what you need to know
- Samsung said it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to bring its sleep apnea detection software to the Galaxy Watch.
- The feature will be available to users over the age of 22, who must track more than four hours of sleep over ten days.
- It is said that Samsung’s sleep apnea detection function will be implemented on the Galaxy Watch series in the third quarter of 2024.
Samsung is preparing to bring its sleep apnea detection software to the United States, having received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to Samsung, the feature can “detect signs of sleep apnea” as long as users wear a compatible Galaxy Watch and Galaxy phone. Once available, signs of “moderate to severe” OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) can be detected in users over the age of 22. The company added that while it’s designed to be used when users need it, it’s not suitable for those who have been previously diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Samsung says that in order to work properly, users must wear the watch to sleep twice to track sleep lasting more than four hours over ten days.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and arrhythmia. Samsung announced that the sleep apnea feature of the Galaxy Watch series will be launched in the third quarter of 2024.
Users should be able to access it through the Samsung Health Monitor app. The company also warns that its sleep apnea detection will vary depending on a user’s carrier, device model and paired phone.
More specific information on which watches and phones are supported should be available closer to Samsung’s expected launch.
In October 2023, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety cleared the Samsung Galaxy Watch series for sleep apnea detection. The feature is said to be rolling out to users in the company’s home country “early in 2024.” Samsung explains that the feature will use the Galaxy Watch’s BioActive sensor to warn of potential sleep apnea.
The software will monitor the user’s blood oxygen levels throughout the night and identify any potential warning signs from changes in values.
Samsung continues to bring valuable health features to users, such as irregular heart rhythm notifications. This feature was approved by the US FDA in May 2023 and monitors the user’s heart for potential signs of AFib in the background. If your Galaxy Watch notifies you, it will also encourage you to perform an EKG on your device to get a more accurate reading.
The feature was launched with the One UI 5 Watch update for the series last year.
If it’s not broken…
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 takes much of what users loved about its predecessor and improves upon it. A brighter display and a slight boost to the Exynos chip make the Watch 6 faster and more immersive. The device also has powerful health-oriented features to help users stay healthy.