Best Smartwatch For AFIB (Officially Approved In 2023) That Can Save Your Life

If you are looking for smartwatches that can detect AFIB, this guide is for you.

Atrial fibrillation or AFIB is a common heart problem which affects millions of people worldwide including 6 million Americans. It’s more common in elder people but it can also develop in young people.

It’s a serious condition which can cause serious heart issues but luckily, there are smartwatches which can detect it at early stages and In this guide, I’ll tell you about them.

In this WearToTrack guide, I’ll focus on following topics.

• What is Atrial Fibrillation?
• Common Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation
• Different Stages of Atrial Fibrillation
• How ECG can detect Atrial Fibrillation?
• Accuracy of Smartwatches when it comes to AFIB detection
• List of smartwatches that can detect Atrial Fibrillation
• And many more!

So, without any further ado, let’s get started.

Here is an article on my website that you must read, its about 11 Best Thinnest Smartwatches | You Won’t Feel It On Your Hand.

What is AFIB?

Let’s start with the very definition of AFIB. Atrial fibrillation or AFIB is a common but lethal heart problem that occurs due to the irregular rhythm of your heart.

In simple words, AFIB occurs when the upper chambers of your heart go out of sync with the lower chambers of your heart.

Once your heart develops this condition, your heart is exposed to various deadly complications such as Stroke, Heart failure, and Cognitive Decline.

What Are The Symptoms of AFIB?

Now the problem with AFIB is that it’s asymptomatic, especially in the early stages, which means that if a person develops this condition, there are chances that you won’t be able to detect it unless you do the ECG test or suffer a stroke. However, these are some of the symptoms which you may experience if you develop AFIB.

• Chest Pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Weakness
• Shortness of Breath

How Common is AFIB?

According to CDC, AFIB is one of the most common types of heart problems, and by 2030, the number of AFIB patients will cross 12.1 million in the US alone, and this number will be way higher if we combine the cases from around the world. Also, it’s responsible for around 20 to 30% of heart strokes.

What Are The Different Stages Of AFIB?

When it comes to AFIB, cardiologists have classified AFIB into three types.

• Paroxysmal AFIB – It’s the sudden episode of AFIB where your heart experience AFIB, but it’s not lethal, and it can stop on its own without any medical help. As it comes for a short period, it isn’t easy to detect.
• Persistent AFIB –  It’s the second stage of AFIB where you can experience it for over a week, and it’s also possible that it becomes permanent.
• Permanent AFIB – it’s the 3^rd and last stage of AFIB which is considered the most severe stage. In this stage, the AFIB continues to get worse, and it’s difficult for a heart to restore its natural rhythm.

What is an ECG, and How Can It Detect AFIB?

When it comes to detection of AFIB, you can only do it with an ECG test. ECG or Electrocardiogram is a test that basically measures the electrical activity of your heart.

It basically records your heart movement, and if it detects any irregular rhythm, it shows in the test, which you can use to diagnose the condition.

In smartwatches, you get the advanced algorithm that analyses the ECG test for you, and if it detects AFIB, it will notify you so that you can get professional help on time.

Also, check this guide where I have shared the best smartwatches with an Oxygen Sensor (SPO2) in 2023.

How Accurate is AFIB Detection on Smartwatches?

Now the next question is: how accurate is AFIB detection on Smartwatches? And What’s the role of the FDA here? In the last 2 years, we have seen the inclusion of ECG on smartwatches, and as it’s a health feature, it’s important that smartwatches get approved by FDA for consumers.

Now the thing which FDA mainly tests is the accuracy of smartwatches when it comes to AFIB. As AFIB is highly sporadic, it means that smartwatches need to be very accurate and precise to detect it.

When it comes to getting approval from FDA, things get tough because the standards are pretty high, and only accurate algorithms get approval from the FDA.

So far, only a handful of companies have managed to get FDA approval which includes Apple, Fitbit, Withing’s, and Samsung.

Should I Rely On Smartwatches for AFIB Detection?

Smartwatches come with life-saving features such as Fall Detection, AFIB, and ECG, which can potentially save your life. On the internet, you will find hundreds of stories of the people who were saved by their smartwatches.

One particular story I would like to iterate here is the story of Peggy Reynolds, whose life was saved by a smartwatch with fall detection.

She was gifted this smartwatch three years back, and one fine Sunday, she fell and sustained a head injury. The watch alerted her daughter and medical responders immediately, and they were able to rescue her on time.

In the case of AFIB, your body won’t show any symptoms, but your watch is capable of detecting the condition, and if it detects, it will immediately notify you, and you can save yourself from a deadly stroke.

So, I would not recommend that you fully rely on your smartwatch, but you can surely use it as a tool to detect medical conditions at early stages.

List of 8 Best Smartwatches For AFIB (Officially Approved By FDA)

Finding an FDA-approved smartwatch for AFIB is not an easy task because many smartwatches claim to have FDA Approval, but only a handful of them are actually approved by FDA.

That’s why I’ve done comprehensive research, and after verification, I’ve picked the best smartwatches for AFIB, which are officially approved by FDA. Let’s have a look at my top picks.

1. Apple Watch Series 8 – Best for iPhone Users

Let’s start with Apple Watch Series 8 which is arguably one of the best smartwatches for AFIB detection and it’s official approved by FDA.

In Apple Watch 8, you get advanced sensors which can accurately do ECG test from your wrist. These sensors are also capable of detecting Atrial Fibrillation or AFIB and your smartwatch will alert you if it detects any issue with rhytm of your heart. Here’s how you can make sure that AFIB notification or irregular heart rythm notifications are enabled.

• Go to your iPhone and open Health App
• Now go to browse tab and go to Heart section
• Find Irregular Rythm text and toggle the button right next to it to enable it.

Now enable them in the Apple Watch App.

• Go to Apple Watch App
• Go to My Watch section and go to Heart section
• Here toggle the Irregular Rythm to turn on the notifications.

Using the above steps, you can enable AFIB notification on your Apple Watch. Apple Watch Series 8 is also equipped with other advanced features such as ECG, Advanced sleep tracking with temperature monitoring, SPO2, fall detection, crash detection, automatic workout detection, and stress monitoring,

So, If you are an iPhone user and you want a smartwatch which can detect AFIB and offer tons of other advanced features, you can’t go wrong with Apple Watch Series 8.

Pros

• FDA Approved Smartwatches
• Offers Advanced Features such as ECG, AFIB Detection, SPO2, and Skin temperature Monitoring
• Premium Design & Build Quality
• Offers accurate sleep tracking
• Excellent Integration with the Apple Ecosystem

Cons

• Expensive
• Not ideal for Android Users

2. Apple Watch Ultra – Best Premium Apple Watch for AFIB

Apple Watch Ultra is another popular smartwatch that comes with AFIB Detection and it’s officially approved by FDA for US Consumers.

In terms of features, Apple Watch Ultra is as good as Apple Watch 8 and it comes with similar features such as AFIB Detection, ECG, Skin temperature monitoring, SPO2, and crash detection. Also, it comes with regular features such as stress monitoring, automatic workout detection, heart-rate monitoring, step counter, and tons of workout modes.

On top of these regular features, Apple Watch Ultra comes with some special features such as dual-frequency GPS for more accurate tracking, titanium body for extra protection, redesigned compass, dedicated physical buttons and rugged build. Also, its bigger battery offers 36 hours of battery life which is around 2x times better than what you get with Apple Watch Series 8.

So, If you are looking for an outdoor smartwatch with AFIB Detection and durable body, you should consider Apple Watch Ultra.

 Pros

• FDA Approved Apple Watch
• Accurate Fitness tracking
• Advanced features such as ECG, SPO2, AFIB Detection, and skin temperature monitoring
• Titanium body with sapphire glass
• Unique features such as Dual-frquency GPS
• Exceptional battery life

Cons

• Expensive
• Too Big for small wrists
• Not ideal for Android Users

3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro – Best for Android Users

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is another premium smartwatch that comes packed with advanced health and fitness tracking features including AFIB Detection.

Just like other smartwatches on this list, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is officially approved by FDA for the US Consumers and it can detect AFIB with great accuracy. Also, it can perform ECG test directly on your wrist and provide detailed information via its companion app.

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is also equipped with other advanced features such as blood pressure monitoring, skin temperature monitoring, SPO2 Sensor, advanced sleep tracking, automatic workout detection, body composition, stress monitoring, and step counter.

As Galaxy Watch 5 Pro comes with Wear OS 3 right out of the box, you will also get access to tons of third-party apps which you can install to add additional functionalities.

In terms of build quality, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is as good as Apple Watch Ultra. It comes with titanium body and sapphire crystal glass which offers solid protection to the sensitive sensors of the watch. 

So, If you are an Android user and you want a smartwatch with AFIB detection and other promising features, I’d recommend that you consider Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

Pros

• Officially Approved by FDA
• BioActive Sensor for ECG & AFIB detection
• Advanced features such as SPO2, skin temperature monitoring, and blood pressure monitoring
• Premium Build quality
• Comes with Wear OS 3
• Great Battery performance
• Good Value for Money

Cons

• Some features such as blood pressure are available in selected regions
• Too big for small wrists
• Not ideal for iPhone Users

4. Fitbit Sense 2 – Best Fitbit for AFIB

Fitbit Sense 2 is an advanced health smartwatch by Fitbit and it comes with many advanced health and fitness tracking features including AFIB Detection.

In Fitbit Sense 2, you get FDA Approved ECG feature which can perform ECG test directly on your wrist using its advanced features. It’s also capable of detecting atrial fibrillation and once it detects AFIB it will alert you on time which will give you ample time to contact your healthcare provider.

Fitbit Sense 2 also comes with other features such as advanced sleep and stress monitoring using skin temperature monitor, workout detection and tracking, sleep counter, exercise modes, heart-rate monitoring, wellness report and Fitbit Pay.

The battery life of Sense 2 is also slightly better than its predecessor and it claims to offer 6 days of battery life. However, in my tests, I was getting the average of 2-3 days which is still way better than what other smartwatches offer.

So, If you are looking for a Fitbit with AFIB detection and other advanced features, you can’t go wrong with Fitbit Sense 2.

Pros

• Officially Approved by FDA
• Equipped with advanced features such as AFIB Detection, ECG, SPO2, and Sleep Tracking
• Accurate Tracking
• Modern Design
• Good battery life
• Ideal for people with small wrists

Cons

• No Google Assistant

5. Withings ScanWatch – Best Hybrid Smartwatch for AFIB

Withings ScanWatch is another FDA Approved smartwatch which can help you detect AFIB. The great thing about ScanWatch is that it regularly monitors your heart rhythms, and if it finds anything wrong with your heart, it notifies you so that you get timely help.

The watch allows you to disable these notifications, but I would recommend that you shouldn’t disable AFIB notifications as they can potentially save your life.

If we look at the other features, ScanWatch is equipped with features such as heart health monitoring, breathing disturbances tracking, sleep analysis, and activity tracking. So, if you want a premium FDA-approved smartwatch for AFIB, Withings ScanWatch is a great option for you.

Pros

• Officially Approved by FDA
• Offers tons of great features
• Comes with beautiful Hybrid Design
• Automatic workout detection

Cons

• Expensive
• No Touch Screen
• No Built-in GPS

6. Fitbit Charge 5 – Best Fitness Tracker for AFIB 

Fitbit Charge 5 is the latest high-end fitness band by the company that comes with a premium design and many advanced features. It’s the only fitness band in the market that comes with ECG and AFIB detection. The band uses the FDA Approved algorithm to detect AFIB, which offers 98% accuracy. It’s the same algorithm that Fitbit Sense uses to detect AFIB.

If we look at the other features, Fitbit Charge 5 comes with premium design, stress management, health metrics, daily readiness, sleep analysis, smart notifications, and other great features.

So, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a health smartwatch but still want ECG and AFIB features, you should consider Fitbit Charge 5.

Pros

• Officially Approved by FDA
• Modern Design
• Comes with advanced features including ECG, SPO2, EDA, and AFIB Detection
• Accurate tracking
• Excellent Companion App
• Good Value for Money

Cons

• No Spotify
• Advanced features drain battery

7. Garmin Venu 2 Plus – Best Garmin Smartwatch for AFIB

Garmin Venu 2 Plus is another very popular smartwatch that comes with AFIB Detection and other advanced features.

It’s currently the only smartwatch in Garmin collection that comes with ECG Support and it’s officially approved by FDA. The ECG app on Venu 2 Plus is very accurate and it can perform ECG test from your wrist. It also comes with AFIB Detection and you can check for it from the ECG App.

Venu 2 Plus also offers other fitness tracking features such as dedicated workout modes, GPS tracking, sleep monitoring, stress tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and step counter.

The battery life on Venu 2 Plus is also pretty good and it offers 24 hours of battery life with GPS. If you manage the GPS use, you can easily get 2 days of battery life on a single charge.

Overall, if you want a high-quality Garmin smartwatch with AFIB Detection, you should consider Garmin Venu 2 Plus.

Pros

• Officially Approved by FDA
• Advanced features such as ECG, Pulse OX, and AFIB Detection
• Premium Design
• Accurate Fitness and workout tracking
• Impressive battery life

Cons

• Expensive
• No LTE option

8. Google Pixel Watch – Best Wear OS Smartwatch for AFIB

Google Pixel Watch is one of the best smartwatches for AFIB detection in 2023. It’s a Wear OS 3 Smartwatch which has become quite popular due to its modern design and advanced features that includes AFIB Detection.

Like other smartwatches on the list, Google Pixel Watch is also officially approved by FDA and it can perform ECG test on your wrist. Also, it’s capable of detecting irregular heart rhythm and once it detect AFIB, it will alert you so that you can get timely help.

The Pixel Watch also comes with regular fitness tracking features such as automatic workout detection, workout modes, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, heart-rate monitoring, and step counter.

In terms of battery performance, Google Pixel Watch is pretty good. Google claims that it offers 24 hours of battery but in my tests, i got the average of 20 hours which is still not bad.

So, If you are looking for a sleek and elegant smartwatch with AFIB detection, I’d recommend that you consider Google Pixel Watch.

Pros

• Offically Approved by FDA
• Comes with ECG and AFIB Detection
• Modern & Sleek Design’
• Best Wear OS 3 Smartwatch
• Accurate Fitness Tracking
• Built-in Google Assistant

Cons

• No Digital Bezel
• Batter life isn’t as good as its competitors

Frequently Asked Questions [ FAQs ]

For your further inquiry, you may check out this section of the article. Here, we will answer the most common questions regarding Best Smartwatches For AFIB.

Which smart watch can detect atrial fibrillation?

Atrial Fibrillation or AFIB detection feature is currently available on only handful of advanced smartwatches and these are the smartwatches which are officially approved by FDA.

• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
• Fitbit Sense 2
• Fitbit Charge 5
• Withings ScanWatch
• Garmin Venu 2 Plus
• Google Pixel Watch

Which smartwatches and Fitness Trackers are FDA approved for AFIB detection?

Here’s the complete list of smartwatches and Fitness Trackers which are officially approved by the FDA for AFIB Detection.

• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
• Fitbit Sense 2
• Fitbit Charge 5
• Withings ScanWatch
• Garmin Venu 2 Plus
• Google Pixel Watch

Which watch is the best at detecting AFIB?

These days many smartwatches claims that they are good at detecting AFIB but i’d recommend that you should only consider FDA Approved smartwatches because they are tested by the experts at FDA. Some of the popular FDA-Approved Smartwatches for AFIB are Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, Fitbit Sense 2, and Google Pixel Watch.

Is Apple Watch AFIB detection accurate?

Apple Watch is one of the very few smartwatches which are officially approved by the FDA for AFIB Detection. So, it’s pretty safe to say that AFIB detection on Apple Watch is pretty accurate.

Which Smartwatches send notifications for AFIB?

These are the FDA-approved smartwatches that send notifications if they detect AFIB.

• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
• Google Pixel Watch
• Garmin Venu 2 Plus
• Fitbit Sense 2

Can Apple Watch Series 3 detect AFIB?

No, Apple Watch Series 3 doesn’t have the advanced sensors to conduct ECG tests which means that it can’t detect AFIB. So, if you want to use Apple Watch for AFIB detection, you should consider Apple Watch Series 4 and onwards versions.

Conclusion

AFIB is a common heart problem and if it goes undetected, it can potentially cause alot of heart-issues such as heart failure, stroke, and other heart complications. However, Advanced smartwatches can detect AFIB at early stages and can save you from a lot of trouble.

So, if you are interested in getting a smartwatch with AFIB detection, I’d recommend that you should consider the one which is approved by FDA. All smartwatches shared in this guide are officially approved by FDA and they can detect AFIB with great accuracy. 

However, it’s worth mentioning here that they are not replacement to medical-grade equipment. So, If you feel that there’s something wrong with your heart, i’d recommend that you should consult your health-care provider. 

I hope that you found this guide useful and it helped you found your next smartwatch. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments and i’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Also, check this guide where i’ve shared the best smartwatches with stress monitoring feature.