How Accurate is Heart Rate on Galaxy Watch 5 Pro?
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro BioActive sensor provides accurate heart rate monitoring for most activities—comparable to chest straps for steady-state exercise.
Expected Accuracy
| Condition | Accuracy |
|---|---|
| Resting | ±2-5 bpm |
| Moderate exercise | ±5-10 bpm |
| Intense exercise | ±10-15 bpm |
For most users, accuracy is excellent for fitness tracking and health monitoring.
Factors Affecting Accuracy
Watch fit (most important):
- Must be snug but comfortable
- 1-2 finger widths above wrist bone
- Too loose = inaccurate readings
Other factors:
- Tattoos may interfere with sensor
- Vigorous arm movement reduces accuracy
- Extreme cold reduces blood flow
- Irregular heart rhythm (AFib)
Optimize Heart Rate Accuracy
- Wear watch snugly on top of wrist
- Position 1-2 finger widths above wrist bone
- Use sport band for workouts
- Allow 2-3 minutes warmup for calibration
- Clean sensor regularly
Continuous vs On-Demand
Continuous monitoring:
- 24/7 tracking in background
- Resting heart rate and trends
- Sleep heart rate
- High/low HR alerts
On-demand:
- Manual measurement (15 seconds)
- More accurate than continuous
- Good for quick checks
When to Use Chest Strap
Watch is sufficient for:
- Jogging, running (steady pace)
- Cycling, hiking, walking
- General fitness tracking
- Resting HR and sleep
Chest strap better for:
- High-intensity intervals (HIIT)
- Competitive racing
- Precise zone training
- Maximum accuracy needs
Most Common Fix
If readings seem inaccurate, tighten your band slightly. A loose watch is the #1 cause of heart rate errors during exercise.
See Also: ECG Feature|Good for Running