As part of its September “Glowtime” event taking place on Monday, Apple will refresh all its Apple Watch models, including the affordable Apple Watch SE, the mid-range Apple Watch Series 7, and the premium Apple Watch Ultra 2.
While attention has focused on the Sequence 10’s slimmed-down body and larger display, the feature that truly sets it apart is its ability to detect sleep apnea.
Apple’s long-rumored sleep apnea detection feature for the Apple Watch has been the subject of speculation for several years, with uncertainty surrounding its potential launch timeline, including the possibility of a 2023 release.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, there is strong indication that the feature will be a headline attraction on both the Series 10 and Ultra 3. The wearable device will identify individuals afflicted with sleep apnea and prompt them to consult a healthcare professional for further guidance.
The smartwatch can proactively notify individuals of irregular heart rhythms, low heart rates, low blood oxygen levels, and other health anomalies in real-time.
Gurman suggests that while Apple is poised to unveil the feature on Monday, it may not be immediately available when the new product goes on sale; the enabling of the performance would arrive as part of a future watchOS software update, implying that Apple is still fine-tuning the characteristic at the eleventh hour.
The introduction of sleep apnea tracking in watchOS 11’s Vitals app is likely linked to its ability to monitor various physiological metrics during sleep.
By 2022, Apple was already exploring ways to detect hypertension using its Apple Watch technology, with plans to roll out the feature by 2024. According to Gurman, the feature remains delayed and is no longer expected to debut in the Series 10 watch cycle.
