Apple Watch Ultra Heart Rate During Workout

You aren’t the only one…. I am about ready for getting a refund. My primitive series 5 was so much better than this.

I got an ultra because of the purported accuracy and enhanced analytics, metrics are important and this is so poor.

Just did an easy ‘conversational pace’ run and it recorded my heart rate at about 95% of my max for a large part of it and then did the missing recording nonsense.

So poor.

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.

I got the same response from the health team. 2 problems with that:

-Didn’t buy an $800 watch to wear on my forearm (ridiculous). Btw despite tightening the band the watch gravitates to wear a watch should actually be worn during a run or any physical activity.

-My Garmin Fenix (3 different models over the years) and my series 6 Apple Watch had Zero issues worn in the same spot on my wrist.

I suspect it’s either a software issue or the bigger square design just won’t sit properly for what seems to be an increasing portion of the population to get a consistent heart rate. It’s a real shame because I love the overall functionality. However I need a fitness watch first and foremost.

I suspect that the measurement data is really not so easy to just "measure". It's not like there's a electrical binary TTL pulse that one can just count! An earlier tip from someone was to use the finger on the crown at the start to get the more regular updated measurements started just before starting. That might help the watch keep track. Anyway, if 9.4 is better, I'm looking forward to the next run as soon as my legs have recovered from the 21k on Sunday.

OK, Don't use Ultra for running. By all means try one out and take it back within the 14 days if it doesn't work for you.

(EU or UK owners may be able to return them under local consumer laws beyond 14 days if it fails to work as specified)

The ideal Apple Watch for running is a 40mm lightweight aluminium model.

Other opinions may be forthcoming.

Yes, my series 8 does the exact same thing. Heart rate works for the first minute or so of a work out then quits for a small duration and then after that. The cut out time and duration of not working is almost identical from workout to work out which is why I think it’s obviously software related.

I’m new to the Ultra but have had Apple Watches since the beginning. This is the first time I’ve ever had heart rate monitor issues. I’m not a runner but work out daily with all the different Apple fitness workouts on Apple TV. It doesn’t matter what workout type I select, about 1/3 of the workout won’t record heart rate. If I pause the watch it immediately kicks back on but then disappears again after a little. Tightening or loosening has no effect. Pretty frustrated to see that this has been an issue for a long time with no resolution.

I am also getting the same problem and super disappointed with it. I have been an owner of Garmin sport watched for >10yrs and this was never an issue. My last Garmin was an Epix 2, which I still used this year before deciding to go for Apple, and I'm already missing its reliability when it comes to sports.

On the Ultra, I've already played with many settings (like the precision start on/off), as well as having the band more/less tight to the wrist and so far no luck. I really feel this is a SW issue, but if that's the case, it would also appear in all other Apple watch models, right? Anyone knows if this is an Ultra's specific issue or if it affects all Apple Watch models that share the same WatchOS version?

Here's an example of what happens to me.

It's always in the first 5-10min of the race.

I have had the problem on the series 5 and the series 7. I just figured that Apple would have addressed the issue with the Ultra. Both my Fenix watches (3 and 6) have never had this issue. It has to be a software problem with the Apple Watch. I hope someone is listening.

Is this your first Apple Watch? I had many others, since Series 4, and other similar devices. Never had that problem until now. I'm not sure it's a problem with the Ultra or with a recent update, but it other watches (including apple older gens) never had this problem, and gave readings much faster and much more consistently. I have stretches of 15 mins without readings. This is simply unacceptable and has to be looked at (probably software!), no matter how much corporate talk you can give about Apple new best in the world sensors and blah blah blah.

The point was that i have not found a solution. I had done everything online that. everyone told me and nothing has worked. I’ve called Apple Support I have looked online I had the watched replaced through Apple care and the replacement is worse. It only occurs during workouts. If I move the intensity of my workout up quickly it glitches out 3-4 or more per workout and I have no idea of my heart rate. During cardio workouts where I increase intensity slowly most of the time it is ok but even then it occurs sometimes. I paid a premium price for a product I expect premium performance. I don’t think that’s too much to ask .

If this were the case then it would read well in warm weather or if you workout indoors. Mine glitches out all the time while I am working out indors outdoors warm weather, cold weather. The only common thread I have is that it tends to do it only if my heart rate increases quickly such when during my workout I increase the intensity of my workout. One apple advisor suggested that I hold my arm perfectly still for 10-15 seconds but by then my heart rate has dropped so that IS NOT an acceptable solution. I even had them replace my watch and the new one is worse

I paid good money for an Ultra supposedly a premium watch to enhance my workouts. I am quite surprised and dissapointed Apple has not addresses this issue, if this is a software glitch why has it not been fixed by an update. Is this not important for Apple? This watch was marketed to enhance workouts and yet this problem has happened and is quite widespread. If this is a ploy to get me to but a new watch it's not working for me and the people I know, frankly it is having quite the opposite effect. I will not be buying a new one I wlll be looking elsewhere for a good reliable fitness tracker wth a good heart rate monitor. Any suggestions ?

I had the same issues with my Ultra. after a few weeks of trying any workaround found it on internet I decided to return it. I switched to a Garmin Epix Pro 2, it is a very good watch for activities and a pretty decent for a day by day watch.

I am considering that but I heard the ultra two has improved heart rate monitor. I this rumor? Or is it true ? It solves the problem I may reconsider. Anyone else have any news on that. Otherwise I’ll start shopping for a Garmin. Did find kind of a fix I started using a sweat band where you attach your watch and that has helped with the issue but evidently Apple don’t really care and are just interested in selling their new product instead of supporting the loyal customers.