Galaxy Watch Sleep Apnea Feature Now Available in Malaysia
Samsung has enabled its Sleep Apnea feature for the Galaxy Watch series in Malaysia, making it accessible through the Samsung Health Monitor app.
The launch follows the feature’s receipt of a Medical Device Registration Certificate from Malaysia’s Medical Device Authority (MDA). This certification confirms that the feature meets the country’s health, safety, and environmental standards.
This new function is designed to help users detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Obstructive sleep apnea is a common but often undiagnosed medical condition where a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Health experts note this can lead to disruptions in oxygen supply, poor sleep quality, and serious health complications, including hypertension, cardiac disorders, stroke, or cognitive issues.
The feature works by using the Galaxy Watch’s BioActive Sensor to monitor blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) levels during sleep. It then analyses changes in SpO₂ values related to breathing disruptions to estimate the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI).
Samsung’s feature, which operates as an over-the-counter (OTC) software application, requires users to monitor their sleep for two nights to detect these signs. It is intended for adult users aged 22 and older who have not been previously diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Company officials caution that the feature is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment by a qualified healthcare provider and is not intended to assist clinicians in diagnosing sleep disorders.
The Malaysian certification is the latest in a series of global regulatory approvals for the feature. It previously received De Novo authorisation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a first of its kind for a wearable device. It has also been approved by regulatory bodies in Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Brazil, and Canada.
To use the feature, consumers must have a Galaxy Watch4 series or a later model (running Wear OS 5.0 or later) and a paired Galaxy smartphone (running Android 12.0 or later).
