Samsung has updated the sleep apnea detection feature for Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring. Now the watch and the ring don't just warn about possible breathing problems — they show how pronounced they are. The update is based on an artificial intelligence algorithm: it counts breathing disturbances for each hour of sleep and classifies the result into one of three levels — mild, periodic or frequent.
Previously, the feature could only report signs of moderate or severe apnea, and that was it. The new version provides a far more detailed picture. The analysis requires two nighttime sleep segments of five hours each, falling within ten days. The data is collected by the Samsung Health Monitor app, and the result appears both on the watch and in the app.
The update has already received regulatory approval. In July 2026, it was approved by the US FDA, and in October 2026 — by South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Rollout will begin in South Korea in November 2026: the first to receive the feature will be Galaxy Watch 9, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Ring. Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 8 will join later, but only on condition that they run Wear OS 7.0 or newer.
The old version of the detector doesn't disappear: it will remain on Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models with Wear OS 5.0 and above. Older watches, however, won't get the extended analytics, including Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 6. Samsung emphasizes that the tool does not replace medical diagnosis and is only meant to inform the owner. If apnea symptoms appear, a visit to the doctor is unavoidable.
There is also historical context. The original feature was approved by the FDA in February 2024. It is intended for users over 22 years of age who have not yet been diagnosed with apnea, and it detects signs of moderate and severe obstructive apnea. The new version is substantially deeper: instead of a binary "yes or no," it shows a gradation.
Timelines for other countries have not yet been set, including the US, even though the FDA has already given its approval. But there is a notable advantage for Galaxy Ring: the ring is noticeably lighter and more discreet than a watch, and many people find it uncomfortable to sleep with a device on their wrist. Samsung also claims it has become the world's first company to tie sleep apnea risk assessment specifically to a smart ring.
Owners of Galaxy Watch 9, Ultra 2 and Ring in South Korea will receive the update before everyone else. To enable the feature, it is enough to update the watch firmware and the Health Monitor app.
