Sleep-Tracking Showdown: Apple Watch and Oura Ring Top Lab Sleep Test
A sleep-lab study tested 15 wearables against polysomnography in 18 participants across normal, restricted, recovery, and extended sleep, finding Apple Watch best for awake time but weaker for deep sleep; Oura Ring was most consistent across sleep stages; Whoop’s new algorithm was close to Oura for REM and light sleep but weaker for awake time; Garmin and Fitbit trailed, with the Circle Plus Ring performing poorly. For overall accuracy, choose Oura or Whoop; for awake-time detection, Apple Watch; Fitbit’s newer algorithm may close the gap in the future, though the study’s small sample size limits generalizability.
