Samsung Galaxy Watches to Introduce Sleep Apnea Feature in Korea

Whether you prefer them over the Apple Watch Series 9 and Series 8 or not, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 family and last year’s Galaxy Watch 5 lineup are undeniably some of the best smartwatches available for health monitoring and physical activity tracking.

In certain regions, these Wear OS-powered smartwatches offer state-of-the-art technologies like ECG detection, blood pressure supervision, and irregular heart rhythm notification, in addition to standard features such as fall detection, blood oxygen tracking, and body composition analysis.

Samsung is now planning to expand its Health Monitor toolset by introducing a sleep apnea feature in Korea starting early next year. This feature has been approved for “pre-diagnosis” use by the local Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It is currently unclear when or if this feature will be available in other countries.

Please note that the sleep apnea feature is designed to identify possible signs of sleep apnea in its moderate to severe form for users who have not already been diagnosed with the condition. A professional diagnosis from a doctor is still required for appropriate treatment.

While the feature may not detect every case of sleep apnea, Samsung’s efforts to improve its smartwatches for user wellness are commendable. With sleep apnea affecting a significant portion of the population, the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 6 have the potential to improve the lives of many individuals in Korea.

Sleep apnea can have serious health consequences, including disruptions in oxygen supply, poor rest, and complications such as hypertension, cardiac disorders, stroke, or cognitive disorders. As this condition often goes undiagnosed and untreated, it would be beneficial to see the feature approved by the FDA for use in the United States in the near future.