Apple is reportedly developing a new blood pressure sensing feature for the Apple Watch. The feature could debut on the 2026 Apple Watch Ultra 4, according to a report from Digitimes.
Direct measurement could be a first for smartwatches
The new feature may offer direct blood pressure measurement, which would be a first for a smartwatch. It is under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The current hypertension notifications, introduced in September 2025 with watchOS 26, use heart sensor data and machine learning to detect signs of chronic high blood pressure over a 30-day period, but are designed as an early warning message, not a diagnostic tool.
The feature is expected to launch globally in 2026. Apple has not confirmed the release window.
If the rumors are accurate, the upgrade could require a hardware change. It would mark the first major health sensor improvement for the Apple Watch since the launch of the Apple Watch Series 9. The move aligns with Apple's broader ambitions in health tech, including rumored work on non-invasive glucose monitoring.
Digitimes reported that the feature is under FDA review and could debut on the 2026 Apple Watch Ultra 4. Apple has not confirmed the plans.
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