Apple Watch Sleep Asnoea test

Apple rolled out a couple of key health features for the Apple Watch and AirPods Pro. The Apple Watch will now deliver sleep apnea notifications while the AirPods Pro will provide a clinically validated Hearing Test feature to users in India. The Hearing Test is based on the standard clinical approach called pure-tone audiometry that users can take themselves with their AirPods Pro and a compatible iPhone or iPad.

Apple’s sleep apnea notifications arrive at a time when sleep tracking and the discussions around sleep have gained traction among technology companies, healthcare professionals and wellness-conscious users alike.

Sleep is serious business

Consumer research across the world has revealed that health (and fitness tracking), convenience (quick notifications) and seamless connectivity remain the primary purchase drivers for smartwatches across the globe. Sleep tracking has gradually become an obsession among many users. It’s not just smartwatches, consumers can now choose from fitness rings and screenless activity trackers too. According to a study by Healthcare Foresights, the Sleep Tech Devices Market size was valued around $29.3 billion and tipped to cross the $134 billion mark by 2035 growing at a CAGR of over 18 per cent.

Sleep apnea in focus

Sleep apnea is a prevalent disorder which is estimated to impact more than 1 billion people worldwide, and in most cases, goes undiagnosed. An AIIMS study in 2023 revealed that more than 104 million Indians could be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. It can impact wellness with an increased risk of hypertension and cardiac issues.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea; the other types of sleep apnea including Central sleep apnea (CSA) and Mixed (Complex) sleep apnea. OSA occurs when throat narrowing blocks the flow of air into the lungs. Some of the common symptoms (that needed to be validated by a medical professional) include loud snoring, gasping for air when you sleep, morning headaches and waking up with a dry mouth. In many cases, insomnia and hypersomnia (daytime sleepiness) have also been linked to Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Apple Watch levels up with its sleep tracking game

The Apple Watch debuted in 2015 and has evolved from a lifestyle device to a proactive wellness hub or an Intelligent Guardian as Apple puts it. The 2020s have seen the wearable industry firmly shift towards wellness with multiple devices — from activity trackers, smartwatches and fitness rings, in the mix. Apple’s sleep tracking game has evolved from Basic Sleep and Schedules to include a more comprehensive sleep tracking solution that includes vitals and respiratory tracking. Rajiv Kumar, Clinician Researcher — Apple, told us that its new sleep apnea notification tracking is a result of a wider focus to provide meaningful and actionable sleep insights. Improved battery life and faster charging speeds on newer generation Apple Watches make it more convenient for users to wear their Apple Watch to bed.

How it works

Breathing Disturbances is an innovative new Apple Watch metric that uses the accelerometer to detect small movements at the wrist associated with interruptions to normal respiratory patterns during sleep. Every 30 days, Apple Watch will analyse breathing disturbance data and notify users if it shows consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea so they can consult their doctor about next steps. For more informed conversations with their healthcare providers, users can export a PDF that shows when sleep apnea may have occurred, three months of breathing disturbance data, and additional information.

The notification algorithm was developed using advanced machine learning and an extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests. The feature was then validate in a clinical study where every participant identified by the algorithm had at least mild sleep apnea. Because overall quality of sleep is important, Breathing disturbances can also be used to assess restfulness of sleep. Breathing disturbances can be influenced by alcohol, medications, sleep position, and more. Users can view their nightly Breathing disturbances in the Health app, where they are classified as elevated or not elevated, and can be viewed over a one-month, six-month, or one-year period.

How to set it up on your Apple Watch

You can set up sleep apnea notifications via the Health App on the iPhone. You will need an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Apple Watch SE 3 with the latest version of watchOS. Sleep must be set up with Track Sleep with Apple Watch turned on. You do have the option to turn off sleep apnea notifications. You must wear your Apple Watch to sleep for a minimum of 10 nights over a 30-day period. Your data will be analysed every 30 days.

Published on May 27, 2026