Samsung Upgrades Sleep Apnoea Detection for Galaxy Wearables

Enhanced Sleep Monitoring Capabilities

Samsung is expanding the capabilities of its wearable devices with an improved sleep apnoea detection feature powered by artificial intelligence. This innovation aims to provide users with more precise and detailed insights into their health.

First introduced to the Samsung ecosystem in 2024 following approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the initial tool provided only general data. The new version offers a significantly deeper analysis, tracking the frequency and quality of breathing disturbances per hour with accuracy levels approaching those of specialised medical studies.

How the Updated System Works

To ensure accurate results, users must meet specific criteria: the device requires at least two five-hour sleep cycles recorded over a 10-day period. Once this data is processed, the Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring will generate a comprehensive report.

Samsung emphasises that this technology is not a substitute for professional medical consultation or diagnosis. Its primary purpose is to keep users informed so they may seek professional advice if potential issues are identified. The company will continue to support the existing basic detection function for the Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models.

Availability of the Update

The rollout of the updated feature begins in November. South Korea will be the first market to receive the update, following authorisation from the local Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. A release in the U.S. market is expected in the near future, contingent on FDA authorisation.

Regarding device compatibility, Samsung confirmed the feature will be available on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 8, provided they are running Wear OS 7.0 or a later version. While some features may initially face regional restrictions, the global deployment of such technology marks a significant step in integrating wearable gadgets with medical care.