I installed Samsung Health today (4/24/20), so I'm using the latest version. I did this explicitly to use the oxygen saturation feature. Of course I found it wasn't there; I do see the 1/22/20 notice, 'Oxygen saturation measurement is moving', which says 'In the stress tracker, if Measure multiple is turned on, your oxygen saturation level will.
Wearables have come a long way in the past decade. The days of simple step tracking are gone, replaced by a slew of new and sophisticated health sensors. One of the latest sensors that is growing in popularity is the pulse oximeter. It’s making its way onto more and more fitness trackers and smartwatches by Garmin, Fitbit, and others. But what is the pulse oximeter and why is it important? Allow us to explain.
- Pulse Oximeter Fingertip, Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor for Pulse Rate, Heart Rate Monitor and SpO2 Levels with OLED Screen Display Batteries and Lanyard Included 1 Count (Pack of 1) 4.7 out of 5.
- Smartphone pulse oximeter applications (apps) provide a portable, cost-effective option, but are untested in children. We hypothesize that smartphone pulse oximetry will not be inferior to standard pulse oximetry measured in healthy children.
What is a pulse oximeter?
Pulse oximeters, often called SpO2 sensors on wearables, are used to measure blood oxygen levels or the saturation of oxygen in your blood. In the medical field, pulse oximeters are usually small devices that resemble a clip. Finger pulse oximeters have grown in popularity recently, but they can also be attached to a toe, and sometimes an earlobe to painlessly measure blood oxygen levels. Both medical and wearable oximeters use light to do so.
Also read:The best smartwatches | The best GPS running watches
Typically, a pulse oximeter features two LEDs with different light wavelengths — one red and one infrared. This is because the absorption of light differs between blood that has normal levels of oxygen and blood that is lacking oxygen. Oxygenated blood absorbs more infrared light, while deoxygenated blood allows more of it to pass through. This allows pulse oximeters to quickly and non-invasively detect oxygen levels and measure how well oxygen is carried to the extremities.
However, not all wearable pulse oximeters are made equal. Pioneering devices equipped with the sensor like the Withings Pulse Ox required you to place your finger on the back of the device for measurement. More modern devices can be used while the device is still on your wrist, but they require you to hold still for a number of seconds for a single on-the-spot check. Most recent watches and fitness trackers usually have sensors that provide pulse ox sleep tracking too.
Nevertheless, wearable sensor data shouldn’t be used for self-diagnosis, especially if the sensor on the tracker or smartwatch has not been cleared by a regulatory body. It can still be a great tool for potential detection of health issues, but it needs to be followed up by an examination and diagnosis from a medical professional.
What are pulse oximeters used for?
Like any other wearable health sensor, the primary function of a pulse oximeter is to gather health data and notify you if you something is out of the ordinary. The first thing to know is the normal blood oxygen saturation rate. It sits at around 95% for healthy individuals, although lower rates are both possible and normal. However, if you consistently get readings below 90%, it might be time for a visit to the doctor. They can double-check the accuracy of the readings and recommend the next steps.
A pulse oximeter is an essential sensor for alpine enthusiasts.
A fitness tracker equipped with a pulse oximeter can also come in handy if you are upping your exercise game. This is because blood oxygen saturation readings can be used to interpret how well you handle increased activity. If you are overdoing it your levels might drop low, signaling you to take things a bit easier. It is also an essential sensor for alpine enthusiasts who climb to high elevations where the air is thinner.
Finally, since many new trackers now feature pulse oximeters that provide tracking throughout the night, the sensor can be used to detect early signs of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes those affected to stop breathing for short intervals during the night. Sufferers often snore and don’t feel rested even after a full night’s sleep. More importantly, leaving the disorder untreated can result in other more serious health issues. This is why a smartwatch with a pulse oximeter can be beneficial for early detection.
Trackers with pulse oximeters
If you are convinced that you need a wearable with a pulse oximeter, we have good news: there are a number of fitness trackers and smartwatches that already sport the SpO2 sensor. Below are some (not all) of the best pulse oximeter trackers and smartwatches available.
- Apple Watch Series 6: Review | Check pricing
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: Review | Check pricing
- Withings ScanWatch: Review | Check pricing
- Garmin Venu: Review | Check pricing
- Garmin Vivosmart 4: Review | Check pricing
- Fitbit Sense: Review | Check pricing
- Fitbit Versa 3: Review | Check pricing
- Fitbit Charge 4: Review | Check pricing
Devices from a number of other established brands, including Xiaomi, Realme, and Huami are also loading their wearables with pulse oximeters.
If you’re looking for a device with a reliable pulse oximeter, consider buying from a company that went through the trouble to get its sensors FDA- or CE-approved. The Withings ScanWatch, for instance, has received CE clearance for its pulse oximeter for SpO2 measurements, while cheaper devices like the Amazfit Bip U aren’t certified.
As ubiquitous as the heart rate sensor is now, we expect the pulse oximeter to feature more often than not on wearables in the future. Do you own a wearable with a pulse oximeter? How often do you use it? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.
With the entry of Galaxy Watch 3, Samsung has unlocked some of the most-waited or most fitness centric-functions. After hearing for long from the valuable customers, the company has unlocked ECG, fall detection, SpO2, blood pressure, and VO2 max functions on the Galaxy Watch 3. Of course, few of these functions like ECG & blood pressure will land on Galaxy Watch Active 2 in the coming months. Now, in this series of guiding articles, I will cover them all and tell you how to use it. As the user of new Watch 3, you can use all these features in your country, but now, some features are available in the US & South Korea.
The other features SpO2 & VO2 Max doesn’t require any permission. You can now use them on your Galaxy Watch 3, after the installation of the first update. It is quite strange, Samsung brings these features after Garmin Fenix 6, Honor Band 5, and Huawei Band 4 Pro comes with these tools. Now, What is the Vo2 Max & SpO2? Well, these are the measurement tools that tell you how much oxygen your body has utilized during the running or workout, so it could improve the endurance. The other SpO2 or blood oxygen monitoring tells you about the effective flow of oxygen in the bloodstream.
Both of these functions are essential when you are an active workout person. The VO2 max also guides you to improve your workout age and how much you need to improve it. The same goes for Blood Oxygen sensors to keep you healthy. Now, without wasting further time. Let’s go and check out how to use SpO2 & VO2 max on Galaxy Watch 3.
Measure SpO2 on Galaxy Watch 3
1. Open Samsung Health app
When you receive the first Galaxy Watch 3 update, you will see the SpO2 feature into the Samsung Health app. Samsung Health app is already pre-installed on your watch, so open it.
![Samsung oximeter app Samsung oximeter app](/uploads/1/3/7/3/137397230/583502961.jpg)
2. Scroll down to the workout & health options
The Samsung Health app contains lots of health functions. All the features like heart rate, sleep, water, stress & breathing, weight management, women’s health tool are in the app. In that, the new option is now blood oxygen saturation.
3. Open SpO2 or Blood Oxygen option
If you don’t see the name of SpO2, Blood Oxygen, or blood oxygen monitoring, then you can tap on an icon of it. The new symbol of ‘blue waterdrop’ is the SpO2 in the Health app so open it.
Samsung Oximeter Watch
4. After that, tightly wear your watch on the wrist
To get better results, you have to wear your Galaxy Watch 3 on your wrist. Wear it tightly, so you get accurate results.
5. Now tap on measure
When you wear the watch appropriately, then you can real-time measure the blood oxygen saturation in your blood.
In the latest update, Samsung has added a special widget or watch face for SpO2. You can get this widget from the watch face section or download it from Galaxy Store. Set the widget and tap on the Measure button to check the results.
Measure VO2 Max on Galaxy Watch 3
It is not the app, widget, or watch face on the smartwatch. To get the VO2 max results, you have to start working out. Start activities like running, running on a treadmill, and other training to get the results. Once you complete the exercise session, then you will get your VO2 Max result. For the additional information about the results, you can go to the Samsung Health app.
Finally, you have both tools at your service. Use them on your new Galaxy Watch 3 and share your results. If you haven’t received a new firmware update on your smartwatch, then wait for a while until you receive it. Regarding this article, you can ask any questions in the comment box below.
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Madhav Biradar started his career in technology back in 2011, where he covered mobile & gaming articles. He is an enthusiast in smartphone & wearable gadgets. In his free time, he likes to read about new tech gadgets and watch movies.