How Samsung Gear S3 Tracks Your Sleep

The Samsung Gear S3 is a smartwatch that allows users to monitor their sleep quality and patterns. The watch, in conjunction with the Samsung Health app, can help identify interrupted sleep. The sleep tracking feature can be activated by opening the Samsung Health app, tapping on Manage Items, scrolling down to Sleep, and switching it on. Once activated, the Gear S3 will automatically track the user's sleep once they fall asleep. However, some users have reported issues with sleep tracking on the Gear S3, with some stating that it records sleep at random times during the day.

Setting up the Samsung Gear S3 to track sleep

The Samsung Gear S3 watch sleep tracker, together with the Samsung Health app, can help you identify if you have been experiencing interrupted sleep. When your tracker is on silent or sleep mode, without any body movement, it will detect that you are sleeping. On the other hand, if it detects any body movement, it will be recorded as restless sleep.

To set up your Samsung Gear S3 to track your sleep, follow these steps:

• Open the Samsung Health app.
• Choose the "More" button and tap on "Manage Items".
• Scroll down to find "Sleep", and then switch it on.
• Register your device by selecting the "Accessories" menu.
• Find the "Sleep" option, tap on "Device", and scroll down to select the "Samsung Gear S3".
• Tap "Register".
• Go back to "Manage Items" and select "Goals".
• Scroll down and choose the "Feel More Rested" option to set your sleep goals and bedtime/wake-up times.
• Wear your Samsung Gear S3 to bed, and it will automatically start tracking your sleep once you fall asleep.
• After waking up, sync your watch with the Samsung Health app to view detailed information about your sleep quality, including light, deep, and REM sleep cycles.

Note that you can also enable sleep tracking through third-party apps such as "Sleep as Android". When using such apps, ensure that you have the required addons installed and that your device settings are optimized for sleep tracking.

Using the Samsung Health app to monitor sleep quality

The Samsung Health app can be used to monitor your sleep quality, either independently or in conjunction with a Samsung smartwatch.

Setting Up Sleep Tracking

To set up sleep tracking with the Samsung Health app, first, download the app on your phone and create a Samsung account. Then, to enable sleep tracking, go to 'More' and tap on 'Manage Items'. Scroll down to find 'Sleep' and switch it on. You can then set your sleep goals by tapping 'Feel More Rested' and inputting your desired 'Bedtime' and 'Wake-up' times.

Viewing Sleep Data

The Samsung Health app provides detailed sleep data, including sleep scores, actual sleep time, and weekly average sleep time. It also shows the different stages of sleep, such as REM, light sleep, and deep sleep. If you use a smartwatch, you can view this data by swiping up or down on the watch face and tapping 'Settings'. On the phone app, this information can be found under the ''Sleep' tab.

Advanced Features

The Samsung Health app offers advanced sleep tracking features such as REM cycle monitoring and blood oxygen tracking. To enable REM cycle tracking, go to 'Heart Rate' in the app and tap on the three-dot menu in the top right corner. From there, tap the gear icon and find 'Settings'. Then, scroll down and select the 'Always' option. To enable blood oxygen tracking, open the Samsung Health app and go to 'Settings' > 'Blood oxygen during sleep' > 'On'.

Troubleshooting

It is important to note that the Samsung Health app may not always accurately detect sleep, especially if you have periods of low movement during the day. Additionally, the app automatically preconfigures your sleep time target based on your profile information, but these targets may not reflect your daily routine if, for example, you work night shifts. In such cases, you can manually adjust your sleep times and targets within the app.

Tracking REM sleep

Sleep is a bodily process that allows the body to rest, repair, and restore itself. The quality and quantity of sleep can vary from person to person and can change during one's lifetime. Sleeping does not mean the brain is inactive. On the contrary, the brain exhibits plenty of detectable brain activity during sleep, which can be categorized into two types: rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep.

NREM sleep can be further divided into three stages. When a person falls asleep, they enter NREM stage 1, then cycle between NREM stages 2 and 3. NREM stage 2 accounts for about 45% of total sleep time, with each subsequent round being longer than the last. NREM stage 3 is the deepest stage of sleep, making up about 25% of total sleep time in adults. Babies and children need more NREM stage 3 sleep, and as people age, they need less. During this stage, the brain takes advantage of very deep sleep to repair injuries and reinforce the immune system.

After NREM sleep, the body enters REM sleep and starts dreaming. After the first REM cycle, the body starts a new sleep cycle by re-entering NREM stage 1 or 2. A normal sleep cycle takes about 90 to 120 minutes, and people typically go through four or five cycles per night, assuming they get a full eight hours of sleep.

The Samsung Gear S3 watch, along with the Samsung Health app, can help monitor sleep quality and patterns. The watch can detect when the wearer is sleeping by identifying when it is in a silent or sleep mode and there is a lack of body movement. If the watch detects any body movement, it will be recorded as restless sleep. To track sleep using the Samsung Gear S3, users must first set up the device by registering it on the Samsung Health app and then setting their goals. Once set up, the user only needs to wear the watch to bed, and it will automatically track their sleep. The tracker will then display information such as when the user fell asleep and their sleep rating in percentage and light and deep sleep graphs.

To track REM sleep specifically, users can adjust their heart rate settings by opening the Samsung Health app, tapping on the Heart Rate option, tapping on the three-dot menu, tapping the Gear icon, and finally scrolling to find and select the Always option.

Issues with sleep tracking after the Tizen 4 update

The Tizen 4 update has caused issues with sleep tracking for Samsung Gear S3 users. Several users have reported that their devices are unable to accurately track their sleep, with the watch recording sleep during the day when the user is inactive, such as sitting and watching TV or working on a computer. This issue has rendered the sleep tracking feature useless for some users, who have expressed disappointment and frustration with the update.

Prior to the Tizen 4 update, the Samsung Gear S3 was a popular device for sleep tracking, offering users the ability to monitor their sleep quality and patterns. The device would automatically detect when the user was asleep and provide detailed information about their sleep, including light, deep, and active sleep, as well as REM sleep cycles.

However, after the Tizen 4 update, many users have reported that their Gear S3 devices are no longer able to accurately track their sleep. In some cases, the device fails to record sleep at all, even when the user is wearing the watch throughout the night. Other times, the device continues to track sleep even after the user has woken up and gone about their daily activities, requiring a restart of the watch to stop the tracking.

In addition to the issues with sleep tracking, some users have also reported problems with their altimeters after the Tizen 4 update. The altimeter fails to calibrate, cycling between "no network found" and requiring manual input of values, despite having full GPS reception and connectivity.

The issues with sleep tracking after the Tizen 4 update have impacted the usability and functionality of the Samsung Gear S3 for many users. Some users have been forced to revert to other devices or methods for sleep monitoring, expressing frustration with the lack of regression testing and bug fixes from Samsung.

Alternative sleep tracking apps

The Samsung Gear S3 watch, in conjunction with the Samsung Health app, can be used to track your sleep. However, some users have reported issues with the sleep tracking feature, especially after installing certain updates. If you are looking for alternative sleep tracking apps, here are some options:

SleepScore

SleepScore is available on iOS and Android and helps users improve their sleep by setting sleep goals and providing advice. It also offers detailed sleep-stage data and a smart alarm feature. The free version provides general sleep advice and records your sleep for seven days. The premium version costs $50 per year or $6 per month and offers more advanced features such as long-term sleep tracking and personalised improvement plans. However, it is important to note that SleepScore only works with iPhone 6 and higher and a limited number of Android phones.

Sleep Cycle

Sleep Cycle is compatible with both iPhones and Android devices. It provides a clean and intuitive interface with more than a dozen smart-alarm and lulling sounds. However, it does not provide detailed sleep-stage data or advice for improving sleep. Sleep Cycle is a good option for those who want to understand their sleep patterns without the need for detailed data or custom advice.

Oura Ring

The Oura Ring is a wearable device that measures heart rate, movement, and temperature to track sleep habits. It provides a sleep score and a readiness score each morning, along with charts to visualise sleep patterns. The Oura app also offers personalised tips and reminders to improve sleep quality. The ring costs $299 for the basic model and $349 for the latest version, with an optional membership of $5.99 per month or $69.99 per year for access to additional data and insights.

Fitbit App

The Fitbit app, in combination with a Fitbit or Pixel Watch, can be used to track sleep. It provides data on sleep stages, blood oxygen saturation, and long-term sleep trends. Fitbit Premium offers additional features such as changes in sleep patterns, sleeping heart rate, and restlessness.

Eight Sleep

Eight Sleep is a mattress cover that regulates temperature to improve sleep. It provides a sleep score out of 100 and offers charts showing sleep stages, health metrics, sleep latency, and consistency. The hardware is expensive, and a subscription is required for sleep tracking features, starting at $17 per month.

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