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AirPods Can Measure Your Heart Rate, but Are They Accurate

Vanessa Hand Orellana Lead Writer Vanessa is a lead writer at CNET, reviewing and writing about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. She joined the brand first as an on-camera reporter for CNET's Spanish-language site, then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET's videos and YouTube series. This piece sits on 1 source layers, but the real value is showing why the story should not be skimmed past too quickly.

Vanessa Hand Orellana Lead Writer Vanessa is a lead writer at CNET, reviewing and writing about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. She joined the brand first as an on-camera reporter for CNET's Spanish-language site, then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET's videos and YouTube series. The signal is strong enough to deserve attention, but it still needs to be read as something developing rather than fully settled.

Emerging The topic has initial corroboration, but the newsroom is still waiting on stronger confirmation.
Reference image for: AirPods Can Measure Your Heart Rate, but Are They Accurate
Reference image from CNET News. CNET News

Vanessa Hand Orellana Lead Writer Vanessa is a lead writer at CNET, reviewing and writing about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. She joined the brand first as an on-camera reporter for CNET's Spanish-language site, then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET's videos and YouTube series. When she's not testing out smartwatches or dropping phones, you can catch her on a hike or trail run with her family. CNET News is the main source layer for now, and the rest should be read as a signal that is still widening. On the device side, the useful angle is whether a technical change actually alters feel, lifespan, or upgrade cost in real use.

What is happening now

Vanessa Hand Orellana Lead Writer Vanessa is a lead writer at CNET, reviewing and writing about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. CNET News form the main source layer behind the core facts in this piece. This is still a developing thread, so the useful part is knowing which source signals are hardening and which ones still need caution. With devices, practical impact usually shows up in battery life, heat, stability, and long-term usability rather than in a few flashy headline numbers.

Where the sources line up

CNET News is the main source layer for now, and the rest should be read as a signal that is still widening. She joined the brand first as an on-camera reporter for CNET's Spanish-language site, then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET's videos and YouTube series. CNET News form the main source layer behind the core facts in this piece.

The details worth keeping

When she's not testing out smartwatches or dropping phones, you can catch her on a hike or trail run with her family. On the device side, the useful angle is whether a technical change actually alters feel, lifespan, or upgrade cost in real use. The readers who should care most are the ones planning to replace a device, buy an accessory, or upgrade a work setup in the next few months. The next step is to see whether the current signals harden into a durable change or fade as a short-lived experiment.

Why this matters most

The signal is strong enough to deserve attention, but it still needs to be read as something developing rather than fully settled. With 1 source layers on the table, the part worth reading most closely is where firm facts meet the market's early reaction. Expertise Consumer Technology, Smart Home, Family, Apps, Wearables See full bio Vanessa Hand Orellana June 20, 2026 8:00 a. m.

What to watch next

The next readout is price, device coverage, and whether the change feels real once the hardware reaches users. Patrick Tech Media will keep checking rollout speed, user reaction, and how CNET News update the next pieces. From 1 early signals, the piece keeps 1 references that are useful for locking the main details in place. That is why the useful reading move is not to stop at the headline, but to compare the promise, the workflow change, and the likely cost before deciding anything.

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