The credibility of Samsung's Galaxy Watch just got a huge boost. The smartwatch's fitness tracking capabilities have been validated by none other than the University of Michigan's Human Performance & Sport Science Center (HPSSC).
HPSSC's Michigan Performance Research Laboratory (MiPR) put the Galaxy Watch through its paces and compared its readings to clinical-grade devices. The results seem impressive. The smartwatch accurately tracks heart rate, sweat loss, VO2 max and body fat percentage.
Here is a breakdown of the results:
- Heart rate: The Galaxy Watch showed a 90 percent correlation with electrocardiogram devices. Heart rate is an important indicator of cardiovascular load during exercise and therefore arguably the most important metric to measure correctly.
- Sweat loss: The smartwatch accurately estimated sweat loss over distances between 2.5 and 20 km (1.5 to 12.4 miles), with a correlation of 95%.
- VO2max: The Galaxy Watch's measurements were within 82% of clinical-grade devices. VO2max stands for maximum oxygen consumption. It is a measure of the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise. In simpler terms, it is a measure of your aerobic fitness.
- Body fat percentage: The smartwatch's readings were 95% accurate when compared to DEXA scans. DEXA scans, or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, are a type of imaging test that measures bone mineral density. That means they can help determine how strong or weak your bones are.
Dr. Hon Pak, senior vice president and head of the Digital Health Team at Samsung Electronics, said this validation by the University of Michigan is a testament to Samsung's commitment to “providing accurate and insightful fitness tracking experiences.” The HPSSC is also excited about the results. “We are excited to continue our collaboration with Samsung to ensure that innovations in wearable technology are accessible and accurate for everyone,” said Kenneth Kozloff, co-director of the HPSSC.