The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Apple clearance for its sleep apnea detection feature coming to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Watch Ultra 2 via the upcoming watchOS 11 update.
This approval, which marks a significant milestone in Apple’s ongoing efforts to position its smartwatch as a comprehensive health monitoring device, comes just days ahead of the Series 10’s release on September 20 (via TechCrunch).
Sleep apnea, a condition that causes disrupted breathing during sleep, is linked to various health problems, including chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and an increased risk of heart disease. While the Apple Watch can’t provide an official diagnosis, it can flag potential risks, encouraging users to seek further evaluation from healthcare professionals.
Apple emphasizes that this feature is intended as a screening tool, not a substitute for medical evaluation.
The feature relies on advanced sensor technology, particularly the watch’s accelerometer, to detect disturbances in sleep patterns. By tracking a user’s movements and sleep quality over a minimum of 10 nights within a 30-day period, the watch can gather enough data to provide useful insights about the user’s sleep health.
The sleep apnea detection feature was first introduced at Apple’s recent iPhone 16 event, drawing significant attention. It will be included in the watchOS 11 update, playing a critical role in the future of wearable health technology.
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