Apple Watch Series 6 shows poor accuracy with calorie tracking: Report

The three wearables used in the study included the Apple Watch Series 6, the Polar Vantage V, and the Fitbit Sense. For determining the accuracy of these wearables, the research team used the Polar H10 chest strap and the MetaMax 3B spiroergometer as reference devices.

The research test was conducted on 60 young individuals comprising 30 men and 30 women of around 25 years of age. Subjects engaged in activities including walking, running, sitting, cycling, and resistance training to calculate energy expenditure ratings.

The research also suggested that health professionals, athletes/coaches and general fitness enthusiasts should not expect accurate calorie readings from these devices “during the implementation of an exercise training or nutritional programme.”

Heart-rate and step count readings accurate

However, the Apple Watch 6 offered much higher accuracy while tracking heart rate, while the Polar Vantage V and Fitbit Sense offered some variations with readings, depending on the activity. All three wearables also reported accurate step count readings.