Smartwatch Sleep Apnea Alerts Get FDA Authorisation
Two major smartwatch makers now have FDA-authorised sleep apnea notification features. They flag signs of possible obstructive sleep apnea; they do not diagnose it.
Key points
- What was authorised. Samsung announced that the US FDA granted De Novo authorisation to a sleep apnea feature on Galaxy Watch on 6 February 2024.
- How it works. The features use the watch's sensors over several nights to look for breathing disturbances.
- Limits. A notification is a prompt to seek a medical assessment.
- What it means for you. If a watch flags possible sleep apnea, or if you snore loudly with pauses in breathing or feel very sleepy in the day, speak to a doctor.
- More from the news desk. News · Sleep technology CES 2026 Sleep Tech A reading of the sleep technology shown at CES 2026, from smart beds and rings to radar sensors and EEG headbands, with evidence caveats.
How it works
The features use the watch's sensors over several nights to look for breathing disturbances. Samsung's feature needs two nights of tracking within a ten-day period, per reports.
Limits
A notification is a prompt to seek a medical assessment. It cannot grade severity, and it does not replace a sleep study. Availability varies by country, and Australia has been reported to have approved Apple and Samsung sleep apnoea technology.
What it means for you
If a watch flags possible sleep apnea, or if you snore loudly with pauses in breathing or feel very sleepy in the day, speak to a doctor. A mattress or pillow cannot treat sleep apnea; see our guide on warning signs.
Sources
- Samsung press release: sleep apnea feature authorised by US FDA Source
- MedTech Dive: Samsung FDA watch sleep apnea Source
- Engadget: Can your smartwatch detect sleep apnea? Source
Links were checked when this post was written. Pages change; check the original for the current wording. Where sources are secondary coverage, the post says so.
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