Building upon the existing sleep tracking capabilities, the new feature aims to detect potential sleep apnea in users and recommend further evaluation with a healthcare provider.
Gurman previously expressed skepticism about this feature making it into the 2024 Apple Watch lineup, citing challenges in its development. He mentioned that Apple has faced significant hurdles, delaying its rollout.
A major roadblock for sleep apnea detection is the feature's reliance on blood oxygen saturation measurements, which Apple Watches in the U.S. currently cannot perform due to an ongoing legal battle with medical device company Masimo.
Gurman speculates that the dispute might be resolved by September, or Apple could find a workaround by arguing that the sensor's functionality extends beyond blood oxygen monitoring. Regardless, it's likely the sleep apnea detection feature will arrive on the Apple Watch Series 10, though it may be through a later software update.
As for the anticipated hypertension detection feature, which aims to monitor high blood pressure, testing has shown inconsistent results. Gurman reports that Apple has delayed the feature, and it's unlikely to be included in the Series 10 at launch.
In terms of design, the Apple Watch Series 10 will resemble its predecessor, the Series 9, but with a few key updates. The screen size is rumored to be slightly larger, and the overall watch case will be slimmer. Apple is expected to unveil the new model alongside the iPhone 16 at its September 9th event.
Source: Bloomberg
