Apple has announced a range of new health-focused features for the Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods Pro 2, aimed at addressing sleep apnea and hearing loss—conditions affecting billions worldwide.
Revolutionary Sleep Apnea Detection on Apple Watch Apple’s new sleep apnea notification feature for Apple Watch marks a significant development in sleep health monitoring. This feature utilizes the device’s advanced sensors to detect “Breathing Disturbances,” a new metric that monitors changes in breathing patterns during sleep.
Sleep apnea, a condition affecting over one billion people globally, often goes undiagnosed, increasing risks of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues.
Apple Watch analyzes this data every 30 days, alerting users to signs of moderate or severe sleep apnea, allowing them to seek medical advice. This feature is expected to receive marketing authorization from health authorities like the FDA soon and will be available in over 150 countries, including the U.S., Japan, and the EU.
The Breathing Disturbances feature not only identifies potential sleep apnea but also offers insights into overall sleep quality. Factors such as alcohol consumption, medication, and sleep position can affect breathing patterns, and users can view their data on the Health app for up to a year.
The feature has been clinically validated, with a large-scale study confirming its ability to detect even mild sleep apnea cases.
In addition to sleep health, Apple is also focusing on hearing health with AirPods Pro 2. The company is introducing an unprecedented combination of Hearing Protection, a Hearing Test, and an over-the-counter Hearing Aid, all accessible through the popular earbuds.
To promote awareness, AirPods Pro 2 includes a clinically validated Hearing Test, allowing users to assess their hearing health at home in under five minutes.
For users diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss, the AirPods Pro 2 also offers a built-in Hearing Aid function. This software-based feature personalizes sound amplification to the user’s needs, transforming the AirPods into a clinical-grade hearing aid.
Apple has introduced several other health features across its product lineup. A new Vitals app on Apple Watch allows users to monitor essential metrics like heart rate and respiratory rate overnight. The Health app now includes enhanced support for pregnant users, with features for tracking gestational age and symptoms.
The Hearing Protection feature is expected to be available in fall 2024 and will work with AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware. The feature will be available in the U.S. and Canada.
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If I read this correctly, there isn't a new AirPods Pro, just new features.
That's correct.
I haven't seen any mention of Sleep Apnea support coming to Canada (unlike Hearing Protection).