Apple Watch's New Sleep Apnea Detection Feature Approved in Canada

Health Canada this week published approval of watchOS 11's sleep apnea detection feature on the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The feature launched in the U.S. and over 150 other countries and regions earlier this month, and Apple is now permitted to make the feature available in Canada.

sleep apnea detection apple watch
It is unclear when Apple will expand the feature to Canada.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder in which a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts while they sleep. The detection feature uses the Apple Watch's accelerometer to "monitor small movements at the wrist that are associated with interruptions in normal respiratory patterns." If these disturbances occur frequently over multiple nights, they may be associated with sleep apnea, according to Apple.

Health Canada Apple Watch Sleep Apnea
Apple says the feature was developed using "advanced machine learning" and an "extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests," and then validated in a clinical study. The feature is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea in adults who have not already been diagnosed with the disorder, according to the company.

Apple Watch users can view their nightly Breathing Disturbances in the Health app on the iPhone, with disturbances classified as "elevated" or "not elevated."

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Top Rated Comments

Devyn89 Avatar
16 months ago

Crazy how the the original Apple Watch Ultra, which is identical to the “2”, is being left out of everything.

I guess this is the new Apple, all your devices are obsolete after one year.
It has a different SIP with a different processor, it’s not identica. They could still likely activate the feature, it would just use more battery. I have zero way to know that and it’s purely an assumption though.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
16 months ago

Crazy how the the original Apple Watch Ultra, which is identical to the “2”, is being left out of everything.

I guess this is the new Apple, all your devices are obsolete after one year.
It is NOT identical.
Do some research
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
16 months ago

So the ultra 1 doesn’t have an accelerometer??
The S3/4/5/6/7 etc have an accelerometer - you stated Ultra and Ultra 2 are identical, they are not.
This feature requires neural cores, read up on what that is and how it is used. I’m done
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Crzyrio Avatar
16 months ago

So the ultra 1 doesn’t have an accelerometer??
ummm:

The S9 is a big upgrade from the S8
- 30% Faster
- Updates to GPU/CUP + Added NPU
- S8 was based of the A13 7nm architecture
- S9 is based of the A15 5nm architecture

The addition of the NPU is the likely gate for a lot of features tbh.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
16 months ago

Nah, Apple wants you to buy a new watch already, the original ultra is being left out of everything as if it’s ten years old or something. All Apple cares about is money these days.
This is just rubbish…
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redbeard331 Avatar
16 months ago

The S3/4/5/6/7 etc have an accelerometer - you stated Ultra and Ultra 2 are identical, they are not.
This feature requires neural cores, read up on what that is and how it is used. I’m done
I don’t know why you’re offended because people ask questions or expect more from Apple. The article says the watch uses the accelerometer, if the original ultra has an accelerometer it should have this feature too.

This isn’t the regular watch either, this is the Ultra top of line, I expect it to be able to have basic stuff like this for at least 3-4 years before being left out. Same thing for it not being able to play music as if it doesn’t have a speaker.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)