Apple Watch Series 5: Sleep Tracking Feature Explained

The Apple Watch Series 5 does not have a built-in sleep tracking feature. However, there are third-party apps available that can be used to track sleep. These include SleepWatch, which can log sleep history and times to the Apple Health App, and Fitbit, which offers a Sleep Score app that uses the heart rate monitor and SPO2 sensor to track sleep duration, sleep stages, and restoration. While the Apple Watch Series 5 does not have native sleep tracking capabilities, subsequent Apple Watch models, such as the Series 8 and 9, have introduced sleep tracking functions that can be enabled through the Apple Health App.

Third-party apps for sleep tracking

The Apple Watch Series 5 does not have a built-in sleep tracking feature. However, there are third-party apps that can be used to track your sleep. These apps can provide more detailed data than the native Apple Watch sleep tracking feature.

• SleepWatch is one of the most popular sleep-tracking apps on the iPhone and Apple Watch. It has powerful data collection features, including sleep history and duration, and can be integrated with the Apple Health App. SleepWatch also provides a SleepWatch Score, which represents your sleep quality in an easy-to-track number.
• AutoSleep is another highly-rated third-party sleep tracking app for the Apple Watch. It offers a range of features, such as tracking your heart rate and motion during sleep, and providing a sleep view that can be accessed if you wake up in the middle of the night.
• Sleep Pulse 3 is a fully-featured standalone sleep app for the Apple Watch that tracks your heart rate and motion. It also has a sleep view that can be accessed on the Watch if you wake up during the night.
• Pillow is another third-party sleep tracking app for the Apple Watch that provides a range of data, including heart rate variability and sleep dip. It also offers daily briefings and sleep trends over time. However, many of the reports are behind a paywall, costing $4.99/£4.99 a month or $29.99/£29.99 a year.
• Fitbit is a well-known brand for sleep tracking technology. The Fitbit Versa 2 uses a heart rate monitor and SPO2 sensor to track sleep duration, sleep stages (light, REM, and deep sleep), and restoration. It also collects anonymous data to help understand the correlation between sleep quality, disturbances, and potential health problems.

Apple Watch's sleep tracking accuracy

The Apple Watch Series 5 does not have a built-in sleep-tracking feature. However, there are third-party apps that can be used for sleep tracking. One such app is SleepWatch, which can log your sleep history and times to the Apple Health App. Another is AutoSleep, which has been rated by some users as more accurate than Apple's Sleep Tracker.

Apple Watches have been deemed to be about 85% accurate for deep sleep tracking and less accurate for REM sleep tracking. However, it is important to note that no app or watch can accurately measure sleep stages, as they all rely on algorithms and are essentially a best guess.

A study that compared 37 devices to an EEG device found that the Apple Watch was the best performer. Another study that analysed 11 consumer sleep trackers (CSTs) found that the Apple Watch 8 showed substantial agreement with polysomnography, indicating its potential for sleep monitoring in a hospital environment.

Despite the lack of built-in sleep tracking in the Apple Watch Series 5, Apple has introduced features such as the Sleep app, which allows users to view their Sleep Stages data, Time Asleep, and Sleep Duration for the last 14 days. Additionally, the Health app on iPhone can help users set a sleep goal and create a customised sleep schedule.

Sleep tracking features on Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 5 does not have a built-in sleep tracking feature. However, there are third-party apps that can be used for sleep tracking. One such app is SleepWatch, which can log your sleep history and times to the Apple Health App. It can also provide insights such as whether you are getting enough sleep or if naps are affecting your sleep.

Subsequent Apple Watch models have included some sleep-tracking features. The Apple Watch SE, for example, has a sleep tracking function that is cheap and convenient as it is incorporated into the Apple Health app, which comes free on every iPhone. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 have temperature sensors for tracking users' wrist temperature overnight, which can provide insights into overall health, cycle tracking accuracy, and ovulation estimates. The Apple Watch Series 8 also has a wrist temperature sensor.

The Apple Watch Series 7 introduced a low-power conservation mode and charging reminders, improving charging speed, and the Apple Ultra has a battery life of 36 hours.

The Sleep app on the Apple Watch allows users to set up a sleep schedule, including a sleep goal, a bedtime reminder, and a wind-down period. It can also track the number of times the wearer breathes in a minute, providing insights into respiratory health. However, it is important to note that respiratory rate measurements are not intended for medical use.

While the Apple Watch can provide basic sleep tracking features, it does not offer the same level of insight or data interpretation as some other wearable devices, such as those from Fitbit, which provide a daily sleep score.

How to view sleep data on Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 5 does not have a built-in sleep-tracking feature. However, you can use third-party apps like SleepWatch to track your sleep. Here's how you can view your sleep data on the Apple Watch using SleepWatch:

• Ensure that your Apple Watch is charged to at least 30% before you go to bed.
• Wear your Apple Watch to bed, making sure you wear it for at least one hour each night.
• In the morning, open the SleepWatch app on your Apple Watch or iPhone to view your auto-detected sleep details.
• You can also open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad.
• Tap "Browse" at the bottom of the screen, then tap "Sleep".
• If you have "Sleep" saved as a favorite, you can access it from the Summary page in the Health app.
• The bar graph is set to "Daily" by default. Tap "W" at the top of the chart to view your sleep history for the past week, "M" for the past month, or "6M" for the past six months.
• Tap "Show More Sleep Data" to review additional details, such as the time and percentage spent awake or in REM, Core, or Deep sleep.
• You can also view your Sleep Duration details, including your Sleep Goal and Time Asleep.

By following these steps, you can conveniently access and analyze your sleep data on your Apple Watch, even though it doesn't have native sleep-tracking capabilities.

Sleep tracking on Apple Watch: Benefits and limitations

Sleep tracking is available on the Apple Watch, but only on watchOS 8 or later. To use this feature, your Apple Watch must be charged to at least 30% before bed, and you must wear it for at least one hour each night. The Sleep app on the Apple Watch can help you set a sleep goal and create a customised sleep schedule. It can also measure and track your Respiratory Rate.

The Apple Watch uses an accelerometer, heart rate monitor, and microphone to measure sleep quality. However, this method of measurement is not always accurate. For example, the Huawei Watch GT indicated light sleep when the user was scrolling through their phone in bed, and the Withings Move mistook the watch being left on a desk for sleep.

Third-party apps can also be used for sleep tracking on the Apple Watch, but since they are not native to the device, the analytics do not factor in other metrics tracked by the watch.

Sleep tracking can help users improve their workout performance and make more informed decisions about their health and fitness. However, it is important to note that a sleep tracker will not improve your sleep. Instead, it can be a helpful tool to understand your sleep patterns and create a routine to cultivate better sleep habits.

Frequently asked questions