Fixing VO2 Max on Apple Watch

Question

Fixing VO2 Max on Apple Watch

The VO2 max result on my Apple Watch is wildly inaccurate. I am a semi-professional cyclist and martial artist and my VO2 max in a sports lab setting is around 60+. My Apple Watch continually returns a result of 40 or so. I had hoped to do less in-lab testing as I prepare for events and measure my fitness/readiness-- it's why I bought the watch in the first place. It seems like the Apple Watch isn't able to perform this function reliably. Does anyone have a fix? I've tried the walk/run calibration and the watch will give me a ~40 VO2 max result while my own measurement will always return 55+. Should I resell and get a Garmin?

Apple Watch Series 8

Posted on Apr 25, 2023 08:02 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 30, 2023 01:28 AM in response to MeadowlarkFinch

I’m sorry I don’t have a Fix. But do You think the Garmin works? I just use the delivered Results to track my fitness development. I’m running and cycling and the watch does at least recognise times in wich I’m not training. Due to illness eg.

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Answer 2

north89

Level 1

8 points

Apr 12, 2024 07:49 PM in response to MeadowlarkFinch

I’m in a similar boat here where I routinely run miles on end and live an otherwise active and healthy lifestyle. The apple watch ultra has determined I’m likely going to die tomorrow and I can’t get the VO2 max above 40 no matter how fast I bolt, or how long I run for.

I’ve even watched my average heart rate drop by about 10 points for my longer runs the last month and it still thinks the only thing that’s about to drop is me!

My only solution so far is likely to just go for the Garmin and see if it confirms Apple’s algorithms or wildly deviates.

(Has anyone actually run a side by side comparison?)

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Fixing VO2 Max on Apple Watch

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