14 DAY TRIAL // watchOS 9 is the next big software update for the Apple Watch, and one of the most important changes in this release is without a doubt the addition of more advanced sleep insights.
As Apple announced today at WWDC, watchOS 9 will include more advanced sleep tracking, with the Apple Watch to let users analyze the sleep stages both on their iPhones and on the smartwatch.
Obviously, sleep stages are nothing new for smartwatches, as they’ve long been available on other devices, including Fitbit and Garmin trackers. But this is big news for the Apple Watch nonetheless, as this functionality was until now offered only via third-party applications.
“The Sleep experience on Apple Watch already empowers users to create Wind Down and Bedtime schedules, as well as track their sleep to help them meet their goals. Sleep tracking in watchOS 9 provides even more insights with the introduction of sleep stages,” Apple explains.
“Using signals from the accelerometer and heart rate sensor, Apple Watch can detect when users are in REM, Core, or Deep sleep. Users will see sleep stage data on Apple Watch in the Sleep app and can view more detailed information, like time asleep, alongside additional metrics, like heart rate and respiratory rate, in sleep comparison charts in the Health app on iPhone.”
watchOS 9 launching in the fall
The Cupertino-based tech giant says it has performed extensive testing to make sure the sleep stages are correctly determined.
“The machine learning models were trained and validated against the clinical gold standard, polysomnography, with one of the largest and most diverse populations ever studied for a wearable. As the science of sleep is still being explored, users will be able to aid in potential discoveries by contributing their sleep stage data in the Apple Heart and Movement Study through the Research app,” it says.
The sleep stages will only be available on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer.