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gary9000 Author

Level 1

10 points

Heart rate wildly inaccurate on Apple Watch Ultra

I went out for a run today and my Apple Watch Ultra heart rate was wildly inaccurate. Running at 7:58/mile pace, it recorded an average heart rate of 180 which is complete nonsense. As an experienced runner, my best guess on my average heart rate for that run would be 135. I'm sure someone will probably ask how I know my heart rate wasn't actually 180 (fair enough question after all). I can say with certainty that it definitely wasn't anywhere near 180 because:

I could hold an easy conversation during that run.
It felt easy
I can run faster than that for several miles

This happens often enough that it bugs me, but doesn't happen every run - sometimes the watch heart measurements are pretty much spot on, other times they're just wrong. I wear the watch strap as instructed (not too tight, not too loose). It was neither hot nor cold at 15 celsius so probbaly not related to skin temperature, sweat or dilation of blood vessels.

Does anyone have clarity on why this happens and how it could be resolved? There seems to be so many people on the community reporting similar, but only generic advice about strap tightness, etc. which doesn't seem to solve anyone's actual issue?

It's an expensive watch, and I chose it because it had one of the best all-round accuracies for heart rate, hrv, sleep analysis etc. Any advice gratefully received - feels like I'm wearing a really expensive alarm clock at the moment.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Apple Watch Ultra, watchOS 9

Posted on Jul 18, 2023 11:37 AM

Top-ranking reply

Akshat_Pandey

Level 1

12 points

Posted on Jun 23, 2024 11:15 AM

I am a desk jobber, and apple watch ultra 1 keeps me showing 126 to 135 BPM while sitting idle, no exercise, not even walking but it shows 100+bpm all the time.

I got worried and checked my ECG, it says Sinus Rhythm which means normal.

then I checked my blood oxygen, it says 97%.

if everything is normal then how the f**k my bpm is going 100+

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21 replies

Jun 9, 2024 7:36 AM in response to gary9000

I wear a Garmin while I’m running as well. For the longest time the ultra 2 and the Garmin agreed pretty

closely. In the last week or so that’s changed. Today my watch said my average HR was 170. Garmin said 150. Garmin is taking a reading every 2 minutes or so. Apple is taking one every 8-10 seconds. I think they are having some rounding errors or something. The graph in Apple health starts to show the large “range” sticks about a mile in. Garmin is creating the bottom and Apple is creating the top. I’ve run every day for 12.5 years. I know my heart rate was not 170 :)

Katmom71

Level 1

8 points

Aug 6, 2024 10:08 AM in response to gary9000

I was really hoping there was a good solution! I have an Ultra 2 and am experiencing the same issue. Now I cheat my watch by forcing a heart rate reading and then it finally shows the correct reading. I'm wondering if it is picking up our running cadence rather than heart rate? I changed to the Ultra 2 from my Garmin because I could never get an accurate heart rate with it so I had to use a chest or upper arm strap.

Ingo2711

Level 9

73,341 points

Aug 6, 2024 11:23 AM in response to Katmom71

Did you already try to force restart your watch by pressing and holding the Digital Crown and the Side button together for about 10sec, until the Apple logo comes back again?

If you are seeing gaps in-between the heart rate graph, where the heart rate has not been recorded, try to wear your watch a little further away from the wrist, maybe 1-2cm.

My Ultra 2 is getting moved forward during the workout, if the wirst band either is not tight enough or the watch too near to the wrist.

I had to restart my Garmin Forerunner as well, if it could not register a correct heart rate and stayed at 100bmp from the beginning of the workout till the end.

Sep 14, 2024 10:55 PM in response to gary9000

Same thing is happening to me. To the point now where I’m getting fed up with Apple. Used to also

happen on my series 3 Apple Watch. Now it happens on my ultra.

I was running yesterday and yes I was working. But I was not at 188 or 190 BPM as the watch was saying.

Has anyone has any joy with Apple? I’m tempted to request money back and switch watch makes.

The Zach

Level 2

426 points

Oct 9, 2024 8:13 AM in response to gary9000

Same issue here, but on a stationary bike. Within seconds of starting, it said my HR was 180. It stayed at that levels for about 30 minutes, although at one point the watch asked if I was done with my workout. After about 40 minutes, it fell to the 110-125 range, which was probably accurate.

Jeff Donald

Level 7

25,443 points

Nov 23, 2024 9:57 AM in response to dtatl2010

Blood pressure is almost always measured on the left arm and the instructions with my BP cuff and my wife, retired nurse, both tell me left arm.

Try switching arms and check your measurements.

Runners I know have mixed reviews, but the really serious ones wear a chest monitor.

Heart rate wildly inaccurate on Apple Watch Ultra