Apple Watch Series 6 Reportedly Shipping With Feature That Could Help Detect Covid-Related Pneumonia

The upcoming Apple Watch Series 6 would be released with a new blood oxygen detection and sleep tracking feature, according to a new report. Over the years, the industry has seen a myriad of reports showing how the Apple Watch has literally saved the users’ lives. Interestingly, this alleged new feature is very helpful, especially in detecting early signs of covid-related pneumonia.

New Apple Watch Series 6 Features

Taiwan-based publication Digitimes recently reported that the forthcoming Apple Watch Series 6 would include blood oxygen monitoring to its comprehensive list of features. The next-generation smart wearable from Apple would reportedly come with biosensors that could keep track sleeping conditions, detect blood oxygen and measure arterial fibrillation, pulse rates and heartbeats.

The site also claimed that the company would incorporate MEMS-based accelerometer and gyroscope on the Apple Watch Series 6. Through this, the smart wearable could continue to give precise measurement that puts it in the pedestal among other wearables. As to its development status, Digitimes reported that it is in ‘smooth development’ thanks to Apple’s collaboration with the Taiwanese company ASE Technology.

Blood Oxygen Monitoring Feature

Aside from the information shared by Digitimes, a recent discovery on the iOS 14 code revealed that Apple is working on a feature that could detect the level of oxygen in the blood. According to the code, the Apple Watch could offer notifications when the blood oxygen levels fall below the healthy threshold. It is worth mentioning that a drop in the blood oxygen level could indicate a serious cardiac or respiratory problem.

Several physicians believe that blood oxygen monitoring could help save lives amid the COVID-19 outbreak by notifying people to get medical help sooner. Managed Healthcare Executive earlier reported that some COVID-19 patients have silent hypoxia or abnormally low blood oxygen saturation levels without experiencing difficulty in breathing. While silent hypoxia is not specific to COVID-19, it could be more common than other lung infections.

It is worth mentioning that the report about Apple Watch Series 6 getting a blood oxygen monitoring feature is not yet confirmed or official. Apple has not yet made any statement about the Apple Watch 6 or this particular feature arriving on the wearable. In this case, take this information with an ounce of skepticism.