Samsung is reportedly working on a non-invasive blood sugar monitor designed for its Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring, aiming to rival Apple Watch in health tracking capabilities.

Samsung is not only focusing on developing a non-invasive blood sugar monitor but is also enhancing blood pressure tracking features on its current devices.

In the dynamic landscape of wearable technology, Samsung is actively spearheading innovations in health-centric features for its devices, positioning itself amidst fierce competition from industry giants such as Apple and Google. A notable revelation from a company executive affirms Samsung’s dedication to pioneering non-invasive blood glucose monitoring and enhancing blood pressure tracking functionalities. Intriguingly, these advancements align with parallel efforts by Apple, reflecting the intense rivalry in the wearable tech space. The recent preview of the Galaxy Ring, a forthcoming wearable from Samsung, sparks anticipation that upcoming models may integrate these cutting-edge health features.

Hon Pak, Chief Medical Officer at Samsung, shared insights with Bloomberg, shedding light on the company’s strategic focus. Pak articulated the aspiration to introduce continuous monitoring of blood pressure and glucose levels, a game-changing advancement in the industry.

“If we can do continuous blood pressure and glucose, we’re in a whole different ballgame. […] I think that’s where everyone is trying to get to. We’re putting significant investment toward that,” emphasized the executive in an interview, emphasizing the company’s commitment to pushing technological boundaries.

Traditional blood glucose monitoring often involves invasive procedures, requiring skin punctures for blood extraction. However, both Apple and Samsung are at the forefront of developing technologies that enable users to track blood sugar levels non-invasively.

Moreover, Samsung’s endeavor extends to refining blood pressure tracking on its smartwatches, addressing the need for frequent calibration with medical devices. As Samsung invests substantially in these pioneering health features, the wearable technology landscape anticipates a transformative shift towards comprehensive and user-friendly health monitoring.

If the South Korean firm succeeds in developing the technology, it could make its way to the Samsung Galaxy Watch and the recently teased Galaxy Ring, which will reportedly be available by the end of 2024. The company could even beat Apple, which has been working for over a adecade on the same blood glucose monitoring technology for future Apple Watch models.

However, the technology appears to be a few years away — we are unlikely to see these features on the successor to the Galaxy Watch 6 — and Pak is optimistic that non-invasive blood glucose monitoring will be available in the next five years, as per the report. It was reported last year that Apple had arrived at a major breakthrough in developing the advanced blood glucose monitoring technology that could make its way to a future Apple Watch model — the device was reportedly as large as an iPhone at the time.