Defining Minimal Viable Android Phone Versions for Sahha
Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of health biometrics across different Android devices is crucial. While flagship phones typically offer high-quality accelerometers and gyroscopes, the performance of these sensors can vary in older and budget-tier smartphones. Here are the insights and guidelines on which Android devices are best suited for Sahha's health metrics, specifically focusing on sleep and activity scores.
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Understanding Sensor Quality Across Android Phone Tiers
Budget-Tier Phones
Samsung Galaxy A32
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
Realme C53
Google Pixel 4a
Motorola Moto G34
Budget-Tier Phones with Accelerometer and Gyroscope
Medium-Tier Phones
Samsung Galaxy A55
Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro
Infinix Note 40 Pro
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion
Oppo Reno8
Medium-Tier Phones with Accelerometer and Gyroscope
Flagship Phones
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Huawei P50 Pro
OnePlus 12
Flagship-Tier Phones with Accelerometer and Gyroscope
Impact on Sahha's Health Scores
While flagship phones typically offer high-quality accelerometers and gyroscopes, the performance of these sensors can vary in older and budget-tier smartphones. Let's take a closer look at how older versions of Android perform on Sahha's health scores, specifically sleep and activity.
To better understand, here’s some sample data from a walk around my neighbourhood, with a wearable (Samsung Galaxy Watch 3), an old budget-tier phone (Samsung Galaxy A037F) and a fairly modern phone (Google Pixel 7A)
Steps:
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: ± 34 steps
Samsung Galaxy A037F: ± 66 steps
Google Pixel 7A: ± 68 steps
Activity Duration:
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: ± 1 minute
Samsung Galaxy A037F: ± 1 minute
Google Pixel 7A: ± 1 minute
For sleep we can use an example of potential mean errors in the main factors used to calculate sleep scores (Nature):
Sleep Duration:
Wearables: ± 10-15 minutes
New phones: ± 15-20 minutes
Old phones: ± 30-40 minutes
Sleep Timing:
Wearables: ± 10-15 minutes
New phones: ± 20-25 minutes
Old phones: ± 30-45 minutes
Even with these variations, the scores on older and newer phones remain reliable for tracking trends over time. To further enhance the robustness of a single score, we evaluate factors using deviations in their average values. This approach reduces the impact of bad sensors on the overall score, ensuring that Sahha's health scores are both accurate and dependable across a wide range of devices, including older Android smartphones.
For more information on how Sahha calculates health scores, refer to the Sahha Health Scores.
Defining Cutoff Points
Phone Type and Year:
We generally advise using phones no older than 5 years to ensure a balance between broad market coverage and data accuracy.
Market Share Analysis
Phones meeting this criterion cover approximately 70.71% of the global Android market, ensuring inclusivity and reliable data for the majority of users (Statista).
Minimum Supported Android OS Versions
Android Sleep API and Activity Recognition:
Both APIs require Android 10 (API level 29) and higher to function properly, as the Sleep API depends on the Activity Recognition API to detect user activities, including sleep (Google Developers - Sleep, Google Developers - Activity Recognition).
Android Health Connect
Health Connect is supported from Android 10 (API level 29) onwards, as long as the Health Connect app is installed as well. From Android 14 (API level 34), the Health Connect app does not need to be installed as it is included within the operating system (Google Developers - Health Connect, The Health Connect App).
Almost all modern smartphones, including budget and older models, are equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes. These sensors are standard components necessary for various functions such as screen orientation, gaming, navigation, and health tracking. Therefore, nearly every Android phone can collect step data effectively.
At Sahha, we strive to deliver accurate and actionable health insights regardless of the device in use. By defining minimal viable phone versions for Android, we ensure that our scores remain reliable and useful across a wide range of smartphones. This approach enhances our value proposition and helps our partners create inclusive, effective mobile health solutions.