Wearing an Apple Watch on the Ankle? New Report Explains the Trend

A report from The New York Times over the weekend highlighted the trend of people wearing an Apple Watch on their ankles, instead of the wrist.

apple watch series 10 purple
The report highlighted reasons why some people prefer to wear the Apple Watch on the ankle:

  • Some people with tiny wrists find the Apple Watch fits too loosely for heart rate sensing.
  • Some people with wrist tattoos believe the ink may interfere with heart rate sensing, which is something that Apple acknowledges in a support document. Apple says some tattoos can "block light" from the heart rate sensor on the bottom of the Apple Watch, making it "difficult to get reliable readings."
  • Some people believe the Apple Watch provides more accurate step counting when it is worn on the ankle, compared to the wrist.
  • Some people with skin conditions prefer to wear the Apple Watch on the ankle.
  • Some medical professionals cannot wear anything on their wrists.

Apple has not commented on the report, but its support documents and white papers for the Apple Watch mention that the device's heart rate and calorie measuring functions are validated for wear on the wrist, with no mention of the ankle anywhere. Apple has not publicly come out and advised people against wearing the Apple Watch on the ankle, but it is not something that its documentation acknowledges at this time.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

dontwalkhand Avatar
17 weeks ago
Something tells me there is significant overlap between this and people who sag their pants, and possibly people who bring Bluetooth speakers on trains.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
melliflu Avatar
17 weeks ago
This is how I wear my watch in Paris.

Attachment Image
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
caliguy Avatar
17 weeks ago
This is how my golden retriever wears his Apple Watch as well.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BabyBoii Avatar
17 weeks ago
make ankle monitors great again
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigboy29 Avatar
17 weeks ago
I'm a bit confused that you'd wear it over clothes / on top of socks even if you chose to do this.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigboy29 Avatar
17 weeks ago
In related news: Hilarious things that happen when notifications come in!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)