AirPods Can Measure Your Heart Rate, but Are They Accurate?

Your AirPods might be tracking more than just your podcasts: they can now measure your heart rate. But can you trust those readings during a workout? We tested the latest AirPods against the Apple Watch and the gold-standard Polar chest strap to find out.

CNET put the AirPods' heart rate monitoring feature through its paces, comparing them directly to the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Polar H10 chest strap. The goal: determine whether Apple's earbuds can double as a reliable fitness tracker. As wearable health tech expands beyond wrist-worn devices, this test addresses a growing question: are in-ear heart rate sensors accurate enough for exercise?

Apple introduced the heart rate monitoring capability with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) in a firmware update last year. The feature uses photoplethysmography (PPG) — the same optical technology found in most smartwatches — but measures pulse from the ear's blood vessels. The ear canal is actually a promising location: it's less prone to motion artifacts than the wrist, and blood flow is stable. However, in-ear sensors face their own challenges, including fit variability and ambient noise.

For the test, the reviewer ran on a treadmill, performed weightlifting, and did HIIT intervals while wearing all three devices simultaneously. The AirPods streamed heart rate data to the Health app on an iPhone, while the Apple Watch and Polar strap recorded their own metrics. The results showed clear differences. At rest, the AirPods matched the Apple Watch within 1–2 beats per minute (bpm) and were nearly identical to the Polar chest strap. During steady-state cardio, the AirPods remained accurate, with a deviation of only 3–5 bpm from the Polar. However, during high-intensity intervals and heavy weightlifting, the AirPods occasionally lagged by 10–15 bpm or missed transient spikes. The Apple Watch was more responsive but still slightly behind the Polar, which maintained gold-standard precision throughout.

"The AirPods are surprisingly good for most workouts, but they're not perfect," said the reviewer. "If you need exact peak heart rate for interval training, stick with a chest strap." The key takeaway: for casual fitness and daily step tracking, AirPods are a convenient alternative to a smartwatch. For serious athletes or those with heart conditions, a dedicated monitor remains the safer choice.

Looking ahead, Apple could improve accuracy through software updates and better motion compensation. As in-ear health sensors evolve, they may eventually rival chest straps. But for now, your AirPods are fine for a jog — just don't rely on them for medical-grade data.

What happens next? Expect more brands like Samsung and Google to explore in-ear health sensors. Watch for FCC filings and FDA clearances as the trend toward hearable health devices accelerates.