

Quick Summary
The sleep apnea detection feature for the Apple Watch has passed regulatory approval and is available in watchOS 11.
You'll need a Series 9, Series 10 or Ultra 2 to benefit from it.
The Apple Watch Series 10 was expected to launch without a key feature – sleep apnea detection. That's because the feature required regulatory approval in some countries, particularly the US, and couldn't be launched without Apple getting the regulatory go-ahead.
As a result Apple had said that the feature wouldn't launch until later this month – but it's available right now in WatchOS 11, which was released last night. And it's also available for the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The feature is now available because the US FDA – the organisation that regulates health devices – gave its blessing to the sleep apnea detection earlier this week.
TechCrunch reported yesterday that the FDA had just published a document detailing its approval, and Apple was clearly ready for it. However, another key feature, for blood oxygen monitoring, remains disabled in US Apple Watch models due to an ongoing patent dispute.
Why sleep apnea detection is an important Apple Watch upgrade
The new feature, which is now available in watchOS 11 for the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 only, is an important addition to Apple's health features and brings it up to speed with similar features from Samsung and Withings.
Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing slows or even stops while you're asleep. It's believed to be connected to a whole host of symptoms ranging from short-term headaches to long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression. By alerting you of possible apnea your watch can help you seek diagnosis and treatment.
Apple's system uses the Apple Watch accelerometer to detect movements in your wrist that can indicate interruptions in your breathing, and if they recur then Apple's machine learning will analyse them to see if apnea is a possibility. You can see the data in your Health app.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
The feature is available in most countries including the US and UK. You can see the full list on Apple's website.
Writer, musician and broadcaster Carrie Marshall has been covering technology since 1998 and is particularly interested in how tech can help us live our best lives. Her CV is a who’s who of magazines, newspapers, websites and radio programmes ranging from T3, Techradar and MacFormat to the BBC, Sunday Post and People’s Friend. Carrie has written more than a dozen books, ghost-wrote two more and co-wrote seven more books and a Radio 2 documentary series; her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. When she’s not scribbling, Carrie is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind (unquietmindmusic).
-
Forget Switch 2, your OG Nintendo Switch just got a mammoth free update
Never fear if you can't pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2, the Switch and Switch Lite have been boosted with new system software
-
De'Longhi's new bean-to-cup coffee machine lets you enjoy 35 different barista drinks at home
You'll never enter a coffee shop again
-
Samsung's flagship phones will reportedly maintain one key advantage over iPhone
Apple is said to be struggling to match Samsung in a specific tech area
-
New Apple Vision Pro tipped for early 2026, but might not be what you expect
The second generation Vision Pro may not be the game-changing model you're hoping for
-
Apple Watch users will be jealous of three features on the new Motorola Watch Fit
The budget smartwatch has an enviable spec sheet
-
If the iPhone 17 Pro adds these 4 new features I'm already sold
Apple needs to make a big swing
-
Apple's Severance computer may have been a joke, but the keyboard is coming for real
Tell us where we can sign up!
-
Apple Watch is set to get Apple Intelligence this year, but only with a little help from a friend
Bring on watchOS 12
-
iPad reportedly getting major makeover and your current model could benefit too
Apple is said to be making a change that iPad power users have been wanting for years
-
AirPods Max finally get the great free upgrade Apple promised
Here's how to make sure your headphones are running the right firmware