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Samsung Galaxy Ring Gets FDA-Cleared AI Feature That Grades Sleep Apnea Severity

The upgraded detection tool counts breathing disruptions per hour of sleep and is also available on the Galaxy Watch 9, with older watches to follow through software updates.

By Nakoda News Desk

·2 min read

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Samsung's Galaxy Ring now offers an FDA-approved feature that estimates sleep apnea severity from overnight breathing disruptions.
Samsung's Galaxy Ring now offers an FDA-approved feature that estimates sleep apnea severity from overnight breathing disruptions.Photo: Engadget

Samsung has rolled out a more advanced sleep apnea detection feature on its Galaxy Ring after the US Food and Drug Administration approved it in July, Engadget reported on November 3, citing a company announcement.

The new version uses AI to estimate how often a wearer's breathing is disrupted for each hour of sleep. If a user sleeps for at least five hours on two nights within a ten-day period, Samsung's Health Monitor app can classify the result as mild, occasional or frequent sleep apnea, according to the report.

That goes beyond Samsung's earlier clearance. The company first received De Novo authorisation from the FDA for sleep apnea detection on the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring in February 2024, a route used for new types of low-risk health features. That approval covered only signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Samsung stresses that the tool does not replace a medical diagnosis, which only a physician can make, but says the device "can lead to productive conversations with healthcare professionals."

Alongside the ring, the feature is available on the Galaxy Watch 9 running Wear OS 7.0 or later. Samsung plans to bring it to the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 through future software updates, Engadget said.

Competitive Edge in Smart Rings

The regulatory approval gives Samsung a point of difference in the smart ring market. According to Engadget, its main rivals, including Oura, do not offer FDA-approved sleep apnea detection, although they can track night-time disturbances that may point to the condition. Samsung and Oura are also in a legal dispute over smart ring patents, with a preliminary decision expected soon.

The launch reflects a wider push by consumer electronics makers to move AI-driven health features through formal medical regulation, which can make them more credible with doctors and insurers and harder for competitors to copy quickly. Sleep apnea is a common target because many people with the condition are undiagnosed, and overnight wearable data offers a low-cost way to flag those who should seek a clinical test.

Samsung has also recently changed its Sleep Coaching feature so that it needs less data than before, Engadget reported.

Sources

  • Engadget · Samsung's Galaxy Ring gets FDA approval for advanced sleep apnea detection

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