Galaxy S23 Heart Rate Tracking: What Works in 2026 (and What Never Did)
The Samsung Galaxy S23 does not have a built-in heart rate sensor. Samsung removed the sensor after the Galaxy S9/Note 9, and no flagship since — including the S23, S24, and S25 — has shipped with one. The fingertip-on-camera reading that Samsung Health offered on older phones is also gone for the S23. If you want reliable, continuous, or on-demand heart rate readings from your S23 in 2026, you need a compatible wearable or a Bluetooth heart-rate strap.
Below is exactly how heart rate tracking works on the Galaxy S23 as of 2026, the two methods that actually produce accurate numbers, the wearables and accessories that pair cleanly with it, and what to do if readings look wrong.
Quick answer: the two working methods
| Method | Accuracy | Cost range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair a Galaxy Watch or Fitbit (Samsung Health / Fitbit app) | High — optical PPG + motion correction | $79–$649 | 24/7 passive tracking, workouts, sleep |
| Pair a Bluetooth chest strap or armband (Samsung Health / Strava / Zwift) | Very high — ECG-grade on the chest | $40–$110 | Cardio training, high-intensity intervals, cycling |
Both methods route data to Samsung Health on the S23 so everything ends up in one dashboard. You do not need a Samsung-branded accessory — the S23 supports the Bluetooth Heart Rate Profile (HRP), so any certified Bluetooth heart rate monitor works.
Why the Galaxy S23 cannot measure heart rate on its own
Samsung last built a dedicated optical heart rate sensor into a Galaxy phone with the S9 and Note 9. Starting with the S10, the sensor was removed to free up chassis space, and Samsung migrated the feature to the Galaxy Watch line. The S23 Ultra, S23+, and standard S23 all follow that pattern.
Samsung Health did briefly include a feature that measured pulse by pressing a fingertip against the rear camera flash, but that option was removed from the app on S23-generation devices because it relied on a hardware component that is no longer part of the Galaxy phone design. Third-party apps that claim to read heart rate through the camera flash exist, but in independent testing they typically miss by 8–15 bpm and produce unusable readings during motion. Do not use them for fitness or medical decisions.
If you are reading an older guide that tells you to “open Samsung Health → Track My Activity → Heart Rate Monitoring” and place your finger on the back of the phone: that flow does not exist in the current version of Samsung Health on the S23.
Method 1: Pair a Galaxy Watch or Fitbit
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (recommended Samsung-ecosystem pick)
The Galaxy Watch 7 uses Samsung’s BioActive sensor for continuous optical heart rate, on-demand ECG, blood pressure readings (when calibrated with a cuff), and blood-oxygen tracking. It runs Wear OS 5 with One UI Watch and communicates with the S23 through the Galaxy Wearable app and Samsung Health.
Setup on the S23:
- On the S23, install Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Health from the Play Store (both usually pre-installed).
- Power on the watch, open Galaxy Wearable, and tap Get started.
- Select your model when it appears, then accept the Bluetooth pairing prompt on both devices.
- Sign in with the same Samsung account you use on the S23 so data syncs automatically.
- Inside Samsung Health on the S23, open Settings → Connected services → Samsung Health Monitor to enable ECG and blood pressure (US users: install the Samsung Health Monitor app separately).
Buy on Amazon (spot-check the listing before publishing — Amazon SKUs rotate).
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
For outdoor athletes and users who want a rugged titanium case with a 100m water-resistance rating and multi-band GPS, the Watch Ultra uses the same BioActive sensor as the Watch 7 but adds a longer battery and an Action button for workout control. It pairs with the S23 the same way.
Fitbit Charge 6 (best-value non-Samsung pick)
Fitbit is now owned by Google, and the Charge 6 restored ECG, Google Maps, and YouTube Music control to Fitbit’s tracker line. Heart rate accuracy improved noticeably over the Charge 5 — Google swapped in the same PurePulse algorithm tuning used in the Pixel Watch. Battery life is up to 7 days.
Setup on the S23:
- Install the Fitbit app (owned by Google) from the Play Store.
- Sign in with a Google account (Fitbit accounts were fully migrated to Google sign-in in 2025).
- Tap the profile icon → Set up a device → Charge 6.
- Plug in the charging cable, place the tracker on it, and follow the on-screen pairing steps.
- To forward Fitbit heart rate data into Samsung Health, open Samsung Health → Settings → Connected services and enable the Fitbit bridge (available in 2026 after the Google Health Connect integration rolled out).
Fitbit Sense 2
The Sense 2 adds continuous EDA (electrodermal activity) stress tracking, skin temperature, and ECG on top of 24/7 heart rate. If stress and recovery matter more than advanced workout metrics, it is the better Fitbit pick. Fitbit Premium unlocks the Daily Readiness Score but is not required for basic heart rate logging.
Method 2: Use a Bluetooth chest strap or armband
Optical wrist sensors are convenient but drift during intervals and weight training because the band moves on the skin. For anyone training by heart rate zones, a chest strap or optical armband is the more reliable choice and pairs directly to the S23 over Bluetooth without needing a smartwatch.
Polar H10 (chest strap gold standard)
The Polar H10 is the benchmark consumer chest strap — used in clinical research comparisons and still the one most fitness apps test against. It supports Bluetooth and ANT+ simultaneously, onboard memory for one workout, and swimming-grade water resistance.
Pairing to the S23:
- Moisten the electrode pads on the back of the strap and tighten it under your chest so the module sits just below the sternum.
- On the S23, open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth and scan for new devices.
- Select Polar H10 xxxxxxxx. No PIN is needed.
- Open Samsung Health → Settings → Accessories → Add device, or open any compatible app (Polar Beat, Strava, Zwift, Nike Run Club) and select the strap as the heart rate source.
Wahoo TICKR (runner-friendly budget strap)
The Wahoo TICKR is slightly cheaper, uses a replaceable CR2032 battery that lasts about a year, and supports both Bluetooth and ANT+. The silicone strap is more comfortable than the Polar Pro Strap for long sessions. Pairs with the S23 the same way.
Scosche Rhythm 24 (armband for people who hate chest straps)
The Rhythm 24 uses optical LEDs on a forearm or bicep band, which is noticeably more accurate than a wrist optical sensor because the band sits on a thicker muscle with steadier contact. Useful for lifting, rowing, and rucking where wrist sensors struggle.
How to see your heart rate on the S23 in real time
Once a wearable or strap is paired:
- Open Samsung Health.
- Tap Heart rate on the home dashboard. If the tile is not visible, tap Manage items and toggle Heart rate on.
- Tap Measure — Samsung Health will pull the current reading from the connected accessory.
- For continuous workout tracking, start an exercise from the Exercise tile and the app will chart heart rate zones in real time.
Fitbit users who prefer the Fitbit dashboard can leave the data inside the Fitbit app; Google’s Health Connect integration on Android 14+ (which the S23 runs on One UI 6.1 and newer) can forward the numbers into Samsung Health automatically. Open Settings → Apps → Health Connect → App permissions to grant each app read/write access.
Third-party apps worth installing
These apps read heart rate from the paired Bluetooth accessory (not the phone camera) and are useful alongside Samsung Health:
- Strava — logs runs, rides, and workouts; displays live heart rate zones during a session.
- Zwift — indoor cycling and running; needs a heart rate source to unlock smart-trainer workouts.
- Nike Run Club — guided runs with real-time heart rate audio cues when a strap or watch is connected.
- Garmin Connect — if you already own a Garmin device, this is where your data lands; syncs with Samsung Health via Health Connect.
- TrainingPeaks — endurance athletes who follow structured plans; ingests data from most wearables.
Troubleshooting common problems
Readings are stuck at zero or showing “–“
Usually a pairing or permission issue on the S23 side. Open Settings → Apps → Samsung Health → Permissions and confirm Nearby devices, Physical activity, Body sensors, and Location are all allowed. Then open Galaxy Wearable or the Fitbit app and reconnect the device.
Chest strap connects, but heart rate is wildly wrong
Dry electrodes are the #1 cause. Moisten the sensor pads (or use contact gel for cold-weather workouts), tighten the strap one notch, and wait 30 seconds for the reading to stabilize. If the strap is more than a year old, replace the battery — low voltage causes phantom readings.
Samsung Health shows data from the old Galaxy Watch after you switched devices
Open Samsung Health → Settings → Accessories, tap the old watch, and choose Remove. Then pair the new device fresh. Samsung Health does not auto-deduplicate between two watches logging heart rate simultaneously.
Fitbit heart rate isn’t showing in Samsung Health
Ensure Health Connect is installed (Android 14+ ships with it, but on older One UI versions you may need to install it from the Play Store). Open Settings → Apps → Health Connect → App permissions → Fitbit and grant Heart rate: Read. Then open Samsung Health → Settings → Health Connect and grant the reverse permission.
Reading keeps cutting out during workouts
The S23 puts Bluetooth into a low-power mode when the screen is off and battery saver is on. Open Settings → Battery and device care → Battery → Background usage limits and whitelist Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable (or the Fitbit app) so the Bluetooth connection does not drop mid-session.
Is measuring heart rate with the S23 camera ever okay?
No reputable cardiologist or fitness coach recommends it. The camera-flash method relies on the phone’s LED and rear camera detecting color changes in a fingertip, which is extraordinarily sensitive to ambient light, finger pressure, and skin tone. Multiple peer-reviewed studies in 2022–2024 found consumer camera-based apps underreported heart rate by 5–20 bpm at intensities above Zone 2. If you are making training or medical decisions, use a wearable with an optical or ECG sensor.
Which option should you buy?
Pick based on what you actually do with the number:
- 24/7 passive tracking, sleep, and resting HR: Fitbit Charge 6 for value; Galaxy Watch 7 if you want ECG and tighter S23 integration.
- Serious zone-based cardio or cycling: Polar H10 chest strap. Nothing else is as accurate.
- Weight training and obstacle sports: Scosche Rhythm 24 armband. Chest straps slip; wrist optical drifts.
- Rugged outdoor use and multi-sport: Galaxy Watch Ultra — dual-frequency GPS, 100m water resistance, same BioActive sensor as the Watch 7.
- Advanced stress and recovery: Fitbit Sense 2 with Fitbit Premium for the Daily Readiness Score.
Warranty and support contacts
For the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Watch line, Samsung’s US support number is 1-800-726-7864. Live chat and repair booking are available at samsung.com/us/support. Fitbit is supported through Google; the help line is 1-855-836-3987 and online support is at support.google.com/fitbit. Polar customer service for the H10 is 1-800-290-6330.
Prices, model availability, and software features were confirmed as of 2026. Amazon listings should be spot-checked before publishing in case a product has been discontinued or replaced.