14 DAY TRIAL // The next-generation Apple Watch coming in September could sport a body temperature sensor, as the Cupertino-based tech giant originally planned to bring this upgrade to the current model already on the market.
But according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company eventually abandoned the idea because the feature failed to meet the company’s high requirements.
In other words, there’s now hope that the body temperature sensor would make its way to the Apple Watch Series 8, which as per Apple’s typical release calendar, is projected to go live in September.
“Apple canceled body temperature measurement for Apple Watch 7 because the algorithm failed to qualify before entering EVT stage last year. I believe Apple Watch 8 in 2H22 could take body temperature if the algorithm can meet Apple's high requirements before mass production,” Kuo explained on Twitter a few hours ago.
Samsung also planning a similar upgrade
If you think that upgrading a smartwatch with a body temperature sensor is an easy business, it is certainly not. Kuo explains that Apple isn’t the only company that’s struggling with the whole thing, as Samsung is also trying to bring this feature to its next smartwatch.
But unlike Apple, Samsung may not be able to fit a body temperature sensor on its next Galaxy Watch model launching in the summer, Kuo says.
“The challenge in implementing precise body temperature measurement is that skin temperature quickly varies depending on outside environments. A smartwatch can't support core temperature measurement in terms of hardware, so it needs an excellent algorithm to work together,” the analyst continues.
“Samsung is facing this challenge as well. Unlike previous media reports, I think Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 in 2H22 might not support the body temperature measurement due to algorithm limitations.”
Of course, everything could change overnight, so don’t take anything for granted right now.