Apple Watch 10 gets sleep apnea detection › Macerkopf

Apple had few new features for the Apple Watch last year, but this year there could be more to come, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is said to be introducing an important health feature for its upcoming Apple Watch Series 10: sleep apnea detection. The new feature is expected to be introduced together with the iPhone 16 models at the “Glowtime” event on September 9th.

Detecting sleep apnea

While the main focus will be on the Series 10's redesigned, thinner body and larger display, Apple is also expected to unveil a new feature on Monday with sleep apnea detection. Rumor has it that sleep apnea detection has been in development for the Apple Watch for some time, but it wasn't clear if the feature would be coming to the Series 10.

Gurman, at least, is confident that the feature is coming now, and not just to the Series 10, but also to the Ultra 3. If the smartwatch detects repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, the device will recommend that the user see a doctor for further help. This is similar to the way the watch can already inform the user with alerts about irregular heart rate, low heart rate, low blood oxygen levels, and other health conditions.

Gurman cautions, however, that while Apple will announce the feature on Monday, it may not be available immediately when the new products go on sale. Although the necessary hardware is already built into the new Apple Watch models, the feature could be enabled as part of a future watchOS software update. The limitation may be related to the patent disputes surrounding the Apple Watch's ability to collect blood oxygen data, which is precisely the data needed to detect sleep apnea.

In 2022, Bloomberg reported that Apple is also working on high blood pressure detection for the Apple Watch. However, that feature is not expected to make it to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman explains.