Apple Watch Gets FDA Approval for Sleep Apnea Detection Ahead of Series 10 Release

Key Takeaways

The FDA has approved sleep apnea detection on three Apple Watches: Series 9, Watch Ultra 2, and Series 10.

The feature is available with watchOS 11.

Apple’s sleep apnea detection feature has just been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it accessible to users with the latest watchOS 11 update.

Starting today, Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 owners can activate the sleep apnea feature, which will also be available on the upcoming Series 10. The Series 10 is now open for pre-orders and will officially go on sale on September 20th.

This new feature helps detect sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Using the watch’s built-in accelerometer, it tracks subtle wrist movements that indicate changes in breathing patterns. If these disturbances are detected multiple times during the night, it may suggest the user is experiencing sleep apnea.

Users can monitor their breathing disturbances in the Health app on their iPhones and share the data with their doctors if needed.

While this feature can alert users to potential sleep apnea, it’s just the first step. Apple advises that if the watch flags a problem, users should follow up with a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.