Galaxy Ring gets FDA-cleared sleep apnea severity detection

Samsung's Galaxy Ring can now tell you more about possible sleep apnea than a simple yes or no. The company announced that its upgraded detection feature, which received FDA authorization in July, is now available, Engadget reports.

What's new

Samsung first received De Novo authorization from the FDA for sleep apnea detection on Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring in February 2024. (De Novo is the US pathway for new kinds of low-to-moderate-risk health features without an existing equivalent on the market.) That first version only flagged signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

The new version still does that, but also uses AI to estimate the frequency of breathing disruptions per hour of sleep. If you wear the device for at least five hours of sleep on two nights within a ten-day window, Samsung's Health Monitor app can report whether you show mild, occasional or frequent signs of sleep apnea.

Samsung stresses that only a doctor can diagnose sleep apnea; the feature is meant to prompt "productive conversations with healthcare professionals."

Which devices get it

• Galaxy Ring — available now.
• Galaxy Watch 9 running Wear OS 7.0 or later — available now.
• Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 — coming via later software updates.

How it compares

According to Engadget, neither of the Galaxy Ring's main rivals, Oura and Superhuman, offers FDA-authorized sleep apnea detection, though both track night-time disturbances that can hint at the condition. Samsung and Oura are also in a patent dispute over smart rings, with a preliminary decision expected soon.

Wondering whether a ring or a watch suits you better? See smart ring vs smartwatch and our explainer on how sleep tracking works.