keen to carefully manage their weight and monitor their physical activity.

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Sleep: imprecision reigns

Another area where smartwatches struggle to convince: sleep tracking. The results of the study showed that smartwatches are not really good students. The results revealed inaccuracies greater than 10% for sleep duration and efficiency. Worse still, the estimation of sleep latency can reach a dizzying margin of error of 180% compared to measurements obtained by polysomnography, the reference method in this field.

Faced with these revelations, it is worth remembering that smartwatches and other activity trackers remain imperfect tools. While manufacturers are constantly striving to improve their performance, many of these devices provide health and fitness information that has not been rigorously validated by medical professionals. That's why you should treat your tracking results with a grain of salt/strong>.

• Smartwatches accurately measure heart rate, but are less reliable for calculating calories burned.
• Sleep tracking by these devices has significant inaccuracies, particularly regarding sleep latency.
• These tools, while useful, are not medically validated and their data should be interpreted with caution.

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