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

Samsung’s Galaxy Ring now offers more advanced sleep apnea detection following FDA approval of the new feature in July.3 replies. Samsung’s Galaxy Ring gets FDA approval for advanced sleep apnea detection. Big Tech Samsung Samsung’s Galaxy Ring gets FDA approval for advanced sleep apnea detection The upgraded feature uses AI to detect the number of breathing disruptions for every hour you sleep.

The feature may give users new clues about why they feel exhausted even after sleeping through the night. Samsung first received so-called De Novo FDA authorization for sleep apnea detection on its Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring devices back in February 2024. (De Novo is used for health products or features that have never been on the market before and don’t pose any danger to a user’s health.) The original approval only covered detection for symptoms of moderate to severe sleep apnea.

The new version does that, but also uses AI to detect the frequency of breathing disruptions for every hour you sleep. Provided you sleep at least five hours for two nights over a ten-day period, Samsung’s Health Monitor app can tell you if you have mild, occasional or frequent sleep apnea. Samsung points out that only a physician can do a proper sleep apnea diagnosis, but the device "can lead to productive conversations with healthcare professionals." Neither of Samsung’s primary Galaxy Ring competitors, Oura and Superhuman, offer FDA-approved sleep apnea detection.

Newer watches are first in line, but older watches aren’t completely left behind either. Samsung’s upgraded sleep apnea detection is rolling out to Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring.

Samsung rolls out sleep apnea tracking to Galaxy watches, Ring. Wearables and health Samsung’s upgraded sleep apnea detection is rolling out to Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring Newer watches are first in line, but older watches aren’t completely left behind either.

Last week Samsung announced that the upgraded version of its sleep apnea feature was approved in Korea, following its FDA clearance in the US back in July. Today, the company announced that the new version has become available in the US, including for the Galaxy Ring, which Samsung says is the first smart ring with an FDA-cleared, over-the-counter sleep apnea risk detection feature.

The feature tracks blood oxygen drops and breathing disruptions over two sleep sessions in a 10-day period, categorizing severity rather than giving a simple binary result. The Galaxy Ring becomes the first commercial smart ring with regulatory clearance for sleep apnea tracking.

Support for Galaxy Watch 7 and 8 will be coming later. Samsung has begun rolling out upgraded sleep apnea detection to its wearable lineup, leading with its flagship smartwatches on your wrist and expanding down to your finger.

The original version of the function, which received De Novo authorization from the FDA in February 2024, could only tell you whether signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea were detected. Samsung’s upgraded sleep apnea feature is now available on the Galaxy Ring and Watch9.

The capability is now reaching users on the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, alongside an expansion to the Galaxy Ring. This improved sleep apnea function refines how Samsung monitors overnight breathing disturbances, transforming passive tracking into more actionable health data.

Samsung’s upgraded sleep apnea feature is now available on the Galaxy Ring and Watch9 – com news ADVERTISEMENT Samsung’s upgraded sleep apnea feature is now available on the Galaxy Ring and Watch9 Post your comment Vlad 03 November 2026 Samsung Smart wearables Wear OS Last week Samsung announced that the upgraded version of its sleep apnea feature was approved in Korea, following its FDA clearance in the US back in July. The upgraded one analyzes your vitals during sleep in greater depth and also gives you insight into the level of breathing disruptions it found, and that can help you have more productive conversations with your doctor.

On the watch side, the feature is available on the Galaxy Watch9 running Wear OS 7.0 or later, while the Galaxy Watch7 and Galaxy Watch8 will get it through future software updates. Oddly enough, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 isn’t mentioned this time, even though it was on the list for the Korean rollout.

As for the Galaxy Ring, Samsung points out that its light design makes it comfortable enough to wear through the night. The feature lives in the Samsung Health Monitor app and needs a compatible Galaxy phone.

Both can track nighttime disturbances that may indicate signs of the condition.