Garmin is (finally) launching an ECG app, but with very serious limitations

Garmin is (finally) launching their ECG app, but currently with very serious limitations.

Garmin doesn’t yet have a dedicated electrocardiogram (ECG) app despite its health-focused smartwatches, but now the brand is taking that step. The company has just launched an app called the ECG App, very similar to its competitors on other devices, that allows you to study your heart rate and look for possible signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). When in doubt, you can sync your results to Garmin Connect and create a report to share with your doctor or other healthcare professional.

Garmin is (finally) launching an ECG app

However, the use of this software is currently heavily dependent on the connected watch. Indeed, Garmin only offers this app to Venus 2 Plus owners who live in the US. And you need to update the device firmware, as well as the Connect application. The company says more devices and countries will be added over time, but it will need to get approval from governments first. In other words, it probably won’t be right away.

but with very severe limitations at present

In any case, this is the first app that Garmin has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. As with similar apps, the goal is not to make a definitive diagnosis of your heart health and the app will not detect cardiac arrest. The watch offers functionality similar to the single lead ECG. Your doctor may use a multi-lead system that provides a more accurate view of your heart. Garmin VP Dan Bartel says the app is primarily useful for detecting atrial fibrillation in its early stages, when it’s “difficult to detect”in a hospital setting.

There are already many alternatives on the market if you really need such functionality. Apple, Google (and Fitbit), Samsung, Withings and others have been using this technology in their watches for quite some time now. It’s hard to complain about the possible lack of options, but if you prefer Garmin products, this might be interesting.