Blood oxygen saturation values completely wrong and inaccurate.

Dante Mclalla

@surfboomerang
I think that the sensor used on SV and SR is bad and no firmware can mitigate its inaccuracy.
This proved to be the case with my SV which at the end I returned and I once again discovered that AW Ultra 2 e Epix Pro 2 have way better sensor than Suunto. It’s an unfortunate choice by Suunto which undermines the whole product which, apart from this, is a very good watch• If a sensor is faulty, all the measurements and health data are then unreliable.
I’m giving a last try to a Suunto Race arriving today and I will compare it with the Polar Vantage V3. The Polar still shows some inaccuracy. However, Polar uses a highly advanced sensor hardware - very different from Suunto crap sensor - which will be for sure improved with the next FWs.

A Former User

@Dante-Mclalla said in Blood oxygen saturation values completely wrong and inaccurate.:

I think that the sensor used on SV and SR is bad

On what is this statement based? The fact that some users have uneven readings does not necessarily imply that the sensor is “bad.” I also happen to have erroneous readings, but for example on my wife’s wrist the readings are always correct (obviously compared to a oxymeter).

maszop

@Dante-Mclalla It works fine for me

Dante Mclalla

@robis Is based on my experience and looking at the results coming from Garmin Epix pro 2 and my Whoop.
Starting from today I will compare SR with Coros Pace 3 and Whoop and Polar Vantage V3 and let’s see how and if Suunto faces its competitors. Honestly, I have no great expectations…

By the way, from DCRainmaker “Now, remember I mentioned earlier in the review I only had two complaint areas? And that the first was slowness? Well, here’s the second – optical heart rate sensor accuracy. It’s bad. There’s no two ways to slice it.”
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/11/suunto-race-amoled-in-depth-review.html

isazi

@Dante-Mclalla for me both Vertical and Race match a chest strap in a large variety of workouts for 99% of the time.

Egika

this is about SpO2 measurement accuracy.
I do get consistently 97-99% readings if I trigger it during the day (watch worn as suggested, hand lying on table without movement).
If I enable the measurement during the night (which I usually don’t do as I live in Hamburg), I get 100% nightly maximums.

Seems to be good enough for me - while I have absolutely no use for this feature.

Dante Mclalla

@Dante-Mclalla lets find out in the next days. I’d hope to get good results as I love Suunto watches.
Suunto (as well as Polar and Casio) should learn from Coros in terms of continuous release of FW update fixing issues and introducing new functions on both the latest and oldest releases. In few years, Coros took the lead in ultra marathon races and is second only to Garmin (5-7 years ago Suunto was a clear second behind Garmin). This means something…

Dante Mclalla

@isazi BO saturation depends on the sensor, if the sensor is inaccurate the same will be for BOxygen

maszop

@Dante-Mclalla said in Blood oxygen saturation values completely wrong and inaccurate.:

@isazi BO saturation depends on the sensor, if the sensor is inaccurate the same will be for BOxygen

Practice shows that this is not the case.

Egika

@Dante-Mclalla it depends on the sensor and the application of the sensor.
The result cannot be better than each factor.

Dante Mclalla

@maszop Hope I’m wrong! I’ll see by myself in the next days: Suunto Race vs Coros P3 vs Whoop Vs Polar V3. I’ll keep the whoop and the most accurate watch

Egika

@Dante-Mclalla this makes sense, if it works best for you.
Out of curiosity: What is your use case for a most accurate SPO2 measurement?

maszop

@Dante-Mclalla Watches, especially Suunto, have problems measuring heart rate during more intense activity. When at rest (blood oxygen measurement), it’s not that difficult, as long as the watch is fastened correctly, there are no tattoos, etc.

Dante Mclalla

@Egika during sleep and in the morning as general check. By the way, as of now, both the Suunto Race and the Polar VV3 are offering similar readings…and this could be a good news!

dimangi

Glad to find this topic. Had no clue what oxygen saturation is. After googling got worried why i am still alive. I get anywhere between 85% to 93% readings. Now i know the values the watch give are nonsense. I will turn this ”feature” off