Samsung has confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 will supply irregular coronary heart rhythm notifications when it launches later this yr. What’s extra, the characteristic can even arrive on older Samsung watches – however there’s a catch. 

In an official press launch, Samsung states that irregular coronary heart rhythm notifications will probably be out there in 13 international locations, together with the US and Samsung’s native Korea. Irregular coronary heart rhythm notifications use your watch’s coronary heart fee monitor to search for indicators of atrial fibrillation, a coronary heart situation that may trigger an abnormally quick coronary heart fee. 

This may be performed utilizing an electrocardiogram scan, or ECG, which is commonly activated manually, however the perfect smartwatches, together with the perfect Apple Watch fashions, can even run checks within the background and notify you for potential indicators of atrial fibrillation, or AFib, with out you needing to run ECGs regularly – as an alternative, the notification will immediate you to take a guide ECG for a extra correct studying. 

The characteristic has been permitted by the Korean Ministry of Meals and Drug Security and the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA), simply in time for the probably unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 in July. The characteristic can even be launched in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Panama, and the UAE, with different international locations, together with the UK, more likely to observe. 

After the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 has made its debut, the characteristic can be mentioned to be “increasing to earlier editions later this yr” as a part of the One UI 5 Watch software program replace. Nevertheless, Samsung is eager for its new flagship watch vary to have the characteristic first, which is the catch – should you personal an older mannequin, you’ll have to attend for the characteristic, or improve your watch. 

Clearance sale

The characteristic has solely just lately been cleared by the FDA, regardless of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and (presumably) the Galaxy Watch four having the ability to make the most of this replace. Presumably, for this reason the press launch makes no point out of the characteristic being permitted in different markets, such because the UK or mainland Europe, because it’s nonetheless working its manner by means of all that pink tape. 

That is going to be a recurring downside as smartwatches get extra superior, and producers develop new health-orientated options to place in them: the minute they stray in the direction of being medical gadgets, they get wrapped up in pink tape, and require clearance by third events and governing our bodies for on a regular basis use. 

This characteristic has been out there on Apple Watches for just a few years now, so you need to surprise what the delay has been on Samsung’s half. It’s a characteristic many Android watches are lacking, as rivals just like the Google Pixel Watch nonetheless require you to carry out guide ECG scans relatively than working checks within the background. 

Maybe this will probably be a characteristic that is launched on the Google Pixel Watch 2 this yr, in addition to the Galaxy Watch 6.