Apple is currently working on its Watch X (or Series 10) expected for September 2024, a new iteration of its connected watch which should offer blood pressure monitoring. Rumors have been rife for several years regarding the addition of a blood pressure monitor to the Apple Watch. According to journalist Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, who also mentioned a partnership between Apple and Google for the integration of AI features on iOS, Apple’s future connected watch should finally introduce this highly anticipated function via a blood pressure sensor capable of detecting voltage variations.
Blood pressure is one of the main indicators of cardiovascular health, monitoring it to help detect serious health problems like stroke or heart disease early. The addition of such a feature would therefore be a strong argument to encourage users to purchase the new Apple Watch. This monitoring function requires the presence of this sensor, it will in fact only be available on new models and cannot be the subject of a simple software update for previous versions of the tocante.
Health authorities to convince
However, the Apple Watch, which has already suffered some disappointments in recent months, will have to, if it finally includes this sensor, obtain approval from the FDA, the American equivalent of our Medicines Agency. This government organization, known to be very strict, may not validate this technology as a medical functionality. Samsung, which nevertheless offers blood pressure monitoring since the Galaxy Watch Active 2, only sells versions without this function on the American market.
In addition to blood pressure monitoring, and assuming FDA approval, it is rumored that the Apple Watch Series 10/X could also include sleep apnea detection in the near future or even a blood glucose sensor. Always with the same objective: to make as many health devices as possible available to the general public.