Samsung Galaxy Watch Expands Sleep Apnea Tracking to Australia and 34 European Countries, Enhancing Global Health Monitoring

Samsung declared on Thursday the broadened availability of an important health monitoring feature across additional regions. The Sleep Apnea function, which debuted alongside the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra models in the US, will now be accessible in 34 new European countries, as well as in Australia and Singapore. This feature acts as a supplementary tool, utilizing the Samsung Health app and the BioActive Sensor present in the Galaxy Watch to detect indications of obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea on Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsung detailed the rollout of the Sleep Apnea feature in a news release. The company has mentioned that this feature has obtained CE (Conformité Européenne or European Conformity) certification for the European Economic Area (EEA), confirming its adherence to the EU’s health, safety, and environmental regulations.

As a result, it is now being launched in 34 new European markets. Furthermore, Samsung is also rolling out this feature for Galaxy Watch users in Australia and Europe.

The technology giant highlights that its Sleep Apnea risk detection feature has received De Novo authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is also approved by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Brazil’s health regulatory body ANVISA, and Health Canada, the Canadian government’s health department.

According to Samsung, the Sleep Apnea feature is accessible on the Galaxy Watch through the Samsung Health Monitor app. It necessitates a Galaxy Watch operating on Wear OS 5.0 or newer, paired with a smartphone that has Android OS 9.0 or later.

Samsung states that it aims to raise awareness about sleep health by monitoring signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. It requires a minimum amount of sleep data for more precise measurement. The analytical results will be displayed after two sleep cycles while using the watch.

However, the company cautions that the Galaxy Watch should not be regarded as a medical-grade device and is not a replacement for professional medical consultation. The potential health markers are simply suggestions and should not be taken as diagnoses. Therefore, users must consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis if the smartwatch identifies possible sleep problems.