Gurman: 'No Chance' Apple Watch Series 7 Will Include Blood Pressure Sensor

[MacRumors]

On Tuesday, Nikkei Asia published a report claiming the upcoming Apple Watch Series 7 will feature blood pressure measurement capabilities, and that this is one of the reasons why production of the device has hit snags as manufacturers adjust to the more complex design.

Later the same day, Bloomberg cited its own sources corroborating Nikkei's main claim that the new model had brought manufacturing challenges which could lead to supply constraints or shipment delays, but the subsequent report by Debbie Wu and Mark Gurman made no mention of Nikkei's claim about a blood pressure sensor being one of the causes of the production snags.

However, if there was any doubt, Gurman has now put to bed Nikkei's key assertion in a tweet, saying that there's "no chance" the Apple Watch Series 7 will have a blood pressure sensor.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1432798940676730886

That's not to say another future Apple Watch model won't have blood pressure smarts. Earlier this year, Apple was revealed to be the largest customer of the British electronics start-up Rockley Photonics, which develops non-invasive optical sensors for detecting multiple blood-related health metrics, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood alcohol levels.

Rockley's disclosure that its biggest client is Apple came about as the company prepared to go public in New York. Given the growth of Rockley Photonics and the scale of Apple's partnership with the company, it seems to be virtually inevitable that the company's health sensor technology will be coming to the Apple Watch at some stage, just not this year.

Apple is widely rumored to be planning an all-digital event for the middle of this month, where the company is expected to announce the iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7, the latter of which is expected to have a new flat-edged design, larger case sizes, a faster processor, and battery improvements. For all the details, check out our Apple Watch rumor roundup.

Article Link: Gurman: 'No Chance' Apple Watch Series 7 Will Include Blood Pressure Sensor

 

[MajorAbomb]

I have a series 4 stainless steel which I really like, and just not found a need to upgrade. The new redesign should hopefully be enough, or is it worth waiting another year for the redesign + new features?

 

[Shanghaichica]

I think we all knew there would be no blood pressure monitoring or blood glucose monitoring this year. The main upgrade seems to be the re-design.

 

[vegetassj4]

My blood pressure is rising due to the anticipated delay. Maybe not.

 

[watchmainspring]

If you've ever had your blood pressure or blood glucose tested in a health care setting, I simply cannot imagine a 1oz plastic and aluminum watch being able to replicate these measurements and produce anything remotely accurate. Don't get me wrong, Apple has tons of money and intelligent engineers, but we need to have reasonable expectations in 2021.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I think we all knew there would be no blood pressure monitoring or blood glucose monitoring this year. The main upgrade seems to be the re-design.

Yep even if the sensor was ready (likely wasn't), Apple likes to hold back features so there is something new the following series. They do it with all the products. For example, mini LED being on the 12.9 iPad only but coming to 11 the following year (likely). It is smart business.

 

[matrix07]

That's ok. I have Omron.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Yep even if the sensor was ready (likely wasn't), Apple likes to hold back features so there is something new the following series. They do it with all the products. For example, mini LED being on the 12.9 iPad only but coming to 11 the following year (likely). It is smart business.

It’s smart and makes me keep opening up my purse year after year lol

 

[Rychiar]

I have a series 4 stainless steel which I really like, and just not found a need to upgrade. The new redesign should hopefully be enough, or is it worth waiting another year for the redesign + new features?

I woulda upgraded when the 5 came out considering the always one display was the best new feature they could possibly add to the watch

 

[orbital~debris]

Interesting to note what the Bloomberg article (from the post update) doesn't say – namely anything about the blood pressure feature.

This could be because it's not present… but it seems more likely that would be addressed at this stage by a yay/nay nod from Apple to Wu & Gurman, to quash any over-galloping rumours.

Just like that. This is the way.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

There is the danger as Apple Watch becomes increasingly more popular, the level of anticipation rises to unjustified levels. I don't think it's unfair to say that, like the iPhone, some need to keep their expectations in check.

It's not Apple's job to guarantee revolutionary new features every year, but simply to find ways to iterate - even if that means the said feature appears granular. Because at the end of the day, though those who complain may have owned their watch/iPhone for several years, there are also prospective customers who are going to look at the list of features and be bowled over by what the product offers.

Even today, I'm flabbergasted at just how much technology is stuffed into these tiny devices. And whether Apple releases blood pressure monitoring this year or in the future, it's better they get it right first time than to rush to market with a half-baked system.

 

[dantracht]

Not something I was desperate to have, nor is the 7 something I am desperate to upgrade to. Even my GF is leaning heavily towards hanging onto her 3 for another year.

 

[tridley68]

Not a deal breaker for me still going to upgrade my series 4

 

[bensisko]

If you've ever had your blood pressure or blood glucose tested in a health care setting, I simply cannot imagine a 1oz plastic and aluminum watch being able to replicate these measurements and produce anything remotely accurate. Don't get me wrong, Apple has tons of money and intelligent engineers, but we need to have reasonable expectations in 2021.

Actually, it’s VERY believable. I wear a glucose monitoring sensor which is smaller and lighter than the Apple Watch and is very accurate.

As with all Apple Watch Health related functions, it’s not supposed to replace medical tests done by hospitals or diagnose conditions, but to act as a guide to monitor ongoing health issues and act as a warning to seek medical expertise.

 

[Metrosey]

Apple has to do something this year, can’t just be a redesign.

 

[jimbobb24]

Actually, it’s VERY believable. I wear a glucose monitoring sensor which is smaller and lighter than the Apple Watch and is very accurate.

As with all Apple Watch Health related functions, it’s not supposed to replace medical tests done by hospitals or diagnose conditions, but to act as a guide to monitor ongoing health issues and act as a warning to seek medical expertise.

How does your glucose monitor work? Doesn’t it puncture your body? Who in the world is going to wear a watch with a needle in it? That’s not ever going to happen.

 

[watchmainspring]

Actually, it’s VERY believable. I wear a glucose monitoring sensor which is smaller and lighter than the Apple Watch and is very accurate.

As with all Apple Watch Health related functions, it’s not supposed to replace medical tests done by hospitals or diagnose conditions, but to act as a guide to monitor ongoing health issues and act as a warning to seek medical expertise.

Your monitor involves a constant subcutaneous sensor?

I do not see apple selling reusable needles for their watch.

Do you know of any accurate blood glucose monitor that doesn't utilize direct sensing of blood/ a needle?


I can see the watch syncing with your sensor but incorporating accurate technology directly into the watch is many years away, likely.

The past discussions with the Apple watch involved measuring IR. I've heard of perhaps using sweat or tears. If blood glucose monitoring isn't accurate, what good is it?

 

[Kierkegaarden]

I wasn’t expecting this for the Series 7 — the processor upgrade and redesign are enough for me to upgrade.

 

[boak]

Apple Watch Series X needs to keep improving with more features to maintain market share.
Apple Watch SE needs to have its price dropped and the chip/storage continually updated. The sensors are sufficient for entry-level watch owners.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

Oh look, Apple deploys Gurman to shoot down another fantastical rumor before the invites go out.

 

[DrV]

If you've ever had your blood pressure or blood glucose tested in a health care setting, I simply cannot imagine a 1oz plastic and aluminum watch being able to replicate these measurements and produce anything remotely accurate. Don't get me wrong, Apple has tons of money and intelligent engineers, but we need to have reasonable expectations in 2021.

It should be understood that the problem is not "home setting" but "wrist measurement". Inexpensive blood pressure monitors (Omron & al.) are very good. They are as good as collar measurement can be, and that is what is mostly used in healthcare, as well. The principle is simple, and with modern pressure sensor technology the results are excellent.

Also, blood glucose measurement devices intended for home use are very good. They are not as good as lab measurements using a blood sample drawn from a vein, but the difference comes from sampling (drop of blood from the finger vs. better sample from the vein), not from the measurement technology. Continuous home use devices increasingly used by type 1 diabetics are often more useful than lab tests (which only give one point in time).

The problem here is that measuring either of these parameters optically from the wrist is extremely difficult. BP measurement is a mechanical measurement where the gold standard is the use of an invasive catheter (direct measurement). The most commonly used sphygmomanometer method (collar around upper arm) is intermittent in nature and may give quite different results. There are some methods for non-invasive continuous BP monitoring (CNAP), but they either have high uncertainties (e.g. pulse transmit time methods) or use mechanical pressure to modulate blood flow.

Blood glucose measurement is a chemical measurement. In theory the glucose concentration can be measured by spectroscopy where the optical absorption is measured. There is a lot of research going on and aiming at creating a practical non-invasive glucose meter. AFAIK, Raman spectroscopy seems to be the most likely candidate, but miniaturizing a Raman spectrometer to fit a watch is not exactly round the corner.

Both continuous BP and continuous blood glucose measurements would be a huge thing even from the scientific perspective. Unfortunately, they are not easy.

 

[Abazigal]

Apple Watch Series X needs to keep improving with more features to maintain market share.
Apple Watch SE needs to have its price dropped and the chip/storage continually updated. The sensors are sufficient for entry-level watch owners.

What other smart watch is there for iPhone users?

 

[jmgregory1]

It should be understood that the problem is not "home setting" but "wrist measurement". Inexpensive blood pressure monitors (Omron & al.) are very good. They are as good as collar measurement can be, and that is what is mostly used in healthcare, as well. The principle is simple, and with modern pressure sensor technology the results are excellent.

Also, blood glucose measurement devices intended for home use are very good. They are not as good as lab measurements using a blood sample drawn from a vein, but the difference comes from sampling (drop of blood from the finger vs. better sample from the vein), not from the measurement technology. Continuous home use devices increasingly used by type 1 diabetics are often more useful than lab tests (which only give one point in time).

The problem here is that measuring either of these parameters optically from the wrist is extremely difficult. BP measurement is a mechanical measurement where the gold standard is the use of an invasive catheter (direct measurement). The most commonly used sphygmomanometer method (collar around upper arm) is intermittent in nature and may give quite different results. There are some methods for non-invasive continuous BP monitoring (CNAP), but they either have high uncertainties (e.g. pulse transmit time methods) or use mechanical pressure to modulate blood flow.

Blood glucose measurement is a chemical measurement. In theory the glucose concentration can be measured by spectroscopy where the optical absorption is measured. There is a lot of research going on and aiming at creating a practical non-invasive glucose meter. AFAIK, Raman spectroscopy seems to be the most likely candidate, but miniaturizing a Raman spectrometer to fit a watch is not exactly round the corner.

Both continuous BP and continuous blood glucose measurements would be a huge thing even from the scientific perspective. Unfortunately, they are not easy.

Great explanations. And to further your points about the complexity of BP and blood glucose measurements, a huge hurdle is either getting government approval for what would be considered medical testing devices, or figuring out what you can say about the device and its accuracy outside of being a medical device, so that consumers don’t assume they’re getting something they’re not.

I think Apple is going the right direction in adding these types of features that push more personal health data into consumer’s hands, even if it’s not 100% accurate. There are enough examples of Watch owners being “saved” by their Watch’s sensing a health issue. Even in the last couple of days, my mother-in-law hadn’t been feeling great, and my wife took off her Watch (series 5) and put it on her mom, and almost immediately it let her know her heart was in afib. Went to the hospital and sure enough, it was confirmed, so we’re now going to get her a Watch so that she and we can know what’s happening all the time without needing to wear an actual medical device.

 

[one more]

Actually, it’s VERY believable. I wear a glucose monitoring sensor which is smaller and lighter than the Apple Watch and is very accurate.

As with all Apple Watch Health related functions, it’s not supposed to replace medical tests done by hospitals or diagnose conditions, but to act as a guide to monitor ongoing health issues and act as a warning to seek medical expertise.

True. I guess the Apple Watch expectations are that things like a continuous blood glucose monitoring can be made truly non-invasive. Apple could probably already integrate both Dexcom or Libre sensors data into Health, but they might be trying to come up with something more revolutionary? 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[justperry]

Actually, it’s VERY believable. I wear a glucose monitoring sensor which is smaller and lighter than the Apple Watch and is very accurate.

As with all Apple Watch Health related functions, it’s not supposed to replace medical tests done by hospitals or diagnose conditions, but to act as a guide to monitor ongoing health issues and act as a warning to seek medical expertise.

Might we ask you which brand/sensor you use.

I searched the internet for non invasive glucose sensors, I found some results, all invasive.