fēnix 3 HR

To the OP's original point: u/vizzzions and u/Kitchen-ad6860 would have us believe the Garmin doesn't sample HR every second or so 24/7. But this is wrong on devices since the Fenix 5. I'll stipulate that it may be every 1-2 seconds, with that time over 1 and up to 2 seconds being the "variation" in HR sample timing. Prior to the Fenix 5 it may have been true, but that is old information. I have known this since the Fenix 6 and have commented with a link to DC Rainmaker's notes on the Fenix 5 improvements in 24x7 HR sampling from working with Garmin. DCR refers to 3600 data points per hour (one per second), and LabFront discusses the developer API, which contains 86,400 HR data points per day (one per second). Lastly, I've observed on my last 6 or 7 watches the "constant" HR sensor working and every second or two updates to HR on watch face. I don't remember that frequency on my Fenix 3 HR. This tracking is of course separate from the UI display of data point charts using "averaging" or "smoothing" every couple minutes--since there are too many data points for the watch or mobile device display. So to agree with the OP, I've agreed with Garmin's superiority in HR tracking over Apple. Apple simply doesn't sample HR often enough 24/7 to give meaningful HR, HRV, Stress, Sleep, Recovery, Strain, etc., even with the limitations we know exist for those metrics using wrist based photoplethysmography. On my Garmins once diagnosed bradycardic and enabling low HR alerts, I was getting HR alerts every 10 seconds or less, so I had to turn those off. I don't have any Garmin HR "accuracy" issues as tested against AWU and Polar H10 as to the "right" HR. My issue is with all the health metrics based on infrequent data for Apple. My use case is maybe simple, and I wear my watches correctly in generally warm weather.

My AWU1 sensor was not better than my Epix Pro 2/Tactix 7, nor is my AWU3 sensor better than any of my current 3 Garmins FOR MY USE AND IN MY TESTING. I run with AWU3 (for music and LTE) always with a Garmin. Both are just as slow to react to my limited intervals. However, I get the EXACT same average HR from both (and same as Polar H10) in 9 out of 10 runs, and only 1-2 beats off when not matching. For ME the AWU3 sensor is not better because it samples so infrequently during the day and during sleep. I know about the Quantified Scientist testing results for the AWs in general. But why do YOU think the AW sensor is better?

My experience with Fenix 8 51 AMOLED, Tactix 8 47 AMOLED and Enduro 3 is all the same. Sitting here at 53 bpm. It changes frequently and matches my medically certified pulse oximeter with no more than a second delay. Can’t even get real time HR on the face of my AWU3 except in workout.

I'm not sure your point. The comment above says the watch is "less accurate" while in some kind of low power mode during daily 24/7 tracking. This is not correct. The watches still sample every second. It may be true they sample more when they detect activity. That would just be efficient and make sense. But the OP's comparison was to AWU (I also have and use AWU3). There is no comparison.

Incorrect. I currently own 3 modern Garmin watches that prove you wrong. You obviously have not been looking for constant HR tracking, which I have. I'm diagnosed severely bradycardia, so I monitor. I have not caught the HR sensor off yet while checking frequently to be sure the "40" or below it's reading is current. I had to turn off low heart rate alerts because 40 is the lowest value, and I'm frequently below. I used aluminum duct tape strip partially under the sensor on each of my F8 AMOLED, T8 AMOLED and Enduro 3 to help check HR sensor was always flashing when each was new. Now I just squeeze the band up and look under often to check. Two of these have been tested alongside AWU3 and against a Polar H10 strap, BY ME, with no consequential difference. No more than 1-2 beats off for short timing differences, and resulting in EXACT same average HR over walking, running, treadmill activities. You're either a troll, haven't honestly tried a modern Garmin, or haven't bothered to really check.

Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

Nope. Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

Nope. Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

Okay. The sampling is varied. Garmin doesn't say by how much, so how much is it? I'm not only a sample of one. I'm a sample of 3 current Garmin models and at least two at a time going back to original Fenix. These were always alongside Apple Watches since the 7. Since at least the F6 line, I see changes in HR on watch face every 1-2 seconds. And I see CONSTANT HR sensor flashing which I've extensively checked for since I have a medical reason to. So what is the variability? One time per second constantly and 4-5 times/second during activities? 3 times per second working at desk but slows to once per second if still for a minute? Down to once every 10 seconds if very still a long time during sleep? Garmin doesn't state the variability--only that it varies. I'm retired (young) and have nothing better to do. I have testing and observation that says the Elevate 5 sensor is constantly on while awake, and HR on stock watch face changes no less frequently than every 2 seconds if I give my HR a reason to change. As for workouts, I've tested against Polar H10 and I'm satisfied at the exact same results other than 1-2 second timing differences. I recently took my third Bruce Protocol treadmill cardiac stress test while hooked up to 12 lead AND wearing my AWU3 and Fenix 8. I went 13.5 minutes, which is exceptional for my age (reflecting a V02max of 48-50 at age 62). My AWU3 and F8 both showed EXACTLY the same HR as the EKG (again small timing difference) from 40bpm all the way up to 165. Technician even commented on their consistency, as I was gasping for breath at the end. Note that you have to hang on at 5 and 5.5mph at 18 and 20% incline, so no arm swings late in the test. I wear my watches correctly, above the wrist bone, using ultrafit/Amazon Abanen brand strap, with a patch shaved under the watch and a wrist sweat band between watch and elbow if sweaty activity. My upper body doesn't move much for running, and my forearm stays parallel to the ground. I can't comment on HR accuracy in extreme cold, but photoplethysmography will not be ideal here. But I can damn sure comment with sufficient testing results from both normal casual/fitness activities and all day HR tracking observation.

Modern Garmin watches sample at least once per second, 24/7 in my observation. I've said that all along. If they claim several times per second is also done, great. I don't find my HR sensor off on last couple generations of watches ever, except when off the body. And you have not shown me where it says during activity once per second and less often outside of activity depending on movement. Show me this and prove my observations wrong.

Nope. Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."