How is the HRM accuracy on the 6 vs the 5?

The worst part about my Fenix 5 which I've owned for over 2.5 years is that the HRM is almost entirely useless for HIT type activities or any activity where the heart rate ramps up or down quickly and constantly. Is the HRM and its software algorithm, etc on the 6 greatly improved over that on the 5 or is it still slow to read and register changes in HR? Are any of the models offered in the 6 lineup better than others for HRM accuracy?

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StuieD over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil +1

That’s not true, I have had Fenix 3 and 5 and moved to the Apple Watch 4 to try out the accuracy on all training types. It is excellent and can cope with almost everything you can through at it in…

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0 Former Member over 5 years ago

Bump, I'd be keen to know this as well. As I love my Garmin fenix 5 plus x, the software got updated a year ago and it's made the HR less accurate for me. If I stand up and have a walk it can read 150 bpm, before the update this didn't happen.

0 Dr Phil over 5 years ago

Optical heart rate is getting better but still not up to dealing with rapidly changing heart rate as occurs in HIT type activities.

0 StuieD over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

That’s not true, I have had Fenix 3 and 5 and moved to the Apple Watch 4 to try out the accuracy on all training types. It is excellent and can cope with almost everything you can through at it in relation to OHR and come out excellent. Unfortunately as much as I have loved my Apple Watch accuracy I still love many functions the Garmin offers and its looks! I would like to know if it’s caught up to Apple in terms of OHR accuracy, otherwise it just makes all the health data Garmin presents pointless and woefully inaccurate.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to StuieD

I moved from Fenix 5 to Apple and back to Fenix 6. I found the first mile of my runs on the Apple Watch were well out. I find my 6 is as good as the 5 for HR. I have the chest strap which I find is more accurate when hr is coming back down again but I can’t be bothered wearing it.

I think as long as you stick to the same device you can get an idea of your data comparing data from the same source.

You are right too on the Garmin offering more. I love access to so many metrics when out on a run.