The Daily PulseTechnology
Deepinder Goyal's Temple Wearable Enters Market at ₹85,000 to Rival Apple and Garmin
Reported by Tanvi Pillai (Section Editor) · Livemint - Technology ·
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsDeepinder Goyal's new health tech wearable, called Temple, is now available for pre-order in India at ₹85,000. Unlike standard smartwatches worn on the wrist, Temple attaches to the side of the forehead near the temple to track specific physiological signals.
How It Works
Temple uses optical sensors placed against the skin near the superficial temporal artery to gather data. The company has created two unique metrics called BrainFlow and Entropy. BrainFlow tracks relative changes in blood circulation linked to the brain, while Entropy uses a score from 1 to 250 to show how hard the body works to maintain itself. Goyal states this score shifts due to sleep, exercise, stress, food, caffeine, and meditation.
Comparison And Claims
Temple does not offer regular smartwatch features like calls, apps, notifications, or built-in GPS navigation. For comparison, Apple Watch Series 12 starts at ₹56,900, and Garmin Forerunner 970 is listed at ₹92,990. Goyal claims Temple measures heart rate more accurately than leading brands like Apple, Garmin, Fitbit Air, WHOOP MG, and Oura Ring 5. In a company-led study using a Polar H10 chest strap as a reference, Temple recorded lower measurement errors across exercise zones. However, independent testing is still needed to confirm these results, and doctors have questioned whether sensors near the temple can accurately measure blood flow inside the brain since the superficial temporal artery supplies the scalp and face rather than the brain directly. Goyal defends the device as a fitness and wellness product rather than a medical tool that diagnoses or prevents disease.
Context
Wearable fitness technology has expanded rapidly beyond simple step counting to monitor advanced health metrics like blood oxygen and recovery. New entrants frequently test alternative placement locations on the body to capture different physiological signals. However, medical professionals routinely emphasize that consumer wellness gadgets require rigorous independent scientific validation before their physiological claims can be fully verified.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
Deepinder Goyal's venture launched a forehead-worn fitness tracker called Temple at ₹85,000, claiming it tracks brain blood flow and physiological strain using optical sensors.
Why It Matters
Consumer health devices often make advanced physiological claims before independent scientific consensus is established. Medical experts point out that sensors placed on the scalp measure superficial blood flow rather than actual brain circulation, raising questions about the validity of novel metrics like BrainFlow.
What Happens Next
Independent researchers will need to conduct rigorous testing and peer-reviewed studies to verify whether Temple's unique placement and measurements offer genuinely useful insights beyond what traditional wrist-worn wearables provide.
