Garmin sleep tracking accuracy and product updates

Garmin devices demonstrate high accuracy in detecting whether a user is asleep, but struggle to differentiate between specific sleep stages. According to a compilation of 14 studies comparing Garmin, Apple Watch, Fitbit, Oura, and Whoop, Garmin achieved approximately 89% accuracy in distinguishing sleep from wakefulness, performing similarly to Oura.

However, the devices face significant challenges in classifying light, deep, and REM sleep. In one independent study involving 62 healthy adults, Garmin received a score of approximately 0.21 on a scale of 0 to 1 for sleep stage classification, the lowest among the compared devices. Experts note that wrist-based hardware cannot directly measure the brain activity used in polysomnography, which limits the precision of sleep phase analysis.

Separately, Garmin has announced significant discounts on several models as part of a promotional event. Four models, including the high-end fēnix E 47mm, are seeing price reductions of up to 44%. The fēnix E features an AMOLED display, integrated international maps, and a battery life of up to 16 days in smartwatch mode.