Samsung Electronics Co. is set to launch a health-tracking feature in its latest Galaxy Watch models, aiming to outpace Apple Inc. in the wearables market.
Scheduled for a grand unveiling in Paris on Wednesday, the new watches will introduce the ability to track the wearer’s Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) index, a potential indicator of metabolic health and biological age.
In addition to the health-focused features, Samsung will debut an Ultra edition of the Galaxy Watch, designed to compete with the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2.
This launch will coincide with the introduction of new foldable smartphones and a Galaxy Ring health tracker, expanding Samsung’s ecosystem of devices and services to rival Apple’s.
Samsung, South Korea’s largest company, has relied heavily on its consumer electronics division to scale recent downturns in the memory market. Now, it is enhancing its wearables and health devices to attract premium-segment consumers and compete with brands like the Oura ring.
Canalys analyst Jack Leathem highlighted the importance of AI-powered health and fitness features in differentiating Samsung from other ecosystem vendors and smartwatch specialists.
Since pioneering the foldable smartphone category in 2019, Samsung has seen huge global adoption, although it has struggled to penetrate the Chinese market.
With foldable shipments reaching 17.5 million units in 2023 and Samsung holding a 63% market share, the company is expected to refresh its flip and larger foldable models at the Paris event.
The focus on health monitoring features aligns with the trend among device manufacturers to attract and retain customers.
Both Samsung and Apple have invested years into developing sensors for continuous blood sugar tracking, a potentially revolutionary benefit for millions of diabetics.
Hon Pak, Samsung’s mobile digital health chief, explained that AGEs readers, previously available only in larger hardware, have been miniaturized for use in the Galaxy Watch. This advancement is seen as a step towards developing noninvasive continuous glucose monitoring.
Additionally, Samsung has improved the watches’ heart rate measurement accuracy by 30% during intensive workouts through the addition of more LED colours to illuminate blood vessels.
This launch comes just before Apple is expected to unveil a major upgrade to its Apple Watch portfolio, the gadget’s 10th anniversary.
Apple’s next iteration will feature larger displays and a new chip, though it remains unclear if the anticipated high blood pressure and sleep apnea detection features will be ready this year.
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