Temple, the wearable technology startup founded by Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal, has claimed that its temple-worn health monitoring device outperformed leading wearables, including the Apple Watch, Oura Ring and Whoop, in a heart-rate accuracy study. The company compared its device against five established products using a Polar H10 chest strap as the reference for measuring heart rate during different levels of physical activity.
The findings, published by Temple on October 31, 2026, suggest that the company’s wearable recorded lower heart-rate measurement errors across resting conditions and all five exercise intensity zones. However, the results come from a company-funded and company-conducted study that has not undergone peer review. The announcement comes as Temple opens pre-orders for its first device in India, positioning itself as a new entrant in the premium wearable health technology market.
Temple Claims Better Heart-Rate Accuracy Than Five Leading Wearables
According to the study shared by Goyal, Temple was tested against five flagship wearable devices from major technology and fitness brands.
The comparison included:
| Wearable device | Company |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 12 | Apple |
| Oura Ring 5 | Oura |
| Whoop MG | Whoop |
| Garmin Forerunner 970 | Garmin |
| Fitbit Air | |
| Temple | Temple |
The study measured how closely each device tracked heart rate against a reference measurement during rest and different exercise intensities.
Goyal said Apple Watch Series 12 came closest to Temple’s results, while the other competing devices recorded higher measurement errors in the company’s comparison.
Temple reported particularly strong results during high-intensity exercise, including heart-rate Zones 4 and 5, which are important for athletes monitoring performance during demanding workouts.
How Temple Conducted the Heart-Rate Accuracy Test
For the comparison, Temple used the Polar H10 chest strap as its reference device. The Polar H10 is a chest-based heart-rate monitor commonly used for exercise tracking and fitness testing.
The company recorded heart-rate measurements from the six wearable devices and compared their readings against the reference on a second-by-second basis.
According to Goyal, the chest strap was taped to participants’ chests to prevent it from losing contact during sprinting and other high-intensity movements.
The comparison covered resting conditions and five exercise heart-rate zones, allowing the company to examine how the devices performed as physical intensity increased.
Temple evaluated performance using mean absolute error, measured in beats per minute (BPM).
A lower mean absolute error indicates that a device’s heart-rate readings are closer to the reference measurement.
Temple’s Reported Heart-Rate Error
The results shared by the company showed Temple recording approximately 1–1.5 BPM of error across the different testing conditions.
| Testing condition | Temple’s reported error |
|---|---|
| Rest | Approximately 1.5 BPM |
| Zone 1 | Approximately 1.3 BPM |
| Zone 2 | Approximately 1.2 BPM |
| Zone 3 | Approximately 1.0 BPM |
| Zone 4 | Approximately 1.3 BPM |
| Zone 5 | Approximately 0.9 BPM |
These figures are based on the company’s published comparison, rather than an independent laboratory assessment.
The results indicate that Temple’s performance remained relatively consistent as exercise intensity increased, according to the study.
Why Deepinder Goyal Says Temple Is More Accurate
Goyal attributed Temple’s reported accuracy advantage to two main factors: its adhesive-based design and the location where the device is worn.
1. Temple placement
Unlike conventional smartwatches and fitness bands worn around the wrist, Temple is designed to sit against the skin near the temple region of the head.
Goyal argued that this location provides access to a major artery and may offer more consistent blood-flow signals during intense physical activity.
The company also tested the same sensor at four different body locations and reported that the temple region delivered the most accurate measurements.
2. Adhesive-based attachment
Temple uses adhesive attachments to maintain contact with the skin.
According to Goyal, this reduces movement-related problems that can affect optical heart-rate sensors during exercise.
Traditional wrist wearables can experience changes in skin contact when users move their arms, sweat or perform high-intensity workouts. Temple’s adhesive-based approach is designed to maintain a consistent sensor position.
Goyal said this could help users experience measurement accuracy closer to the conditions demonstrated in the company’s testing.
Temple Study Has Important Limitations
Although the findings have attracted attention, the study requires independent validation before its results can be treated as conclusive evidence that Temple is more accurate than competing wearables in everyday use.
The Economic Times reported several limitations in the research.
- Company-funded research: Temple funded, conducted and analysed the study.
- No peer review: The published white paper had not undergone peer review at the time of reporting.
- Single testing location: The research was conducted at one site in Gurugram.
- Limited testing sessions: Participants completed one session each.
- Treadmill-focused testing: The comparison involved treadmill running rather than a broad range of everyday activities.
Cycling, strength training, outdoor running and normal daily activities were not included in the study.
These limitations matter because wearable accuracy can vary depending on body movement, skin characteristics, device placement, exercise type and individual physiology.
Goyal has acknowledged the need for further validation. He said an extended study involving independent researchers was underway and invited other researchers to replicate the findings under additional conditions. Temple also offered to fund independent replication efforts.
Temple Opens Pre-Orders at ₹85,000 in India
The accuracy announcement coincides with Temple opening pre-orders for its first wearable device in India.
The first batch is priced at ₹85,000, making it a premium product compared with conventional smartwatches and fitness trackers.
The device follows a made-to-order manufacturing model, with deliveries expected approximately three months after an order is placed.
The package reportedly includes lifetime access to Temple’s software platform and adhesive Grips used to attach the device to the skin.
Temple’s approach differs from conventional smartwatches because its focus is on specialised physiological monitoring rather than offering a broad collection of smartphone features.
The company is attempting to build a wearable platform focused on athletic performance and deeper insights into the human body.
However, questions remain about the full range of metrics, hardware specifications and software capabilities available to consumers.
What Temple’s Technology Could Mean for the Wearable Industry
The wearable technology market has traditionally been dominated by wrist-based devices and smart rings.
Companies such as Apple, Garmin, Fitbit, Oura and Whoop have built products around fitness tracking, heart-rate monitoring, sleep analysis and recovery insights.
Temple is exploring a different approach by moving the sensor to the temple region.
If its accuracy claims are independently validated across different users and activities, the technology could create another category within the wearable market.
More reliable heart-rate measurements could also improve other fitness insights that depend on heart-rate data, including exercise intensity, training load and recovery analysis.
However, competing with established wearable brands will require more than strong laboratory results. Product comfort, battery life, software quality, reliability, pricing and long-term customer support will also influence adoption.
The Bigger Picture
Temple’s announcement highlights a broader shift in the wearable industry towards specialised health monitoring and performance-focused technology.
Deepinder Goyal is attempting to challenge the conventional wrist-based wearable model by developing a device that uses a different body location and attachment method. The company’s reported results offer an interesting starting point, particularly for athletes who depend on accurate heart-rate measurements during intense exercise.
However, independent research will be essential to establish whether the performance advantage extends beyond controlled treadmill testing and applies to everyday consumers.
Looking Ahead
The next important development will be the independent study announced by Temple. Its findings could provide a clearer picture of how the device performs across different exercise types, users and real-world conditions. Consumer feedback following the first deliveries will also help establish whether the device’s design and software deliver practical value.
If Temple can validate its accuracy claims and build a reliable premium wearable platform, it could introduce a new competitor in a market currently dominated by established technology and fitness brands. For now, its reported performance advantage remains a company claim awaiting broader independent verification.
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