Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal has introduced 'Temple,' a new forehead-mounted fitness wearable that his company claims outperforms leading devices, including the Apple Watch Series 12, in heart rate accuracy. The device, priced at ₹85,000 with a lifetime subscription, has opened for pre-orders in India.
Temple's Internal Study Highlights Accuracy Claims
According to a research paper published by Temple on October 31, the device recorded a mean absolute error of just 1.18 beats per minute (bpm) in heart rate tracking. This figure was notably lower than the 1.94 bpm for Apple Watch Series 12, 2.96 bpm for Fitbit Air, 3.14 bpm for WHOOP MG, 3.18 bpm for Garmin Forerunner 970, and 5.21 bpm for Oura Ring 5.
The study involved 43 healthy adults aged 20 to 35, all performing treadmill runs. A Polar H10 ECG chest strap, considered the gold standard, served as the reference device. Temple attributes its superior performance to its adhesive design and strategic sensor placement on the forehead.
Goyal Advises Waiting for Independent Validation
Despite these promising internal results, Deepinder Goyal has urged potential buyers to exercise caution and await independent validation of Temple's claims. He stated that the company would fund efforts to replicate the study by third parties. This recommendation comes amidst the context that Temple Private Limited both funded and conducted the initial research, which was not a clinical trial and focused solely on treadmill running, omitting other activities like cycling or strength training.
“Temple is the most accurate HR tracker compared to all flagship wearables, even in Zone 4 & 5. Detailed study here: https://t.co/lFuUX1cT0d https://t.co/d4EDUoPaHe” — Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) November 1, 2026
Pricing, Availability, and Health Philosophy
Pre-orders for Temple began on November 1, with deliveries anticipated in approximately three months due to its made-to-order model. The device is available in six colors. Initially, the company offered a 14-day, no-questions-asked return policy in India, though Goyal is considering ending it, drawing a parallel to Apple's approach.
Beyond the wearable itself, Goyal emphasized a broader philosophy on health, advising individuals to prioritize fundamental aspects like adequate sleep, a balanced diet, regular strength training, sprinting, and daily walking before investing in advanced fitness trackers.