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Which Apple Watches support ECG?
Apple says the ECG app works on Apple Watch Series 4 or later and all Apple Watch Ultra models. Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch For Your Kids do not support the ECG app. A compatible model alone is not enough: the feature must also be available in your country or region.
| Watch family | ECG app support | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 4 and later | Yes, where available | Series 4 is the first supported Series generation. |
| Apple Watch Ultra models | Yes, where available | Apple lists all Ultra models as supported. |
| Apple Watch SE | No | SE models do not support the ECG app. |
| Apple Watch For Your Kids | No | Not supported for this feature. |
Apple’s guidance does not establish that one compatible generation is more accurate than another. Choose based on the watch’s overall fit and features, and check current regional availability before buying if ECG is important to you.
How Apple Watch ECG works
The watch’s electrical heart sensor records electrical pulses associated with heartbeats. During a recording, a finger from your opposite hand touches the Digital Crown to complete the measurement path. The resulting waveform is similar to one lead of a clinical 12-lead ECG, so it provides a narrower view than a clinical test that measures from multiple angles.
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![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
The ECG app can report a classification such as sinus rhythm, AFib, low or high heart rate, inconclusive, or—on ECG app version 2—poor recording. The waveform, classification, and any symptoms you add are saved in the Health app. You can export the recording as a PDF to share with a clinician.
How to take an ECG on Apple Watch
- Make sure your watch is snug on your wrist and that your wrist and watch are clean and dry.
- Sit down and rest your arms on a table or in your lap.
- Open the ECG app on your watch.
- Rest a finger from your opposite hand lightly on the Digital Crown. Do not press it.
- Stay still and keep your finger on the crown until the 30-second recording ends.
- Review the result in the app. If useful, add symptoms in Health and export the PDF to share with your doctor.
Apple says nearby plugged-in electronics may interfere with a recording, and some people may be unable to obtain a good signal because of physiological factors. A poor or inconclusive result does not by itself mean that something is wrong.
How accurate is Apple Watch ECG?
Apple reports that, in a clinical trial of approximately 600 subjects, the ECG app had 98.3% sensitivity for AFib classification and 99.6% specificity for sinus-rhythm classification. These figures apply to recordings that could be classified in the controlled study; Apple cautions that real-world use can produce more inconclusive or unclassifiable recordings.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
| Apple-reported measure | What it describes | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| 98.3% sensitivity for AFib classification | How often the app classified AFib in the tested setting | It does not mean the watch detects every AFib episode. |
| 99.6% specificity for sinus-rhythm classification | How often the app classified sinus rhythm in the tested setting | It does not establish that a person is healthy or rule out other conditions. |
Source for both statistics and the trial size: Apple Support, “Take an ECG with the ECG app on Apple Watch.” The figures are not a guarantee for an individual reading or a substitute for medical diagnosis. Apple also reports agreement with a simultaneous standard 12-lead ECG for classifying sinus rhythm or AFib, but its cited summary does not provide enough study detail to generalize beyond that classification task.
Understanding ECG results and limits
A sinus-rhythm result describes the rhythm during that particular recording; Apple says it does not mean you are healthy. An AFib result is a reason to discuss the finding with a doctor, not a diagnosis to act on by yourself. An inconclusive or poor recording means the app could not provide a classification, which may happen because of signal quality or a heart rate outside the supported range.
The AFib classification range depends on the ECG app version: Apple lists 50–120 beats per minute for version 1 and 50–150 beats per minute for version 2. Availability of app versions and features varies by region. Check the version in Settings > Heart > ECG on the watch, or in Health on iPhone. Source: Apple Support, “About ECG app version availability on Apple Watch.”
Rank #3
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Apple Support states: “The ECG app cannot detect a heart attack.” Apple also says it cannot detect a stroke, blood clot, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, or other forms of arrhythmia. A normal or inconclusive result does not rule out a medical problem. If you have concerning symptoms, contact a doctor or seek immediate medical attention; for chest pain, pressure, tightness, or a suspected heart attack, call emergency services.
ECG app versus irregular-rhythm notifications
The ECG app is a recording you start yourself. Irregular-rhythm notifications are a separate feature that occasionally checks for a rhythm suggestive of AFib, usually while you are still. Apple says these checks are not continuous and cannot identify every instance of AFib. The notification feature is not intended for people already diagnosed with AFib, and its availability also depends on region.
A notification should prompt someone without a prior AFib diagnosis to contact a doctor. Symptoms deserve attention even if there has been no notification. Source: Apple Support, “Heart health notifications on your Apple Watch.”
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
FAQ
Does Apple Watch have an ECG?
Yes. The ECG app is supported on Apple Watch Series 4 or later and all Apple Watch Ultra models, where the feature is available. It is not supported on Apple Watch SE.
Can Apple Watch detect AFib?
The ECG app can classify certain recordings as possible AFib. It does not detect every episode, provide a definitive diagnosis, or replace medical evaluation.
Does a normal Apple Watch ECG mean my heart is healthy?
No. A sinus-rhythm result describes that recording only. It does not rule out heart disease or other conditions, and it should not override concerning symptoms.
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![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41yzp82pFOL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Can Apple Watch ECG detect a heart attack?
No. Apple says the ECG app cannot detect a heart attack. Seek emergency care for symptoms such as chest pain, pressure, or tightness, rather than relying on a watch reading.
Why did my Apple Watch ECG say inconclusive?
The app may be unable to classify a recording because of signal quality, the heart rate, or other factors. Follow Apple’s recording guidance; if you have symptoms or ongoing concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
Can I send my Apple Watch ECG to my doctor?
The recording is saved in the Health app, where you can export it as a PDF to share with a clinician. It can provide useful context, but the clinician determines whether further evaluation is needed.
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