Recognition: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
- A new Google Fit tool for measuring heart rate is on the way. All that is required is that your smartphone camera is working.
- In addition to the heart rate tool, it will launch a new breathing rate tool that will also only use your phone’s camera.
- The new tools will first be rolled out on Pixel phones next month.
When it comes to measuring your heart rate or breathing rate, you have a variety of options. Fitness trackers and smartwatches are usually enough, or you can invest in dedicated medical tools to get this job done. For your heart rate, you can even just do an old-fashioned pulse measurement.
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What if you could do both tests with just your smartphone? Google thinks this is best. Starting next month, the company is rolling out a Google Fit tool to measure your heart rate, as well as a similar tool to measure your breathing rate. Only one smartphone is required for both tools – no additional equipment is required.
Google Fit heart rate and breathing rate
To measure your heart rate, all you have to do is place your finger over the back lens of your phone’s camera. We’ve seen this tech for years through apps on the Play Store. The Samsung Galaxy S5 touted this as an important feature back in 2014. The difference here, however, is Google. With its advanced algorithms and clinical studies to back up its claims, knowing your results are likely to be fairly accurate can make you feel more confident.
The breathing rate is a little more complicated. You need to prop up your phone for the camera to comfortably record your breathing for about 30 seconds. Google Fit shows you how many breaths you take based on your chest movements as you breathe. This information can be helpful in discovering health problems or providing it to your doctor.
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Google claims it was very difficult to make sure the breath test worked for everyone, regardless of your body shape, age, or skin tone.
As usual, neither the Google Fit heart rate test nor the breath test should be used as a proper medical diagnosis. You need to consult a licensed doctor for anything official.
These new tests will initially only work in the Google Fit app on Pixel devices. Access to the tests will land next month, likely along with the expected decline in Pixel features, the first in 2021. Google says the tests will work on other phones in the future.