Samsung has made its upgraded sleep apnea feature available in the US on the Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch9. The company says the Galaxy Ring is the first smart ring with an FDA-cleared, over-the-counter feature for detecting sleep apnea risk. Samsung announced last week that the upgraded version had also been approved in Korea, after receiving FDA clearance in the US in July.
The earlier feature, which received FDA De Novo authorization in February 2024, indicated whether it detected signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. The upgraded version examines vital signs during sleep in more detail and provides information about the level of breathing disruptions detected, which Samsung says may help users have more informed conversations with their doctors.
On watches, the feature is available on the Galaxy Watch9 running Wear OS 7.0 or later. Samsung says the Galaxy Watch7 and Watch8 will receive it through future software updates. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is not mentioned in the US availability announcement, although it was included in the Korean rollout list. Samsung says the Galaxy Ring’s light design is intended to make it comfortable to wear overnight.
The feature is accessed through the Samsung Health Monitor app and requires a compatible Galaxy phone. It is intended for people aged 18 and older, and users need two nights of valid data within a 10-day period to receive a result. It is not intended for people already diagnosed with sleep apnea and does not replace a diagnosis from a qualified clinician.
Sources: GSMArena.