Latest Update on Apple Watch Series 11: A Comprehensive Overview
The tech giant Apple is set to unveil its latest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 11, with a host of exciting features including a non-invasive blood glucose sensor and blood pressure monitoring. These advancements, aimed at enhancing health tracking, join the 5G capabilities that the Series 11 is expected to offer.
Multiple researchers and companies, including Georgia's Kennesaw State University with their GlucoCheck device, have been developing miniature or wearable-based non-invasive blood glucose sensors. Apple is rumored to be among Rockley Photonics' top clients, experimenting with laser-based analysis for blood glucose level monitoring. Japan-based Quantum Operation also demonstrated a wearable-mounted sensor for noninvasive blood glucose analysis in 2021.
The upcoming Apple Watch Series 11 is expected to feature a 5G modem supplied by MediaTek, marking a shift from previous Intel modems. This change is likely to support a lower-tier 5G service known as 5G RedCap, which is designed for wearables and IoT devices that do not require high-speed data connections. The inclusion of 5G will enhance real-time functionalities such as health tracking, music streaming, and notifications by providing faster and more reliable data speeds.
In terms of health monitoring, the Apple Watch Series 11 is also expected to inform users if they may be in a state of hypertension through a blood pressure sensing feature. However, it is not expected to provide specific diastolic or systolic levels. The Series 11 and the third-gen Apple Watch Ultra are rumoured to potentially feature this blood pressure sensing technology.
Movano, another company in the health tech sphere, revealed an AI-powered needle-free wearable device in 2023 that relies on an onboard radio frequency-powered sensor for real-time blood glucose level assessment. Movano's device has received approval from the FDA's Institutional Review Board to proceed with human testing.
The MediaTek kit, powering the 5G capabilities of the Apple Watch Series 11, is capable of download speeds as fast as 227Mbps and upload speeds up to 122Mbps. The starting price of the Apple Watch Series 11 is expected to be $399 per timepiece.
It is not clear whether Apple will offer any extra conveniences with the blood pressure sensing feature on the Apple Watch Series 11. The blood glucose level monitoring is rumored to be in development for the Apple Watch, but it is not yet available.
As Apple continues to push the boundaries of health and technology, the Apple Watch Series 11 promises to be a significant step forward in wearable technology, offering users a more comprehensive health monitoring experience.
The Apple Watch Series 11, with its anticipated blood pressure monitoring feature and potential blood glucose level monitoring (still in development), demonstrates Apple's commitment to integrating advanced health technology into their smart-home-devices, further expanding the realm of gadgets that cater to health monitoring. The inclusion of 5G technology, together with the faster data speeds offered by the MediaTek kit, promises to enhance real-time functionalities of the watch, making it a prime example of how technology continues to evolve and intertwine with our daily lives.
