Apple Watch X may include blood pressure trend detector

A new report expects a kind of blood-pressure monitoring feature to be added to the Apple Watch Series 10, but there is an important caveat to that claim.

Apple has been working on what many call the "holy grails" of non-invasive blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring for years. The addition of these features would help tackle two of the most common medical conditions that need frequent monitoring: high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that "all signs point to the new Apple Watch gaining a blood-pressure checker this fall" in his latest report. However, the first iteration is not likely to give exact readings.

Gurman believes the next new Apple Watch, potentially to be called the Apple Watch X for its 10th edition, will include a new hardware sensor that can detect trends in blood pressure. That said, this first iteration will likely only alert users for upward trending in blood pressure, rather than offer exact readings.

Because it requires a new sensor, this feature will not be available on earlier models of Apple Watch. Another rumored improvement would be a built-in ability to monitor for sleep apnea.

Multiple reports from Bloomberg dating back to late 2023 made claims about the inclusion of blood pressure monitoring in the 2024 Apple Watch. Gurman's latest report offers no real extra detail about its capabilities beyond the arrival in the fall.

Aside from blood pressure, the forthcoming new Watch model may also be thinner, and might sport a new band-attachment system that also takes up less space.

12 Comments

quakerotis 102 comments · 8 Years

About 8 months ago

your graphic accompanying this story is a lie

ralphie 129 comments · 5 Years

Poorly written article at best.. “the "holy grails" of non-invasive blood pressure”. Since when has blood pressure measurement been invasive?! Maybe the author should look for a new physician.

tht 5632 comments · 23 Years

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that "all signs point to the new Apple Watch gaining a blood-pressure checker this fall" in his latest report. However, the first iteration is not likely to give exact readings.
What’s this mean? It will only give a “high, medium or low” reading?

BP measurements using wrist cuffs or arm cuffs aren’t the most accurate to begin with. Lots of issues with just putting on the cuffs the same, repeating.

So, for BP, wonder if it will involve a pressurizing band?

eightzero 3147 comments · 14 Years

Hoo boy, I sure hope this doesn't infringe the patent I have on blood pressure sensors in things. Or the ones I have on sensing things with other things.

jbdragon 2312 comments · 10 Years

ralphie said:

Poorly written article at best.. “the "holy grails" of non-invasive blood pressure”. Since when has blood pressure measurement been invasive?! Maybe the author should look for a new physician.

It's invasive as in having to prick your finger to get blood to take a real reading. Non-Invasive is not having to do that. There are a few patches you can get these days, but it is still invasive, but you leave the needle in guess, and safe for a number of days? I'm not an expert in this area. Even that would be invasive.