Samsung Expands Sleep Apnea Risk Detection to Galaxy Ring

• Samsung is bringing upgraded sleep apnea risk detection to the Galaxy Ring and select watches.
• The feature gives users more detail about detected breathing disruptions during sleep.
• It requires two nights of sleep data within a 10-day period for users aged 18 and older.

Samsung has started rolling out the upgraded Samsung Sleep Apnea feature to the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. The update is delivered through the Samsung Health Monitor app and expands the company’s sleep apnea risk detection feature to a smart ring for the first time.

The upgraded feature has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). The Samsung Sleep Apnea feature builds on Samsung’s earlier Sleep Apnea capability, which received FDA De Novo authorisation. The new version provides more detail about breathing disruptions detected during sleep, but it is a risk detection feature and not a medical diagnosis.

What Is New in the Upgraded Samsung Sleep Apnea Feature?

The earlier version offered a basic assessment of sleep apnea risk. The upgraded Samsung Sleep Apnea feature goes further by giving users insights into the levels of breathing disruptions detected while they sleep. This added detail is intended to help users better understand the patterns identified by the feature.

Samsung says the information can also help users have more informed conversations with a healthcare professional. The feature does not confirm that a person has sleep apnea, and it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice or testing. It identifies risk indicators based on sleep data collected by a supported Galaxy device.

The update also brings sleep apnea risk detection to the Galaxy Ring. Samsung describes this as the first time a company has introduced this type of feature on a smart ring. Users who own both a Galaxy Ring and a compatible Galaxy Watch can choose either device for tracking, depending on which one they find more comfortable to wear at night.

Eligible Devices and Rollout

The upgraded Samsung Sleep Apnea feature has started rolling out to the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 through the Samsung Health Monitor app. Availability is tied to compatible software, and the feature currently supports Galaxy Watches running Wear OS 7.0 and One UI 9.0 Watch.

Samsung plans to expand support to more watches through a future software update. The planned devices include the Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024 and 2025), Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The company has not provided a specific date for this wider rollout in the announcement details.

Supported Galaxy Devices

• Rolling out now: Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
• Future expansion: Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024 and 2025), Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.
• Watch software requirement: Wear OS 7.0 and One UI 9.0 Watch.

The rollout is being delivered through the Samsung Health Monitor app. Users should check the app and their device software for the feature’s availability. Support may depend on the device, software version and market.

How the Samsung Sleep Apnea Feature Works

The Samsung Sleep Apnea feature reviews sleep data collected over multiple nights to estimate the risk of sleep apnea. It requires at least two nights of sleep data within a 10-day period. This gives the feature more than one night’s information to assess the breathing disruptions detected during sleep.

People who have both a Galaxy Ring and an eligible Galaxy Watch can select the device they prefer to wear while sleeping. This choice is useful for people who find one device more comfortable than the other at night. The supported device then provides the sleep data used by the feature.

The feature is available to users aged 18 and older. It is designed to provide a risk assessment and additional information about detected breathing disruptions. It does not diagnose sleep apnea or recommend treatment. Anyone concerned about their sleep or breathing should discuss the information with a qualified healthcare professional.

FDA De Novo Authorisation and MFDS Approval

Samsung’s original Sleep Apnea feature was the first of its kind to receive FDA De Novo authorisation. The upgraded version has also received approval from the US FDA and South Korea’s MFDS. These regulatory clearances apply to the feature as a risk detection tool, not as a system that provides a medical diagnosis.

The expanded Samsung Sleep Apnea feature builds on Samsung’s work in health monitoring across its Galaxy wearable range. By making it available on the Galaxy Ring as well as selected Galaxy Watches, the company is giving eligible users another device option for collecting sleep data. More watch models are expected to receive support in a future update.

More information about Samsung’s devices and health features is available on the official Samsung website.

Conclusion

The upgraded Samsung Sleep Apnea feature adds more detailed breathing-disruption insights and extends risk detection to the Galaxy Ring. It is rolling out to the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, with more watches planned for a future update. The feature supports users aged 18 and older and offers risk information to discuss with a healthcare professional, rather than a diagnosis.

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