Apple has announced new health features for Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2 at its ‘It’s Glowtime’ event, focusing on the user’s health and well-being. These updates are specifically designed for sleep and hearing health, which affect billions of people worldwide.
New features for sleep
Apple Watch now comes with a new feature that detects signs of obstructive sleep apnea during sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which breathing is interrupted while sleeping, which can lead to serious health problems if ignored. The new “Breathing Disturbances” metric measures abnormalities in breathing during sleep using the Apple Watch’s accelerometer.
The feature analyzes data over 30 days and notifies users of potential moderate to severe sleep apnea. Users can view this data in the Health app and track it over different periods (one month, six months, or one year). Additionally, users can also export a PDF report that contains detailed information about sleep apnea events and breathing abnormalities. The feature is developed using machine learning and validated in a large clinical study.
New features for hearing health
Hearing loss affects approximately 1.5 billion people. Apple has introduced new features for AirPods Pro that are meant to improve hearing health. The “Hearing Protection” feature reduces noise in AirPods Pro, helping to prevent hearing loss. The H2 chip in AirPods Pro reduces loud and unstable sounds, while passive noise reduction is provided by the ear tips.
This feature remains active in all listening modes. For awareness, Apple offers a clinical-grade hearing test that is available through AirPods Pro and a compatible iPhone or iPad. The test, which is based on pure-tone audiometry, takes about five minutes and provides users with an easy-to-understand summary of their hearing health.
Results are stored in the Health app and can be shared with healthcare providers. The feature has been validated against clinical standards and developed using real-world data.
Aid Features
For users with mild to moderate hearing loss, AirPods Pro include an over-the-counter hearing aid function. The feature uses hearing test results to optimize hearing individually and in real time, improving conversation and environmental awareness.
The hearing aid feature has been validated in a randomized study and provides personalized audio adjustments for a better listening experience. Apple Watch’s new Vitals app lets users track daily health metrics and sleep quality. Additionally, the Health app will offer more support for pregnant users, including tracking gestational age and symptoms.
Global availability
Sleep apnea notifications will be available this month in more than 150 countries, including the US, EU, and Japan, for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features will be available this fall in more than 100 countries, including the US, Germany, and Japan, with the latest firmware for AirPods Pro 2.
Hearing Protection will be available this fall in the US and Canada for the latest firmware for AirPods Pro 2. Note that some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Users can log their mental states in the Journal app and save journaling time as Mindful Minutes. Apple is constantly working to improve its Health features while ensuring user privacy by keeping all Health data encrypted and secure.
Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of health, said, “At Apple, we believe technology can improve your health, and we’re excited to introduce groundbreaking capabilities for conditions that affect billions of people while maintaining user privacy.”
She further added, “With Apple Watch, we’re furthering our commitment to health by adding new sleep apnea notifications. And with AirPods Pro, we’re emphasizing hearing health by providing innovative tools to test for and support hearing loss.”