Apple Watch Ultra Heart Rate During Workout

OmriShpigel wrote:

Hi everybody,

I know all of you are frustrated about the Apple Watch not being able to read your heart rate sometimes while working out,

No we are not all frustrated. Apple Watch is the first sports device of many that I have used over the years that has never failed to take a good steady heart rate. It should be sufficient to wear any such device for 15 minutes whilst dressing and hydrating before exercise.

This answer is not correct. I only use it inside. It happens the same way but not all the time. Someone suggested wrist size and that could cause it as I do have a small wrist. Also I use a different Apple wrist band from last year's model. But I think it's a software problem since it happens at the same time and conditions and situations vary.

I am having the exact same problem. On the Ultra as well as the old Series 7 I tested.

What I have come to see is that the Apple Watch stops recording heart rate whenever there is an upward Zone change from 1 to 2 or 1 to 3 or 2 to 3. That’s the only time the heart rate is lost.

Pausing the workout and resuming makes the Watch get back the heart rate within 15-20 seconds and then functions pretty well. Until another major up Zone change happens when it loses HR again.

Definitely seems like a software bug.

Yes I have then same problem and ilt is very fustrating and annoying!!! The explanation that under colder temps doesn't work is ridicolus. This is the whole marketing gimmick about this watch! "...meant for rougher sports and conditions..." I am trying to have it replaced and go back to my reliable SUNTO!

Exactly the same problem!!! I am trying to return it and go back to my reliable SUNTO. This week end I raced a trail run in Spain (Rocacorba) and not having the feed back from my HR was moist enoying!!!

Exact same problem. Never had the issue with any previous Apple Watches or Garmins with optical heartate only the Ultra.

I have also been on with support. The cold weather theory is not applicable as I get heart rate done at the beginning of runs but not in the middle. Very sporadic, very unreliable, very very frustrating. I love the features but I may need to revert back to my Garmin.

As I've posted previously, I followed another contributor's suggestion and the problem has completely disappeared. I have been having this problem 10 or 15 minutes after starting with the pulse disappearing on the chart and then after a while returning. I moved my Ultra about half an inch above my wrist bone and slightly increased the tightness on the watch band. I use a prior model band that can be easily incrementally adjusted. This was a few weeks ago. I do about 90 minutes a day 7 days a week covering all the zones. No problems at all. Give it a try.

I have tried to tighten up the strap and move it up my wrist, but doesn't solve there problem...also I have made sure that I have turned off the "Saving mode while exercising", which I thought might have been there problem, as suggested also by apple support. Today I will content them again. I do believe it is a bad batch (rather than software issue) of watches and thus they need to be replaced.

Hi All,

I have the same problem. (Apple Watch Ultra)

I had been using the Garmin watch (Fenix 7x Solar, FR255) for 1 year. I don't have this problem with the Garmin watch.

This problem is only in Apple Watch Series.. Ultra, 7 .etc

It's a normal situation for Apple Watch this problem

I'm thinking of retry change Apple Watch Ultra with Garmin Watch..

Have a nice day.

I have had 3 Garmin Fenix series watches....zero problems, an Apple series 6 zero heart rate issues. The Ultra absolutely flawed and incredibly inconsistent. I am told it is not a hardware issue. If true, I am hopeful for a simple remedy through software updates.

This is totally wrong. Or, better, don’t justify Apple for such a poor performance. I own a new Ultra and a Garmin Epix 2 Sapphire. Ultra doesn’t perform at all as the Epix. Epix can track HR even in cold winter, and it tracks every second even without training, so veins poppin up is a problem just for this Ultra, not for every wrist sensor.

I’m into the Apple ecosystem since a life. I will stay into it, but I’m very likely to return the Ultra and keep my super performant Garmin.

Apple should make a free app for professionals which performs like Garmin connect, should use a strongest titanium and use trouble proof sensors.

To Apple’s comment:

Is this your response? Seriously? So much for the rugged watch that works in the most extreme environments. My Garmin never had this problem. I’m ok with the HR taking a couple of minutes to kick in, but it often freezes up well into my run, even with temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s. Do not advertise this as a watch for extreme sports.

I follow up to my own message. I found that, actually, the HR drops issues are related to Apple's Fitness app, not to the watch. I tried to log workouts with other apps (Athlytics, WorkOutDoors) and the HR is recorded properly.

Is it possible that Apple didn't have this problem during their pre-release tests?

Still uncertain about keeping the Ultra, or return it and keep my trusty Epix. I would only miss watch/iPhone interactions and I actually aesthetically like the Utra more than Epix.