Samsung adds better sleep tracking to Galaxy Watches – here’s what to expect

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Samsung is boosting its sleep apnea feature.
• Samsung Galaxy users will receive more details about their sleep apnea.
• The feature launches in November, coming to Korea first.

Samsung’s sleep-tracking feature has been around on the Samsung Galaxy Watch for a few years now, but it recently got an upgrade: A new AI algorithm, that can deliver more detailed sleep reports than Samsung’s previous sleep apnea detection technology.

Also: Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 review

How the Galaxy Watch sleep apnea feature works

Users wear a Galaxy Watch to sleep for a few nights, and the sleep apnea results are divided into three stages: mild, occasional, and frequent. Samsung says this classification allows for greater specificity in condition management.

Many smartwatch and health tracker companies have implemented some sleep apnea detection features on their devices. The often underdiagnosed condition impacts around 30 million Americans, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). It’s a condition with gateway effects: if it goes untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and impaired focus, according to the AMA. Despite sleep apnea’s prevalence, it’s highly treatable — and a great example of wearables passively detecting conditions at home.

Also: Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8

Of course, the Galaxy Watch can’t aid in the treatment plan of a sleep apnea diagnosis.

The feature will be available in Korea first, starting in November, with no confirmed date for when it will arrive on US Samsung watches and smart rings. The FDA-cleared feature will first come to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Watch 9, and Ring. Samsung says an update will bring the advanced sleep apnea detection to Galaxy Watch 7 and 8 through future software updates.

To use the feature, a Galaxy user will need to record two nights of sleep within a 10-day period to learn details about their condition.

Nina Raemont

Editor, Wearables & Health Tech

Nina Raemont is ZDNET's Health and Wearables Editor based in New York City. She is constantly testing out health trackers and always has at least two (but normally three) around her fingers or wrist. She was formerly an Associate Writer for CNET. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. In her spare time, she's in her kitchen, trying a new baking recipe. See full bio