Sleep apnea detection comes to the Galaxy Ring
Samsung’s updated sleep apnea feature is now available on the Galaxy Ring after approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, and Korea’s MFDS. The company says this makes it the first to enable sleep apnea risk detection on a smart ring.
- The updated Sleep Apnea feature is now available on the Galaxy Ring.
- Samsung says it is the first smart ring-based sleep apnea risk detection feature.
- Use requires valid data from two nights within a ten-day period.
- The feature is currently supported on the Galaxy Watch 9, while Watch 7 and Watch 8 support will arrive later.
- The service does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.
Updated feature promises deeper analysis
Samsung said on November 3 that its updated Sleep Apnea feature is now available on Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring devices. The feature can be accessed through the Samsung Health Monitor app.
According to the company, the new algorithm analyzes the user’s vital signs during sleep in greater detail and now also shows the severity of the breathing disturbances it detected. Compared with the previous risk assessment for sleep apnea, this can provide more information about sleep status and help users have a more informed conversation with a healthcare professional.
Sleep can also be monitored with the Galaxy Ring
Samsung is now extending the feature to a smart ring for the first time. The company highlights the Galaxy Ring’s lightweight, comfortable design, which may make it suitable for wearing overnight and monitoring sleep regularly.
Samsung says the feature requires monitoring for at least two nights within a ten-day period. With support for the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring, users can track their sleep with whichever device suits them better.
In the United States, the FDA authorized the updated version in July. Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the MFDS, approved the feature in October 2026.
Which devices support it?
According to Samsung, the Sleep Apnea feature is available on the Galaxy Watch 9 model running Wear OS 7.0 or later. Support for the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 will be added through later software updates.
The feature is available without a prescription, operates solely as a software-based mobile medical application, and requires a compatible Samsung Galaxy wearable device and phone. The company says the service is intended to detect possible signs of moderate or severe sleep apnea, including significant breathing disturbances, in users aged 18 or older.
It does not replace a medical diagnosis
Samsung emphasizes that the feature is not intended to replace diagnostic or treatment methods. People who have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea should not use the feature. The company also said it will continue expanding availability so that more countries can detect possible signs of sleep apnea.
Samsung’s original Sleep Apnea feature received FDA De Novo authorization in February 2024. The company says this was the first such authorization for a wearable device designed to detect signs of moderate and severe sleep apnea. The updated version and Galaxy Ring support may give users more ways to monitor their sleep, while the company continues to require the involvement of a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.
