ECG on Your Wrist
Electrocardiogram (ECG) features on smartwatches have become mainstream, but accuracy varies significantly between brands. We compared the three leading implementations.
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple's ECG app received FDA clearance and has been validated in clinical studies. It detects atrial fibrillation with 98.5% specificity. The single-lead ECG records for 30 seconds and provides PDF export for doctor consultations.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Samsung's BioActive sensor combines ECG with blood pressure monitoring. Accuracy is comparable to Apple for AFib detection (97.2% specificity). Blood pressure readings require monthly calibration with a traditional cuff.
Garmin Venu 3
Garmin added ECG in select regions. Its implementation focuses on heart rate variability (HRV) trends over time rather than single readings. Best for athletes tracking recovery.
Key Differences
- Apple: Best clinical validation, widest physician acceptance
- Samsung: Only option with blood pressure + ECG combo
- Garmin: Best for fitness-focused HRV analysis
Bottom Line
For medical-grade AFib detection, Apple Watch leads. Samsung offers unique blood pressure insights. Garmin serves athletes who want recovery data alongside ECG.