Samsung is finally bringing its blood pressure monitoring feature to Galaxy Watch users in the United States. Starting today, March 31, select Galaxy Watch owners can measure and track their blood pressure right from their wrist using the Samsung Health Monitor app.
This has been a long time coming. Samsung has had blood pressure monitoring available in South Korea for years now, and U.S. users have been waiting patiently, for the feature to make its way stateside. Well, the wait is over.
Here’s how it works. Your Galaxy Watch uses its internal heart rate sensors to measure both systolic and diastolic blood pressure along with your heart rate. There is a catch, though – you’ll need to calibrate the watch using a traditional upper arm blood pressure cuff every 28 days. The cuff is sold separately, so keep that in mind.
The feature is compatible with Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models running Watch OS 4.0 or higher, paired with an Android phone on Android 12 or above. You’ll also need the Samsung Health Monitor app, which becomes available once your watch is connected to your Galaxy phone.
Why This Matters
This is a pretty big deal when you consider the numbers. According to the CDC, nearly 120 million adults in the U.S. suffer from high blood pressure, that’s roughly half of all adults in the country. Having a convenient way to keep tabs on those numbers from your wrist could genuinely help people stay on top of their health.
Samsung says this joins its growing lineup of health features on Galaxy Watch, including FDA-authorized sleep apnea detection, ECG readings, and irregular heart rhythm notifications. The company also teased that passive blood pressure trend monitoring is coming later this year.
The Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic are available now on Samsung.com.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
$349
The Galaxy Watch 8 is Samsung’s latest smartwatch, featuring a slimmer design, improved health sensors, and Wear OS 5 for a smoother experience on your wrist.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
$449
The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic brings back the fan-favorite rotating bezel alongside upgraded health sensors, a larger display, and Wear OS 5, making it the premium pick for Samsung fans.
