Apple Watch Series 7 Body Temperature Monitoring Not Supported Due to Algorithm, Says Kuo

Apple has reportedly faced issues when implementing its planned body temperature monitoring system on the Apple Watch Series 7. However, the feature may be seen on the Apple Watch Series 8, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The analyst at TF International Securities has said that body temperature measurement was first planned as an Apple Watch Series 7 feature. However, in a tweet first spotted by MacRumors, Kuo states that “the algorithm failed to qualify” prior to it entering its engineering validation process (EVT) stage.

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Apple canceled body temperature measurement for Apple Watch 7 because the algorithm failed to qualify before entering EVT stage last year. I believe Apple Watch 8 in 2H22 could take body temperature if the algorithm can meet Apple's high requirements before mass production.

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 1, 2022

Kuo believes that Apple may support the feature in future iterations of the Apple Watch. However, it’s greatly dependent on whether “the algorithm can meet Apple’s high requirements before mass production.” Kuo states that this could happen as early as the Apple Watch Series 8, expected later this year.

Apple reportedly ran into issues reading body temperature due to the fluctuations. The Apple Watch is unable to read core body temperatures using the hardware itself. However, the feature is said to use an algorithm in order to gauge an accurate assessment. Though, due to how quickly those results can change due to the environment, the algorithm must be able to calibrate.

Kuo compared Apple’s struggles to similar ones Samsung is experiencing. Again, the Galaxy Watch 5 may see body temperature measurement excluded as algorithmic limitations stand in the way.

The Apple Watch Series 8 is expected to be revealed sometime in September, along with the iPhone 14 series of smartphones from Apple. An exact release window remains unknown but will likely fall within the typical September-October timeframe.