Deepinder Goyal has just challenged Apple Watch. The Zomato founder claimed his new Temple device tracks heart rate more accurately than several top wearables, including Apple Watch, Garmin FR970, Fitbit Air, Whoop, based on an internal study the company ran. Goyal, who now heads Temple as founder and CEO, in a post on X said, the goal is to eventually build a wearable fit for elite athletes, starting with getting heart rate accuracy right. Here is what the study found and why Temple's design holds the key.
Goyal said Temple beat out multiple popular wearables on heart rate accuracy, including the Apple Watch Series 12, and notably performed better during high-intensity workouts, exactly when readings tend to get shaky.
He pointed out that nailing heart rate accuracy in Zones 4 and 5, the high-intensity ranges professional athletes rely on most, is far trickier than it sounds.
For the test, Temple used the Polar H10 chest strap as its benchmark, taping it to the chest since regular placement can lose contact and miss beats during sprints.
Five flagship wearables, Apple Watch, Garmin FR970, Fitbit Air, Whoop MG, and Oura Ring 5, were measured second by second against this strap, from rest all the way to peak effort. Per the charts Goyal shared, Temple posted the lowest error rates across the board, with Apple Watch coming closest among the rest, though still trailing behind.
Goyal credits the results to Temple’s adhesive design and its placement, worn directly on the temple. “Temple uses adhesive, so its lab condition is its wear condition. You’ll experience our study outcomes in real life,” he said.
He added that the temple sits over a major artery, and unlike other spots on the body, the skin there doesn’t restrict blood flow as much during intense activity, giving the device an edge.
The findings currently come from Temple’s own internal study, though Goyal said the full paper and data are up on the company’s website, with independent researchers already running an extended version.