Gadronics
Seven years ago, Samsung announced plans to bring blood pressure monitoring to smartwatches. This week, the feature has been cleared for users in the United States for the first time. Apple Watch has since added its own blood pressure monitoring capabilities, but the two approaches differ in scope.
Samsung will monitor blood pressure … if you already have a blood pressure monitor
Back in 2019, it seemed notable that Samsung was tackling blood pressure monitoring before Apple Watch.
New to the Galaxy wearable line, Galaxy Watch Active puts smarter blood pressure tracking on your wrist.
The feature apparently started rolling out the following year, but it lacked regulatory approval in the U.S. Samsung announced today that the ability to “monitor and track” blood pressure is now available to U.S. users.
The technology hasn’t really changed, though. For example, you’ll still need regular access to actual blood pressure monitoring hardware to use the feature with a Samsung smartwatch.
Samsung’s blood pressure technology calibrates values and blood pressure changes to estimate your blood pressure. To ensure accuracy, users are required to calibrate their Galaxy watch using an upper arm cuff (sold separately) every 28 days. Compatible Galaxy Watches measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure along with your heart rate using the internal heart rate monitoring sensors.
As an Apple Watch user, I still wouldn’t mind this trade off. Using an upper arm cuff once per month and having access to more insight on the Apple Watch could be helpful.
Apple Watch supports hypertension notifications
For now, Apple’s approach has been more straightforward. Apple Watch monitors for signs of hypertension, then notifies you if you may be showing signs of high blood pressure.
If so, the next step is to use a blood pressure monitor to track your readings twice per day over the span of a week. This is basically what a doctor would tell you to do at home before making a hypertension determination.
Hypertension notifications is a feature supported on Apple Watch Series 9 and newer, as well as Apple Watch Ultra 2 and newer.
Does Samsung’s approach to blood pressure monitoring appeal to you? Should Apple consider a similar feature in a future software update? Share your thoughts in the comments.
