Apple Watch Likely to Gain Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, and Blood Alcohol Monitoring

The Apple Watch may gain the ability to measure blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood alcohol levels, according to newly-revealed information about one of Apple's chosen business partners.

apple watch ecg
Apple has been revealed to be the largest customer of the British electronics start-up Rockley Photonics, The Telegraph reports.

Rockley Photonics has developed non-invasive optical sensors for detecting multiple blood-related health metrics, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood alcohol levels, many of which are only normally detectable with more invasive dedicated medical equipment. Rockley's sensors beam infrared light through a user's skin, much like the existing sensors on the back of the Apple Watch for detecting heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

Rockley's disclosure that its biggest client is Apple came about as the company prepares to go public in New York. The company's filings said that Apple accounted for the majority of its revenue over the last two years and that it has an ongoing "supply and development agreement" with the company, under which it expects to continue to heavily rely on Apple for most of its revenue.

Given the growth of Rockley Photonics and the scale of Apple's partnership with the company, it seems to be virtually inevitable that the company's health sensor technology will be coming to the Apple Watch sooner rather than later.

The company has established an office in San Jose, in addition to facilities in Oxford, Cardiff, Cork, and Helsinki. Rockley has said that its next-generation sensors could be in consumer smartwatches and other electronics as soon as next year. This would presumably align with the launch of Apple Watch Series 8 models.

Until now, rumors had indicated that the upcoming Apple Watch Series 7 would be gaining blood glucose monitoring, but Rockley's comments may indicate that the feature has been delayed until 2022. It is also possible that blood glucose monitoring could still come to the Apple Watch Series 7 this year, followed by a significant expansion of Rockley's technology in the device next year with features like blood pressure and blood alcohol monitoring.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch Series 9
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Top Rated Comments

Corsig Avatar
34 months ago
I would absolutely love this. It would make the iwatch a must have for so many people
Score: 58 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
34 months ago

Blood alcohol would be a game changer and likely make me finally get a new Apple Watch.
Are you that close to the legal limit on such a frequent basis?
Score: 55 Votes (Like | Disagree)
UBS28 Avatar
34 months ago
Well, police officer, my Apple Watch said my alcohol level is fine ......
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
velocityg4 Avatar
34 months ago
Siri: Your blood alcohol is 0.12 percent and it’s 3AM. Are you sure you want to make that call right now? Perhaps you should sleep it off.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wando64 Avatar
34 months ago
I would love this, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dynAdZ Avatar
34 months ago
These features would be a massive game-changer that would only widen the gap between any competitor in the wearables market. Major benefit for diabetics etc.
And blood alcohol monitoring? How cool is this?
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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