Your Google Pixel can now measure your heart rate. Here’s how to use it

This story was originally published 2021/03/05
15:35 PSTon March 5, 2021 and last updated 2021/03/10
08:07 PSTon March 10, 2021.

I know a month feels like a lifetime ago, but do you remember the Google Fit Mobile Vitals features announced – do you know what the heart rate and respiratory monitoring promised without extra hardware? The Pixel-time-exclusive Google reminded us that it would be coming during the Feature Drop in March? We’re told that the few Mobile Vitals features (which work with nothing more than your phone’s existing camera) will roll out to Pixels on Monday, and we even know what it’s going to look like in action.

The two new features are honestly pretty cool. If you do not remember the previous explanation, both of these features (which are linked to something called the Mobile Vitals tool) only work with your phone’s camera.

Heart rate monitoring with the new Mobile Vitals tool.

In the case of the heart rate monitor, simply cover the camera with your finger and apply ‘light pressure’ as it is fully covered. The camera sensor can record subtle color indications (‘pulsating photopletismographic signals’), which are usually too difficult for us to see ourselves. But with the directions, it can detect your blood circulation while pumping away, and report back with beats per minute with a specific heartbeat. You can also save the measurement in your heartbeat file.

The measurement of breathing rate on the Mobile Vitals instrument.

The breathing rate tracking feature also uses the camera, but you need to pull it up to give a clear picture of your torso – Amazon Halo style – so you can see your chest moving as you breathe. Based on the movements it sees, it can calculate your breathing rate in breaths per minute. You can save the measurement in your log again if you want.

Both of these measurements can change your health, and although Google’s examples from the examples above show that this is not a medical test or treatment for any condition, your smartphone can now easily measure both without having to deal with external hardware. .

As you would expect, everything is also processed on the device, so you do not have to worry about videos staring at the camera while breathing on the internet, unless you specifically want it, separate from this.

Again, the features are exclusive to Google Pixels. Other phones get it later, Pixels just get it first, although we do not get a fixed schedule, requirements or availability of devices regarding a wider implementation. (And if we hear more, we’ll let you know.) We’re told it will be all supporting Pixels, which I assume excludes the Pixel 2 series as it will not receive any more updates.