Are open rates accurate?

No. Open rates are not accurate, especially post Apple MPP. Image proxy pre loading, security scanning, and privacy protection all trigger false opens. Actual human opens are unknowable with precision.

Open tracking has always been approximate, measuring pixel loads rather than human reading. MPP accelerated inaccuracy but did not create it.

Use open rates as directional indicators rather than precise metrics. Compare trends over time with consistent methodology. Do not make decisions based on assumed accuracy.