SpO2 is now a standard subject due to the pandemic situation, which has taken a firm grip across the world. Our blood contains the red blood corpuscles, known as hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to all parts of the body. This oxygen helps our body parts to function correctly. The oxygen that our lungs absorb with each breath we take gets absorbed by the blood cells. This oxygen saturation in the blood is known as SpO2. A better saturation level of oxygen means better health!
This SpO2 level has got measured all these years using a pulse oximeter. This device uses transmittance oximetry, which is the gold standard for SpO2 measurement. Here, sensors get placed on the opposite sides. When we put our fingers in-between, the light gets passed from one end. In contrast, the sensor on the other end enumerates the wavelength and other measurements to decipher the SpO2 levels!
Smartwatches offer a lot of features that help you monitor your health and fitness. One such feature is blood oxygen monitoring or SpO2 monitoring which allows you to keep a track of your blood oxygen levels. While smartwatches may not be as accurate as medical devices, they allow you to find out if something’s wrong.
How can smartwatches measure SpO2?
Smartwatches get primarily used for health and fitness-related activities. The built-in accelerometer measures our steps and physical activities 24/7, even while we are asleep.
The heartbeat gets calculated through a process called photoplethysmography (PPG). There is a LED green light on the underside of your watch. Since blood absorbs green light, the sensor present in the device calculates the number of times your blood absorbs the light, and thereby the heartbeat gets calculated!
Reflectance oximeter gets used in smartwatches to measure blood saturation levels. Here, both the sensors get placed on the underside of the watch. The light gets reflected by one sensor; this reflects from the blood flowing on your wrist. The receiving sensor then assimilates the reflecting light from the blood cells, and SpO2 gets enumerated.
Which is better to measure oxygen levels?
Transmitting light, which passes through the skin gets considered to be more accurate. However, with the advent of smartwatches and technological advances, experts now believe that even good quality fitness bands can measure SpO2 levels very well. This depends on the sensors’ quality, the algorithm capability of app software, and processing speed. SpO2 levels above 95% are typical. Anything below this threshold should alert you to consult your physician. These devices can provide you with tentative data, and capability improvement is an ongoing activity!
Best smartwatch with SpO2 sensors in India
In India, there are various smartwatches and fitness bands that have SpO2 measurement capabilities. We have got some of the top such devices identified for you, along with their features and customer feedback.
Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar
This is one of the most high-end sports watch to buy at INR 85,600/-. This is a solar-powered smartwatch, which allows you to use it continuously without a charge.
Technology:
The multi-sport GPS-enabled watch has a large 1.4" colored display. Pace-pro technology helps you proactively practice pace courses. TOPO and ski maps get loaded in the Gramin app to provide you with details of over 2,000 ski-resorts worldwide. ClimbPro features help you with climbing and elevation details and tips. The Sports app provides you with all metrics related to running, biking, rowing, golfing, and skiing. The smartwatch has over 41,000 golf CourseView across the world.
Fitness:
This has enhanced the estimated wrist heart rate feature. The Pulse Ox, keeping track of
your oxygen saturation levels as you venture with your physical activities. Smartwatches are not a medical device and provide indicative health parameters for your sporting activities to farewell!
User feedback:
Nearly 80% of users are happy with the battery life, navigation, and data about health parameters.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
This smartwatch has an elegant leather band and costs INR 26,600/-. Once charged, the watch can operate over a long period. In an emergency, Wireless PowerShare from your Galaxy phone can keep it going!
Technology:
The built-in technology helps the smartwatch track seven popular activities like running, swimming, gymming, and cycling. The GPS helps detect falls and alert stored contact, provided there is the internet and no obstruction from overhead satellites!
Fitness:
The sleep tracker assists you with your resting periods, and stress levels guide you with breathing techniques. Monitors your heart rates and oxygen levels regularly. This device provides data that is only indicative. Any significant deviation found in the readings must refer you to your medical devices or going to your physician.
User feedback:
Over 80% of the customers are happy with this product. They are satisfied concerning value for money, utility, and fitness data, including SpO2.
New Apple Watch Series 6
The Apple smartwatch costs INR 47,900/- and gets preferred by iPhone users! Its features are as follows:
Technology:
The built-in technology helps the smartwatch track all your workouts and sporting activities like walking, running, swimming, gymming, rowing, and cycling. The GPS helps in providing accurate data.
Fitness:
The oxygen saturation levels get measured using new revolutionary sensors and the Blood Oxygen App. You can take ECG from your wrist anytime. You can meet your sleep goals daily, so you are healthier.
User feedback:
Over 80% of the customers are happy with this product. They feel delighted that essential smartphone functions like calling and receiving can be done from the watch itself. The SpO2 counts and ECG functions get found exceptionally to be very good.
Amazfit Bip U Smart Watch
This Amazon fitness product is a revolutionary smartwatch that costs INR 4,000/-. The salient features are as under:
Technology:
This 1.43” color screen smartwatch can get charged for over a week. It tracks all your gym cum sporting activities, whether it’s walking, running, cycling, swimming, rowing, treadmill or weight-lifting, or cricket or baseball! Its 5ATM technology allows you to swim up to 50 meters underwater.
Fitness:
It measures your oxygen saturation level quite well. 24/7, your heartbeat gets measured with its technologically improved sensor and app. Tracks your sleep pattern and suggests changes. Also monitors your anxiety and stress levels and provides tips about breathing techniques.
User feedback:
Around 80% of customers are happy about this product, mainly due to the value for money factor.
Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Spo2 Smart Watch
This smartwatch costs INR 4,500/- and the salient features are as follows:
Technology:
This 1.55” HD color screen smartwatch can get charged for over a week. It tracks all your gym cum sporting activities and provides the required data on the TruView TM Display.
Fitness:
It measures your oxygen saturation level quite well. Measures your heartbeat and tracks your sleep pattern, and suggests changes. Also monitors your anxiety and stress levels and provides tips about breathing techniques.
User feedback:
Around 80% of customers are happy about this product, mainly due to the value for money factor.
Realme Watch S
This smartwatch which costs INR 5,000/- has the salient features as under:
Technology:
This 1.3” color screen smartwatch can get charged for over a week. It tracks all your gym cum sporting activities and is waterproof.
Fitness:
It measures your oxygen saturation level quite well. Measures your heartbeat and tracks your sleep pattern, and suggests changes. Also monitors your anxiety and stress levels and provides tips about breathing techniques.
User feedback:
Around 80% of customers are happy about this product, mainly due to the value for money factor.
Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker
This Fitbit smartwatch costs INR 12,600/-. Once charged, the watch can operate over a long period.
Technology:
The built-in technology helps the smartwatch track seven popular activities like running, swimming, gymming, and cycling. The built-in GPS provides accurate data.
Fitness:
The sleep tracker assists you with your resting periods, and stress levels guide you with breathing techniques. It measures your oxygen saturation level quite well. 24/7, your heartbeat gets measured with its technologically improved sensor and app.
User feedback:
Over 80% of the customers are happy with this product. They are satisfied concerning value for money, utility, and fitness data, including SpO2.
Honor Watch ES
This smartwatch costs INR 10,000/- and the salient features are as under:
Technology:
This 1.64” AMOLED color screen smartwatch can get charged for over a week. It tracks all your gym cum sporting activities, whether it’s walking, running, cycling, treadmill or weight-lifting, or cricket or baseball!
Fitness:
It measures your oxygen saturation level quite well. 24/7, your heartbeat gets measured with its technologically improved sensor and app. Tracks your sleep pattern and suggests changes. Also monitors your anxiety and stress levels and provides tips about breathing techniques.
User feedback:
Around 85% of customers are happy about this product, mainly due to the value for money factor and tracking facilities offered.
GOQii Smart Vital Fitness
This smartwatch costs INR 4,500/- and the salient features are as under:
Technology:
This 1.3” color screen smartwatch can get charged for over a week. It tracks all your gym cum sporting activities, whether walking, running, cycling, treadmill or weight-lifting, cricket, or baseball!
Fitness:
It is ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) and CDSCO (Central Drug Standard Control Organisation) certified medical tracker. It measures your oxygen saturation level quite well. 24/7, your heartbeat gets measured with its technologically improved sensor and app. Tracks your sleep pattern and suggests changes. Also monitors your anxiety and stress levels and provides tips about breathing techniques. It also measures body temperature.
User feedback:
Over 70% of customers are happy about this product, mainly due to the value for money factor. Most feel that the supporting software needs improvement.
Conclusion
We have thus concluded that smartwatches measure SpO2 quite well. This device also measures other health parameters like a heartbeat, sleep quality, temperature, stress, and anxiety levels. Some of the built-in software apps provide tasks and improvement suggestions. The reflectance oximeter, which has robust sensors on the underside of smartwatches, measures the oxygen saturation levels in our blood.
Many smartwatches and fitness bands focus on health parameters, along with other connectivity and display functions. Many top brands are present in this market, and some get aggressively priced. There is development work occurring all the time, with newer feature smartwatches getting released in the market all the while. Also, more recent versions and upgrades seem to be the norm.
It gets felt that smartwatches and other fitness bands can provide a general reading of SpO2, which is more indicative. If significant deviations in reading get noticed, it is advisable to consult your physician.
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