Short answer: three consumer products have a US regulator-cleared way to flag possible sleep apnea, Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Samsung Galaxy Ring. None of them diagnoses it. They tell you when to talk to a doctor.
This page is not medical advice. If you snore loudly, stop breathing in your sleep or are very tired during the day, see a clinician whatever your watch says.
The options at a glance
| Product | US status | Data it needs | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch (Series 9 or later, Ultra 2 or later, SE 3) | FDA 510(k) cleared, over the counter | At least 10 nights of sleep in a 30-day period | A notification if breathing disturbances are consistently elevated |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Ring | Original feature FDA De Novo authorised 2024; updated feature cleared July 2026; over the counter | Two nights of valid data within 10 days | An on-demand risk check plus the level of breathing disruptions |
| Withings Sleep Rx (under-mattress mat) | FDA 510(k) cleared, prescription | Nights on the mat, read by a clinician | A breathing index used as an aid to diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea |
Sources for each row are linked in the sections below.
Apple Watch: passive, every 30 days
Apple’s feature uses the watch’s accelerometer to look for small wrist movements linked to breathing disturbances while you sleep. Each night is marked “Elevated” or “Not elevated”, and if the 30-day window shows consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea you get a notification. Apple Support: Sleep apnea notifications on your Apple Watch (opens in a new tab) It runs in the background once set up, so there is nothing to start each night. FDA 510(k) K240929: Sleep Apnea Notification Feature (Apple) (opens in a new tab)
You need an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Ultra 2 or later, or SE 3, the latest watchOS and iOS, Sleep tracking turned on, and at least 10 nights of wear in 30 days. Apple says it is for adults without a sleep apnea diagnosis, that it is not intended to diagnose, and that not everyone with sleep apnea will get a notification. Apple Support: Sleep apnea notifications on your Apple Watch (opens in a new tab) The FDA cleared it through the 510(k) route as an over-the-counter device to assess the risk of sleep apnea. FDA 510(k) K240929: Sleep Apnea Notification Feature (Apple) (opens in a new tab) Both current models we cover qualify: Apple Watch Series 12 and Series 11.
Samsung Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring: on demand, now graded
Samsung’s original Sleep Apnea feature received FDA De Novo authorisation in February 2024. An updated version, cleared by the FDA in July 2026 and approved in Korea in October, was announced as available on November 3, 2026, and Samsung says the Galaxy Ring is the first smart ring with sleep apnea risk detection. Samsung Newsroom: upgraded Sleep Apnea feature on Galaxy Ring (Nov 3, 2026) (opens in a new tab) The new algorithm reports the level of breathing disruptions it detects rather than only a yes or no; Android Authority reports three levels, mild, occasional and frequent, and notes that the original feature already ran on Galaxy Watches as old as the Watch4. Android Authority: Samsung improved sleep apnea function (opens in a new tab) Samsung’s announcement does not list countries, so check the Samsung Health Monitor app for availability where you live.
Samsung’s fine print: the feature runs in the Samsung Health Monitor app on a compatible Galaxy phone, is for adults 18 and over who have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and needs two nights of valid data within 10 days. It is available on Galaxy Watch9 with Wear OS 7.0 or higher and on Galaxy Ring, with Galaxy Watch7 and Watch8 support promised in future updates. Samsung Newsroom: upgraded Sleep Apnea feature on Galaxy Ring (Nov 3, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Withings Sleep Rx: a mat your doctor orders
Withings Sleep Rx sits under the mattress and records a “Withings index” during sleep as an aid to diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, along with heart rate and movement. The FDA cleared it for home screening of adults with suspected sleep breathing disorders, with results going to a healthcare professional. FDA 510(k) K231667: Withings Sleep Rx (opens in a new tab) Withings says it is available in the US for healthcare organisations, so you get it through a provider rather than a store. Withings: Sleep Rx (opens in a new tab)
What about smart beds?
Eight Sleep says its smart bed technology was approved as a medical device in Abu Dhabi in October 2026, where physicians can prescribe it to adults with suspected obstructive sleep apnea as an at-home aid to diagnosis. Yahoo Finance: Eight Sleep approved as a medical device in Abu Dhabi (opens in a new tab) That approval is for Abu Dhabi only. See our Eight Sleep Pod 6 page for what the bed does in the US.
What none of these do
None replaces a sleep study, and a quiet result is not an all-clear: Apple says plainly that not everyone with sleep apnea will be notified. Apple Support: Sleep apnea notifications on your Apple Watch (opens in a new tab) Breathing or blood-oxygen graphs in other sleep apps are not the same thing as a cleared feature. If a feature is not on this list, check whether it has a regulatory clearance before treating it as a screening tool. For what trackers measure well in general, read are sleep trackers accurate?
Questions
Can a smartwatch diagnose sleep apnea?
No. Apple and Samsung both describe their features as detecting signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea, not diagnosing it. A diagnosis comes from a clinician, usually after a sleep study.
Which Apple Watch models support sleep apnea notifications?
Apple lists Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, and Apple Watch SE 3, with the latest watchOS and iOS. You need to wear the watch to sleep for at least 10 nights in a 30-day period.
Does the Samsung Galaxy Ring detect sleep apnea?
Yes. On November 3, 2026, Samsung said its updated Sleep Apnea feature, cleared by the FDA in July 2026, is available on Galaxy Ring and on Galaxy Watch9 running Wear OS 7.0 or higher, with Galaxy Watch7 and Watch8 to follow in software updates. It needs two nights of valid data within 10 days.
Should I use these features if I already have a sleep apnea diagnosis?
Both Apple and Samsung say their features are not intended for people who have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and both are for adults 18 and over.
Is there an under-mattress option?
Withings Sleep Rx is an FDA-cleared under-mattress mat that records a breathing index as an aid to diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea. In the US it is available by prescription through healthcare providers, not as a regular consumer purchase.