The Next Apple Watch Could Have a Highly Anticipated New Feature

We’re a long way away from the next Apple Watches, which Apple releases every September like clockwork. But the rumor mill never stops about Apple’s upcoming gadgets.

And this week, the go-to source for Apple rumors, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, revealed some interesting insights about Apple’s next-gen smartwatches.

Specifically, they could have a long-missing and very important health feature: high blood pressure tracking.

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

High blood pressure detection

To date, no Apple Watch supported track blood pressure on its own. However, they have been compatible with third-party blood pressure monitors — made by Withings, Omron, and QardioArm— that wirelessly connect to your Apple Watch and automatically sync data to your Health app.

According to Gurman, Apple is ramping up work on high blood pressure detection, which could be integrated into an Apple Watch in 2025. However, it appears that the feature will be exclusive to the next-gen Ultra and not the Series 11.

A word of caution

Blood pressure monitoring is an important health metric — especially for those with hypertension, which often has no symptoms and can lead to a lot of health issues (including stroke, heart disease, kidney damage, etc.).

And while a number of number wearable makers have integrated blood pressure monitoring their latest smartwatches and fitness trackers, it’s probably not the most reliable.

According to a 2024 article by Consumer Reports, the technologies used in these wearables are still developing and “might not match the accuracy of a more traditional home monitor, especially one with a cuff on the upper arm.”

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

And it looks like the same will be true with the Apple Watch Ultra 3. According to Gurman, blood pressure monitoring on the Ultra 3 will be able to tell you if you’re in “a state of hypertension,” but likely won’t be able to give you specific readings.

So, like many of Apple’s other health and wellness features, blood pressure monitoring will be designed as an early indicator and not a replacement for a standalone blood pressure monitor — or, especially, a doctor.

That said, Apple has been rumored to be working on blood pressure monitoring for the Apple Watch for years. And while 2025 appears to be the year it’s going to happen … the rumor mill has been wrong before.

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