Garmin’s sleep tracking has now become more accurate thanks to this Nap Detection upgrade
Garmin has released an update to the Nap Detection feature, which allows users to manually enter the start and end time of a nap into Garmin Connect.
First released with the Garmin Venu 3 in September 2023, Nap Detection is designed to detect daytime sleep without any manual input. It records for up to three hours, aiming to use your accelerometer and other physiological sensors, such as heart rate, to automatically detect when you’re sleeping outside your normal sleep window.
But even the best Garmin watch can catch naps if they haven’t occurred (for example, if you’re just resting on the couch) or don’t recognize the ones you do take. Automatic detection of any kind, especially first-generation technology, is never perfect.
Manual nap detection aims to solve these problems. By opening the Naps page on Garmin Connect, you can manually add a nap to your data and adjust the start and end times as needed. As long as you wore your Garmin watch during the nap, it has already recorded your heart rate, skin temperature, etc., so by manually adding a nap you’re just adding a kind of ‘tag’ to indicate that this is Here’s how what your stats looked like during your snooze.
It’s somewhat similar to Oura Ring Generation 3’s Tag feature, which lets you tag your stats timeline with naps, meals, workouts, and more. Manual nap detection is now available in many users’ Garmin Connect apps.
Analysis: Accuracy is important
Manually editing naps sounds tricky, but Garmin users are used to diving into their data and experiencing health metrics in all their complexity. A manual nap edit means greater accuracy when it comes to monitoring your energy levels, with sleep tracking contributing to your body battery and exercise readiness scores.
This is certainly helpful, as daytime naps have been shown to boost energy and cognitive performance. According to researchers from Flinders University in AustraliaEven just a five-minute nap can improve cognitive function and reduce drowsiness.
It’s a change we expect the Garmin community will welcome, although we hope Garmin’s automatic Nap Detection software becomes more accurate in subsequent releases, putting the manual feature into question. However, it’s one area where Garmin still has an edge over rivals like the top Apple Watches, which don’t currently offer nap detection features.