Story perspectives

FDA Clears Samsung and Apple Smartwatch Sleep Apnea Alerts

6/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature in 2024 and later cleared Apple’s sleep-apnea notification feature.
Sleep apnea stops breathing for at least 10 seconds, often dozens of times per hour, leaving sufferers exhausted and disturbing partners with snoring and gasping.
Diagnosis usually requires an overnight sleep-lab stay with wires and sensors, but Apple and Samsung smartwatches can screen for signs and provide FDA-cleared notifications.

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Story summary

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature in 2024 and later cleared Apple’s sleep-apnea notification feature.
Sleep apnea stops breathing for at least 10 seconds, often dozens of times per hour, leaving sufferers exhausted and disturbing partners with snoring and gasping.
Diagnosis usually requires an overnight sleep-lab stay with wires and sensors, but Apple and Samsung smartwatches can screen for signs and provide FDA-cleared notifications.