The Apple Watch Series 8 will reportedly be able to warn users if they have a fever, but will not provide a specific body temperature reading.
A temperature sensing trick might appear on the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8, but rather than providing granular information on the body’s heat metrics, it will only tell users if they have a fever, or not. One of the most hotly rumored upgrades for the next-generation Apple smartwatches, temperature assessment is yet to appear on any mainstream smartwatch out there.
As per previous reports, the folks over at Apple’s product labs have been eyeing temperature sensing and blood pressure measurements for a while now. However, the status of development has been somewhat uncertain, at least going by the numerous leaks and rumors that have popped up online so far. But it appears that Apple has finally made the decision regarding a health upgrade, even if the silicon underneath remains the same.
Related: When Is The Apple Watch 8 Coming Out?
In the latest edition of his PowerOn newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman writes that the body temperature detection “is a go” for the Apple Watch Series 8 and its all-new rugged edition that is aimed at extreme sports enthusiasts. However, this is not a full-fledged medical-grade body temperature measurement, something that thermometers are made for. The upcoming Apple Watch feature reportedly won’t display the exact temperature reading. Instead, it will take a broad measurement and will only tell users if they have fever. And based on the analysis, it will accordingly advise users to seek appropriate care. Notably, this feature likely won’t appear on the next-gen Apple Watch SE that is also slated for a fall debut, which is not surprising considering its relatively affordable price tag.
Aside from temperature sensing, the Apple Watch likely won’t introduce any other notable health and fitness-centric capabilities tied to dedicated hardware. However, there are a few promising upgrades in the pipeline for the coming years. Apple is said to be exploring blood pressure monitoring for its smartwatch. The company is reportedly working with British company Rockley Photonics which is experimenting with wrist-worn sensors for tasks like blood pressure monitoring and blood glucose level measurement. To recall, the likes of Huawei already offer smartwatch-based blood pressure analysis, even though the approach taken by each brand is different.
Apple is also rumored to be eyeing blood alcohol level measurement and sugar level analysis for the Apple Watch. Both of them would be non-invasive, but there is no word when these solutions would appear on an Apple Watch. Samsung is also chasing non-invasive blood glucose level monitoring. In 2020, Samsung actually developed a non-invasive solution for blood glucose level monitoring using a method called Raman spectroscopy, in collaboration with experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But two years on, Samsung is yet to share any further information about its development status. Coming back to the Apple Watch Series 8, other expected features include a low-power mode, three size options, and a new flat-edge design.
Next: Apple Watch Series 8 Has Upgrades, But We’ll Have To Wait On New Sensors
Nadeem has been writing about consumer technology for over three years now, having worked with names such as NDTV and Pocketnow in the past. Aside from covering the latest news, he also has experience testing out the latest phones and laptops. When he's not writing, you can find him failing at Doom eternal.