Samsung is finally bringing blood pressure monitoring to Galaxy Watch users in the US. However, it’s not quite the seamless upgrade you might expect.
The feature is rolling out now to supported models, including newer watches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and older devices dating back to the Galaxy Watch 4.
But there’s a catch: you’ll need extra hardware to use it.
Unlike heart rate or sleep tracking, this isn’t something the watch can handle on its own. To get started, users need a traditional upper-arm blood pressure cuff to calibrate the readings. You’ll also have to install the Samsung Health Monitor app on a compatible Galaxy phone. Furthermore, you need to repeat the calibration process every 28 days to keep results accurate.
In other words, the smartwatch feature still relies heavily on a standard blood pressure monitor.
That’s partly down to regulation. While Samsung introduced blood pressure tracking back in 2020 and has rolled it out globally over time, delays in the US have been tied to stricter requirements. Even now, the feature hasn’t received FDA clearance. Therefore, it’s positioned strictly for wellness use rather than medical diagnosis or treatment.
There are a few other limitations worth noting. Readings are taken on demand rather than passively in the background. So you’ll need to manually start each measurement. Samsung has said passive tracking could arrive later this year. This would bring it closer to rivals like the Apple Watch, which already offers FDA-cleared hypertension alerts that run automatically.
Compatibility is also fairly tight. The feature only works on Galaxy Watch 4 or newer models paired with a Samsung Galaxy phone running Android 12 or above. So if you’re using a different Android device, you’re out of luck.
Still, it’s a notable step. Blood pressure monitoring has long been one of the most requested health features for wearables. While Samsung’s approach isn’t fully standalone just yet, it does bring the company closer to turning its smartwatch into a more comprehensive health companion.
The post Samsung Galaxy Watch gets blood pressure monitoring, with a big catch appeared first on Trusted Reviews.