What is an Oxygen Sensor Smartwatch?
The concept of these watches originates from medical equipment known as a Pulse Oximeter. They use infrared light to determine how much oxygen is in your system. And now you can easily access one from a smartwatch!
Do they Have a Purpose?
Short answer: YES!. While it might seem excessive to some people that companies have started including medical equipment in their products. It serves to benefit a lot of people.
Obviously, anyone who deals with medical conditions such as Sleep Apnea or Asthma will find these gadgets useful. Other than them, there are of course the fitness lovers who find it helpful to be able to monitor this metric.
How Does it Work?
Quite fascinating, really. The smartwatch uses two different LED lights alongside each other. One is red and the other is infrared. By bringing your skin into contact with the light, the smartwatch collects the data and presents it to you.
The oxygen levels of blood affect the way it responds to light. So if you have regular oxygen levels (roughly around 95%), the infrared light will be largely absorbed. But if your blood has irregular levels then more of the infrared light will be able to pass through.
It’s important to note that if you receive a reading that is under 90%, you should only see a doctor when it’s a consistent reading. So it’s only a cause for concern when it’s low on multiple occasions.
Buying Guide
There’s nothing more important than being an informed customer, especially when health is involved. A quick search will tell you that there are several hundred smartwatches with an oxygen sensor. But what sets them apart? Well, that’s what we’ll explore today.
Our criteria for this guide depends on these factors
- Pricing
- Accuracy of Oxygen Sensor
- Ease of Use
- Other Features
So let’s get to the meat and potatoes and figure out which is the best smartwatch with an oxygen sensor.
MorePro
MorePro’s oxygen sensor smartwatch is among the highest-rated options available. While the sensors on these watches can’t be relied upon for complete accuracy, MorePro’s 18 Sport Mode Smartwatch is arguably the closest to an accurate number.
And compared to its competitors it tracks your activity all day and does not confine you to small periods of time or delayed data. It also has 18 sports modes and other health sensors included. You can also keep up with social media with it, however the notifications can glitch.
Virmee
Considering the price, the Virmee is a fairly decent investment to make. It has one of the most high-quality display screens (for a smartwatch). And it holds up well next to the competition, since it’s waterproof and can be used with iOS and Android phones. But the Oxygen sensor is a bit unreliable and the numbers tend to be incorrect after some activities.
So clearly not the best smartwatch with an oxygen sensor. But even so, it gets the job done. You might need to tinker with the settings to adjust the metrics as close to your actual data as possible. Otherwise, you will have a tough time tracking your blood oxygen.
Apple iWatch
The Series 6 watch from Apple could be one of the best smartwatches with an oxygen sensor. However, it still possesses the same problem of other Apple products. Such as, its price and the fragility of the product. The oxygen sensor is very accurate but you will need to consider whether the cons are worth contending with.
However, if you insist on having an Apple smartwatch then this is a valid purchase. Serious athletes should avoid this watch altogether. The intensity of their workouts can drastically increase the odds of the Series 6 being damaged in some way.
All that being said, the Series 6 is engineered to present highly accurate blood oxygen data, so if you have the money and really need proper tracking, it might be worth considering this watch.
LetsFit Smartwatch
LetsFit really achieved something special here. The IW1 smartwatch model is among the most affordable and efficient options out there. The Oxygen Sensor in particular can give highly accurate numbers. But the caveat is that the sensor only works accurately when you are completely still and can give incorrect figures if used in any other circumstance.
Many people might find that part fairly tedious but it ultimately comes down to the individual and what their priorities are as a consumer.
Meaning that it’s not ideal but if your needs aren’t very severe you will manage just fine. Essentially, people who do casual exercise will probably get the most value out of this model. Since it can’t be relied upon for 24/7 data tracking, those with health-related concerns will not find this watch helpful.
YAMAY Smartwatch
With the 023 YAMAY created a legitimate and affordable option for those who want the best smartwatch with an oxygen sensor. The readings are consistently accurate and it has been designed with User-Friendly principles.
This means you can even buy it for your kids or anyone that is new to smartwatches. Setup is convenient and the companion app works quickly. Arguably one of the most beginner-friendly models on our list.
But there are drawbacks to keep in mind. Some users have reported that their 023 watches have broken down within a few months. And while the Oxygen Sensor is great, its use is limited since it needs to be launched in order to collect the data.
AMENON Smartwatch
Considering the price, it’s hard to believe AMENON’s Kwatch 17 is among the best smartwatches with an oxygen sensor. But it’s true! For those on a budget, this is the perfect choice. Especially because the data it provides for blood oxygen are reliable.
And while that’s an amazing bargain, unfortunately the app is very unhelpful and prone to presenting incorrect data. So if you want to use this watch for its sports modes, you’re better off buying something else. But if you just need to keep an eye on blood oxygen, it’s ideal.
So all in all, this is a better investment for those with health conditions. That’s because you can easily track your blood oxygen with no issue. And if this list were solely based on price and oxygen sensing, then this watch would be the clear winner. But since we need to keep a variety of customers in mind, it loses out.
Garmin
Garmin has been making an effort to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Apple and Samsung with their smartwatches. The Forerunner 245 is a step in the right direction. While it’s on the more expensive side of things, the data it provides for blood oxygen is pretty close to accurate numbers.
And not only that, but there are a lot of customization options available so you don’t have to rely on pre-sets or be limited in any way. The settings need some adjusting but once you input your information you will be able to track any workout. Garmin’s website also lets you download workouts if that’s more your speed.
If you aren’t familiar with Garmin or smartwatches in general, this isn’t ideal for you. While impressive the Forerunner 245 is not beginner-friendly and its user manual isn’t laid out in a helpful manner. So unless you’re accustomed to Garmin products you will struggle with the setup.
NiceFuse Smartwatch
The NiceFuse W3 is among the affordable watches listed here. With this watch you get a stylish and striking look along with being able to meet your health and fitness needs. The tracking tools used to determine blood oxygen are close to accurate.
However, if you want sleep monitoring you will need to use the companion app. This is unfortunate because the app is prone to crashing and freezing. So NiceFuse was really close to having the best smartwatch with an oxygen sensor but this detail does pose problems.
If you don’t need sleep tracking you can just use the watch without the app and it will function without any issue. So this is definitely a better option for people focused on fitness as opposed to those monitoring oxygen for medical purposes.
So it perfectly suits the needs for both interested parties; i.e., those with medical concerns and those with fitness concerns. Additionally, while the MorePro model has some drawbacks, they are all fairly negligible and should not be very problematic.
There we have it! But keep in mind, while the MorePro is fairly accurate it doesn’t substitute actual medical equipment. If dealing with Asthma, Sleep Apnea or recovering from COVID, it’s advised to go to the doctor if your readings are consistently low.