Is Apple Watch good for tracking health? With each new version of watchOS, Apple also adds new features, including apps for sleep tracking and handwashing with watchOS 7. If you upgrade to watchOS 8, you can record more types of workouts, access your COVID-19 vaccination card through the Apple Wallet app, and unwind with the Mindfulness app. Here are some ways to get healthy with an Apple Watch.
All Apple Watch models include a heart rate monitor and the Health app to display your health profile and Medical ID. Depending on the model you own, you can also take an electrocardiogram of your heart rhythm, detect a fall and contact emergency services, measure your blood oxygen levels, and more.
Pros & Cons – Apple Watch health tracking
Pros
- ECG monitor
- Sp02 monitor
- Best display
- Fastest processor
- Longest battery life
- Heart rate sensor
- Fall detection
- Always-on altimeter
Cons
- Tethered to iPhone
- iPhone SE is cheaper
Specs – Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS)
- Size: 40 or 44 mm
- Operating system: watchOS 5
- Storage space: 32 GB
- Retina display, GPS
- Bluetooth: 5.0
- Cellular technology: no
- Compass: yes
- Up to 18 hours of battery autonomy
Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular)
- Size: 40 or 44 mm
- Operating system: watchOS 5
- Storage space: 32 GB
- Retina display, GPS
- Bluetooth: 5.0
- Cellular technology: yes
- Compass: yes
- Up to 18 hours of battery autonomy
Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular)
- Size: 40 or 44 mm
- Operating system: watchOS 5
- Storage space: 16 GB
- Retina display, GPS
- Bluetooth: 5.0
- Cellular technology: yes
- Compass: no
- Up to 18 hours of battery autonomy
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS)
- Size: 38 or 42 mm
- Operating system: watchOS 6
- Storage space: 8 or 16 GB
- Retina display, GPS
- Bluetooth: 4.2
- Cellular technology: no
- Compass: no
- Up to 18 hours of battery autonomy
Is Apple Watch good for tracking health?
Through the Health app on your iPhone, you can enter health information about yourself and view it on your watch. To set this up, open the Health app on your phone and tap the profile picture in the upper-right corner.
Tap the Health Details link to add your gender, blood type, and other data. Tap the Medical ID link to enter information about your medical history, conditions, and medications. You can view this information on your watch under Settings > Health. Select Health Details and Medical ID to see the information you provided.
Apple Watch keeps record of COVID-19 Vaccination Card
There are a few different ways to add your COVID-19 vaccination card to your iPhone, including adding it to the Wallet app. Just as you can display the information on your phone screen, you can also display it on your Apple Watch.
Open the Wallet app on your watch, swipe down the screen, and then tap your vaccination card. You’ll see the card itself as well as the barcode for scanning. Swipe down further to view the expiration date, retrieve pass information, and share vaccination details through email or text.
Is Apple Watch good for tracking cardio health?
VO2 max is the metric doctors use to calculate your cardio fitness levels. Your cardio fitness level represents the maximum amount of oxygen that your body can use during a workout. Essentially, the higher your VO2 max level, the more oxygen your body can use during an exercise. Therefore, VO2 max levels positively correlate with your overall fitness level. Doctors with specialized machines determine proper VO2 max levels, but your Apple Watch can give you an educated guess. You can read more about VO2 max on Apple’s website.
To enable VO2 max detection:
1. Open the ‘Watch’ app on your iPhone
2. Tap’ Heart’
3. Toggle ‘Cardio Fitness Notifications’ on
ECG – Is Apple Watch good for tracking health
If you have an Apple Watch Series 4 or higher, you can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart rhythm. It can then alert you if it finds any irregularities, such as atrial fibrillation. If you are experiencing any chest pains or other symptoms, call emergency services, but if you do have a known condition, you can use the app to track your heart rhythm.
Open the Health app on your iPhone and tap Browse > Heart > Electrocardiogram then go through the setup process. To take an ECG with your Apple Watch, open the ECG app and make sure the watch is on the same wrist on which you set up the feature.
Hold your finger on the Digital Crown. The app will count down as it takes the ECG. After 30 seconds, the results display your sinus rhythm and heart rate. You can then add any symptoms you’re experiencing, or contact your doctor or emergency services if you’re concerned about something serious.
Apple watch measures Blood Oxygen Level
A consistently low blood oxygen level could be a sign of respiratory or pulmonary issues. With an Apple Watch Series 6 or higher running watchOS 7 or later, you can measure your level using a built-in app and oximeter, which tells you if you’re getting enough oxygen to your brain.
To set up this sensor, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Settings and select Blood Oxygen. Make sure the switch for Blood Oxygen Measurements is turned on. You can also control when the sensor takes background readings by enabling or disabling In Sleep Mode and In Theater Mode.
To take a new reading, open the Blood Oxygen app on your watch and tap the Start button to begin the scan. The sensor kicks off with a 15-second countdown and then displays the percentage of your blood oxygen level, which normally should be between 95% and 100%.
For the best results, make sure your watch is not too low on your wrist and that the band is snug but comfortable. You should also keep your hand and wrist still during the reading.
Is Apple Watch good for tracking Menstrual Cycles health?
The Cycle Tracking app allows women to track their menstrual cycle. To set this up on your iPhone, open the Health app and tap Browse > Cycle Tracking > Get Started. You’ll then need to enter the date of your last period, indicate how many days your period usually lasts, and choose the typical length of each cycle.
To record and monitor your period, open the Cycle Tracking app on your watch. You can log your cycle and assign each stage a different color while also noting all the accompanying symptoms. You can even view the predicted length of each cycle.
You can control features for Period Prediction, Period Notifications, Fertile Window Prediction, Log Fertility, and Log Sexual Activity, all of which can be helpful if you’re trying to conceive or avoid getting pregnant.
Detect a Fall
The Apple Watch Series 4 or higher comes with a useful safety feature called Fall Detection. If you take a hard fall that renders you unconscious or unable to move, your watch can automatically call emergency services.
To set this up on your iPhone, open the Watch app and tap the My Watch tab. Swipe down and tap Emergency SOS, then enable Fall Detection. You can opt to keep it on all the time or only during workouts. If you fall, the watch will detect it and display an alert. If you fail to respond, the watch will tap your wrist, sound an alarm, and then notify emergency services.
Is Apple Watch good for tracking Workouts?
To record workouts on your Apple Watch, open the Workout app and swipe down through the different types of workouts. At the bottom of the screen, tap Add Workout to find even more types, including Pilates, tai chi, yoga, dance, fitness gaming, martial arts, and kickboxing, then tap the one you want.
To set a certain goal or limit, tap the ellipsis icon to establish the desired number of calories burned, distance achieved, or time spent. Tap Open to start tracking, or just tap the workout itself. At the end, the screen shows your calories, distance, and other numbers. Swipe to the right and tap End to end the session.
To check out your activity and fitness results from your watch, open Settings > Health > Health Data > Activity and tap a category, such as Exercise Minutes, Flights Climbed, Stand Hours, and Workouts.
If you’re a subscriber to Apple Fitness+, you can access certain Fitness+ programs on an Apple Watch to guide your workouts and meditations. Open the Workout app on your watch and tap the Fitness+ program at the top. Tap the program to start it or select the topic under Browse More to find past programs.
Similarly, open the Mindfulness app on your watch and tap the Fitness+ program at the top. Swipe through the different programs and tap the one you want to play.
Monitor Your Heart Rate
With the built-in Heart Rate app, you can monitor your heart rate at any time. Open the app, and it will measure your current heart rate. As long as your watch’s display is active, measurements are then taken and displayed periodically to record your rate.
Tap the arrow in the upper left and the app displays your current rate, your resting rate, your average rate, and specific rates based on your activities. There are also alternative apps, such as Cardiogram, Heart Analyzer, HeartWatch, and Talking Heart Rate, that offer more features than the built-in option.
6. Protect Your Hearing
Consistent loud noises can damage your ears and even lead to hearing loss. The purpose of the Noise app is to monitor surrounding noise and warn you if sounds are above a safe level.
First, set up the decibel threshold on your iPhone or watch and enable the Environmental Sound Measurements option to begin monitoring noise levels. From there, you can set a decibel level at which you want to be warned if the sound around you gets too loud.
Your watch will then notify you if the sound reaches or exceeds the level you set. You can also manually open the Noise app on your watch to check the current decibel level around you.
Is Apple Watch good for tracking sleep?
With watchOS 7, Apple finally unveiled its own sleep tracker. The app can help you prepare for sleep, tell you how much actual sleep you got during the night, and reveal your sleeping pattern over a period of time. To set this up, open the Health app on your iPhone. Swipe down the Summary screen and tap the Get Started button for Set Up Sleep. Follow the directions to set your various goals and schedules.
Wear your watch to bed, and you can then turn on sleep tracking directly from your iPhone or from the Sleep app on your watch. The next morning, check the sleep data on your iPhone to see how much sleep you got.
Wash Your Hands for 20 Seconds
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts recommend washing your hands for 20 seconds to stop germs from spreading. Apple added a handwashing timer in watchOS 7, which detects when your hands are under running water and gives you a timer.
Enable the handwashing reminder directly on your watch by going to Settings > Handwashing and turning on the switch for Handwashing Timer. If you make it all the way to 20 seconds, you’re rewarded with a “Nice One.”
Unwind With the Mindfulness App
Take a quick break from the daily grind through your Apple Watch’s Mindfulness app. The app offers two different modes to help you focus on something when you need to relax or just redirect your mind. Reflect mode asks you to think about something in your life—a memory, an idea, an emotion—and ruminate on it for a minute or longer. Breathe mode prompts you to breathe in and out for a minute to try to ease your mind and body.
What is the Apple Watch 6 benefits health?
The aluminum-bodied Apple Watch Series 6 with GPS is our pick best all-around model because of the price. It doesn’t have cellular, but from our personal experience with all Apple Watch models, the average user doesn’t need cellular (we almost always bring our phones with us anyway). It’s positioned as the Apple Watch that everyone can use without costing as much as one with more advanced features (or materials).
Because Apple’s 2020 model Apple Watch features an always-on altimeter and a blood oxygen monitor (Sp02), it replaces the Series 5 as our pick for the best Apple Watch of all time.
It is important to point out that Family Setup requires an Apple Watch with Cellular, so if you are planning on buying an Apple Watch for a family member or think you may someday hand it down to a family member to use with Family Setup, you should not buy this version of the Series 6, you should buy the Apple Watch GPS + Cellular model.
Is Apple Watch 6 GPS + Cellular good for tracking health?
This 2020 model also has an always-on display that’s brighter than last year’s model for better viewing in direct sunlight and international emergency calling (even if you don’t have an active cellular plan).
Cellular data is a great addition to the Apple Watch, letting you leave your iPhone behind when going on a run, visiting the grocery store, working outside, swimming, and more. It’s also the only Apple Watch that you can stream Apple Music and Radio on, which is ideal for going on a long run, but you don’t want to bring your iPhone with you.
Pros
- Streams Apple Music directly
- Untethered from iPhone
- Comes in Stainless Steel option
- Always-on display
- International emergency calling even without a cellular plan
Cons
- Additional monthly cellular cost
- More expensive
Does Apple Watch Series 6 Titanium Edition give Classy luxury look?
The Titanium Edition Apple Watch is like the well-bred, financially independent cousin of the aluminum series. It’s got a familiar brushed metal look, but the colors are a little richer … a little deeper.
It comes in titanium or Space Black. It’s the perfect watch for someone wanting to make a very subtle statement. “I can afford a Ferrari, but I choose to drive a BMW because I’m classy like that.”
Pros
- Deep rich metal look
- Stronger than aluminum or stainless steel
- Serious status symbol
Cons
- Only two color options
- Only comes in cellular model
Fitness & Style – Apple Watch Series 6 Hermès benefits health?
Each band is crafted from quality leather and comes in a variety of eye-catching colorways. The casing material is only available in stainless steel, and all Hermès Apple Watches are GPS + Cellular.
The Hermès line of Apple Watch is incredibly exclusive and will definitely let the world know that you know luxury. The only way to get the exclusive Hermès-designed watch face is to buy from the series directly (no cheating and buying an after-market Hermès band).
Pros:
- Beautifully designed bands
- Exclusive Hermès-designed Apple Watch face
Cons:
- Expensive
- Only comes in a cellular model
What are other best Apple watch?
Apple Watch 3 – 2017’s best smartwatch
SPECIFICATIONS
- OS: watchOS 7
- Compatibility: iOS
- Display: 1.53″ / 1.65″ OLED
- Processor: Apple S3
- Onboard storage: 8GB / 16GB (Non-LTE and LTE respectively)
- Battery duration: Up to 18 hours
- Charging method: Wireless
- IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTET
REASONS TO BUY
+Non-LTE version much better value
+Brilliant fitness tracking
REASONS TO AVOID
-LTE is an unnecessary expense-Battery too short for sleep tracking
The Apple Watch 3 (or Apple Watch Series 3, if you’re picky) was once the very best smartwatch, but it has since been bumped down by the Apple Watch 4, 5 and 6, as well as the SE. That said, it’s still a great device, especially as it’s now cheaper than ever.
It comes with a smaller display than the Apple Watch 4, and you won’t get features like the ECG monitor on the devices above, but it’s still a strong wearable for those wanting fitness smarts.Advertisement
There’s also an LTE version of the watch available, for if you’re in need of a watch that can receive messages or phone calls even when you’re away from your iPhone. If you need a cheaper smartwatch but you want to buy an Apple Watch, this is our top choice.
Apple Watch SE – The best value Apple Watch
SPECIFICATIONS
- OS: watchOS 7
- Compatibility: iOS
- Display: 1.78″ OLED
- Processor: Apple S5
- Band sizes: Varies based on watch size
- Onboard storage: 32GBBattery: 18 hours
- Charging method: Wireless
- IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
REASONS TO BUY
+Extensive features
+Smart design
REASONS TO AVOID
-No always-on display-Average battery life
It has GPS, water resistance to depths of 50 meters, sleep tracking, a heart rate monitor, great fitness tracking abilities, a decent display, and a design that makes it look a lot more premium than its price tag suggests.
You might be surprised that this ranks higher than the Apple Watch 6. After all, it’s lower end, but the Apple Watch SE has all the best bits of the Apple Watch 6 and costs less money, making it a better buy overall.
The Apple Watch SE also has a speedy Apple S5 chipset. It’s not quite as powerful as the Apple Watch 6, and it lacks that wearable’s always-on display, but again, it’s cheaper, and we reckon that for most people it strikes just about the best possible balance between price and tech.
Apple Watch Series 5
This is a hard recommendation to make, because Apple isn’t selling the Watch Series 5 anymore. But if you can find a refurbished version at a price similar to the SE’s, you should get it. The SE is just a Series 5 with a few of the best features yanked, like the sapphire crystal display, the electrical heart sensor to take ECGs, and the much-loved always-on display.
It’s also worth noting here: If you see a Watch Series 4 on sale, you should grab it, instead of the SE, for an older relative. Right now the Series 4 is the earliest watch that will work with Apple’s new Family Setup, and it still has fall detection and both the electrical and optical heart sensors. Family Setup will not work with the Watch Series 3, which Apple is still selling.
Apple Watch 4
SPECIFICATIONS
- OS: watchOS 7
- Compatibility: iOS
- Display: 1.57″ / 1.78″ OLED
- Processor: Apple S4
- Band sizes: Varies based on watch size
- Onboard storage: 16GBBattery: Up to 18 hours
- Charging method: Wireless
- IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
REASONS TO BUY
+Larger display
+Lightweight design
REASONS TO AVOID
-Difficult to find now
-Battery isn’t amazing
It also comes in both 40mm and 44mm variants, plus a lot of the features are similar such as the excellent heart rate tracking and the larger display than you’ll find on older Apple Watches.
Don’t need that always-on display we’ve mentioned above? The Apple Watch 4 doesn’t come with that, and it’s far cheaper than the Apple Watch 5. So you may prefer to get this version instead and save a bit of money.
The most exciting tech here is the fact that there’s an ECG feature within the heart rate tracker. It can test your heart to see if you’re at a high risk of atrial fibrillation, which will allow you to seek help earlier if your health is in danger. This is found on the Apple Watch 5 and 6 too, but not older models.
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