Samsung Galaxy Ring gets FDA approval for advanced sleep apnea detection

Samsung has announced that its Galaxy Ring now offers advanced sleep apnea detection following FDA approval of the new feature in July. The upgrade is designed to give users new clues about why they might feel exhausted despite getting a full night of rest.

• The upgraded feature uses AI to detect the number of breathing disruptions per hour.
• Users must sleep at least five hours for two nights over a ten-day period for analysis.
• The Samsung Health Monitor app identifies mild, occasional, or frequent sleep apnea.
• The feature is also expanding to eligible Galaxy Watch models.

Evolution of Samsung health features Samsung originally received De Novo FDA authorization for sleep apnea detection on the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring back in February 2024. De Novo status is granted to health products that have never been on the market before and present no risk to consumer safety. The original clearance was limited to detecting moderate to severe symptoms.

The updated version retains this core capability while adding AI to measure the frequency of breathing disruptions for every hour spent sleeping. Provided you sleep at least five hours for two nights across ten days, the Samsung Health Monitor app can flag potential issues. Samsung notes that only a physician can provide an official diagnosis, but the wearable facilitates productive conversations with healthcare professionals.

Competitive landscape and market context Neither of Samsung's main smart ring competitors, Oura and Superhuman, currently offer FDA-approved sleep apnea detection. However, both platforms can track nocturnal disturbances that might indicate the condition. Samsung and Oura are also currently involved in a smart ring patent dispute with a preliminary legal decision anticipated soon.

Alongside the Galaxy Ring, this advanced apnea detection feature is rolling out to the Galaxy Watch 9 running Wear OS 7.0 or later. It will also arrive on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 via upcoming software updates. Additionally, Samsung recently revamped its Sleep Coaching feature to rely on fewer data inputs than before.