Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 ECG Feature Now Approved In South Korea

Samsung released a good contender to the Apple Watch with the Galaxy Watch Active 2, its first wearable to feature a built-in electrocardiogram (ECG). The thing is, the feature wasn't yet activated at the time the device was released. Thankfully, it appears that the feature will soon be activated for users to enjoy.

Samsung announced via a press release that South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has cleared the Galaxy Watch Active 2's ECG feature, which means it will soon be activated to allow users to measure and analyze their heart rhythm for irregularities.

With the ECG feature enabled, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will be able to indicate if the user is suffering from Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), a common abnormal heart rhythm that affects about 33.5 million people across the globe.

“We’re delighted to announce that the ECG function has been cleared by MFDS,” TaeJong Jay Yang, Corporate SVP and Head of Health Team, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, said in the press release.

The MFDS also cleared the Galaxy Watch Active 2's BP monitoring feature, which means the device will also be used to monitor a person's blood pressure levels soon. This means that eventually, the device can be used to monitor hypertension and AFib, both of which are known as the leading causes of stroke.

How it works

Once the ECG and BP features are enabled, Galaxy Watch Active 2 users will be able to use the ECG function by wearing the device firmly, sitting comfortably, opening the Samsung Health Monitor app, then by placing a fingertip from the opposite hand on the top button of the device for half a minute.

The device will measure the heart rate and rhythm using its built-in ECG sensor, then indicate whether the heart beats normally (a “Sinus Rhythm”) or irregularly (AFib). Users will be able to gain some insight into their health using the ECG result and the BP measurement.

XDA Developers noted that according to a PDF inside the Samsung Health Monitor apk, the blood pressure reading should be within 5 mmHg of the actual BP, which means it's “pretty accurate.”

Samsung said the Samsung Health Monitor app, which includes the ECG and BP functions, will be available within the third quarter of 2020. Regulatory approvals, however, will determine where the app will be available when launched, XDA Developers noted.