Excited about the WWDC? We have some extra news! The FDA approved Afib for the Apple Watch just hours before the conference.
This approval allows Apple to go ahead with an atrial fibrillation feature, presumably for watchOS. Thanks to this approval, we’ll likely see the ‘Atrial Fibrillation History Feature’ on Apple’s hardware and services.
What does this mean for the brand? What is Afib? We’ve got all the news you need to know about this exciting feature.
Keep on reading to find out more.
What Is Afib?
Before we jump into Apple’s new feature, we’ll quickly explain Afib.
Afib, or atrial fibrillation, refers to an irregular heart rhythm. This condition can cause a rapid heart rate or poor blood flow due to the upper heart chamber beating out of rhythm with the lower chambers.
The current Apple Watch devices can check Afib, but only between 50-150 beats per minute. In some regions, this range only goes up to 120.
What Is The WWDC?
The new afib tool has been approved just in time for the WWDC. The World Wide Developers Conference is a significant technology conference held annually by the Apple team. This event usually occurs in San Jose, California.
If you’re an Apple fan, this event is worth tuning into for the latest tech and gadgets from the team.
What Will The Afib Feature Offer?
Great, the afib feature is approved! But, what does this mean for Apple Watch users?
We don’t have the complete picture of the new feature just yet, but since the patent was called ‘Atrial Fibrillation History Feature’, we can assume users will be able to monitor past heart rhythms and symptoms. This could give users a comprehensive view of their heart health, allowing them to monitor any possible conditions.
Other sources have discussed that watchOS 9 may provide an ‘Afib Burden Detection’ feature. We expect this to provide information on how long Afib continues.
Though we’re not clear about the constraints of this new feature, it’s exciting to see an FDA approval.
Do Any Other Brands Offer Afib?
It’s not just Apple getting serious about heart health; Fitbit is close on its tails.
In 2020, Fitbit received FDA approval and a CE mark for its ECG app on the impressive Fitbit Sense. Then in 2022, Fitbit also received an FDA approval for Afib, allowing their watches to provide irregular heart rhythm notifications.
Unfortunately, the Fitbit afib feature isn’t rolled out just yet. We expect to see it on upcoming models, so keep watching the latest smartwatch news for updates.
Find out how close the race between Fitbit and Apple is here.
The Bottom Line
The move towards medical features in the smartwatch world is impressive. We’re waiting to see how this FDA approval will be integrated into Apple’s watches, and perhaps it will even be announced at the WWDC this week! Are you excited too? Let us know in the comments.
Want to know the latest smartwatch news? Find our dedicated news section here.
Isobel is a freelance copy and content writer who regularly contributes to Superwatches. Well-versed in all the ins and outs of the smartwatch industry. Isobel specializes in Fashion and design and is a First Class fashion design graduate.
Currently lives in Bournemouth, United Kingdom.
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