ECG Followed by Blood Oxygen Saturation... Gradual Start of Healthcare

Apple Watch 6 Enables Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitoring in Korea
Samsung Launches Blood Pressure and ECG Services First in Korea
Competing Feature Introductions... Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch Becoming More Similar

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Apple and Samsung Electronics continue their competition in the 'wrist doctor' feature. They aim to expand their smartwatch market share by enhancing health measurement functions. Samsung Electronics first introduced electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure measurement features domestically, while Apple offers the blood oxygen saturation measurement feature of the Apple Watch 6 in Korea as well.

On the 16th (local time), Apple announced that the blood oxygen saturation measurement feature will be available in 112 countries, including South Korea. Unlike the ECG measurement feature, which requires regulatory approval, this service does not require separate authorization, greatly expanding the number of countries where it is available.

The 'blood oxygen saturation' feature, available from the Apple Watch 6, indicates the percentage of oxygen carried from the lungs to the body and serves as an indicator of how well oxygenated blood circulates through the body. The blood oxygen sensor on the back of the Apple Watch 6 uses LEDs and infrared light to measure the amount of light reflected from the blood to determine blood oxygen levels.

Apple has also largely completed the regulatory approval process to launch the ECG feature domestically. In August, Apple obtained product approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the ECG measurement app. Although the ECG feature has been included in the Apple Watch since 2018, it was disabled on Apple Watches sold in Korea and could not be used through normal means.

Users of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3 in Korea can use the electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement feature.

Samsung Electronics introduced blood pressure and ECG measurement features in the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 2. Domestically, these two features were launched earlier than Apple. The blood pressure measurement feature was first introduced in Korea in June and is a function that Apple does not offer. When blood pressure measured by a cuff sphygmomanometer is input, the smartwatch’s heart rate sensor compares and analyzes the pulse waveform against the reference blood pressure and displays the results. At the beginning of last month, with the launch of the Galaxy Watch 3, the 'Samsung Health Monitor' app began offering the ECG measurement feature. ECG analyzes the heart’s electrical activity to indicate whether the atria are beating regularly.

Samsung and Apple are competitively introducing various health and exercise features, but they are becoming more similar by filling in each other’s missing functions. Apple led the introduction of the ECG feature, but Samsung was faster in sleep measurement and blood oxygen saturation measurement. The fall detection feature newly added from the Galaxy Watch 3 was also introduced by Apple Watch 4 in 2018.

Meanwhile, on the 15th (local time), Apple expanded the smartwatch ecosystem by unveiling the much more affordable Apple Watch SE priced in the 300,000 won range at a special event. Although it does not support ECG and blood oxygen saturation measurement, it offers sleep and exercise measurement features included in watchOS 7.