Apple has announced its new Apple Watch Series 11, and the company says that the new hypertension detection feature could alert 1 million people to the condition in just a single year.
Hypertension is the medical name for high blood pressure, with the CDC reporting that it was the primary or contributing factor to more than 660,000 deaths in the United States throughout 2023. With that in mind, it's easy to see why alerting people to an unknown blood pressure issue could be vital.
The new hypertension detection feature works in a similar way to Apple's sleep apnea detection feature — it will warn of a potential issue rather than diagnose it. The wearable also won't actively display the wearer's blood pressure, as that is not how this particular sensor works.
The new hypertension detection feature is part of Apple's ongoing focus on health and fitness, especially for the Apple Watch lineup. Prior to the unveiling of Apple Watch Series 11, the company aired a video highlighting the many ways its smartwatch has helped save lives around the globe.
Other potentially lifesaving features available to Apple Watch owners include fall detection, crash detection, and emergency SOS.
True blood pressure measurements could be added in a future update, but the hypertension features do not use blood pressure to tell the user that they may have hypertension. Apple is reportedly dealing with governmental regulations that have delayed the launch so far, but those issues could well be worked out in time for the Apple Watch Series 12's 2026 launch.
The Apple Watch Series 11 was announced alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a revamped Apple Watch SE. Apple also announced the AirPods Pro 3 during the same event.
Updated September 9, 11:27 p.m.: Article said 100 million originally, Apple said 1 million. The number has been corrected.
