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The best heart rate monitors: Top tech to keep healthy
Our health can take the backseat in our busy lives more often than it should, but technology can help fill the gap to improve our overall wellbeing. While the market is filled with wearable technology that tracks breathing, sleep, and fitness activity, the device underlying the data is a basic heart monitor.
Some healthcare gadgets can improve our heart health by monitoring vital signs and alerting us of unusual rhythms. Other devices specifically track sleeping patterns, while the best fitness trackers monitor running metrics, training sessions, and activity. thereThere portable, smart electronics provide testing kits for everything from gluten to blood pressure readings.
There are technology vendors out there who have developed home wearables and medical devices that are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared or approved. Other solutions might not have the US regulator's seal of approval or suit a specific medical purpose, but can still be invaluable in monitoring your health.
Here are ZDNET's top picks for heart rate monitors in 2022.
The Polar Verity Sense is an affordable and solid option for a heart rate monitor due to its versatility and compact form factor. When it comes to wearables, comfort needs to be king -- and today's gadgets are evolving away from bulky chest straps, wires, and any materials that would make wearing them for long periods of time uncomfortable.
What makes the Polar Verity Sense stand out is that this heart rate monitor can be worn on the wrist, arm, or even applied to swimwear with an included clip.
The Polar uses an optical sensor to measure your heart rate via your arm, wrist pulse, or forehead and contains both Bluetooth and ANT+ connective technologies.
Pros
- Versatile, Android & iOS compatible
- Good battery life (up to 30 hours)
- Waterproof
Cons
- App could be improved
- Only 12MB memory
ZDNET's Jason Perlow has previously documented how his Apple Watch saved his life by detecting the early stages of arrhythmia, resulting in a speedy diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, and this success story should be kept in mind when considering a smartwatch you want to perform as a health monitor, too.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is the latest flagship model in the product range and while the device can be connected to your phone for a variety of tasks -- such as receiving notifications, listening to music, paying for goods, and sending messages -- the watch also comes with advanced health monitoring features. You can monitor your heart rate (active and resting), and you can take ECGs to check bloody oxygen levels.
In recent years, Apple has gone full-throttle in the quest to become a go-to daily health tracker. The latest Series 8 model contains the same functionality as its predecessors, alongside a new temperature sensor.
Pros
- Doubles as one of the best smartwatches on the market
- Comes with tons of health sensors and monitors
- Take an ECG at any time
Cons
- Only works with iPhones
- Expensive
The Fitbit Luxe is the right option for individuals who want a heart rate and activity monitor designed with style.
Available in four colors, the Luxe is a wrist-worn monitor able to track your active and resting heart rate, heart patterns, pace and distance, and oxygen saturation levels.
If the device detects irregular heart rhythms, the Luxe will automatically notify you.
Pros
- Fairly inexpensive
- Daily readiness score for workouts
- Up to 5 days of battery life
Cons
- Fitbit Premium subscription required for full features
The Garmin HRM-Pro is an option that athletes and those who are trying to improve their training and form should consider. This heart rate monitor contains a sensor that is worn as a chest strap and, thanks to Garmin's focus on connectivity, this data can be stored, shared, and used across multiple devices. This device is compatible with ANT+ and Bluetooth, and the battery lasts for up to one year.
Pros
- Advanced heart rate and activity data collection
- Focus on form: vertical oscillation, ground contact time, stride length data collection
Cons
- Chest strap only
- Obtrusive
An entry-level, affordable heart rate monitor is the Garmin Forerunner 35. This smartwatch monitors your active and resting heart rate, and you can use the inbuilt GPS to track not only your running performance, but also your routes. You can't expect highly advanced features at this price point, but if you just want a basic, accurate monitor for your daily runs, this watch is worth consideration.
Pros
- Suitable for runners
- Measures heart rate, pace, distance, intervals
Cons
- The design won't appeal to everyone
- Basic functionality
What is the best heart rate monitor?
After investigating products on the market, ZDNET selected the Polar Verity Sense. However, each product we've featured has different benefits that will suit wide audiences.
Heart rate monitor | How to wear | Detects… | Price |
Polar Verity Sense | Wrist, arm, forehead | Heart rate, pace, distance + swimming mode data | $89 |
Apple Watch Series 8 | Wrist | Heart rate, bloody oxygen, temperature, advanced workout metrics | $399 |
Fitbit Luxe | Wrist | Heart rate, sleep patterns, blood oxygen, workouts | $129 |
Garmin HRM-Pro | Chest | Heart rate, athlete-level workout metrics | $129 |
Garmin Forerunner 35 | Wrist | Heart rate, activities, steps, calories burned | $169 |
Which is the right heart rate monitor for you?
The right product for you depends entirely on your circumstances, age, and if you have any existing medical conditions. You should choose a product based on what you are most concerned about or what you would like to understand -- whether this is keeping an eye on your heart rate readings or learning more about your sleeping patterns.
While deciding, you should keep in mind that no technology product can replace a competent doctor's expertise or understanding of your health, and although health-based devices can be a valuable source of insight, they should only be considered an accompaniment to professional care.
Choose this product.. | If you need… |
Polar Verity Sense | A minimalist, no-fuss monitor |
Apple Watch Series 8 | Advanced health monitoring |
Fitbit Luxe | A stylish, versatile health tracker |
Garmin HRM-Pro | An accurate all-rounder |
Garmin Forerunner 35 | A budget-friendly, entry-level tracker for running |
How did we choose these heart rate monitors?
Our selection of heart rate monitors, medical products, and general wellness products has included wearables and devices that you can use on occasion at home to monitor your heart rate, activity levels, and sleep patterns. Health and wellbeing encompass everything from food choices to stress levels and pre-existing issues and so we've attempted to cover a number of bases.
FAQ
How do home heart rate monitors measure your heartbeat?
In the world of wearables, most 'casual' monitors are contained within a sports watch, band, or piece of jewelry and they generate accurate heart rate data by measuring blood flows with LED lights, or alternatively, electrical activity.
More advanced devices require tapes across the chest, embedded with sensors that can more accurately read a heart and its rhythm. As in the case of ZDNET's Jason Perlow, for example, irregular heart rhythms picked up by his Apple Watch Nike+ Series 2 were then explored further through a chest ePatch.
Should you choose a dedicated activity-tracking watch or something like the Apple Watch?
This depends on how often you want to measure your bodily signs, and whether you are looking for a tracker purely for running dynamics and exercise metrics or a more rounded -- and multi-functional -- device.
If you just want to check your resting/active heart rate and steps, a dedicated tracker is enough. However, if you want a product that measures your health as a side function, a smartwatch might be the better option, albeit potentially a more expensive investment.
Is it important to watch your blood pressure?
While you should monitor your blood pressure to watch for signs of hypertension, doing so too frequently can actually exacerbate the problem by causing anxiety and raising your blood pressure.
Home blood pressure monitors can be easy to use and inexpensive. According to Harvard Medical School, people watching their pressure at home should ask their doctor for their recommendations on frequency -- whether this is once a week or once a month -- and note that the best time to perform a check is early in the morning.
Are there alternative heart rate monitor devices to consider?
Here are a few other heart rate monitors, usable at home or during fitness activities, you might want to consider: