The all-special tenth anniversary Apple Watch is eyeing a 2024 market debut, and it will likely offer two new superpowers – the ability to sense blood pressure and detect signs of sleep apnea.
Now, Apple won't be the first to allow blood pressure sensing on a smartwatch, as Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei have already done it. But the fruit brand has been developing the tech for around a decade, and it finally appears ready for prime time.
But there's a catch. It won't tell the numerical systolic and diastolic blood pressure figures. Instead, it will only sense if there's any abnormal fluctuation and advise the user to consult their doctor for risks like hypertension.
Next, the upcoming smartwatch will also analyse sleep and breathing patterns to detect signs of sleep apnea. In case you aren't familiar with sleep apnea, here's how the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) defines it:
"Sleep apnea is a common condition in which your breathing stops and restarts many times while you sleep."
Millions of cases of sleep apnea go undiagnosed every year and add billions of dollars in financial stress for healthcare. You can read in detail about Apple's upcoming health plans for its 2024 smartwatch in this Bloomberg report.