Track your sleep quality with your smartwatch
How do smartwatches track sleep? The best sleep tracker app for smartwatch has a feature to track your sleep using your motion while sleeping and your heart rate and other biofeedback to measure the quality of sleep you are getting. Use the best sleep tracker app on the best sleep tracking smartwatch.
Many smartwatches have a variety of health related features to provide biofeedback about what is happening in your body. Features such as heart rate monitoring, blood pressure, O2 tracking, activity tracking and stress tracking. Not all smartwatches have all these features, but most have enough of them to provide a sleep tracking measurement.
The Samsung and the Fitbit smartwatch brands have features to track sleeping. Turn on the feature in the Samsung Health app on your Android phone to enable sleep tracking on Samsung watches. The feature can be enabled directly on the Fitbit watches.
Smartwatches that don’t have the sleep tracking function already installed can be easily upgraded to perform this function by downloading an app from Google Play store (How to install apps on Smartwatch?). An app called Sleep Cycle is a good one to try.
Comparison of Best Sleep Tracker Apps:
Sleep Tracking App | Smartwatch Compatibility | Sleep Stages Tracked | Advanced Sleep Metrics | Subscription Required |
Fitbit App | Fitbit smartwatches | Light, deep, and REM sleep | Sleep score, sleep trends, heart rate variability, resting heart rate | Yes (for premium features) |
Apple Watch Sleep App | Apple Watch | Light, deep, and REM sleep | Sleep score, sleep trends, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels | No |
Withings Health Mate | Withings smartwatches | Light, deep, and REM sleep | Sleep score, sleep trends, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, sleep interruptions, sleep apnea risk | Yes (for premium features) |
Garmin Connect | Garmin smartwatches | Light, deep, and REM sleep | Sleep score, sleep trends, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, sleep interruptions, sleep apnea risk | No |
SleepScore | Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, and other smartwatches | Light, deep, and REM sleep | Sleep score, sleep trends, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, sleep interruptions, sleep apnea risk | Yes |
Sleep Cycle | Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, and other smartwatches | Light, deep, and REM sleep | Sleep score, sleep trends, heart rate variability, sleep interruptions, sleep apnea risk | Yes |
Notes:
- All of the apps on this list track the three main sleep stages: light, deep, and REM sleep.
- Some apps offer more advanced sleep metrics, such as heart rate variability, respiratory rate, and sleep interruptions.
- Some apps require a subscription for premium features, such as access to sleep trends and personalized insights.
- It is important to note that the accuracy of sleep tracking apps can vary depending on the smartwatch and the individual user.
To choose the best sleep tracking app for your smartwatch, consider the following factors:
- Smartwatch compatibility: Make sure to choose an app that is compatible with your smartwatch.
- Sleep stages tracked: If you are interested in tracking specific sleep stages, such as REM sleep, make sure to choose an app that tracks those stages.
- Advanced sleep metrics: If you are interested in advanced sleep metrics, such as heart rate variability, make sure to choose an app that tracks those metrics.
- Subscription required: Decide whether or not you are willing to pay for a subscription for premium features.
- Accuracy: Read reviews of different sleep tracking apps to see what other users say about their accuracy.
Best smartwatch for sleep tracking:
Overall:
- Apple Watch Series 9: While primarily a fitness tracker, the Apple Watch offers accurate sleep tracking, including sleep stages and heart rate monitoring.
- Fitbit Sense 2: This smartwatch excels in sleep tracking, providing detailed insights into sleep stages, heart rate variability, and blood oxygen levels.
Budget-friendly:
- Amazfit Band 7: This affordable fitness tracker offers surprisingly accurate sleep tracking, including sleep stages and heart rate monitoring.
Other options:
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: This smartwatch offers comprehensive sleep tracking, including sleep stages, heart rate monitoring, and blood oxygen levels.
- Garmin Venu 3: This smartwatch is designed for athletes, but it also offers excellent sleep tracking features, including sleep stages, heart rate variability, and stress monitoring.
When choosing a smartwatch for sleep tracking, consider the following factors:
- Accuracy: Look for a smartwatch with accurate sensors for heart rate and blood oxygen level monitoring.
- Features: Consider the specific sleep tracking features you need, such as sleep stages, heart rate variability, and blood oxygen levels.
- Comfort: Choose a smartwatch that is comfortable to wear all night long.
- Battery life: A long battery life is essential for sleep tracking, as you don’t want to have to charge your smartwatch every night.
- Price: Smartwatches for sleep tracking can range in price from budget-friendly to premium.
A smartwatch sleep tracker can measure and track the following:
- Quality of sleep
- How long you sleep
- Duration of the different types of sleep – REM, deep sleep, light sleep, etc.
Smartwatches all come with a variety of sensors. Actigraphy or wrist movement detection allows the watch to detect your movements. The smartwatch primarily uses the gyroscope or accelerometer to track your movements and also detect which stage of the sleep cycle you are in.
How accurate is the smartwatch sleep tracker?
The accuracy of the sleep tracker on your smartwatch depends a lot on the quality of the smartwatch. The cheaper smartwatches will not have reliable sensors to accurately track sleep movements and biological feedback.
Smartwatches cannot track sleep data as accurately as a qualified sleep laboratory which has polysomnography. This involves measuring electrical activity in the brain, breathing pattern, body position, snoring and more. A sleep laboratory will connect several wires to various parts of your body to measure biological feedback.
A smartwatch can provide you a good estimate of your sleep patterns that may let you know if your have a more serious sleep issue, such as sleep apnea, which would require you to get further testing at a sleep laboratory.
Frequently asked questions and answers:
Q: What are sleep tracker apps?
A: A it is an app that tracks your sleep and provides you with data about your sleep quality, such as sleep duration, sleep stages, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Sleep tracker apps can help you identify and improve your sleep patterns.
Q: What are the benefits of using sleep tracker apps on a smartwatch?
A: There are many benefits to using one on a smartwatch, including:
- Accuracy: Smartwatches are worn on the wrist, which is a good place to measure sleep data, such as heart rate and respiratory rate.
- Convenience: Smartwatches are always on and with you, so you can track your sleep without having to wear a separate device.
- Data insights: Sleep tracker apps can provide you with detailed insights into your sleep quality, such as how much time you spend in each sleep stage, how often you wake up during the night, and your average heart rate during sleep.
- Actionable advice: Sleep tracker apps can provide you with actionable advice on how to improve your sleep quality, such as going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed.
Q: How do I use a sleep tracker app on a smartwatch?
A: To use it on a smartwatch, you will need to:
- Download and install the app on your smartwatch. There are many different apps available, so you can choose one that is compatible with your smartwatch and meets your needs.
- Open the app and follow the instructions to create an account and set up your sleep tracking preferences.
- Wear your smartwatch to bed and follow your sleep tracker app’s instructions on how to start and stop sleep tracking.
- Review your sleep tracking data in the app to learn more about your sleep quality and identify any trends or patterns.
Q: What are some tips for using a sleep tracker app on a smartwatch?
A: Here are some tips for using the app on a smartwatch:
- Make sure that your smartwatch is snugly but comfortably worn.
- Make sure that the sensor is not obstructed by clothing or bedding.
- Avoid charging your smartwatch while you are sleeping.
- Enable sleep tracking before you go to bed and disable it when you wake up.
- Review your sleep tracking data regularly to identify any trends or patterns.
Q: What are some popular sleep tracker apps for smartwatch?
A: Some popular sleep tracker apps for smartwatch include:
- Sleep Cycle
- Pillow
- Sleep Genius
- Relax Melodies
- mySleepButton
- Sleep as Android
- AutoSleep
- Sleep Watch
- Garmin Sleep
- Samsung Health Sleep
Q: How do I choose the best sleep tracker app for smartwatch for me?
A: The best app for smartwatch for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Consider the following factors when choosing an app:
- Compatibility: Make sure that the app is compatible with your smartwatch and devices.
- Features: Consider the features that are important to you, such as the ability to track a wide range of sleep metrics, smart alarm, sleep analysis and trends, snore detection, and white noise and meditation sounds.
- Price: These tracker apps can range in price from free to several dollars. Choose an app that fits your budget.
Common problems and solutions:
Problem: App won’t install or open
Solution:
- Restart your smartwatch.
- Check to make sure that your smartwatch has enough storage space.
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
- Update your smartwatch’s operating system to the latest version.
Problem: App won’t track sleep
Solution:
- Make sure that the app is enabled on your smartwatch and that you have given it permission to track your sleep.
- Check to make sure that your smartwatch is properly worn and that the sensor is not obstructed.
- Try restarting your smartwatch and the app.
- Update the app to the latest version..
Problem: Sleep tracking data is inaccurate
Solution:
- Make sure that your smartwatch is properly worn and that the sensor is not obstructed.
- Try calibrating the sleep tracking sensor.
- Update the app to the latest version.
Problem: Battery life is draining quickly
Solution:
- Disable any features that you are not using.
- Reduce the screen brightness and timeout.
- Turn off notifications for apps that you do not need to receive notifications from.
- Use a battery-saving mode if available.
Problem: App crashes frequently
Solution:
- Force close the app and reopen it.
- Restart your smartwatch.
- Update the app to the latest version.
- Uninstall and reinstall the app.
Additional tips for using a sleep tracker app on a smartwatch:
- Wear your smartwatch snugly but comfortably.
- Make sure that the sensor is not obstructed by clothing or bedding.
- Avoid charging your smartwatch while you are sleeping.
- Enable sleep tracking before you go to bed and disable it when you wake up.
- Review your sleep tracking data regularly to identify any trends or patterns.