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Samsung has worked with the University of Michigan to measure the accuracy of Galaxy Watches in fitness tracking. Today, the company announced that the University of Michigan Human Performance & Sport Science Center (HPSSC) has validated the high accuracy of Samsung Galaxy Watch’s fitness tracking features.
Samsung conducted the test with the Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models.
According to the announcement, HPSSC’s Michigan Performance Research Laboratory (MiPR) found a significant correlation between the Galaxy Watches and the clinical and sport science reference devices’ measurement of body fat percentage, heart rate, sweat loss, and VO2 max. It shows the accuracy Samsung has achieved in measuring health and fitness-related data with its recent Galaxy watches.
To verify the accuracy of Galaxy Watch‘s fitness tracking features, MiPR monitored key metrics from elite runners. The heart rate is the health metric that is checked the most during workouts, and it measures cardiovascular effort during physical activity. Samsung reveals that the wearables managed to achieve 90% accuracy in recorded data while running, which according to the company is a “gold standard” in heart rate measurement.
Galaxy Watches fitness tracking accuracy test includes the measurement of heart rate, body fat loss, and more
In sweat loss tests, Galaxy Watches reached a 95% correlation over varying workout distances, ranging from 2.5 km to 20 km. In body fat percentage measurement, the results also showed a 95% correlation with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This is the standard diagnostic test for body composition using low-dose X-rays. The measurement of body fat percentage allows for a better understanding of physical health and fitness than tracking body weight.
The results also showed an 82% correlation with clinical medical equipment in VO2 Max measurements, which indicates a reasonable accuracy. For those unfamiliar, this test aims to understand how much oxygen the body absorbs during workouts. It helps individuals assess their fitness levels and set optimal goals and limits.
“We’re proud to be recognized by the renowned Michigan Performance Research Laboratory — their skilled researchers and expertise in wearable technology give us confidence in the accuracy of the Galaxy Watch’s fitness tracking capabilities,” said Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are committed to delivering precise and insightful fitness tracking experiences through strategic partnerships and advanced research.”