Future Apple Watch Could Get Blood Pressure Monitor, Temperature Sensor Features

The Apple Watch will reportedly get new health features such as body temperature monitoring this year. The iPhone maker is also working on blood pressure sensors, but the feature might arrive only in 2024, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The firm is working on an updated Apple Watch sensor which will measure blood pressure. However, there have been reports of issues with accuracy. For instance, while testing it out on employees, the sensor was only able to detect if they had hypertension, instead of providing correct systolic and diastolic readings. Apple has been developing the sensor for nearly four years, but issues with the sensor will likely push the feature’s arrival to 2024, and may even extend to 2025.

Additionally, the Cupertino-based company has been developing non-invasive blood glucose monitoring technology for the Apple Watch. The firm is working with third-party glucose meters to create more features on the Apple Watch as well as ‌iPhone‌’s Health app for users with diabetes. Unfortunately, these features will not be arriving this year. In fact, reports say that Apple hasn’t yet determined a release timeline.

Also Read: Apple watchOS 8.5.1 Released With Bug Fixes, Security Updates

Upcoming Apple Watch Features

Coming to features you can expect in the immediate future, Apple is preparing to introduce new women’s health features to the Apple Watch and ‌iPhone‌. To help with fertility tracking, the firm is also planning to add a body temperature sensor to the Apple Watch this year. To those unaware, a woman’s basal body temperature can be used to monitor her ovulation cycle.

In the future, this could also be used to check if a user has a higher-than-normal body temperature, although it may not be completely accurate. Additionally, expect new sleep, fitness, and medication management features in the ‌iPhone‌’s Health app. Apple Watch’s Workout app could also gain more workout types and metrics.

watchOS 9 could improve its existing atrial fibrillation detection feature by adding a new feature that will record how long a person is in a state of atrial fibrillation over a certain period. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots in the heart. It increases the risk of stroke and other heart-related complications.

iOS 16 could update the Health app to improve sleep tracking functionality. Apple is reportedly working on a medicine management tool that will let users to scan their pills into the Health app and get reminders.

What do you think of the upcoming features for the Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments.