New Delhi, May 21: Apple has announced the expansion of its health-focused features in India, introducing new tools for sleep apnea detection on Apple Watch and hearing tests on AirPods Pro. The update aims to help users identify common but often undiagnosed health conditions through everyday wearable devices.
The sleep apnea detection feature uses advanced motion sensors in Apple Watch models to monitor breathing patterns during sleep. It tracks wrist movements over a 30-day period, using machine learning to identify signs of irregular breathing. If repeated patterns linked to moderate or severe sleep apnea are detected, users receive a notification advising them to consult a medical professional.
Users will also be able to view detailed breathing disturbance data in the Apple Health app, with options to track trends over one month, six months, or a year. The app also allows users to export reports for consultation with healthcare providers, along with educational resources on sleep apnea.
The feature will be available on Apple Watch SE (3rd generation), Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later models in India.
In addition, Apple is rolling out a hearing test feature for AirPods Pro, designed to assess potential hearing loss using a clinically inspired pure-tone audiometry method. The test takes about five minutes and plays sound frequencies ranging from 250Hz to 8,000Hz to evaluate hearing sensitivity in both ears.
After completion, users receive a hearing score, a classification of hearing ability, and personalized recommendations. Results are securely stored in the Apple Health app and can be shared with medical professionals for further evaluation.
The hearing test feature will be available for AirPods Pro (2nd generation and later) users in India.
Apple says the new updates reflect its focus on making health monitoring more accessible and proactive, helping users better understand and manage potential health risks through wearable technology.