Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the first to offer a new sleep apnea feature – and that’s a big plus
We’re still recovering from the news of Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024. On July 10, Samsung took to the stage in Paris to introduce a range of new phones, earbuds, watches and even the Samsung Galaxy Ring.
But it’s Samsung’s new smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra, that we’re focusing on today. You can read our previous Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review here , and while both watches introduce a lot of exciting new features, the new sleep apnea detection feature (which was mentioned in the presentation) gets… well… overlooked.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that blocks a person’s airways during sleep, potentially limiting oxygen consumption. Sleep apnea can cause heart problems, liver problems, fatigue, or even metabolic syndrome, and has been linked to conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
Loud snoring, insomnia, or daytime sleepiness can all be signs of the onset of sleep apnea, but often we don’t notice it until it’s too late. That’s why a smartwatch’s sleep apnea detection feature can be vital for early detection.
How does the function work?
Samsung’s sleep apnea detection feature works via Samsung’s blood oxygen sensor, which runs through Samsung’s Health Monitor app. After wearing the watch for two days and sleeping for at least four hours over a 10-day period, the feature should be able to regularly measure your oxygen levels to detect signs of moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea.
While the feature is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (a big kudos to Samsung, as this is an important seal of approval for the feature’s accuracy), it’s not a diagnosis per se. Rather, you should see it as an indication to get a professional check-up by a real doctor.
Which Samsung devices can use it?
Now? Certainly the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. However, it appears the feature won’t be exclusive to watches with the new BioActive Sensor. In fact, it appears to be the domain of OneUI Watch 6, the next update to Samsung’s operating system, which older Galaxy Watches will also be getting.
Reported by 9to5GoogleA Reddit user posted a screenshot of Samsung’s Health Monitor app ahead of the new watches’ July 10 announcement. The user is reportedly part of the One UI Watch 6 beta program, available for the Watch 4, Watch 5, and Watch 6.
That means these watches, which come equipped with blood oxygen sensors, will likely get the feature as well. But we won’t know for sure until the One UI Watch 6 officially launches on these Samsung devices.