[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] SamsungElectronics(005930)Samsung Electronics is enhancing the sleep apnea feature on its Galaxy wearables. Going beyond the detection of sleep apnea symptoms, the company now uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the frequency of breathing disturbances during sleep and displays the severity on a three-level scale.

SamsungElectronics announced on the 28th that its enhanced sleep apnea feature has received approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, following approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last July.

The sleep apnea feature is a mobile health solution that measures and analyzes breathing data during sleep using Galaxy wearables to help identify signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.

The newly approved feature uses AI algorithms to analyze the number of breathing disruptions per hour during sleep. Users can view results categorized into three levels—“mild,” “occasional,” and “frequent”—based on the frequency of breathing disruptions.

The feature is accessible through the Samsung Health Monitor app. Users can view sleep apnea-related information after measuring their sleep for at least 5 hours on two separate occasions within a 10-day period. It is intended for individuals aged 18 and older who have no history of sleep apnea diagnosis and is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or consultation.

The new feature will be rolled out first in South Korea starting this November for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Watch 9, and Galaxy Ring. It will subsequently be expanded to existing models, such as the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 8 running Wear OS 7.0 or higher, via software updates.

The existing feature for detecting signs of sleep apnea will continue to be available on Galaxy Watch 4 and later models running Wear OS 5.0 or higher.

SamsungElectronics’ sleep apnea feature received software medical device approval in South Korea in September 2023. In February 2024, it received “De Novo” approval from the U.S. FDA, and last year, it received medical device approval from Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). It is currently available in 84 countries worldwide.

Choi Jong-min, Executive Vice President of the Health Development Group at SamsungElectronics’ MX Business Division, said, “Sleep apnea is a condition with symptoms that are difficult to detect in daily life,” adding, “We will continue to innovate so that users can proactively identify risk signs and systematically manage their sleep health simply by wearing a Galaxy wearable while sleeping.”