How to measure your heart rate using Google Fit on iPhone

Google Fit on your iPhone can measure your heart rate using the rear camera. This brief tutorial will go over some pre-requisites, and will show you how to check your heart rate using this free app.

Measure Heart Rate using Google Fit app on iPhone

What to do before measuring heart rate using the Google Fit app?

As noted by 9to5Google, the app tracks the “subtle changes in the color of your fingers” to learn about blood flow and uses algorithms to measure your heart rate. It does so using the iPhone camera in a bright environment.

Here are some things Google recommends you do before taking a heart rate measurement with Google Fit:

  • Be in a well lit room. Try pointing the iPhone camera towards a light source in places with dim light. You can also enable the iPhone flashlight while measuring.
  • Blood flow in fingers decreases when your hands are cold. This can give improper readings. Therefore, make sure your hands are warm.
  • Be comfortable, relaxed, and still.

How to measure your heart rate using Google Fit

1) Download Google Fit. If you already had it installed, make sure it’s up to date.

2) Open Google Fit and tap the bullet list icon from the bottom.

3) Tap Vitals.

4) Under Check your heart rate, tap Get started. Go through the tutorial screens. Make sure to allow the app to access your iPhone camera.

Check your heart rate using Google Fit on iPhone

5) If you’re in poor lighting conditions, tap the flashlight icon. Now, place your finger on the back camera. Hold lightly but steadily.

Note: If you have a newer iPhone, it has two or three cameras at the back. Place your finger on the main camera, which is at the top. If you can’t figure it out, place the finger one by one on all, and the app will automatically start measuring when your finger is over the correct camera lens.

6) Within about 30 seconds, Google Fit will measure your heart rate. Be still all this while.

7) When done, you can tap Save measurement to record it.

Measuring heart rate with Google Fit on iPhone

This is how you can track your heart rate using the Google Fit app. The heart rate of an average human is about 60 to 100 beats per minute (BPM). Sources: MayoClinic.org and Heart.org

You don’t need internet connectivity to measure heart rate using Google Fit.

While Google Fit isn’t optimized for the iPad, it still works, and you can measure your heart rate using its rear camera.

Heart rate on Apple Watch vs. Google Fit

I have an Apple Watch SE. Over two days, I measured my heart rate using Google Fit and Apple Watch in the same minute. Here are my findings.

7:00 PM:

  • Google Fit: 65 BPM
  • Apple Watch: 67 BPM
Heart rate from Google Fit and Apple Watch at 7 PM

6:56 AM:

  • Google Fit: 72 BPM
  • Apple Watch: 72 BPM
Heart rate from Google Fit and Apple Watch at 6.56 AM

9:42 AM:

  • Google Fit: 70 BPM
  • Apple Watch: 73 BPM
Heart rate from Google Fit and Apple Watch at 9.42 AM

2:04 PM:

  • Google Fit: 72 BPM
  • Apple Watch: 72 BPM
Heart rate from Google Fit and Apple Watch at 2.04 PM

I can’t vouch which heart rate is accurate and which one is not. Comparing these with readings from a piece of medical-grade equipment in a lab or clinic would have been great.

The above data only demonstrates that there are almost negligible differences in the readings taken by an expensive dedicated wearable and a free app that uses the iPhone camera.

If you have an Apple Watch, please try it yourself and share your findings in the comments below or our social channels.

For more, make sure you see this official Google Fit support page.

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