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2023's Best Smartwatches : A Scientist/Reviewer's Daily Drivers
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2023's Best Smartwatches : A Scientist/Reviewer's Daily Drivers

Ultimate Setup for Health and Sports Tracking

In this video, the speaker shares their ultimate setup for health and sports tracking. They discuss the devices they personally use on a day-to-day basis, based on their systematic evaluation of performance and features. The speaker also mentions potential use cases and top choices for different circumstances.

Favorite Devices for General Health and Sleep Tracking

  • The speaker uses three main devices for general health and sleep tracking: the Aura Ring, Whoop Strap, and Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover.
  • The Aura Ring is the favorite device specifically for health and sleep tracking.
  • It has an intuitive app with important metrics at a glance.
  • The Readiness score provides a summary of overall sleep quality.
  • The Sleep score reflects performance in different aspects of sleep.
  • Aura recently updated their sleep tracking algorithm, improving its accuracy compared to polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard of sleep stage tracking.
  • Comparing PSG data with Aura Ring predictions:
  • Deep sleep agreement is around 85%.
  • Light sleep agreement is about 76%, better than most devices.

Other Potential Use Cases

  • [Timestamp needed] Whoop Strap is recommended for athletes due to its comprehensive analysis of strain, recovery, and sleep data.

Conclusion

The speaker's ultimate setup includes using the Aura Ring as their favorite device for general health and sleep tracking. They also mention other potential use cases such as athletes using the Whoop Strap.

New Section

This section discusses the sleep stage tracking performance of the Aura Ring compared to other devices.

Comparison of Sleep Stage Tracking

  • The Aura Ring's sleep stage tracking is evaluated based on its agreement with reference devices such as PSG and EEG.
  • Light sleep is the closest sleep stage to being awake, so there may be some confusion in detecting night sleep.
  • Two individual nights are analyzed to compare the sleep stages detected by the Aura Ring 3 with those recorded by PSG.
  • The Aura Ring detects most of the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep segments, allowing for an estimation of sleep cycles.
  • The author notes that manufacturers often claim good sleep stage tracking but may not have significantly improved their algorithms.
  • Independent testing is necessary to evaluate actual performance due to marketing claims.

Comparison with Other Devices

  • A graph shows the agreement of different watches with reference devices (PSG and EEG) in terms of sleep stage tracking.
  • Apple Watches, Fitbits, Whoop straps, and other devices perform well in terms of agreement with reference devices.
  • The results from two Aura Rings are compared against these devices using both PSG and EEG as references.
  • The Aura Rings perform similarly to Whoop straps and Fitbits but not as well as Apple Watches.

New Section

This section continues discussing the comparison between Aura Rings and other devices for sleep stage tracking.

Comparison with EEG Device

  • The author compares two Aura Rings against an EEG device for a more accurate evaluation of their performance.
  • Overall, the results are consistent between the two Aura Rings, indicating good performance.
  • Most devices perform worse than the Aura Rings in terms of sleep tracking.
  • The Aura Rings are among the top performers in sleep tracking compared to other devices.

The transcript does not provide further sections or timestamps for additional content.

Heart Rate Tracking during Workouts

The transcript discusses the limitations of heart rate tracking on the Aura Ring 3 during workouts, specifically focusing on running, cycling, and walking. The performance of the Aura Ring 3 in accurately measuring heart rate during these activities is analyzed.

Heart Rate Tracking Accuracy for Cycling Indoors

  • The accuracy of heart rate measurements during indoor cycling sessions is evaluated.
  • A comparison is made between the heart rate measurements recorded by the Aura Ring 3 and a Polar H10 ECG chest strap.
  • The graph shows individual heart rate measurements plotted against each other, with the blue line representing perfect agreement.
  • While there are some points close to the blue line, there are instances where the Aura Ring 3 detects a higher heart rate than what is actually measured by the chest strap.
  • The correlation value (R) between the two devices is not very high at 0.8.

Heart Rate Tracking Performance for Cycling Outdoors

  • The performance of heart rate tracking during outdoor cycling sessions is examined.
  • Outdoor cycling poses more challenges due to increased movement and tension on the arms while holding handlebars tightly.
  • The graph illustrates a significant number of points deviating from the blue line, indicating poor agreement between Aura Ring 3 and chest strap measurements.
  • The correlation value drops to 0.54 for outdoor cycling sessions.
  • The Aura Ring 3 fails to track changes in heart rate peaks and dips accurately.

Comparison with Other Devices

This section compares the performance of Aura Ring 3 with other devices in terms of heart rate tracking accuracy.

Correlation Values Comparison

  • Correlation values are used as a metric to compare different devices' heart rate tracking accuracy.
  • A graph displays devices ranked from worst to best based on their correlation values with a reference device.
  • The Aura Ring 3 is marked in red and positioned towards the lower end of the graph.
  • Most devices perform significantly better than the Aura Ring 3, with correlation values above 0.90 preferred.

Heart Rate Tracking during Outdoor Cycling

The transcript continues to discuss the poor performance of heart rate tracking on the Aura Ring 3 during outdoor cycling sessions.

Inaccurate Heart Rate Tracking

  • The graph shows a lack of accurate tracking for heart rate changes during outdoor cycling sessions.
  • The Aura Ring 3 fails to detect peaks and dips in heart rate, resulting in a significant number of points deviating from the blue line.

These are the main points covered in the transcript regarding heart rate tracking limitations and performance on the Aura Ring 3 during different types of workouts.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the performance of different devices for tracking heart rate during cycling activities. The focus is on comparing the Aura Ring with other watches and highlighting the limitations of the Aura Ring in outdoor cycling.

Comparison of Heart Rate Tracking Performance (Cycling)

  • The speaker mentions that when it comes to cycling outside, most watches perform better than the Aura Ring in terms of heart rate tracking.
  • Apple Watches and some Huawei watches are mentioned as having good performance in this regard.
  • Some Galaxy watches and lighter Garmin watches also perform reasonably well.
  • However, it is noted that the Aura Ring is not suitable for tracking heart rate during outdoor cycling.

New Section

This section focuses on comparing the Aura Ring with its major competitor, the Whoop Strap. The discussion includes hardware tracking capabilities, health and sleep tracking features, and app functionality.

Comparison with Whoop Strap

  • The Whoop Strap is mentioned as a major competitor to the Aura Ring.
  • Both devices have similar features such as health and sleep tracking.
  • The apps for both devices are somewhat similar in terms of functionality.
  • The Whoop Strap provides a "health monitor" feature that checks basic sleep metrics and allows easy navigation to sleep stage tracking and sleep performance analysis.

New Section

This section focuses on evaluating the sleep stage tracking performance of the Whoop Strap using comparison data from a reference device called Dream 2 EEG Headband.

Sleep Stage Tracking Performance (Whoop Strap vs. Dream 2 EEG Headband)

  • Comparing data from Dream 2 EEG Headband with the Whoop Strap's results:
  • Around 97% of deep sleep detected by the EEG device was also detected by the Whoop Strap, indicating good agreement.
  • Approximately 58% of light sleep detected by the EEG device was also detected as light sleep by the Whoop Strap.
  • The Whoop Strap sometimes confused light sleep with deep sleep, with around 28% of light sleep according to the EEG device being classified as deep sleep by the Whoop Strap.
  • The agreement for REM (rapid eye movement) sleep detection was around 60%, similar to the performance observed for Aura Ring in a previous section.

New Section

This section provides an overall assessment of the Whoop Strap's sleep stage tracking performance and compares it to other devices tested in the past.

Comparison of Sleep Stage Tracking Performance

  • The speaker states that the Whoop Strap is a solid sleep stage tracker, performing well in all stages but excelling particularly in deep sleep tracking.
  • Comparing its performance to other devices tested:
  • The Whoop Strap performs better than many other watches and devices in terms of agreement with reference devices.
  • However, Apple Watches are mentioned as outperforming both Aura Ring and Whoop Strap in this aspect.

New Section

This section focuses on comparing app usability between Aura Ring and Whoop Strap, specifically regarding intuitive presentation and user experience.

App Usability Comparison

  • The speaker mentions that personally they find the app of Aura Ring slightly more intuitive than that of the Whoop Strap.
  • Both apps are considered good, but if they had to choose one, they would prefer Aura Ring's app presentation over that of the Whoop Strap.

New Section

This section discusses heart rate tracking performance during workouts and compares the Whoop Strap with the Polar H10 HR chest strap for indoor cycling.

Heart Rate Tracking Performance (Whoop Strap vs. Polar H10 HR Chest Strap)

  • The speaker presents an overview of the performance of the Whoop Strap compared to the Polar H10 HR chest strap for indoor cycling.
  • The goal is to have data points as close to a blue line as possible, indicating accurate heart rate tracking.
  • Most data points are close to the blue line, indicating good agreement between the two devices.
  • However, there is a tendency for the Whoop Strap to slightly underestimate heart rates in higher ranges.

Timestamps and titles have been created based on available information from the transcript.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the performance of different health trackers and smartwatches for indoor cycling.

Performance of Health Trackers and Smartwatches for Indoor Cycling

  • The speaker mentions that the performance of health trackers and smartwatches for indoor cycling varies.
  • The whoop strap 4.0 is considered good enough for most people, similar to the Polar Pacer Pro and Fitbit Lux.
  • However, it is not as good as Apple watches and Huawei watches but better than some Garmin devices.
  • Newer Garmin watches like Phoenix 7 Pro and FX2 Pro are performing better than the whoop strap based on recent data.

New Section

This section focuses on the comparison between health trackers and smartwatches for outdoor cycling.

Performance of Health Trackers and Smartwatches for Outdoor Cycling

  • Outdoor cycling poses more challenges for health trackers and smartwatches due to increased bumpiness and tension on arms.
  • The whoop strap shows a lower correlation compared to E4 in this case, with a correlation of 0.75.
  • Intensive exercise leads to low heart rates and bigger deviations in heart rate tracking.
  • Despite these challenges, the whoop strap 4.0 performs better than average when compared to other watches for outdoor cycling.

New Section

This section discusses the speaker's personal preference regarding heart rate tracking accuracy in watches.

Heart Rate Tracking Accuracy Preference

  • The speaker states that most watches, including the whoop strap 4.0, would not be good enough for their purposes.
  • They prefer a correlation of at least roughly 0.9 or close to 0.95 before trusting heart rate tracking results.
  • The aura ring or Loop strap are mentioned as devices that meet the speaker's accuracy preference for health and sleep tracking.
  • The whoop strap is recommended for tracking hardware during workouts, but it falls short in sleep tracking compared to the aura ring.

New Section

This section discusses the subscription-based model of the whoop strap and aura ring.

Subscription-Based Model

  • Both the whoop strap and aura ring operate on a subscription model where users have to pay a monthly fee to use the device.
  • The speaker expresses their personal dislike for this subscription model but acknowledges its prevalence in the market.
  • Affiliate links are provided in the video description, offering discounts for purchasing the whoop strap or finding discount links online for the aura ring.

New Section

This section introduces another device called HD bot 3, which tracks sleep stages without wearing anything on the body.

HD Bot 3 - Sleep Tracking Device

  • The HD bot 3 is not a wearable device but rather a mattress attachment that tracks sleep stages.
  • It can be used by two people simultaneously as it tracks both sides of the bed independently.
  • In addition to sleep tracking, one of its main features is actively cooling and heating each side of the bed independently.
  • The speaker shares their positive experience with using HD bot 3 to regulate temperature during sleep, especially when sharing a bed with someone.

New Section

This section highlights how HD bot 3 has improved sleep quality for the speaker.

Improved Sleep Quality with HD Bot 3

  • The speaker mentions that they tend to get very warm while sleeping, even in winter or when sharing a bed.
  • Opening windows fully in winter helps cool down but may be too cold for others sharing the bed. In summer, cooling the room is challenging.
  • HD bot 3 allows the speaker to cool their side of the bed independently, providing a significant improvement in sleep quality.
  • The device is also more energy-efficient than air conditioning.

New Section

This section discusses the sleep stage tracking performance of HD bot 3.

Sleep Stage Tracking Performance of HD Bot 3

  • The speaker presents an overview of the sleep stage tracking performance of HD bot 3 compared to an EEG headband.
  • Deep sleep detection shows a good agreement between HD bot 3 and the EEG device, with a 91% match.
  • Light sleep confusion occurs when REM sleep is confused with light sleep, at around 29%.
  • Overall, REM sleep agreement is around 68%, which is considered quite good compared to other watches.

Timestamps are approximate and may vary slightly.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the performance of different sleep tracking devices and compares them to the H Sleep Ball 3.

Performance Comparison of Sleep Tracking Devices

  • The speaker shows a plot comparing the average agreement over four individual sleep stages and the percentage agreement with the worst sleep stage for various devices.
  • The Apple watches are considered some of the best devices in terms of overall agreement with EEG or PSG devices.
  • The HD Port 3 is shown to be close to Apple watches in terms of overall agreement, although slightly lower along the horizontal axis.
  • The H Sleep Ball 3 performs consistently well across all sleep stages and is among the top devices, slightly outperformed by Apple watches.
  • The speaker concludes that compared to other devices, the H Sleep Ball 3 is one of the top choices for sleep tracking.

New Section

In this section, the speaker summarizes their personal preferences and recommendations for health and sleep tracking devices.

Personal Preferences and Recommendations

  • For general health tracking and detailed information on sleep quality and readiness, the aura ring and whoop strap are preferred over the H Sleep Ball 3.
  • The H Sleep Ball 3 is relatively expensive, costing at least two thousand dollars.
  • If interested in purchasing either an H Sleep Ball 3 cover or a mattress included with it, there is an affiliate link provided in the description for a discount.
  • The speaker's top recommendations for health and sleep tracking are aura ring, whoop strap, and H Sleep Ball 3.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses their preferences for heart rate monitoring during workouts.

Heart Rate Monitoring During Workouts

  • The O-rings have some capabilities for tracking heart rate during workouts, but it is not very good.
  • The whoop strap is decent at tracking heart rate during workouts but not the best device available.
  • The speaker personally uses an HD chest strap for tracking heart rate during workouts as it is generally considered the most reliable and economical method.
  • Smartwatches and health trackers use PPG (photoplethysmography) technology to measure heart rate by shining green light on the skin and analyzing the reflected light patterns.
  • PPG data can be influenced by movement and other factors, making it less reliable during intense physical activity.
  • For accurate heart rate readings, the speaker prefers using ECG (electrocardiogram) instead of PPG. ECG chest straps are generally more accurate than PPG devices, especially during high-intensity exercises.
  • The polar h10 ECG chest strap is recommended by the speaker for daily use as it has been used in scientific studies and shown to be reliable.

New Section

In this section, the speaker explains how PPG technology works for measuring heart rate.

How PPG Technology Works

  • PPG technology in smartwatches uses a light source (often green LEDs) and a light detector to measure heart rate.
  • When green light is shined onto the skin, it gets absorbed, reflected, or refracted by the tissues underneath.
  • Green light is absorbed well by blood, making it easier to detect changes in blood volume caused by heartbeats.
  • More blood flow through the wrist leads to more green light being absorbed and less being reflected back to the photodiode.
  • By analyzing these patterns of reflected light, the PPG sensor identifies the rhythm of heartbeats and calculates heart rate.
  • While convenient and providing continuous data, PPG accuracy can be affected by factors such as movement, placement of sensor, skin color, and ambient light conditions.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the reliability of ECG chest straps for heart rate measurements during workouts.

Reliability of ECG Chest Straps

  • ECG (electrocardiogram) chest straps are considered the gold standard for heart rate measurements.
  • ECG directly measures the electrical activity of the heart and is generally more accurate than PPG.
  • During high-intensity exercises, ECG chest straps are more reliable than PPG devices.
  • The polar h10 ECG chest strap is recommended by the speaker as it has been used in scientific studies and shown to be reliable for measuring heart rate.

Accuracy of ECG Signal Detection

The accuracy of ECG signal detection was manually checked by going through the recordings. Three types of mistakes were defined: failing to detect a peak, detecting the wrong peak, and missing heart rate due to noise in the signal.

Types of Mistakes in ECG Signal Detection

  • Failing to detect a peak
  • Detecting the wrong peak
  • Missing heart rate due to noise in the signal

Definition of Signal Quality

Signal quality is defined as the percentage of correctly detected heart rate peaks. A higher signal quality indicates more accurate detection.

Calculation of Signal Quality

  • Signal quality is calculated as the percentage of correctly detected heart rate peaks.
  • A signal quality of 99 means that 99% of peaks were correctly detected.
  • Mistakes in detection can include any of the three types mentioned earlier.

Performance Results for Different Activities

The performance results for two devices, halter ECG and Polar H10, are compared for different activities such as sitting, doing chores, walking, jogging, and lifting weights.

Performance Comparison for Activities with Little Motion (Sitting, Chores, Walking)

  • Both halter ECG and Polar H10 show high accuracy during activities with little motion.
  • Mistakes made during household chores are around 0.3% for both devices.

Performance Comparison for Activities with More Movement (Jogging, Strength Training)

The performance difference between halter ECG and Polar H10 becomes significant during activities with more movement like jogging and strength training.

Performance Difference During Jogging and Strength Training

  • The Polar H10 outperforms the halter ECG during jogging and strength training.
  • The signal quality of the halter ECG drops significantly during these activities, while the Polar H10 maintains a high signal quality.

Overall Signal Quality Comparison

The overall signal quality of the Polar H10 is higher compared to the halter ECG for all activities combined.

Overall Signal Quality Comparison

  • The Polar H10 has an overall signal quality of 99.6% for all activities.
  • The halter ECG has an overall signal quality of 94.6% for all activities.
  • Both devices make mistakes, but the Polar H10 makes fewer mistakes in peak detection.

Considerations when Choosing an ECG Chest Strap

When choosing an ECG chest strap, it is important to consider compatibility with smartwatches and personal preferences.

Compatibility with Smartwatches

  • Some ECG chest straps require pairing with a smartwatch.
  • The Polar H10 can be directly connected to the Polar Beat app without requiring a smartwatch.

Personal Recommendations and Unique Situations

Personal recommendations are provided based on unique situations and preferences. Apple watches are mentioned as top performers in sleep stage tracking and heart rate tracking during workouts.

Unique Situation and Device Selection

  • Personal device selection depends on individual needs and preferences.
  • Devices like aura ring, whoop strap, and Polar H10 are recommended based on personal use cases.

Performance of Apple Watches in Sleep Stage Tracking

Apple watches perform exceptionally well in sleep stage tracking compared to other devices.

Performance of Apple Watches in Sleep Stage Tracking

  • Apple watches are top performers in sleep stage tracking and heart rate tracking during workouts.
  • The reason for their superior performance is not clear, but it may be due to higher investment in technology.

The summary has been provided based on the given transcript.

Sleep Stage Tracking Performance of Apple Watch

The speaker discusses the performance of the Apple Watch in tracking sleep stages based on data from a single night. They mention that 94% of deep sleep detected by a PSG device was also detected by the Apple Watch, while only 6.5% was confused. For light sleep detection, about 80% of what was detected by the PSG device was also detected by the Apple Watch, with around 10% confusion with deep sleep. Ram sleep detection was slightly worse, with 71% correctly detected and confusion with light sleep. Awake moments detection was worse, with only 60% correctly detected and confusion with light sleep.

Sleep Stage Detection Performance

  • Based on data from a single night:
  • Deep Sleep:
  • 94% of deep sleep detected by PSG device also detected by Apple Watch.
  • Only 6.5% confusion.
  • Light Sleep:
  • About 80% of light sleep detected by PSG device also detected by Apple Watch.
  • Around 10% confusion with deep sleep.
  • Ram Sleep:
  • 71% correctly detected.
  • Confusion mainly with light sleep.
  • Awake Moments:
  • Only 60% correctly detected.
  • Confusion mainly with light sleep.

Overall Comparison and Variability in Sleep Stage Tracking

The speaker provides an overview comparing the average agreement over four individual sleep stages between different Apple Watches and other devices for multiple nights. They mention that while there is variability between different watches, overall, the Apple Watches consistently outperform other watches in terms of sleep stage tracking.

Comparison and Variability in Sleep Stage Tracking

  • Overview plot shows average agreement over four individual sleep stages (horizontal axis) and worst sleep stages (vertical axis).
  • Apple Watches consistently outperform other watches:
  • Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Series 8 perform well based on single night data.
  • Comparison with four different Apple Watches over multiple nights using EEG device shows consistent results.
  • Variability exists between watches, but overall performance is better than most other watches.
  • HD port 3, some Fitbits, and O-rings are also relatively close in performance.

Apple Watch Performance in Sleep Stage Tracking

The speaker concludes that based on their testing, the Apple Watches consistently outperform other watches when it comes to sleep stage tracking. They mention that this is also true for hardware tracking during workouts, where the correlation with an ECG chest strap is almost perfect.

Performance of Apple Watches in Sleep Stage Tracking

  • Based on testing:
  • Apple Watches consistently outperform other watches in sleep stage tracking.
  • Comparison with EEG device data shows consistent results.
  • Correlation with ECG chest strap during workouts is almost perfect.
  • Cycling indoors:
  • Almost all points for heart rate tracking are close to the blue line for Apple Watch 8.
  • Similar performance observed for Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch.
  • Cycling outdoors:
  • Increased bumpiness and tension affect accuracy of heart rate tracking, but still performs well compared to other watches.

Self-Promotion and Conclusion

The speaker briefly mentions their newsletter, Instagram, YouTube shorts channel, and requests subscriptions. They reiterate that the performance of the Apple Watch in sleep stage tracking and hardware tracking during workouts is superior to other watches based on their testing.

Self-Promotion and Conclusion

  • Briefly mentions newsletter, Instagram, YouTube shorts channel for updates on wearables testing.
  • Requests subscriptions and mentions it is optional.
  • Performance of Apple Watch in sleep stage tracking and hardware tracking during workouts is superior to other watches based on testing.

Timestamps are approximate and may vary slightly.

Best Watches for Heart Rate Tracking

In this section, the speaker discusses the best watches for heart rate tracking and highlights the downsides of using Apple watches.

Apple Watch for Heart Rate Tracking

  • The speaker mentions that Apple Watch is the best watch for heart rate tracking.
  • However, two main downsides of using Apple watches are highlighted:
  • First, an iPhone is required to use an Apple Watch, so it may not be suitable for Android users.
  • Second, the battery life of Apple watches is not very good, except for the Apple Watch Ultra which can last up to two or three days. Other models need to be charged daily.

Health Tracking Comparison

  • The speaker states that while Apple Watch is great for heart rate tracking, they prefer other devices like the aura ring and whoop strap for health tracking.
  • The Apple Health app is mentioned as not being as good as those provided by aura ring and whoop strap in terms of providing a quick overview of health and readiness status.

Preference for Garmin Watches

  • The speaker mentions that they prefer taking Garmin watches on holidays due to better battery life and liking the app and user interface.
  • They specifically mention liking the Garmin Phoenix FM Pro model but also highlight other models like Garmin 400255 as cheaper alternatives.

Performance Comparison with Garmin Watches

  • The speaker notes that while Garmin watches perform well in terms of heart rate tracking, they don't perform as well as Apple watches on them personally.
  • A recent release top-of-the-line Garmin watch with a new sensor (epics Pro) is shown performing well during indoor cycling exercises.
  • However, when it comes to outdoor cycling exercises, both Apex 2 Pro and Phoenix 7 Pro show a decrease in performance compared to static exercises.

Trusting Heart Rate Tracking

  • The speaker expresses that they wouldn't trust Apex 2 Pro and Phoenix 7 Pro for heart rate tracking during outdoor cycling.
  • They highlight the difference in correlation between Apple watches (roughly 0.98) and Garmin watches (around 0.74) for heart rate tracking.
  • The speaker suggests using an HD chest strap combined with a Garmin watch for improved heart rate tracking.

Overall Recommendation

  • The speaker acknowledges the great features of Garmin watches, such as battery life and GPS, making them suitable for outdoor sports enthusiasts.
  • However, they recommend pairing an ECG chest strap with a Garmin watch to achieve reliable hardware measurements.
  • For those on a budget looking for good heart rate tracking from a smartwatch, the Huawei Watchfit 2 is suggested as a relatively cheap option.

Device Recommendations Based on Scenarios

In this section, the speaker provides device recommendations based on different scenarios and user preferences.

Budget-Friendly Option with Good Heart Rate Tracking

  • For users on a budget seeking good heart rate tracking from a smartwatch, the Huawei Watchfit 2 is recommended. It offers wrist-based heart rate tracking but may have limitations in sleep stage tracking and access to the Google Play Store.

Heart Rate and Sleep Stage Tracking for iPhone Users

  • Apple watches are recommended for iPhone users interested in both heart rate and sleep stage tracking. They offer comprehensive features in these areas.

Outdoor Sports Enthusiasts

  • Garmin watches are highlighted as ideal for outdoor sports enthusiasts due to their great battery life, GPS accuracy, and other features.
  • Pairing an ECG chest strap with a Garmin watch is suggested to improve heart rate tracking accuracy.

Considerations for Limited Budget or Single Device Usage

  • The speaker acknowledges that not everyone has access to multiple devices like themselves.
  • They suggest considering personal preferences and requirements when choosing a device, keeping in mind factors like budget and the need for multiple features.

Conclusion

The transcript discusses the best watches for heart rate tracking, highlighting Apple Watch as the top choice. The downsides of using Apple watches are mentioned, including the need for an iPhone and limited battery life. Garmin watches are also praised for their features but are noted to have lower performance in heart rate tracking compared to Apple watches. Device recommendations are provided based on different scenarios and user preferences, considering factors such as budget and desired features.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses different options for smartwatches and health trackers based on specific needs and preferences.

Choosing a Smartwatch or Health Tracker

  • Smartwatches like the Apple Watch 8 are currently more expensive compared to other options.
  • However, there are cheaper alternatives available that offer similar quality in terms of heart rate and sleep stage tracking.
  • For those primarily interested in health tracking, the Aura Ring is recommended as the top pick.
  • If you also want decent heart rate tracking during workouts, the Whoop Strap is suggested as a good choice.
  • Garmin watches paired with an ECG chest strap are ideal for individuals who are very active and enjoy outdoor sports.
  • The Forte 55 or 265 models from Garmin offer great battery life and excellent GPS tracking at a more affordable price point.
  • The HD Port 3 is recommended for individuals who struggle to fall asleep due to being too hot or too cold. It provides excellent sleep stage tracking but is the most expensive option on the list.

New Section

In this section, the speaker mentions affiliate links in the video description that can be used to purchase certain devices mentioned. They also discuss limitations of their testing methodology.

Affiliate Links and Testing Limitations

  • Different affiliate links are provided in the video description to support the channel without any additional cost to viewers.
  • Some of these links may even provide discounts on certain devices.
  • The speaker acknowledges limitations in their testing methodology:
  • Most of their testing was conducted on themselves, so individual experiences may vary.
  • They focused on quantifiable features and may have missed aspects of certain watches.
  • Some devices were tested more extensively than others, which could impact reliability of test results.

New Section

In this section, the speaker concludes the video by encouraging viewers to check out another video that ranks watches based on performance in different price categories. They also mention the importance of liking and subscribing to their channel.

Conclusion and Call to Action

  • Viewers who watched the entire video may be interested in knowing which watches perform best in different price categories.
  • The speaker directs viewers to another video that provides this information.
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Video description

🔴 General Amazon link*: https://geni.us/thequantifiedscientist 🟢 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quantified_scientist/ 🟠 Shorts: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCcpARGzXNaC62UQWns2dh2Q 🔵 Newsletter: www.robterhorst.com 🟡 Twitter: @QuantifiedRob * Affiliate (paid) links support the channel by earning me a commission on any sale, and it doesn't cost you any more! My opinions are completely my own, and this content is not sponsored. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 👇 $30 off any new WHOOP membership, affiliate* (paid) link, supports the channel!👇 https://join.whoop.com/QuantifiedScientist ($30 off any new WHOOP membership) ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 👇Amazon Affiliate* (paid) links. Supports the channel, doesn't cost you any more!👇 ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬BEST WATCHES▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 🔴 Oura Link: I recommend you search for a discount on reddit with the "Refer-A-Friend" program! If you can’t find one: https://ouraring.sjv.io/rQ4L33 (affiliate link that supports the channel, but doesn't have a discount) 🔴 Whoop Strap 4.0: https://join.whoop.com/QuantifiedScientist ($30 off any new WHOOP membership) 🔴 Eight sleep 200$/150$ discount*: https://eight-sleep.ioym.net/TheQuantifiedScientist + add code “TQS” for 200$/150$ total discount 🔴 General Amazon link: https://geni.us/thequantifiedscientist 🔴 Garmin Epix 2 Pro link*: https://geni.us/Epix2Pro 🔴 Garmin Fenix 7 Pro link*: https://geni.us/Fenix7Pro 🔴 Garmin Forerunner 965 link*: https://geni.us/FR965 🔴 Polar H10: https://geni.us/hnXc ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 📸My Gear* (paid links, supports the channel and doesn’t cost you any more)📸 Camera body (main): https://geni.us/SonyA6600_body Camera lens (main): https://geni.us/SigmaContemporary Camera (B-roll 1): https://geni.us/Sony_ZVE1 Camera (B-roll 2): https://geni.us/CanonEosM50MarkII and https://geni.us/Sony_ZVE10 Light: https://geni.us/Godox_VL150 Softbox: https://geni.us/NiceFotoSoftbox Light stand: https://geni.us/WalimexLightstand ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:51 Best for Health Tracking Option 1 : Oura Ring 14:59 Best for Health Tracking Option 2 : Whoop Strap 21:41 Best for Sleep Optimization & Tracking : Eight Sleep Pod 3 26:08 Best for Heart Rate Tracking : Polar H10 33:09 Best for Heart Rate + Sleep : Apple Watches 39:10 Best GPS and Battery : Garmin 42:19 Best picks under different circumstances 44:02 Limitations As a YouTube reviewer and scientist I own about 100 smart watches and other health trackers, so I have almost unlimited choice in devices, but which are the ones I actually use on a day-to-day basis? Well in this video I’ll share my ultimate tracking set up for health and sports tracking, and I’ll explain why I chose to use certain devices. This is based both on my systematic evaluation of their performance, and also the features they provide. However, of course my top choices are somewhat specific to my personal circumstances. So I’ll also discuss some other potential use cases, and what would be my top choices in those circumstances As you can see, I have a big pile of watches and health trackers right here, and I’ve spent a lot of time testing each of these watches. And there’s a big difference in how some of these watches perform. You can see that for instance in this overview plot of the heart rate performance, and this over your plot of the sleep tracking performance. In both cases, the more to the top right, the better a device performs. Overall, there are a few top contenders and health trackers that I actually use on a day-to-day basis. In order for a device to make the cut, I have two main requirements: first of all, the measurements it takes should be reliable, and second it should be easy to use and understand. Now, let’s start with my favorite devices when it comes to general health and sleep tracking. I personally use three main devices for this purpose: the Oura ring, the Whoop Strap, and the Eight Sleep Pod 3 cover. I use all three of these every day, and each has their own pros and cons. Let’s start with the Oura Ring, which is actually my favorite device when we only consider health and sleep tracking. The Oura Ring is a smart ring that you connect to an app on your phone, and it does a few things really well. First of all, Oura has one of the most intuitive and best built apps when it comes to health and sleep tracking. When you open the app, you get the most important metrics at a glance, and I can also quite easily dive a bit deeper into some specific metrics. When you first look at the app in the morning, you get a readiness score and sleep score, and I think these are great for people that don’t wanna dive too deeply into anything. They are summaries of a lot of metrics measured by the Oura Ring. This way you get a quick overall impression of your sleep and recovery.