Pulse & Plate

Best Health-Monitoring Wearables

The best wearables for heart, oxygen and sleep monitoring in 2026 — which have FDA-cleared ECG, and why they're wellness tools, not diagnostics.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we research

For the most complete health smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 10is our top pick for iPhone owners: it pairs an FDA-cleared ECG app with FDA-cleared sleep-apnea notifications and a redesigned blood-oxygen feature, on the largest, thinnest Apple Watch yet. The trade-offs are familiar — it needs an iPhone and lasts about a day — but no other watch here bundles this many cleared health features.

The right device depends on what you want to monitor. For heart health in a classic-looking watch, the Withings ScanWatch 2 offers an FDA-cleared ECG with AFib detection and up to a month of battery. The Garmin Venu 3 is the best all-day option, with an FDA-cleared ECG app, Pulse Ox and detailed recovery data and no subscription. Android users are best served by the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, whose ECG works with a paired Samsung phone. And the Oura Ring 4is the best screen-free choice for round-the-clock heart-rate, SpO2 and temperature trends — though note it does not offer ECG. One rule applies to every device below: these are wellness tools, not diagnostic instruments.

How this is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Picks at a glance

Ranked on published specs, footprint and buyer fit. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not tested these ourselves — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Apple Watch Series 10

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple's thinnest, biggest-screened watch with ECG and sleep-apnea alerts, but it still needs an iPhone and lasts only about a day.

Best overall
$298.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 20, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Withings ScanWatch 2

Withings ScanWatch 2

A classic-looking hybrid watch with medical-grade ECG, AFib detection and a month of battery — you trade a full smart display for elegance.

Best for heart monitoring
$295.99 · View on Amazon

$369.9920% off

Price as of July 20, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Garmin Venu 3

Garmin Venu 3

A do-everything AMOLED Garmin with built-in GPS, ECG and standout battery life and no subscription, though it's priced at the premium end.

Best all-day health
4
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

A polished Wear OS watch with dual-band GPS and ECG, but battery lasts roughly a day and ECG needs a paired Samsung Galaxy phone.

Best for Android
$249.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 20, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Oura Ring 4

Oura Ring 4

The most refined sleep and recovery ring with excellent data, but the full experience requires an ongoing paid Oura membership.

Best ring
$349.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 20, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple's thinnest, biggest-screened watch with ECG and sleep-apnea alerts, but it still needs an iPhone and lasts only about a day.

Strengths

  • FDA-cleared ECG plus FDA-cleared sleep apnea notifications
  • Large wide-angle always-on OLED with fast charging
  • Full watchOS ecosystem and safety features

Trade-offs

  • About 18-hour battery life
  • Requires an iPhone — no standalone use
Battery lifeUp to 18 hrs (up to 36 hrs low power); ~0-80% in 30 min
GPSBuilt-in GPS
Heart rate / ECGOptical HR + FDA-cleared ECG app (US)
Blood oxygenRedesigned Blood Oxygen re-enabled on US models (Aug 2025 update)
HealthFDA-cleared sleep apnea notifications + skin temperature
Water resistance50m swimproof (WR50)

Worth knowing. Thinnest Apple Watch yet with the largest wide-angle LTPO OLED display.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#2Best for heart monitoring

Withings ScanWatch 2

A classic-looking hybrid watch with medical-grade ECG, AFib detection and a month of battery — you trade a full smart display for elegance.

Strengths

  • Up to 30-day battery life
  • FDA-cleared ECG with AFib detection plus on-demand SpO2
  • Timeless analog design with no subscription needed

Trade-offs

  • Connected GPS only — needs your phone for mapped routes
  • Tiny sub-dial display with limited smart features
Battery lifeUp to 30 days
Heart rate / ECGHR + FDA-cleared ECG app with AFib detection (US)
Blood oxygenOn-demand SpO2 (30-second reading)
Body temperatureTempTech24/7 skin-temperature sensor
DisplayAnalog hands + grayscale PMOLED sub-dial
GPS / subscriptionConnected GPS (via phone); no subscription

Worth knowing. Hybrid analog watch with real hands and a small grayscale OLED sub-dial.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#3Best all-day health

Garmin Venu 3

A do-everything AMOLED Garmin with built-in GPS, ECG and standout battery life and no subscription, though it's priced at the premium end.

Strengths

  • Up to 14-day battery with built-in GPS
  • FDA-cleared ECG, Pulse Ox and detailed sleep and recovery data
  • No subscription — full data in Garmin Connect

Trade-offs

  • Premium price for a lifestyle smartwatch
  • No onboard offline maps like pricier Garmin models
Battery lifeUp to 14 days smartwatch mode
GPSBuilt-in GPS (all-systems GNSS)
Heart rate / ECGElevate v5 HR + FDA-cleared ECG app (US)
Blood oxygenPulse Ox (SpO2)
DisplayAMOLED touchscreen
SubscriptionNone — Garmin Connect is free

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#4Best for Android

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

A polished Wear OS watch with dual-band GPS and ECG, but battery lasts roughly a day and ECG needs a paired Samsung Galaxy phone.

Strengths

  • Dual-frequency built-in GPS
  • ECG, SpO2, skin temperature and BIA body composition
  • Smooth Wear OS 5 with a large app library

Trade-offs

  • Roughly one-day battery life
  • ECG requires a paired Samsung Galaxy phone (blood pressure unavailable in the US)
Battery300 mAh (40mm) / 425 mAh (44mm) — about a day
GPSBuilt-in dual-frequency GPS
Heart rate / ECGBioActive sensor + ECG (US, needs Galaxy phone)
Blood oxygen / tempSpO2 + skin temperature
Water resistance5 ATM + IP68
PlatformWear OS 5 / One UI Watch

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#5Best ring

Oura Ring 4

The most refined sleep and recovery ring with excellent data, but the full experience requires an ongoing paid Oura membership.

Strengths

  • Class-leading sleep, readiness and recovery tracking
  • Up to 8-day battery in a discreet screen-free ring
  • SpO2 and skin-temperature trend sensing

Trade-offs

  • Requires a paid monthly Oura membership for full insights
  • No display and no built-in GPS
Battery lifeUp to 8 days
SensorsHR/HRV, SpO2 (blood oxygen), skin temperature trends
GPS / displayNone (screen-free ring)
Water resistance100m
SubscriptionOura Membership required for full insights

Worth knowing. Titanium smart ring with no screen — all data lives in the app.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

How to choose a health-monitoring wearable

These devices go beyond steps and calories toward heart rhythm, blood oxygen and temperature. That makes it more important than ever to understand what they can and cannot tell you.

Which ones actually have ECG?

Not all of them. In the US, the Apple Watch Series 10, Withings ScanWatch 2, Garmin Venu 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 include an FDA-cleared ECG appthat can flag signs of atrial fibrillation. The Oura Ring 4 does not have ECG at all — it tracks heart rate, blood oxygen and temperature trends instead. Buy for the specific sensor you want, not the brand on the box.

Wellness, not diagnosis

This is the most important thing on the page. An FDA-cleared ECG feature can notify you of an irregular rhythm, but it is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, and it cannot detect a heart attack. SpO2 and sleep readings are likewise for general wellness. If a wearable flags something, or you have symptoms, that is a reason to see a clinician — not a diagnosis in itself.

Subscriptions and phone requirements

Read the fine print before you buy. Garmin and Withings charge nothing beyond the hardware; Oura requires a paid membership for full insights. Samsung’s ECG needs a paired Samsung Galaxy phone, and the Apple Watch needs an iPhone. Make sure the device works with the phone you already own.

Battery and all-day wear

Continuous monitoring only works if the device is on your body. The Apple and Samsung watches last about a day; the Garmin Venu 3 runs up to two weeks; the Withings ScanWatch 2 up to a month; the Oura Ring 4 about a week. Longer battery means fewer gaps in your data. For sleep-specific picks, see our best sleep trackers, and to weigh two ecosystems, Apple Watch vs Garmin.

Wellness guidance, not medical advice. Pulse & Plate is written by a fitness enthusiast, not a doctor. Wearable heart-rate, SpO2, ECG and sleep readings are for general wellness, not diagnosis. For a heart concern, a symptom, or before starting a new exercise program, talk to a qualified professional.

Frequently asked questions

Which health wearables have an FDA-cleared ECG?

In the US, the Apple Watch Series 10, Withings ScanWatch 2, Garmin Venu 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 include an FDA-cleared ECG app that can flag possible atrial fibrillation. The Oura Ring 4 does not have ECG; it tracks heart rate, blood oxygen and temperature trends instead.

Can a smartwatch diagnose a heart condition?

No. An FDA-cleared ECG or irregular-rhythm feature is a screening tool that can prompt you to seek care, not a diagnosis, and it cannot detect a heart attack. Wearable heart, SpO2 and sleep readings are for general wellness only. If you have symptoms or receive an alert, see a qualified clinician.

Do health-monitoring wearables need a subscription?

It depends on the brand. Garmin and Withings include their health features with the hardware at no extra cost. Oura requires a paid membership for full insights. Samsung's ECG also needs a paired Samsung Galaxy phone, and Apple's features require an iPhone.

Is a ring or a watch better for health monitoring?

A watch like the Apple Watch Series 10 or Garmin Venu 3 can offer ECG and a screen with active workout tracking. A ring like the Oura Ring 4 is more comfortable for continuous, screen-free wear and temperature trends but has no ECG. Choose based on which sensors and wear style you prefer.

Sources

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