Samsung Enhances Sleep Apnea Detection for Galaxy Watches

Samsung's AI-Powered Sleep Apnea Detection

Samsung has long been at the forefront of health technology, particularly with its Galaxy Watch series which already includes sleep apnea detection. Now, the company is taking a significant leap forward with a new AI-enhanced version that just received regulatory approval.

This upgraded feature is set to launch on the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Galaxy Watch 9, and Galaxy Ring starting November 2026. What's more, older models will also gain access to this innovative capability at a later date.

Understanding the New Feature

According to a press release from Samsung, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has greenlit the new sleep apnea detection tool, following the FDA's approval in July 2026 for users in the United States.

This advanced tool incorporates an AI algorithm that meticulously evaluates breathing patterns during sleep. It not only detects respiratory interruptions but also classifies sleep apnea into three distinct categories: mild, occasional, and frequent. This marks a notable improvement over the existing feature, which merely alerts users of potential issues without detailing the severity of their condition.

Comparison with Competitors

While Samsung's Galaxy Watch provides sleep apnea tracking, it's worth noting that the Apple Watch offers a similar feature that categorizes readings into elevated and non-elevated zones. However, this requires a month-long assessment period to analyze sleep data comprehensively.

Samsung's approach with the new upgraded tool ensures that users can receive accurate assessments based on two sleep sessions of at least five hours within a ten-day period. This information is directly available on the watch and through the Samsung Health app.

Exclusivity of New Features

Currently, this advanced sleep apnea feature will only be available for newer Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy Ring, due to its reliance on sophisticated AI technology. While this decision has raised some eyebrows, particularly considering smaller trackers can utilize similar features, it appears that Samsung intends to keep this innovation exclusive to its latest hardware.

Launch Timeline for New Features

The rollout for the enhanced sleep apnea detection is expected to begin in South Korea in November for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Galaxy Watch 9, and Galaxy Ring. Following the achievements with regulatory approvals, the U.S. market may see this feature as early as December 2026, potentially extending into early 2027.

Although Samsung has not specified when the feature will become available in other regions, the history of previous Galaxy wearable launches suggests it could arrive around the first quarter of 2027. The launch may coincide with the One UI 9 Watch update, which is still in testing phases, while older models might receive the upgrade in a separate firmware release.

Availability for Older Models

As for older Galaxy Watch versions, including the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch 8 (Classic), and Galaxy Watch 7, the availability of the new sleep apnea tracking feature is uncertain. Workers with devices running Wear OS 7 or later may gain access to the tool, but the status of the Galaxy Watch FE remains unclear, primarily due to its reliance on an older Exynos W920 chipset compared to the newer Exynos W1000 or Snapdragon SW6100 Wear Elite SoC.

Previously, Samsung introduced sleep apnea detection with the Galaxy Watch 4. However, the company has confirmed that the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 6 will not support the latest advanced tracking capabilities.