Apple Watch Series 10 could gain sleep apnea detection – but don’t get too excited yet

Although Apple’s next big event is just around the corner, that hasn’t stopped people from releasing leaks, rumors, and gossip about the tech giant’s upcoming devices. Notable insider Mark Gurman claims in a recent Bloomberg report the Apple Watch Series 10 will introduce a new major feature: sleep apnea detection.

Also: The best Apple Watches you can buy: Expert tested

Details are sparse at the moment. According to Gurman, the feature will “attempt to determine if a wearer has sleep apnea” or not. If it does, the wearable will recommend visiting a medical professional for further testing. The keyword in that sentence is “attempt”. There isn’t a guarantee that the Apple Watch 10 will be able to accurately detect whether or not you have the condition.

Gurman mentioned back in July that Apple was having a tough time getting the feature to work. It needs to be able to read a user’s blood oxygen saturation. However, it can’t make those measurements because of the company’s legal troubles with health tech company Masimo. A federal judge told Apple it couldn’t sell smartwatches with blood oxygen sensors, and the company was forced to disable them via a software patch.

It’s possible Apple found a way around this limitation and plans to implement sleep apnea detection. This seems to be the case. Gurman states that there isn’t any current evidence suggesting Apple and Masimo have mended their relationship. So, it is unlikely that blood-oxygen sensing will return to the wearables.

Also: Apple Watch Series vs. Series 8: Which model should you buy?

That’s great news to hear. However, there isn’t a guarantee that the feature will be “available on day one of the new model going on sale.” Apple Watch 10 owners may have to wait until the company rolls out a software update enabling the functionality.

Sadly, the Bloomberg report does have a bit of bad news. High blood pressure detection on the Apple Watch, which has been in development since at least 2022, might be getting delayed again. Gurman states the function is “no longer in the cards for an immediate release.” Like the sleep apnea tool, the development of the hypertension update isn’t going smoothly.

Be sure to check out ZDNET’s roundup of the best iPhone models you can buy right now.