- Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Measurement – What to Expect? For starters, let’s take a small detour and explain the blood oxygen saturation. Naturally, this vital sign fluctuates during the day and significant deviations may indicate an underlying condition. For healthy individuals, oxygen saturation is between 95-100%.
- Which Apple Watch Models Can Check VO2 Max? The Apple Watch has lagged behind sports watches (like Garmins) in how it displayed your cardio fitness. With the watchOS 7.2 update, which was released on December 14, 2020, the Apple Watch can now track your VO2 max.
Two key developments in 2020 have created a sudden buzz around blood oxygenation and your SpO2 readings — COVID-19 and the debut of the Apple Watch 6.
Two key developments in 2020 have created a sudden buzz around blood oxygenation and your SpO2 readings — COVID-19 and the debut of the Apple Watch 6 that’s riding heavily on its Blood Oxygen Sensor.
SpO2 was finally introduced on the Apple Watch Series 6, which can now take spot readings and analyse blood oxygen during sleep. You can use the Blood Oxygen app to take a 15 second SpO2 test. Apple Watch Series 6 is the first Apple watch with a blood oxygen monitoring feature(SpO2). It uses advanced sensors and SpO2 App to monitor blood oxygen levels accurately. Along with ECG and Blood Oxygen feature, it can give you more insight into your overall health and fitness.
The sensor in Apple Watch 6 is placed on the back of the smartwatch is for measuring blood oxygen levels. Using four sets of red, green, and infrared LED lights and four photodiodes that convert light into electric current, the sensor directs the lights into veins on your wrist and measures how much the light bounces back.
In simple terms, SpO2 refers to oxygen saturation, an estimate of the amount of oxygen in the blood. An acceptable SpO2 value is between 90 to 100% (95 to 100% being ideal) indicating good blood oxygenation that is necessary to supply the energy your muscles need to function. Fitness watches like Garmin have kept tabs on this because the pressure on your muscles increases during sporting activity. If your levels drop below 90%, it is a cause of concern, a sign of poor blood oxygenation or hypoxia. If a person has a mild case of COVID-19 and is self-isolated at home, SpO2 readings are a handy tool to monitor any dip in oxygen levels. But it’s more than just COVID, SpO2 readings are useful for those with active lifestyles or anyone who suffers from sleep apnea.
Pulse oximeters (it’s why you will find some smartwatches also tout it as a Pulse Ox feature) date back to the 1930s but really took off in the 1970s. SpO2 is measured by Pulseimetry, a non-invasive method that emits and then absorbs a light wave passing through blood vessels. Clinical gadgets use a clip-on device that attaches to your finger (or even your earlobe). They depend on the variation of the light wave passing through the finger that generates the value of the SpO2 measurement. The degree of oxygen saturation causes variations in the blood’s colour. A growing number of smartwatches are now kitted with Optical SpO2 sensors that use red and infrared light sensors that analyse the colour of your blood. The degree of oxygen saturation causes variations in the blood’s colour.
Smartwatches with SpO2 sensors
Apple Watch 6: the headline feature of the sixth generation Apple Watch. Apple’s Blood Oxygen sensor compensates for natural variations in the skin and improves accuracy by employing four clusters of green, red, and infrared LEDs, along with the four photodiodes on the back crystal of Apple Watch, to measure light reflected back from blood. The Apple Watch then uses an advanced custom algorithm built into the Blood Oxygen app, which is designed to measure blood oxygen between 70% and 100%. The Watch 6 offers both on-demand measurements that can be taken when the user is still and periodic measurements when they are inactive including during sleep. (Rs 40,900 onwards).
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: The Galaxy Watch 3 comes with a sleeker form factor and is one of the best premium options for Android users. Samsung showed off a bunch of wellness features during the launch of its flagship wearable. The Watch’s ECG and Blood pressure monitoring are still awaiting regulatory approvals but the SpO2 sensor works seamlessly and on demand. Galaxy Watch3 uses red LED and infrared rays to estimate your SpO2 levels. (Rs 29,990 onwards)
Fitbit Versa 2: Fitbit’s all-new Sense smartwatch is the brand’s most ambitious product with a slew of wellness features. While you wait for this wearable to debut in India, you could also check this out on the brand’s Versa and Versa 2 smartwatches. Fitbit doesn’t offer spot checks, its SpO2 sensors are linked to sleep data. A new watch face displays your SpO2 readings almost by default. (Rs 21,999 onwards)
Huawei GT2e: delivers quite a few fitness features at a compelling price point. It’s 5ATM water-resistant, allowing you to plunge into the pool and track your swim aside from multiple types of workouts that include indoor rowing and outdoor runs. The GT2e is powered by the Kirin A1 chip that has been created specifically for wearables. This wearable also supports single-time, on-demand SpO2 level measuring to monitor your Blood Oxygen levels (Rs 11,990)
Garmin Fenix 6 Solar: Garmin has remained a cult favourite among serious fitness enthusiasts. The Fenix 6 Solar series integrates solar power and the unique Power Manager System with a battery life of up to 120 days. Garmin has also incorporated a reliable Pulse Ox Blood oxygen sensor into its flagship watches like the Fenix 6 Solar. The Garmin solution also measures how your body’s oxygen levels adjust to thinner air at higher altitudes (Rs 84,990)
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Very few smartwatches in the market can measure the blood oxygen level in your body. The Apple Watch Series 1 device had this function back in 2015 and since then, Apple users are waiting for it. Recently, Fitbit has activated this function on its Ionic, Versa family, and Charge 3 wearables. Fitbit also had this function since the Ionic model in 2017, but it also had to keep users waiting for long. The service is now essential on all fitness-centric smartwatches and fitness trackers, that’s a reason new watches or upcoming watches & fitness bands coming with Blood Oxygen Saturation measurement.
The Honor kept this function on its Honor Band 4 and the partnered company’s Huawei Band 4 Pro & Band 6. Now the new Honor Band 5, Honor Band 5i & Honor Band 6 carries this function all along since launching. It is important to check your blood oxygen level or SpO2 on time because low blood oxygen means poor sleep, dizziness, fatigue, and other problems. It is helpful to track sleep apnea, which is a major issue in many people. If you want to know how to detect Blood Oxygen Level on Honor Band 5, band 5i & Band 6, then here is the step-by-step guide.
Measure Blood Oxygen Level or SpO2 on Honor Band 6
1. First, wear Honor Band 5, 5i, or Band 6 tightly
It is the essential step in the method. When you download the Huawei Health app, pair it with your new smart band.
2. Now, light up the main screen
It is not necessary to open the Health app. Directly, open the main screen of Honor Band 5 or Band 6.
3. After that, slide the main band screen
Honor Bands have plenty of functions. Those all functions are available on the fitness tracker present in the menu.
4. Here you will see Blood Oxygen Detection or SpO2
It is the third option in the menu when you slide the main screen from down to up. If you have rearranged all menus from Settings, then just find the SpO2 function.
Does Apple Watch Measure Blood Oxygen Levels
5. On the main screen, tap & hold for the Home key
To open the SpO2 feature, tap on it. The main screen will give you advice about how to use blood oxygen saturation.
6. Hold for one minute, which is the minimum requirement
It is important in all the steps. Most of the customers complain that they are unable to get the Spo2 result. You have to wear it tightly on your wrist. Wear it one finger away from the wrist. It requires 30 seconds or one minute to show the results, though it doesn’t take that much time.
7. Finally, after 1 minute you will see the results
When you stand still or don’t move your hand, then within a minute it, will show you the final result. The normal SpO2 or the blood oxygen in our body should be more than 90%. When you see it below 90%, then refer the doctors, but don’t get any medicine based on this result.
If you wear a fitness band incorrectly, then it will not measure the blood and remind you to wear it correctly. Blood oxygen value checks every 3 seconds. At the same time, every second, it measures heart rate, so don’t remove band until one minute. Now, you know how to measure blood oxygen saturation by Honor Band 5, Band 5i & Band 6 trackers. In the next article, we will guide you about other functions, so stay tuned with us.
Blood Oxygen Level Apple Watch 5
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Madhav Biradar started his career in technology back in 2011, where he covered mobile & gaming articles. He is an enthusiast in smartphone & wearable gadgets. In his free time, he likes to read about new tech gadgets and watch movies.
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