< Blogs
Jacob Bulbul

Jacob Bulbul

September 7, 2022

Frequency of measurement from wearables:HR and HRV

We frequently get asked if we have any info on how often wearable devices measure data. Since we could not find a compiled list of how often heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) readings are taken for different wearables, we decided to make one.

Knowing the measurement frequencies for different health metrics, especially for HR and HRV, is an important consideration when choosing which wearable is right for you or when comparing health trends between two or more wearables.

The recording frequency of a wearable, for this discussion, refers to how often a wearable device stores a measurement that you can then view using a fitness app or obtain using our API. We are not referring here to the actual sample rate of the wearable's sensor, but instead to how often HR and HRV readings are stored for use. For instance, your heart rate throughout the day is recorded every 5 minutes on an Apple Watch, but it may sample many times a second when actually measuring your HR to obtain an accurate reading.

For this article, the measurement frequencies of heart rate and heart rate variability are compared for a variety of wearables. For heart rate, the frequencies for HR readings taken throughout the day as well as the frequencies for continuous heart rate tracking are noted.

Let's take a look at the table below. We have noted which wearables support HR and HRV, and the corresponding measurement frequencies for both.

Wearable Heart Rate HRV Measurement Frequency (time per reading)
Fitbit HR: 5 minutes OR 5 seconds (continuous tracking)
Oura Ring (Gen 2 and Gen 3) HR: 5 minutes OR continuous tracking
HRV: 5 minutes
Apple HR: 5 minutes OR 5 seconds (continuous tracking)
HRV: 1 hour/reading
Samsung HR: 10 minutes OR 1 second (continuous)
HRV: Used indirectly to measure stress level
Eight Sleep HR: 15 minutes
HRV: 15 minutes
Polar HR: 5 minutes
HRV: 5 minutes
Garmin HR: Up to 1 second
HRV: 5 minutes
Wahoo HR: Continuous tracking
Suunto HR: 1 second (continuous tracking)
Withings HR: 10 minutes
HRV: 10 minutes
Whoop Currently only daily/activity averages for samples are provided
Coros HR: 10 minutes OR 1 second (continuous tracking)

Some things to note. Continuous tracking for most wearables is a feature that is only activated during workouts and certain activities. For example for certain wearables, when you initially sit down after spending time standing up, an accurate resting heart rate reading is taken using continuous heart rate tracking.

Most wearables' standard measurement frequency is 5 minutes for HR readings when not continuous. Continuous measurement frequencies are typically 5 seconds. Garmin, Samsung, Suunto, and Coros tout 1 second measurement frequency for their wearables that offer continuous heart rate tracking. Polar wearables feature continuous heart rate tracking, but they only store readings every 5 minutes.

HRV has greater variation in terms of its measurement frequency for different wearables, the lowest current measurement frequency is 5 minutes for some of the wearables listed above. Most wearables still only measure HRV periodically due to the high sensitivity of HRV readings (see this article for more on HRV and wearables). However, Garmin do state that they track HRV continuously and provide an average HRV value every 5 minutes.

More Topics

All Blogs
Team Spotlight
Startup Spotlight
How To
Blog
Podcast
Product Updates
Wearables
See All >
CEO and Co-Founder of Bioniq - Vadim Fedotov

CEO and Co-Founder of Bioniq - Vadim Fedotov

In this podcast with Kyriakos the CEO of Terra, Vadim Fedotov a former professional athlete turned entrepreneur, shares his journey in founding Bioniq.

Terra APITerra API
December 10, 2024
5 Lessons for Standing Out at HLTH

5 Lessons for Standing Out at HLTH

5 lessons from team Terra API for making a lasting impact at HLTH: from engaging senses to building real touch points, here’s what we learned from the HLTH event.

VanessaVanessa
December 5, 2024
November '24 Updates by Terra

November '24 Updates by Terra

Terra’s Latest Updates: Zepp Metrics, Support Revamp, and Teams API Enhancements 🚀✨

Alex VenetidisAlex Venetidis
December 1, 2024
Strava Pulls the Plug on their API: What This Means for Developers

Strava Pulls the Plug on their API: What This Means for Developers

Strava discontinued their API service, changing the ecosystem of third-party apps that have relied on their platform. How can developers react to this?

Terra APITerra API
November 21, 2024
Alternatives to the latest changes in the Strava API

Alternatives to the latest changes in the Strava API

Strava just introduced big changes to their API program. These changes will basically kill off a lot of apps. Use Terra API instead to avoid this

Kyriakos EleftheriouKyriakos Eleftheriou
November 19, 2024
next ventures
pioneer fund
samsung next
y combinator
general catalyst

Cookie Preferences

Essential CookiesAlways On
Advertisement Cookies
Analytics Cookies

Crunch Time: Embrace the Cookie Monster Within!

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and analyse our traffic. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to our use of cookies according to our Cookie Policy. You can change your mind any time by visiting out cookie policy.