Smartwatch with blood pressure and heart rate monitor

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brindusa Vanta.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to cause various health issues, like stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, vision loss, and dementia. While tracking our blood pressure is important, testing can be inconvenient. It would be so much easier if health monitoring watches could track blood pressure, right?

At this time, few watches can track blood pressure accurately but technology in this area is evolving quickly and we expect more and more accurate, routinely calibrated smartwatches to give a good indication of one’s heart rate. They are not meant to be used as a medical device but can complement medical-grade blood pressure monitoring devices. Only the Omron Heart Guide has received FDA clearance as a medical device but this watch is quite dated as a smartwatch.

Current blood pressure smartwatches claim to track BP using purposely built sensors. They may be less accurate, but they might be enough for most people who need to track blood pressure on the go. With the recent unveiling of the Apple Watch 7, a lot of people, including ourselves have been disappointed to find out that blood pressure capabilities have been postponed to the next model in the line.

BP Measurements in smartwatches

Your blood pressure is recorded using two numbers. The first is the systolic reading which is measuring the pressure during a heartbeat.

The second is called the diastolic blood pressure reading which a measurement of your blood pressure between heartbeats. Most blood pressure watches aim to give you these readings.

You might wonder why Fitbit, Garmin, etc., haven’t introduced blood pressure smartwatches. Well, as we’ll explore, this technology is certainly very complex and challenging to get right.

Omron may have managed it, but they’ve had to scrimp on other features. Fitbit is reportedly currently doing a study on blood pressure monitoring.

So, follow our list below for alternatives. In any case, none of the watches below are meant to be used as a medical device or to replace one.

Subsequently, here’s our top pick of current BP watches that offer convenience and relative precision, depending on the product, technology used and price range.

1. MorePro Fitness Trackers with blood pressure monitor

First, Morepro fitness trackers are simple, relatively low-cost activity trackers which monitor your heart rate and movement throughout the day. This specific MorePro Model could also motivate you to stay fit and active.

The blood pressure and oxygen level monitor aren’t to be confused as a medical device and are there to help you monitor and assist your health, but that’s it. Sleep tracking will analyze how you sleep, and the alarm clock is helpful for most people.

Pros

• 1.69″ bright, high-quality display, comes in three different colors
• Activity tracking and sports tracking with 10 modes including walking, running, spinning, and more
• Features both heart rate tracking and blood pressure monitoring.
• Up to 10 days battery life
• IP68 waterproofing — excellent for swimming
• Good compatibility with both iPhone and Android
• Simple watch at a good price
• Takes blood pressure measurements

Cons

• Accuracy can be improved
• Not enough sport modes compared to others
• A simple approach but generally a good choice among BP watches at this price level

The All rounder – MorePro HM08 fitness tracker

The All rounder – MorePro HM08 fitness tracker

This midrange contender has both the looks and the smart functionality most have been looking for in a blood pressure watch. The display is a bright 1.47″ and has many faces you can customize and choose from.

This is the newest Morepro fitness tracker that is great for:

• 24 hour HR monitoring
• SPO2 and Blood pressure
• Steps, Sleep and sports activity for 7 sports
• Customizeable watch faces
• Nofitifcations on smartwatch Android and iPhone
• 7-10 day battery life
• Alarms, stopwatch, weather and female tracking

MorePro Fitness Slim Band For Women

The More Pro Fitness Tracker For Women is an affordable fitness tracker that helps you keep your health and fitness on track. This sleek fitness tracker costs approximately $39, meaning it’s great for all budgets. You can also choose between black and pink, so customers can match their watch to their style. 

This fitness tracker measures the wearer’s blood pressure, heart rate, sleep quality, and more to help them live a healthy and active lifestyle. You can pair the tracker to an app on your smartphone to have all of your fitness data at your fingertips! The MorePro tracker even tracks female menstrual health to help women get a comprehensive picture of their health,

Pros

• Choice of two colors
• Tracks a range of health and fitness metrics, including female health
• It’s an affordable watch option
• 5 day battery

Cons

• It’s a shame there isn’t a similar looking, blood pressure option from Xiaomi

Available on eBay or Amazon

2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

The new kid on the block, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 was released a few months ago. It’s a full-featured watch with lots of app support and probably one of the best smartwatches on the market from a technology point of view — if you don’t fancy an Apple Watch. In terms of price, it’s obviously more pricey than many watches in this review but you usually get what you pay for.

Build quality is good. Functionality is robust with sleep tracking, heart rate, blood oxygen, GPS, and more. Built-in ECG works well and is approved for use in the US.

In order to use blood pressure measurements, you may need to download a modified version of the Samsung Health monitor app. The end result is that blood pressure measurements and ECG work.

Blood pressure measurement on the Samsung Watch hasn’t received FDA clearance yet. But if you use it for indicative monitoring and not as a replacement for professional medical advice, we can still see a benefit here.

Other limitations include that you must be over 22 years old to use it, and Samsung recommends you calibrate the watch using traditional cuff BPmonitors every month. You can get the watch in the usual online stores such as eBay or Amazon.

We feel the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is one of the strongest all-rounder, fully-featured watches on this list.

Pros

• A smartwatch based on WearOS from Samsung
• Follow along workout videos on your TV in tandem with your watch
• Wireless charging
• Quality watch, good sensors, best in class apps
• Lots of customization options

Cons

• Works well in the Android family of things (less so with Apple)
• Not all features are available, including Blood Pressure

3. Garinemax

This updated version of a popular watch was released in September 2021. The Garinemax smartwatch with blood pressure also carries a stylish appearance.

Furthermore, it has some positive reviews and a nice set of features. This model has 1.32″ round touchscreen display, and lots of watch faces to choose from and play with. It measures your SPO2 and supports 8 sports activities.

It also comes with a couple of casual games you can play with. Functions you can get include the weather forecast, a remote camera, and music control. We especially like the display and touchscreen on this model, which offers more features than older generations of watches.

Pros

• A good wearable that can take your blood pressure measurements*
• 1.32″ bright, high-quality display
• Activity tracking, sports tracking, body temperature tracking
• IP67 certified, excellent for swimming.
• Good battery life- up to 15 days. Built-in USB for charging
• The app works well on both iPhone and Android
• Many color options

Cons

• Accuracy can be improved but may just be good enough for non-medical purposes.

4. Kimnix Smartwatch with 1.72-inch HD touchscreen

This is a new model for this year, latest screen size and potentially better sensors. One of the smartwatches with the largest screens available today, equivalent in size to the 44-mm Apple Watch.

However, in terms of actual look and fit, it does not feel too chunky or big. Nice set of features and app compatibility. It will measure your heart rate, blood pressure*, and blood oxygen levels.

Furthermore, the Kimnix smartwatch is IPX4 life waterproof which means it‘s resistant to water splashes from any direction.

Pros

• New model, Newer BP sensors
• Clear, large screen
• Good looks
• IPX4 waterproof
• One of the newest and best BP watches

Cons

• The screen could be too large for some people.
• Lacks body temperature or sleep apnea detection
• New model so may require more frequent software updates.

In addition, for a similar watch in terms of looks and functionality and a slightly smaller screen.

5. Omron Heart Guide

Omron has been manufacturing cuff-style blood pressure monitors for decades. Last year, they introduced Heart Guide. Above all, this is the first smartwatch to incorporate traditional cuff-style technology (oscillatory tech).

You can trust this device because it has FDA clearance — unheard of in the smartwatch industry. As well as monitoring BP, this watch measures sleep and displays smartphone notifications.

You can get the Omron Heart Guide on eBay.

However, the biggest problem with this watch is its size. So, if you have slim wrists, the Heart Guide may feel heavy and obstructive.  But hey, it’s probably the most accurate blood pressure watch out there from a brand you can trust, and it’s now available on Amazon, which means you can get it by tomorrow most likely…

How does the Omron Heart Guide work?

Remember we said that traditional BP monitoring uses an inflatable cuff? Likewise, Omron has incorporated an inflatable cuff into the wristband of their watch.

So, how does it work? Well, the cuff inflates and places pressure on two arteries in the wrist. As the cuff deflates, BP can be measured.

However, it’s important to say that the BP tracking is not automatic. Instead, you have to tell the device that you want to measure your blood pressure. Once you do this, the watch asks you to place your wrist in front of your heart for 20-30 seconds.  

Then, the device syncs your BP readings to the HeartAdvisor App.

Pros

• Omron is a company that produces some of the most reliable blood pressure measurement devices.
• You can check your BP from any location at any time, so the watch offers convenience on top of measurement accuracy.
• It tracks fitness and sleep patterns, so you can monitor your overall health.
• While it is not as advanced as some smartwatches, it offers some good basic features (call and text alerts).
• Also, it has a reasonable battery life of 3+ days.

Cons

• Comparative to other watches, it is very expensive. (but you get your money’s worth in Blood pressure accuracy).
• It would not work as a running watch because it’s too bulky.
• This watch does not offer in-built GPS so you cannot track your routes.
• Despite huge interest in the product, it can be difficult to source in some parts of the world

6. Garinemax Smartwatch with body temperature tracker.

A smart fitness tracker all in one! Compared to other trackers, this has a slightly larger screen (1.69 inches), and the added feature of being able to track body temperature as well as blood oxygen levels.

Believe it or not, is more than the Apple Watch can do. It also has speakers and is waterproof to IPX4 level, which means you can use it for everyday use, like handwashing, but not for swimming.

This watch has all the usual features you would expect for fitness and wellness: calories, steps, heart rate, sleep stages and additional features. It’s also got five sport modes, weather, alarms and reminders to move.

You get notifications and weather updates with this watch and You’re also able to choose between a few nice watch faces.

Pros

• Body temperature is an advanced feature
• Sweatproof
• Works with iPhone and Android
• Dedicated app
• Reviews compare this watch to a Fitbit

Cons

• App isn’t as sophisticated as major brands
• Mixed reviews on blood pressure accuracy
• Not Swimproof because of the speakers.

7. DSmart GT3 — body temperature and blood pressure

This DSmart watch uses a 1.3″ square touchscreen, it’s IP67 waterproof but not for swimming.

It tracks your blood pressure* and body temperature. It also has a voice assistant built-in and wide phone compatibility. This DSmart will monitor your sleep and can work for between five and seven days without needing a charge. In addition, you can set your activity goals in the WoFit app and the watch will show you your daily achievements towards your goals.

Pros

• Full touchscreen, square design
• Unisex design – more color options including grey and pink and purple
• Newer, more accurate sensors with body temperature
• Relatively large screen with big text

Cons

• 5-7 days on the battery is a bit disappointing but not too bad compared to Apple watch or the Apple Watch SE.
• Waterproofing could have been better to include swimming

8. HalfSun fitness tracker

Another good blood pressure sensor watch alternative that does the job for many people, with a nice set of features and many positive reviews. Meanwhile, read our complete review of the HalfSun blood pressure watch.

Pros

• Good Quality 1.3″ screen. IPS, Full Color HD
• Activity tracking with app integration
• Light and comfortable
• Automatic, continuous heart rate monitor
• Can track blood pressure automatically*.

Cons

• Relies on phone for GPS
• Accuracy can be improved

9. Blumelody Fitness Tracker for blood pressure and body temperature

A newcomer into this segment, the Blumelody blood pressure monitor watch measures all the usual stuff, including your fitness, blood oxygen, heart rate and blood pressure*. However, the added benefit here is the body temperature sensor which is something new and unique at this stage.

This watch is a bit simplistic in its approach with one-touch button but not the touch screen you would normally see in more sophisticated or expensive models.

The watch tracks your blood oxygen, heart rate, and blood pressure*. Similarly, it will track your sleep period time and help you detect abnormalities in your sleep patterns.

The Bluemelody smartwatch has many features that will help your track and monitor your health and improve your lifestyle accordingly.

Pros

• Built-in USB charging. (no need for cable)
• 5 days battery life and quick charging in one and a half hours.
• IP67 Waterproof
• Flexible band fits many different sizes.
• New model incorporating latest sensors

Cons

• New and potentially fewer reviews or feedback available.
• Too simple to handle. Not a lot of features or advanced touchscreen like other models we like.
• Band type design may be more feminine than masculine.
• Not a well-known brand (yet?)

10. HopoFit Fitness Tracker

If you like a more rugged design this is an excellent choice!

Another large 1.69-inch screen with high resolution, which is super for reading in all lighting conditions. What’s cool is that you can use the companion app to create your own watch face.

Enjoy up to 20 sport modes and accurately record exercise, steps, calories burned and distance traveled. This device offers 30m water resistance so you can swim in it, too. Though, note, it can’t withstand hot water. 

Practical features include smart notifications, music control, timer, alarm, weather, reminders to move, sleep stages, and breathing exercises.

Of course, it’s on this list for the more advanced health features, including blood pressure* and blood oxygen. Above all, at under $100 this is a really surprising set of features to see.

Enjoy up to 15 days of battery life between charges, which takes only two hours. 

This device is compatible with iPhone and Android, so long as you download the Da Fit companion app. 

Pros

• Waterproof for pool swimming
• Works with iPhone and Android
• Dedicated app
• Cost-effect
• Rugged design

Cons

• Limited to three alarms
• Text notifications can be glitchy

11. Peakfun Smartwatch for Blood Pressure

A versatile fitness tracker with all the features you would expect, a 1.3″ IPS touchscreen, and long battery life that can work up to 7 days. It will connect to your phone and track your activity all day and night with smart sleep monitoring. You can take it swimming as it’s IP67 waterproof. Watch faces can be customized. The screen is detailed and easy to read.

Pros

• Clear and bright, high pixel count (240 x 240) color touch screen
• A choice of two colors – black and pink
• Play music and connect to your headphones via Bluetooth
• Compatible with major phones
• Good value for money

Cons

• Blood pressure accuracy not proven
• Few sports modes compared to top brands
• Amazon reviews seem to be about headphones

12. DFG Smart Watch HRV

This new smartwatch and fitness tracker boasts a 1.54″ touchscreen and a battery life of 5-7 days. It connects with your phone’s GPS to track your activity, distance traveled, and routes to give you a fuller picture.

We think the blood pressure monitoring with this watch has currently got a few advantages over older models. For instance, recording of BP can take place automatically (every 5 minutes) and sync with your phone app daily for convenience. You can also calibrate the blood pressure reading by entering professional-grade equipment (e.g. using a blood pressure monitor) data into the app, which is a nice feature that can improve the accuracy of the readings. Needless to say, the watch is not a replacement for medical equipment but can be used for reference purposes.

Pros

• Big touchscreen – 1.54″ with big numbers
• Improved sensors
• Connectivity and app compatibility
• Night monitoring of blood oxygen and heart rate

Cons

• New brand and watch so not enough reviews
• strap design a bit dated
• No FDA approval, BP accuracy needs to be tested.

13. DoSmarter Fitness Watch

A fitness watch for all purposes with the added value of blood pressure* monitoring. Designed to be worn by men and women alike. Waterproof and sporty – good for swimming but not designed to be worn during hot saunas or baths. This watch is light and relatively simple to use. This watch typically lasts 5 days between charges. However, we have mixed feelings about this watch as some customers experienced quality and accuracy issues with it.

All you health tracking can be shown and summarized in the app. Blood pressure can be turned to automatic mode. You are also able to fill in your profile details (age, height, etc) so that measurements are more accurate.

Pros

• Simple, all-rounder
• Light and stylish
• Strap fits most sizes
• Good for swimming and sleep pattern monitoring

Cons

• Blood pressure as an extra benefit but not the main feature
• Some bad reviews about the quality of measurements and the product itself.

14. ASUS Vivowatch BP

The ASUS Vivowatch BP is another promising blood pressure watch. It does not have FDA approval, but it appears to deliver accurate results*. Unlike the Heart Guide, it does not use oscillatory technology. Instead, it relies on sensors. Some people see this as an inferior technology, and this may explain why it has not achieved FDA approval.

One of the best things about this watch is the accompanying HealthConnect App. This app is very simple to use and provides great insights.

Availability

The ASUS Vivowatch BP is difficult to find if you live outside of the US or Canada. Worldwide roll-out is expected at the end of this year or early next year.

How Does It Work?

This watch does not have an inflatable cuff. Instead, it relies on sensor technology and sophisticated algorithms to predict blood pressure. So, how does this work?

Well, the Electrocardiography (ECG) sensors measure heart rate. And the Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor measures pulse. When combined, this information calculates your Pulse Transit Time (PTT). PPT can provide an estimate of blood pressure.

Unlike the Heart Guide, blood pressure estimates occur automatically so there’s no need to raise your arm*.

Pros

• Since this watch relies on sensor technology, it can offer automatic blood pressure estimates.
• It offers 28-days of battery life, so you won’t have ‘charging anxiety’.
• It is small and discreet, so it is an ideal smartwatch for women.
• Compared to similar devices, this watch is reasonably priced.
• Finally, built-in GPS is an added bonus.

Cons

• It may be less reliable than the Omron Heart Guide because it does not have FDA backing.
• It is not compatible with all versions of Android, so check before purchasing.
• This watch was released in 2018 and although the software is updated regularly, it may be a bit dated.
• Presently, it is difficult to source in some parts of the world

15. NDur Smartwatch

NDur fitness tracker is a fitness tracker, calorie burned counter, sleep monitor, heart rate monitor with the added bonus of blood pressure tracking*. A 1.3″ touchscreen that is also IP68 waterproof. One of the main advantages of this watch is a 10 day, extra-long battery life so that you rarely have to take it off. You could also fully charge it quite quickly in around 2 hours.

It will come with a 6-month warranty and offer quality and potentially last longer than the rest of the bunch. According to company sources, they will replace the watch if it is damaged and you have a US-based company to turn to in this case. Furthermore, bands are interchangeable with most standard 20mm bands should you wish to invest in a different band style.

Pros

• Built for endurance
• 1.3″ bright and responsive touchscreen
• Extra-long battery life
• 6-month warranty

Cons

• A relative newcomer in the market
• As with most other blood pressure fitness trackers, accuracy could be improved and the watch is not to be used as a medical device. Hopefully, the future software upgrades will improve accuracy.

Look for the NDur watch on eBay.

16. Colmi Smartwatch

This budget health tracker looks like a traditional timepiece but is packed with smart features. Compatible with both Android and iPhone phones, this smartwatch is an excellent extension of your phone.

For starters, it offers camera and music control, the latter can be enjoyed via a connected pair of Bluetooth headphones. Though, if you don’t have any, the watch also has a speaker! Also, you get smart notifications such as calls and messages.

Health and fitness features include a 24/7 heart rate monitor, automatic sleep tracking and a sedentary reminder if you’ve been still for too long. Of course, as it’s on this list, you get a blood pressure monitor*, too.

Pros

• Traditional look with digital features
• Water-resistance
• 7 sport modes
• Sleep stages

Cons

• So far, no users have given this device less than 5 stars!

The Colmi blood pressure smartwatch is available on eBay here.

17. SKMEI Smartwatch

For the same price as the Colmi, you can get a handful more features if you opt for the SKMEI smartwatch.

With multiple interfaces to choose from and five brightness levels, this watch is easily readable in all conditions. In terms of smart features, it offers notifications for calls, texts and social media. What’s more, it also offers music and camera control, as above.

Other handy features include a weather app, Find Your Phone, and a stopwatch.

Health-wise, this watch offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen saturation via an Sp02 sensor, and blood pressure*.

For under $50 that’s a whole lot of value!

Pros

• A lot of health and smart features
• Low cost
• GPs functionality
• Water-resistant

Cons

• Some users have made complaints about the accuracy of health data

It’s available on eBay and

.

18. Maxtop Smartwatch

This smartwatch comes with some impressive health and fitness tracking. For starters, it has 10 sport modes and offers similar features to the likes of Fitbit. That being calories burned, steps and distance. What’s more, it also offers GPS tracking when you use the companion app.

It has a 24/7 heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation data, and blood pressure tracking*. When you’re snoozing at night, it’ll analyze your sleep time and quality and offer you sleep stages in the morning.

Smart features include calls, text, and social media notifications for things like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. All of which you can scroll through using the touchscreen.

Other handy features include sedentary reminders, a timer, stopwatch, alarm, and remote control for your phone’s camera.

Finally, it’s water-resistant and holds a battery for 3-5 days.

Pros

• Under $100
• Useful companion app
• Wide range of health and fitness metrics

Cons

• Similarly to other budget trackers, users have issues with data accuracy

19. Genius Fit Watch

If you’re looking for a specialized fitness watch, the Genius Fit Watch is a good choice to explore. This fitness tracker allows users to track their blood pressure, alongside a large range of other health metrics. 

Other health features on this watch include a pedometer, sleep tracking, distance traveled, and calories burned too. If you like to get out and about, this is a smartwatch that can make your life easier. This watch is also waterproof and comfortable to wear, so users can comfortably exercise with it on. 

Pros

• Minimalist style 
• Has a range of built-in fitness trackers
• Sleep tracking
• Lightweight and comfortable to wear

Cons

• Some users state the band is hard to attach to the watch

Blood Pressure Technology

We’ve all had our blood pressure (BP) taken at some point in our lives. The traditional method for BP testing is the cuff method. This is also called the ‘oscillatory method’.

How does this technology work? Well, the cuff is placed around your upper arm. It inflates until enough pressure is exerted on your arteries to stop blood flow. As the cuff deflates, the device measures how quickly blood returns to your arteries. Testing the upper arm is more accurate than testing the wrist or finger because it’s closer to the heart.

So, you can see why a ‘blood pressure smartwatch’ is a big ask. A few companies have managed it, though. The Omron Heart Guide uses traditional oscillatory technology. In contrast, the ASUS Vivowatch BP, Yamay as well as all the other blood pressure wearables in this review rely on sensors and algorithms which are improving over time.

Blood Pressure Watches FAQ

What Is Blood Pressure?

Your blood pressure reading signifies how easy it is for blood to flow around your body. Hypertension develops when the blood pressure, which is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels is consistently higher than normal Basically, the higher your blood pressure, the harder it is for blood to flow. For the most part, high blood pressure is caused by blocked, narrowed, or damaged arteries.

High blood pressure (or hypertension) can lead to blood clots, and damage to the blood vessels and major organs like the heart, kidney, brain, and eyes.

Do I Need to Track My Blood Pressure?

Interestingly, studies show that monitoring blood pressure at home helps to empower stroke victims.

But we should all keep an eye on our blood pressure – even fitness junkies. This is because studies show that exercising doesn’t necessarily protect us from high blood pressure. So, it’s not just senior citizens and stroke survivors that should track their BP – it’s everyone.

When measuring our Blood Pressure at the wrist area, which is most likely the case with Smartwatches, it is recommended to hold up your hand and bring the wrist to your heart level. This will give us a more accurate result.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

The exact cause of essential high blood pressure is not fully understood but the following are considered risk  factors for the development of this condition play a role:

• Eating too much salt
• Too little potassium in the diet
• Being inactive
• Being overweight or obese
• Stress
• Consuming meat and dairy
• Smoking  
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Family history of high blood pressure 
• Certain conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea

As mentioned, anyone can benefit from BP tracking. But if your lifestyle is unhealthy, you may find BP tracking particularly useful. Tracking your blood pressure, sleep, diet and exercise can help you get motivated to improve your lifestyle.

What are the Benefits of Blood Pressure Watches?

The main issue with conventional blood pressure testing is that it’s inconvenient. Usually, you have to see a doctor or pharmacist to get your blood pressure taken. Having said that, you can buy home-testing kits. But some of these don’t store your data (depending on which model you get), so you may end up losing it. In contrast, blood pressure fitness trackers are:

• Portable and convenient so you never miss a BP reading.
• They record and store your BP data in the app, so it’s easier to review with your doctor.
• You’re less likely to forget to take your BP. As a result, you’ll catch potential problems earlier.
• You can measure BP at various points throughout the day. As a result, you’ll get a better understanding of how your lifestyle affects your BP.
• They track your health in general, not just blood pressure.

Why doesn’t Garmin have the Blood Pressure monitoring function?

While Garmin watches are voted over and over to be the leading smartwatches for fitness and sports activities, Garmin has yet to add the option to measure and monitor Blood Pressure. We might be fortunate to see this feature with the next release of the Garmin Fenix 8 or alike.

Do I Really Need to Track Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure monitor wristwatches show great potential, but they are not perfect. To be specific, the Omron Heart Guide is expensive and bulky. At the same time, others do not have FDA clearance or approval for use as a medical device. The recent cheaper alternatives on the market may offer some solutions but may not be exactly what you need. So, are wearable blood pressure monitoring smartwatches worth the money?

Well, it depends on how important BP tracking is to you. Certainly, you could overlook these snags if BP tracking is high on your list of priorities. People living with chronic stress or illness will probably benefit from one of these watches. Monitoring blood pressure can be quite useful for some. But if this doesn’t apply to you; a wearable BP fitness tracker may be unnecessary.

In fact, many people believe that cheaper fitness trackers are sufficient for tracking health. To be specific, most mid-range trackers measure resting heart rate (RHR). RHR gives a good indication of overall cardiovascular health. Although, as mentioned, people with a good RHR aren’t necessarily immune to high blood pressure.

Ask yourself how important BP monitoring is. If it’s fairly low on your list of requirements, other fitness trackers offer better a better fit for purpose.

The like of the Fitbit Sense is a fantastic alternative. Designed for those who are conscious of all areas of their health; physical and mental, the Fitbit Sense offers sleep scores, advanced heart health, and stress monitoring. Additionally, it offers solutions to any extreme responses it picks up from your body to help bring you back to normal. Fitbit is a good choice for health tracking even though it may not offer blood pressure monitoring as of yet. The new Apple Watch 6 could also work well in these circumstances but again – no blood pressure tracking in this very popular wearable.

Last but not least, there’s the option of getting an upper arm blood pressure monitor that is both portable and accurate for when you need it. For some, this is the best solution as you could get the best of both worlds: a branded fitness tracker from the likes of Apple, Fitbit, or Garmin and a blood pressure monitor from the likes of Omron.

Do blood pressure watches really work?

Although blood pressure watches are fairly new to the market and still have a long way to go concerning their accuracy, the short answer is yes – there are a lot of blood pressure watches that really do work. The way in which a blood pressure watch records this vital statistic needs special sensors which can pick up on the smallest flows of blood even through your skin.

Traditionally, a large oscillometer has to be used to detect the actual changes of your pulse within the arteries, but the challenge for blood pressure watches is shrinking this technology down small enough to fit on your wrist but still be highly accurate.

Heart rate detection used to be done in the same way, but as technology advances and becomes more intuitive we can be sure to see better-designed blood pressure watches that work much more accurately in the near future.

Can Fitbit monitor blood pressure?

Fitbits are one of the must-have gadgets for monitoring health and exercise routines and can give an insight into how your body is performing with various biometric feedback sensors. Everything from blood oxygen diagnosis to sleep tracking and heart rate measurements can be conducted with the Fitbit, but currently, Fitbit cannot monitor blood pressure.

However, Fitbit are continuing to conduct studies into something called pulse arrival time, which is fairly similar to the way in which other blood pressure wrist devices collect data via pulse transit time. This leads us to believe that within a year the company is likely to release a smartwatch device that allows the Fitbit to accurately monitor blood pressure.

Can a smartwatch really take your blood pressure?

Yes, although there are not that many on the market that work to a very high degree of accuracy, a smartwatch can really take your blood pressure reading.

It uses oscillatory technology the same way a large medical blood pressure machine does, just shrunk down to fit on your wrist. Not only can this smartwatch monitor blood pressure but it can also be used to display all of your regular notifications in the same way a smartphone does.

This blood pressure smartwatch doesn’t work by reading the pulsations within the arteries on your wrist, instead, when you want to get an accurate reading of your blood pressure, you have to hold it up to your heart for approximately 30 seconds.

Can an Apple Watch take blood pressure?

Currently, Apple watches themselves cannot take blood pressure readings by simply wearing them on your wrist. However, the Apple Watch is compatible with a range of blood pressure monitors which can sync together and give you an accurate reading.

One example is the Qardio application which is approved by the FDA. All you need to do is slide the Qardio device onto your upper arm and begin the blood pressure measurement, and the results are then synced with the Apple watch you are wearing and recorded. It is hard to take a blood pressure reading without stopping blood flow from an inflatable device.

Apple reportedly has a patent for a smartwatch with a strap that can be inflated, constricting the blood supply temporarily and allowing for an accurate blood pressure measurement to be taken. It’s something we may see in the near future.

Does Amazfit take blood pressure?

After being in development for some time, the Amazfit can actually take accurate blood pressure readings. In the most recent devices, such as the GTR 3 Pro, a special sensor has been fitted to the back of the watch, known as a BioTracker 3.0 PPG, which boasts PumpBeats technology.

Six sensors are used in conjunction to give a smoother more accurate result, without the need for a separate inflatable armband that links to your smartwatch. It makes use of an optical sensor for your heart rate to take the reading.

As it is a fairly new development for the company, we expect to see it rolled out properly in the next few months after final studies have been conducted.

*Medical disclaimer – The information on this page is not intended to offer medical advice. We review watches based on the information we find and compare wearables based on what we know or are provided by manufacturers. By no means do we suggest that blood pressure tracking smartwatches can replace medical blood pressure monitoring devices. We know they are not as accurate and the majority of the watches in this review are not approved as medical devices.

ECG – ElectroCardioGram by Smart Watches.

Recording and reading our hearts’ electric activity can clarify for us many of the heart conditions that may lead to ACS – acute Coronary Syndrome.

Some Superwatches have added an additional sensor for the finger to show another view angle of the heart’s electric activity. This sensor allows the clever algorithm to do an ECG analysis and with AI – Artificial Intelligence, and predict any Heart potential failure.

The diagnostic results shown on the App include: QRS Wave Form shape, P-R intervals, ST-T, and QT intervals. The results also show any Heart disease symptom screening.
Please only use these features as recommendations and warnings. For a professional Cardiovascular test and opinion, see your Cardiologist.

Last Updated on November 14, 2022

Emma brings over a decade of freelance copy and content writing experience and is our Editor, Social Media Manager, and regular contributor. Specializing in long-form content such as blogs, articles, lead magnets, and white papers, Emma also provides businesses with email marketing, website copy, and landing pages.

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Dr. Vanta, MD, DHMHS,  specializes in clinical nutrition and natural medicine. She received her medical degree from Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine, Romania, and her homeopathic diploma from Ontario College of Homeopathic Medicine. She focuses on brain and digestive health. lives in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.