New Study Shows Smartwatch Stress Sensors Have No Idea What They're Doing

A recent study conducted by Dutch researchers has found significant flaws in the stress-monitoring capabilities of smartwatches. The study revealed that not only are the stress sensors inaccurate, but they often report the opposite of the user's actual stress levels. The researchers tested the stress sensors in various smartwatch models and found that the devices were unable to reliably detect stress in the users. In some cases, the sensors even indicated that the user was experiencing low stress levels when they were, in fact, under high levels of stress. The findings raise concerns about the reliability of smartwatch stress-monitoring features, which are increasingly being marketed as tools to help users manage their mental health and well-being. The study's authors caution that users should not rely solely on these sensors for assessing their stress levels and suggest that more accurate and reliable methods may be needed to effectively monitor and manage stress.