Study shows Galaxy Watches have high fitness tracking accuracy

The Galaxy Watch 4 and newer Galaxy Watches were used for these tests.

University of Michigan's study shows Galaxy Watches have high fitness tracking accuracy

The University of Michigan's Human Performance & Sport Science Center (HPSSC) has revealed it has validated the high accuracy of Galaxy Watches in fitness tracking. The HPSSC’s Michigan Performance Research Laboratory (MiPR) found a high correlation between Galaxy Watches and clinical and sports science reference devices for body fat percentage, heart rate, sweat loss, and VO2 max.

The heart rate is the most commonly used metric on smartwatches and fitness trackers. HPSSC's study found a 90% correlation with electrocardiogram equipment while running, considered the gold standard. In sweat loss tests, Galaxy Watches reached a 95% correlation over varying workout distances, ranging from 2.5 km to 20 km.

For body fat percentage tests, the HPSSC's MiPR reviewed numbers from Galaxy Watches using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). They found a 95% correlation between the numbers from DEXA and Galaxy Watches.

The study revealed an 82% correlation between Galaxy Watches and clinical medical equipment in VO2 Max measurements, indicating acceptable accuracy. The company didn't reveal which Galaxy Watch models were used for testing or if all Galaxy Watches represent the same performance levels, though we can assume the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra, thanks to an upgraded health sensor, do the job a little better.

Check out our Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 comparison in the video below.

Kenneth Kozloff, HPSSC co-director, said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with Samsung to ensure that innovations in wearable technology are accessible and accurate across all segments of the population. HPSSC and MiPR are eager to unveil these outstanding outcomes that solidify our commitment to enhancing heart rate and health monitoring and are looking forward to future collaborations.“