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 12 is our top pick for iPhone owners: it pairs an FDA-cleared ECG app with sleep-apnea notifications and FDA-cleared hypertension notifications, on a battery Apple rates at a full 24 hours. The trade-off is familiar — it needs an iPhone — 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 4 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 Watch9, whose ECG works with a paired Samsung phone. And the Oura Ring 5 is 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 12

Apple Watch Series 12

The most sensor-complete watch an iPhone can pair with: ECG, hypertension and sleep apnea notifications, a sleep score and a morning readiness score, on a 24-hour battery that charges fast enough to wear overnight.

Best overall
$389.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 22, 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
$369.95 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Garmin Venu 4

Garmin Venu 4

A do-everything AMOLED Garmin with multi-band GPS, ECG and 12-day battery and no subscription — the price is the only thing that stings.

Best all-day health
$543.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Samsung Galaxy Watch9

Samsung Galaxy Watch9

The most complete Wear OS watch: a 3,000-nit screen, dual-band GPS and Samsung's full sensor stack — still about a day of battery, and ECG needs a Galaxy phone.

Best for Android
$379.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Oura Ring 5

Oura Ring 5

Oura shrank the ring by 40% without losing the week of battery — the sleep and recovery data is still the best here, and still behind a membership.

Best ring
$399.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall

Apple Watch Series 12

The most sensor-complete watch an iPhone can pair with: ECG, hypertension and sleep apnea notifications, a sleep score and a morning readiness score, on a 24-hour battery that charges fast enough to wear overnight.

Strengths

  • Health Sensing System reads heart rate every five seconds, and Apple states HRV is sampled up to 24 times more often than the previous model
  • ECG app for AFib checks, plus hypertension and sleep apnea notifications and a nightly sleep score
  • 15 minutes on the charger buys up to 12 hours, so a shower is enough to cover a night of sleep tracking

Trade-offs

  • Needs an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 27 - older iPhones cannot pair with it at all
  • 24 hours of normal use still means charging every day, against a week or more from a band or ring
Battery lifeUp to 24 hrs normal use; up to 38 hrs Low Power Mode; up to 10 hrs workout tracking
ChargingUp to 80% in about 30 min; 15 min for up to 12 hrs of normal use
ChipS11, 64-bit dual-core with a 4-core Neural Engine
Heart rate / ECGAlways-on optical heart sensor reading every 5 sec + second-generation electrical heart sensor (ECG app)
HealthHypertension notifications, sleep apnea notifications, sleep score, readiness score, blood oxygen and temperature sensing
DisplayAlways-On Retina wide-angle OLED, LTPO3, up to 2,000 nits
GPSPrecision L1 GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou)
Water resistance50m swimproof (ISO 22810:2010), depth gauge to 6 m
RequirementsiPhone 11 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), with iOS 27 or later

Worth knowing. 42 mm and 46 mm aluminum or titanium cases (43 mm and 47 mm in ceramic), announced September 2026.

Specs read from the product listing, on October 3, 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 October 20, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#3Best all-day health

Garmin Venu 4

A do-everything AMOLED Garmin with multi-band GPS, ECG and 12-day battery and no subscription — the price is the only thing that stings.

Strengths

  • Up to 12 days of battery in smartwatch mode (45 mm)
  • Garmin ECG App, Pulse Ox and detailed sleep and recovery data
  • Multi-band GPS, an LED flashlight and on-wrist calls

Trade-offs

  • Premium price for a lifestyle smartwatch
  • No onboard offline maps like pricier Garmin models
Battery lifeUp to 12 days smartwatch mode (45 mm)
GPSMulti-band GPS
Heart rate / ECGWrist HR + FDA-cleared ECG App (US)
Blood oxygenPulse Ox (SpO2) — not available in all countries
DisplayAMOLED touchscreen, 41 mm and 45 mm cases
ExtrasBuilt-in LED flashlight; speaker and mic for calls
SubscriptionNone — Garmin Connect is free

Worth knowing. Adds an LED flashlight and a full metal bezel to the Venu line.

Specs read from the product listing, on August 25, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#4Best for Android

Samsung Galaxy Watch9

The most complete Wear OS watch: a 3,000-nit screen, dual-band GPS and Samsung's full sensor stack — still about a day of battery, and ECG needs a Galaxy phone.

Strengths

  • Dual-frequency (L1+L5) built-in GPS
  • ECG, SpO2, skin temperature and BIA body composition
  • 3,000-nit Super AMOLED on Wear OS 7 / One UI 9 Watch

Trade-offs

  • Roughly one-day battery life
  • ECG requires a paired Samsung Galaxy phone (blood pressure unavailable in the US)
Battery390 mAh (40mm) / 445 mAh (44mm) — about a day
GPSBuilt-in dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5)
Heart rate / ECGBioActive sensor + ECG (US, needs Galaxy phone)
Blood oxygen / tempSpO2 + skin temperature
DisplaySuper AMOLED, up to 3,000 nits peak
Water resistance5 ATM + IP68 (MIL-STD-810H)
PlatformWear OS 7 / One UI 9 Watch

Worth knowing. Cushion-shaped case in 40 mm and 44 mm, on the Snapdragon Wear Elite platform.

Specs read from the product listing, on August 25, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#5Best ring

Oura Ring 5

Oura shrank the ring by 40% without losing the week of battery — the sleep and recovery data is still the best here, and still behind a membership.

Strengths

  • Class-leading sleep, readiness and recovery tracking
  • 2.28 mm thick and 6.09 mm wide — the smallest ring Oura has made
  • Typically 6–9 days per charge, and about 80 minutes to refill

Trade-offs

  • Requires a paid monthly Oura membership for full insights
  • No display and no built-in GPS
Battery lifeTypically 6–9 days; about 80 min to charge
SensorsRed, green and infrared LEDs + digital temperature sensor
Dimensions2.28 mm thick, 6.09 mm wide
GPS / displayNone (screen-free ring)
Water resistance100m — sauna and water sports, not diving
Sizes6–13
SubscriptionOura Membership required for full insights

Worth knowing. Full titanium inside and out with a superhard PVD coating, 40% smaller than Ring 4.

Specs read from the product listing, on August 25, 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 12, Withings ScanWatch 2, Garmin Venu 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch9 include an FDA-cleared ECG app that can flag signs of atrial fibrillation. The Oura Ring 5 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 Series 12 is rated up to 24 hours and the Galaxy Watch9 about a day; the Garmin Venu 4 runs up to 12 days; the Withings ScanWatch 2 up to a month; the Oura Ring 5 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.

The same sensors, ranked for an older buyer

ECG and irregular-rhythm screening matter more with age, but for an older wearer four other specs decide the purchase first: whether the screen is legible, how often the device needs a charger, which phone it demands, and whether a fall alert exists at all. We rank the field on those four in best fitness trackers for seniors.

Small things worth adding

Inexpensive extras that pair with the picks above. They do not change any recommendation on this page — they are just the things that tend to get bought second.

  • CooSpo H808S Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap

    CooSpo H808S Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap

    For exercise heart rate specifically, a chest strap is the more reliable sensor placement — no wrist tattoo, fit or motion issues. It is a fitness device, not a medical one, and it does not do ECG.

    $29.99 · View on Amazon

    Price as of October 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

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 12, Withings ScanWatch 2, Garmin Venu 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch9 include an FDA-cleared ECG app that can flag possible atrial fibrillation. The Oura Ring 5 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 12 or Garmin Venu 4 can offer ECG and a screen with active workout tracking. A ring like the Oura Ring 5 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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