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Apple Watch gains AI-powered high blood pressure notification feature

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Apple unveiled a new AI-driven health feature for the Apple Watch Series 11, launching Friday, that can notify users if they may have high blood pressure. The notification tool, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will also roll out to Apple Watch Series 9 and later models in over 150 countries.

Unlike a traditional blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer), the Watch does not measure blood pressure directly. Instead, Apple used machine learning to analyze sensor data from its large-scale Heart and Movement Study, launched in 2019 with 100,000 participants. Researchers identified patterns in the watch’s heart-related signals and validated the resulting algorithm in a dedicated study of 2,000 people.

The feature is designed to prompt users to check their blood pressure with a cuff and consult a doctor if alerts appear. Apple Vice President of Health Sumbul Ahmad Desai emphasized that the company has long pursued ways to detect hypertension, a condition affecting over 1 billion people worldwide, half of whom remain undiagnosed.

Cardiology expert Ami Bhatt called the rollout significant, noting it could help reduce risks of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease by prompting early detection. Still, she cautioned that the tool is not a replacement for professional diagnosis and carries risks of both false positives and false reassurance for those who don’t receive alerts.

The addition highlights Apple’s broader push into preventive healthcare, positioning the Watch as not only a fitness tracker but also an early-warning tool for chronic conditions.

FDA clears Apple Watch hypertension detection feature

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Apple the green light to introduce a hypertension detection feature on its latest smartwatch models. The approval marks another step in Apple’s push to expand its footprint in digital health technology.

Apple showcased the feature during its September 9 launch event, alongside a new iPhone lineup. The feature will be available later this month on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, and the Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 models, with plans to roll out in 150 countries and regions, including the U.S. and EU.

Using the watch’s optical heart sensor, the system analyzes how blood vessels respond to heartbeats. Instead of taking single-time readings like a traditional cuff monitor, the algorithm works passively, reviewing data across 30-day periods. If it finds consistent signs of hypertension, the watch sends the user an alert.

Apple emphasized the tool is not meant to diagnose or capture every case of high blood pressure, but could warn an estimated one million users worldwide.

Bloomberg had earlier reported the feature would begin rolling out as soon as next week. Apple has not commented further on the timeline.

Apple Restores Blood Oxygen Feature on Some U.S. Watches After Regulatory Approval

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Apple (AAPL.O) announced on Thursday that it will reintroduce a blood oxygen measurement feature to certain Apple Watch models in the United States via a software update. The update applies to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 after approval from U.S. authorities. Users will be able to monitor blood oxygen levels on a paired iPhone.

The move resolves a long-running legal dispute with Masimo (MASI.O), which accused Apple of misappropriating its pulse oximetry technology and hiring its employees. In 2023, Masimo won a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling blocking imports of Apple Watches with the feature, prompting Apple to temporarily remove it and triggering a prolonged appeals process.

Apple said the update allows users to start a session in the Blood Oxygen app on the watch, which collects sensor data for calculation and display on the iPhone. The Series 6 Apple Watch first introduced pulse oximetry in 2020, while Masimo launched its blood oxygen-tracking W1 watch in 2022.

Apple had briefly resumed sales after persuading the Federal Circuit to pause the import ban, but the ban was later reinstated, necessitating the temporary removal of the feature in the U.S. Masimo shares fell 4.5% on Thursday.