Samsung expands sleep apnea detection on Galaxy Ring and smartwatches after fresh regulatory clearance

Samsung has rolled out upgraded sleep apnea detection across the United States and South Korea for the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 9, and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. The rollout follows recent clearances from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. According to Engadget, Samsung plans to bring the software update to the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 later on. [1][2]

The enhanced feature uses artificial intelligence to monitor blood oxygen drops and count breathing disruptions for every hour of rest. Users who track at least five hours of sleep across two nights within a ten-day window can view their results in the Samsung Health Monitor app. Instead of a basic binary alert, the app categorizes sleep apnea as mild, occasional, or frequent. Samsung cautions that the wearable cannot replace an official medical diagnosis from a doctor. [1][2]

The clearance makes the Galaxy Ring the first commercial smart ring with regulatory clearance for sleep apnea tracking. Key rivals such as Oura and Superhuman can monitor overnight breathing disturbances but lack FDA-approved apnea tools. Meanwhile, Samsung and Oura remain entangled in an ongoing patent dispute over smart ring technology. [1][2]