When Apple Watch Series 4 made its splash on stage at Apple’s special event last week, the device definitely stole the show with its new design, larger screen, fall detection feature and built-in electrocardiogram (ECG).
Apple’s press release explicitly stated the new ECG feature was going to be US-only at launch, as the company has still yet to work with local health authorities worldwide to expand the feature. For Canadians, that means we would not officially have the feature when it launches later this year.
Many believe a USA iTunes account should be able to download the ECG app in the US App Store when it launches later and use the feature in Canada. Time will tell if that rings true.
But we now have an update on Apple Watch Series 4 and the ECG feature. According to MobileSyrup, “Apple said that it’s currently in the process of working with Health Canada to bring the functionality to the Canadian market.”
So there you have it. Canadians are in another situation where they are still waiting for Apple features to debut here, such as Apple News and Apple Pay Cash.
The ECG function on Apple Watch works by having the user place their finger on the Digital Crown for 30 seconds. According to Apple:
Electrodes built into the Digital Crown and the back crystal work together with the ECG app to read your heart’s electrical signals. Simply touch the Digital Crown to generate an ECG waveform in just 30 seconds. This data can indicate whether your heart rhythm shows signs of atrial fibrillation — a serious form of irregular heart rhythm — or sinus rhythm, which means your heart is beating in a normal pattern.
With news of the ECG feature possibly coming to Canada now, are you going to re-think your decision to buy an Apple Watch Series 4?
Apple Watch Series 4 launches in Canada this Friday, September 21, 2018—click here to read a roundup of first reviews.
