The highest coronary heart fee displays present the most effective accuracy — but in addition consolation and comfort. Discover the most effective choices on this information.
The most effective coronary heart fee displays are correct, snug, and provide options that improve the expertise past beats per minute. The excellent news is that you may additionally obtain all these advantages by means of a standard chest strap HRM, a sports activities watch, or a smartwatch, amongst others.
There are tons of decisions—and we’re continually testing the most effective picks from Garmin, Polar, Apple, and extra. But, as ever, the most effective coronary heart fee monitor is totally private and relies upon considerably in your purpose. For girls, chest strap HRMs should work properly with a sports activities bra, whereas others require one thing that may stand up to pool actions.
For many who need probably the most correct readings throughout train, our testing nonetheless leads us to suggest the Garmin HRM-Professional Plus chest strap. Nevertheless, that is underneath evaluate with the launch of the Garmin HRM 600 in Might 2025.
For extra handy monitoring, the optical sensor know-how within the newest Apple Watch gadgets (Apple Watch Collection 10/Extremely 2) and Google Pixel Watch 3 smartwatches can also be as dependable because it will get within the smartwatch area. Like others on this record, additionally they provide versatility, harnessing the built-in coronary heart fee monitor to tell well being options.
Devoted sports activities watches and wearables are additionally good choices. Our favorites are Garmin watches that includes the corporate’s newest optical tech, such because the Garmin Fenix 8, and the Whoop 5.0/MG.
Beneath, we’ll present our understanding and clarify the professionals and cons of all these HR monitoring gadgets – and in addition dive into what you should learn about monitoring your coronary heart with a wearable.
How Wareable checks coronary heart fee displays
A coronary heart fee monitor is just useful if it might probably persistently seize correct knowledge. As we frequently show in our detailed critiques, many nonetheless don’t.
By way of our testing, we’ve been in a position to weed out the lesser gadgets and spotlight solely the perfect on this purchaser’s information. Nevertheless, it might probably take appreciable time to find out whether or not a chest strap, watch, or armband is correct.
That’s why we conduct long-term checks for options powered by coronary heart monitoring, analyzing our developments to determine any anomalies, and in addition check in opposition to a number of gadgets when gauging real-time coronary heart fee metrics.
This course of is ongoing, as we replace this information often to make sure our picks precisely mirror the present market.
In for testing: Garmin HRM 600
Introduced alongside the Forerunner 970 and Forerunner 570 in Might 2025, Garmin has a complete new chest strap to think about—the HRM 600.
Successfully, the newest top-end Garmin strap replaces the earlier premium possibility from the model, the HRM-Professional Plus (at present our prime decide). Whereas we’re nonetheless conducting our testing to find out whether or not it’s well worth the improve (or the additional value, for those who’re selecting between them), the preliminary indicators are very promising.
It addresses the most important downside with the HRM-Professional Plus by permitting customers to detach the central module, that means the strap itself could be washed within the washer. For us, that’s well worth the improve alone, however Garmin has additionally added a number of clutch new options, notably for runners.
When paired with the 970, the HRM 600 powers an all-new ‘Step Pace Loss’ function that analyzes how a lot a runner slows down when their foot hits the bottom. It additionally affords a good two months of battery and is rechargeable, albeit through Garmin’s proprietary cable, moderately than USB-C. Meaning you not should strive bear in mind the place you set the coin cell batteries a 12 months in the past.
The draw back is that it’s costly: $170/£150. That worth received’t be for everybody, however we’ll let you understand quickly sufficient whether or not we predict it’s the most effective chest strap for train in 2025.
Garmin HRM-Professional Plus
Key concerns
- Physique place: Chest
- Sensor tech: ECG
- Connectivity: Twin-band ANT+ / Bluetooth
- Telephone compatibility: iOS and Android
The Garmin HRM-Professional Plus remains to be, nearly, our prime advice for those who require a coronary heart fee monitor for train.
Just like the older HRM Professional, it makes use of an ECG-style sensor and affords an excellent lockdown match (until you’re in a pool). Nevertheless, Garmin has redesigned the principle compartment, so that you not want a screwdriver to swap out the coin cell battery.
Typically, you may anticipate round a 12 months of battery life from a Garmin chest strap like this. We used our check unit for round 15 months earlier than the cell wanted changing, so we’d say that’s fairly good going contemplating its near-daily use.
The washing downside
The one sore spot utilizing this chest strap is washing it – and we predict Garmin maybe didn’t go far sufficient with the design modifications right here.
In contrast to the Polar H10 (under), the battery compartment can’t be faraway from the strap and chucked into the washer. In the event you’re a frequent swimmer or favor Polar’s apps to Garmin Join, it’s price contemplating.
Nonetheless, we’ve used the HRM-Professional Plus on extra wet runs and sweaty Zwift classes than we will rely and have but to scrub something apart from the sensors. There’s been no change in odor and no indicators of degradation.
This isn’t probably the most hygienic observe, and, to be clear, we’re undecided it could translate properly to each consumer. Loads on Garmin boards and elsewhere complain about shortly burning by means of their straps.
Why it ranks as our prime decide for train
However, for us, the tight integration with its range of sports watches – probably the most rounded and best-performing in the marketplace – and distinctive options like Running Dynamics form analysis are large. Bluetooth and ANT+ assist additionally means it might probably join with different gadgets seamlessly.
For indoor runners, the HRM-Professional Plus may even monitor tempo and distance. In the event you take part in crew sports activities, it might probably monitor further metrics like steps, depth minutes, and all-day coronary heart fee knowledge, too. It’s an excellent all-rounder.
Polar H10
Key concerns
- Physique place: Chest
- Sensor tech: ECG
- Connectivity: Twin-band ANT+ / Bluetooth
- Telephone compatibility: iOS and Android
In the event you’re an exerciser who cares about accuracy, the Polar H10 chest strap is one other gold-standard, super-reliable possibility primarily based on our testing.
The iOS and Android-friendly strap boasts Bluetooth and ANT+, so you may pair it to a number of gadgets and third-party apps – together with even Garmin sports activities watches, for those who like.
It additionally introduces a modified design (and a loftier worth) over its predecessor, the Polar H9, including silicon friction dots to assist preserve the strap in place. Plus, we’ve discovered it’s a bit extra snug to put on.
As talked about above, the battery compartment can be eliminated, that means the strap could be included in washer cycles. This makes it an excellent possibility for these more likely to get it moist through sweat or swimming.
We’ve used it many occasions in opposition to the newest health trackers and smartwatches which have landed at Wareable HQ, primarily throwing knowledge into Strava and the Polar Beat app, which is constructed for coronary heart rate-based coaching.
It’s nonetheless a chest strap we return to and may confidently say delivers the products.
Apple Watch Collection 10
Key concerns
- Physique place: Wrist
- Sensors: Optical, electrical coronary heart fee sensor, temperature sensor
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Telephone compatibility: iOS
Whether or not used for train monitoring or well being monitoring, the Apple Watch Collection 10 is probably the most full coronary heart monitor accessible for iPhone customers.
We’ve put the newest mannequin by means of the identical rigorous testing in exercises. And, like its predecessors, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 and Apple Watch SE siblings, it persistently proves to be one of the correct optical coronary heart fee sensors on the check.
By way of remaining figures and latency, it performs properly alongside devoted sports activities watches – even through the likes of interval coaching. Although, naturally, remember it received’t provide the identical real-time reliability as a chest strap.
Information is viewable inside Apple’s Exercise app, however the good thing about having a robust assortment of third-party apps means you can too view that knowledge in locations like Strava and Runkeeper.
Carrying the Collection 10 helps flood Apple Well being with knowledge, too. Coronary heart fee variability, VO2 Max, resting coronary heart fee, and strolling common HR can all be seen as developments throughout the final day, week, month, or 12 months, and this knowledge can be exported to a PDF to be shared with medical professionals.
There’s much more, as properly. The gadget’s ECG App harnesses {the electrical} coronary heart fee sensor within the Digital Crown to take electrocardiograms and test for coronary heart points like atrial fibrillation, and the temperature sensor works along side the optical coronary heart sensor to supply cycle monitoring for ladies.
It’s an excellent all-rounder that’s pretty much as good for these acutely aware of their coronary heart well being as it’s for these severe about monitoring train.
Garmin Fenix 8 (and different Garmin Elevate Gen 5 gadgets)
Key concerns
- Physique place: Wrist
- Sensors: Optical, ECG, SpO2
- Exterior HR monitor pairing: Sure
- Telephone compatibility: iOS and Android
All of Garmin’s watches provide broadly stable coronary heart fee monitoring accuracy, although the Fenix 8’s huge array of options and new-gen Elevate Gen 5 sensor ensures it barely edges these siblings.
It doesn’t provide the most effective mix of options, affordability, and design for most individuals – that’s reserved for one thing just like the Forerunner 165 or Forerunner 570- however the accuracy is pretty much as good as we’ve ever examined in a sports activities watch.
It is available in three dimension choices (42mm, 47mm, and 51mm), and, throughout over 100 checks in opposition to different watches and a chest strap, it’s probably the most persistently in step with the latter.
What our testing of Garmin’s Elevate Gen 5 reveals
We nonetheless assume Garmin’s Elevate know-how (throughout the board) has a really slight tendency to overreport most coronary heart fee figures throughout exercises. We’ve additionally had some experiences with early check models of the Gen 5 sensor being gradual to ‘heat up’ (i.e, the primary part of a exercise vastly underregistering on HR), however this has all the time been rectified with software program updates.
Regardless of the odd quirk, the very fact stays that the Fenix 8 (and the Fenix 7 Pro, Epix Pro, Venu 3, and Forerunner 970/570—the opposite Garmin gadgets geared up with the newest Elevate sensor) is on the peak of wrist-based monitoring.
You even have the choice to pair up an exterior HR sensor for those who’re not fairly glad with the extent of accuracy on provide.
What else you get from Garmin’s wrist-based coronary heart fee sensor
The Gen 5’s optical HR accuracy is essential exterior of tracked train, too, because it powers many helpful insights. Runners and cyclists can profit from Garmin’s in-depth and intuitive metrics probably the most, although issues are getting higher for swimming (with the Fenix 8 additionally together with new dive smarts) and different sports activities.
HRV Standing is likely one of the most useful, providing you with an at-a-glance view into your coronary heart fee variability developments with loads of context. But, this solely scratches the floor of how coronary heart fee knowledge feeds into Garmin Join.
Additionally current are options resembling resting coronary heart fee, Physique Battery, VO2 max, Coaching Standing, stress monitoring, calorie burn, respiration monitoring, sleep monitoring, and extra.
It’s complete, making the Fenix 8 an excellent decide for individuals who need the highest training-focused coronary heart fee monitoring expertise.
Google Pixel Watch 3
Key concerns
- Physique place: Wrist
- Sensors: Multi-path optical coronary heart fee sensor, ECG, SpO2, EDA, pores and skin temperature
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Telephone compatibility: Android
Coronary heart fee accuracy has all the time been a robust level of Google’s smartwatch collection, and the Pixel Watch 3 guarantees improved algorithms for measuring coronary heart fee throughout working.
Each 41/45mm variations make the most of the identical multi-path optical coronary heart sensor that was retooled for the Pixel Watch 2. Nevertheless, regardless of Google’s claims of improved accuracy, we discovered that it carried out very equally to the last-gen watch in our testing.
That’s no dangerous factor, although – it was already among the many finest for responding to modifications in coronary heart fee and performing equally to a chest strap, and that’s not modified for the Pixel Watch 3 (regardless of us testing the bigger case dimension, which might usually skew outcomes significantly).
We’ve been impressed every time we’ve examined it, and the Fitbit monitoring expertise has been enhanced for the third-gen watch to incorporate important metrics for severe trainers, resembling Cardio Load and Every day Readiness.
Greater than accuracy—what else Google’s HR will get you
They’ve been added to an already complete coronary heart monitoring bundle, which incorporates coronary heart fee variability, resting coronary heart fee, ECG, physique responses (stress monitoring), sleeping coronary heart fee, and extra, all of which debuted with the unique.
The Pixel Watch 3 nonetheless falls wanting providing insights similar to these of a Garmin by way of coaching and extra sports activities options. But, the stellar options make it a prime wellness gadget, and its accuracy ensures it ranks as the most effective for Android customers who need dependable info.
The one draw back from a coronary heart monitoring perspective is that you just’ll must subscribe to Fitbit Premium to get probably the most out of it, even when parts just like the Every day Readiness Rating have now appeared behind this paywall.
Whoop 5.0/MG
Key concerns
- Physique place: Wrist, bicep, varied Whoop Physique places
- Sensor: Optical
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Telephone compatibility: iOS and Android
The Whoop 5.0 is probably the most versatile coronary heart fee monitor in the marketplace.
Designed to be worn in your wrist by default, the Whoop Physique vary of clothes additionally permits for various put on choices, together with the hip by securing it within the waistband of shorts, the ribs through a sports activities bra, or the higher arm by means of a devoted sleeve. New collections are additionally being added on a regular basis, that means you’re not restricted in placement right here.
The accuracy query: What does our testing present?
After testing varied Whoop Physique clothes and straps over the previous few years (beforehand with the 4.0 tracker; now with the MG mannequin), we’ve discovered that the corporate’s bicep band gives probably the most correct readings.
The normal wrist place proves to be fairly inconsistent in any exercise monitoring, so preserve the potential further value of straps or Whoop Physique clothes in thoughts for those who prioritize top-notch accuracy. We anticipated enhancements for the fifth-generation fashions, however sadly, it’s fairly just like the 4.0 gadget.
Nonetheless, the truth that there’s no show implies that sporting the Whoop 5.0 is nearly all the time unobtrusive, permitting you to put on a watch (or smartwatch) on the opposite wrist with out trying too conspicuous.
The place Whoop’s optical sensor shines
The sensor might not be strictly probably the most correct for exercises, however there’s a lot extra to Whoop than this. As we’ve detailed in our in depth Whoop 5.0 evaluate, too, the generalized nature of the platform’s Pressure rating means pinpoint coronary heart fee accuracy isn’t all the time mandatory.
In our testing, we’ve discovered that the times of this being skewed sufficient to smash a day’s price of monitoring are lengthy gone, and now you may chill out understanding that Whoop can symbolize your workload, well being metrics, and restoration. That features extra thorough sleep evaluation within the present era, and options like Healthspan and ECG (relying in your choice of Whoop subscription tier)
The most important difficulty with selecting Whoop
The one different main factor to notice is the associated fee. Regardless of Whoop restructuring its tiers to incorporate a ‘Core’ membership, it stays a really costly possibility in comparison with rival platforms.
The Whoop Strap 5.0 is ‘free’, however you’ll should make a long-term dedication (for at least 12 months) to realize entry. That’s a complete different equation to get your head round—and we’ve defined how to choose the right Whoop subscription (and which we recommend) elsewhere.
The improve course of acquired vital backlash from the model when it launched the 5.0/MG gadgets earlier this 12 months. In consequence, our recommendation is to not skip over the T&Cs part if selecting Whoop.
Selecting a coronary heart fee monitor: What to think about
As we alluded to earlier, understanding what you need from a coronary heart fee monitor is paramount when discovering the most effective match to your wants.
Chest strap vs. coronary heart fee monitor watch
Whether or not you select a chest strap or a watch to measure your coronary heart fee is a case of accuracy vs. practicality.
Chest straps are primarily developed to help customers looking for probably the most exact readings. As we clarify in our picks under, such a coronary heart fee monitor can reply extra shortly to modifications in your coronary heart fee than the optical sensors present in watches and health tracker displays.
Whereas the latency and accuracy of watches are sometimes weaker than these of a chest strap, they provide superior consolation, comfort, and options. These gadgets monitor you all day and embody options past easy BPM monitoring for exercises.
Coronary heart fee accuracy in watches
Once you begin ramping up the depth – performing rounds of purposeful health actions or interval coaching throughout working or biking – optical sensors in health trackers or watches battle to deal with the fast rises and falls in coronary heart fee.
Averaged knowledge received’t differ a lot from a chest strap in the most effective choices under, however latency points in real-time persist.
Wrist motion throughout workout routines like press-ups, burpees, or Olympic lifting can flummox them, as pores and skin contraction makes it more durable for the sensor to perform correctly.
Darkish pores and skin and tattoos may also have an effect on accuracy, as pores and skin tone can affect the reflection of sunshine. Sadly, inadequate work has been finished to resolve accuracy points associated to ethnicity. Subsequently, if in case you have darkish pores and skin and need the most effective knowledge out of your exercises, we suggest utilizing a chest strap.
Then again, chest straps use electrocardiogram (EKG) sensors which might be extra correct and – given their place near your coronary heart – extra conscious of rises and falls. The regular place in your chest makes the information much less noisy.
Forms of knowledge that coronary heart fee trackers can seize
A coronary heart fee monitor will monitor your BPM throughout exercises, and that knowledge must be correct for those who’re utilizing it to coach inside zones. A small discrepancy may have you ever coaching within the fallacious zone, and this will negatively have an effect on your coaching.
Nevertheless, the standard of research of that knowledge after your exercise (resembling VO2 Max estimates) is right down to the platform you’re utilizing to trace your exercise.
However coronary heart fee displays could be helpful exterior of the fitness center. They may monitor your bpm 24/7, and analyze resting coronary heart fee, readiness, sleep, and stress. So, selecting a extra generic gadget that may provide a extra rounded have a look at your well being can be interesting.
Keep in mind that you may double up
The advantage of ANT+ and Bluetooth know-how (current in some gadgets) means you may get the most effective of each worlds if accuracy is your prime precedence.
For instance, we use a sports activities watch’s optical coronary heart fee sensor for many actions because of its versatility and ease of use. If we’re within the fitness center lifting weights, or just hopping on the bike for a fast warm-up or warm-down spin, the accuracy is greater than adequate.
Nevertheless, the place wrist-based choices usually battle – resembling within the swimming pool or working exercises the place we need to preserve a constant eye on our HR – we as a substitute join a chest strap to our watch.
