AW8c and Sleep Apnea Detection

[xenoako]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watchs-sleep-apnea-detection-feature-receives-fda-clearance.2436463/

How might I determine if my AW8c would eventually enable 'sleep apnea' detection?
Is this first and foremost a hardware issue?
I thought previous posts here suggested we only need to wait for 11 to activate this feature.

 

[Snørrbjørg]

From the link

”available on the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2… ”

 

[Bichon]

It doesn't now, and "eventually" requires a crystal ball -- unfortunately mine is on the fritz. But my guess is that although sleep apnea detection uses accelerometer data available on the series 8, it likely requires the machine learning capabilities of the S9/S10/U2 neural engine to interpret it.

 

[lindseybp]

I don't know that Apple has a compelling reason on their end to try to make it work on an 8. They want you to buy a newer model to use it....although that's assuming it's even possible to implement it on 8's.

 

[jz0309]

I don't know that Apple has a compelling reason on their end to try to make it work on an 8. They want you to buy a newer model to use it....although that's assuming it's even possible to implement it on 8's.

this feature seemingly requires the 9 chip, the one with the neural cores

 

[jz0309]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watchs-sleep-apnea-detection-feature-receives-fda-clearance.2436463/

How might I determine if my AW8c would eventually enable 'sleep apnea' detection?
Is this first and foremost a hardware issue?
I thought previous posts here suggested we only need to wait for 11 to activate this feature.

it won't, not now and not "eventually". it seems to require the S9 chip with the mural cores, so unless you magically upgrade your S8 with that ...

 

[xenoako]

it won't, not now and not "eventually". it seems to require the S9 chip with the mural cores, so unless you magically upgrade your S8 with that ...

I have not been willing to give up oxygen sensor on my 8. I had planned to purchase a 10 until I came here and learned I would lose a feature that is important to me.
It is at least helpful to know that 8 hardware rules out the sleep apnea feature. I will wait around until an AW has all the medical features that I need.