Apple has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new sleep apnea detection feature, now available to Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 owners. The tool, part of the upcoming watchOS 11 update, leverages the device’s accelerometer to monitor subtle wrist movements associated with irregular breathing during sleep.
Sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts, can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Apple’s system analyzes collected data to alert users of potential moderate to severe cases, encouraging them to seek medical advice.
How It Works
Users can access the “breathing disturbances” metric within the Health app, where they can review trends and export reports to share with healthcare providers. Apple developed the algorithm using machine learning and a clinical-grade dataset from sleep apnea studies.
Competitive Landscape
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch received similar FDA approval earlier this year. Apple plans to expand the feature to the Watch Series 10 upon release and make it available in over 150 countries, broadening access to sleep health monitoring.
The update underscores the growing role of wearables in proactive healthcare, offering users early warnings for conditions that often go undiagnosed.
