Samsung has become the first company to bring sleep apnea risk detection to a smart ring, with the advanced health monitoring technology now available on the Galaxy Ring and compatible Galaxy Watch devices.

The upgraded sleep apnea screen feature represents a significant milestone for the wearable technology industry.

It follows clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2026 and approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in October.

Available through Samsung’s Health Monitor app, the technology does more than simply identifying potential sleep apnea risks. It analyses users’ vital signs during sleep and provides additional information about the severity of detected breathing disruptions.

The technology builds on Samsung’s original sleep apnea feature, which received FDA De Novo authorisation in February 2024. That earlier development made Samsung the first company to receive authorisation for a wearable feature designed to identify signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.

The Galaxy Ring’s introduction is significant because its lightweight design offers an alternative to wearing a smartwatch overnight. Instead, users can more comfortably monitor their sleep, without needing to wear a device on their wrist.

Samsung says the screening feature requires just two nights of valid sleep data within a 10-day period to create an assessment.

Users are then able to share the results with healthcare professionals, potentially helping them recognise warning signs and seek further medical advice.

However, Samsung does stress that the feature is intended as a screening tool rather than a replacement for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. It is designed to identify signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea in adults aged 18 and over.

Initially available in the US following FDA clearance, the upgraded feature has also secured regulatory approval in South Korea though the full rollout has not been announced for that market yet.

According to Samsung, the company plans to expand availability to additional markets in the future.