Samsung is finally bringing blood pressure monitoring to Galaxy Watch users in the United States. But there’s a catch: you’ll need to purchase an additional piece of hardware to use it.
This feature has been available in South Korea and other countries for several years. Now, US users are getting it through a software update. However, the monitoring requires a traditional upper-arm blood pressure cuff that pairs with the watch. Without that cuff, the watch can’t take a reading on its own.
How It Actually Works
Think of it as a smart companion app for a conventional blood pressure monitor, rather than a standalone health sensor. The Galaxy Watch employs a method called pulse wave analysis. This technique measures how blood flows through your arteries, helping to calibrate and log readings taken by the paired cuff. The watch then tracks these readings over time and shows trends in Samsung Health.
The update is available for Galaxy Watch 4 models and newer, running WatchOS 4.0 or later. Users need to open the Samsung Health Monitor app on their watch to get started. They’ll also need to pair a compatible Bluetooth blood pressure cuff to complete the setup.
This distinction is crucial for many users. Apple’s Apple Watch and other competitors have long faced pressure to introduce cuffless blood pressure monitoring, where the watch takes a reading without any extra device. Samsung’s rollout in the US does not offer that option. You’ll need the cuff every time.
Why Did It Take So Long in the US?
The delay stems from regulatory oversight. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies blood pressure monitoring as a medical measurement. So, any device offering this feature has to meet stricter approval standards before it can be sold to American consumers. While this feature was already live elsewhere, Samsung has been navigating that process in the US.
This same issue has caused delays for other health features, like electrocardiogram (ECG) readings. Those features also took time to appear on US smartwatches, even after launching internationally.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company | Samsung Electronics |
| Stock Ticker | 005930.KS |
| Stock Price | $186,300 (+4.43%) |
| CEO | Jong-Hee Han |
| Headquarters | Seoul, South Korea |
| Founded | 1938 |
| Compatible Watches | Galaxy Watch 4 and newer |
| Minimum Software | WatchOS 4.0 |
What This Means
For the roughly 120 million American adults living with high blood pressure, a simple way to log and track readings over time is genuinely beneficial. Doctors often ask patients to monitor their blood pressure at home between appointments. Currently, that usually means writing numbers in a notebook or entering them into a phone app. A Galaxy Watch that automatically logs paired cuff readings and highlights trends in a health dashboard makes this process much easier.
However, the limitation is real. If you were hoping to check your wrist for a quick reading, like you do for your heart rate, this feature won’t help. You’ll still need to strap on a cuff, sit still, and take a measurement the traditional way. The watch acts as the tracker, not the sensor.
The good news for current Galaxy Watch 4 or newer owners is that you won’t need a new watch. Just the software update and a compatible cuff are necessary. Since Samsung hasn’t released an official list of supported cuffs, it’s best to check the Samsung Health Monitor app for compatibility before making a purchase.
Community Reactions
“Cool feature, but I thought the whole point of a smartwatch was to not need extra gear. My dad already has a cuff, so I guess it’s useful for tracking, but calling this ‘blood pressure monitoring on the watch’ is a stretch.”
— Reddit user via r/GalaxyWatch
“Finally! I’ve been waiting for this since I saw it was available in Korea years ago. Not perfect, but it’s a start. The trend tracking in Samsung Health is actually really good once you have data in there.”
— YouTube commenter on The Verge’s coverage
What To Watch
- Cuffless monitoring: Samsung announced earlier this year that the Galaxy Watch 8 series would include cuffless blood pressure monitoring. Keep an eye out for FDA clearance updates that could allow that version to launch in the US without needing external hardware.
- Competitor moves: Apple has been reported to be working on blood pressure features for a future Apple Watch model. How Apple navigates the FDA process could set a standard for how cuffless readings get approved in the US.
- Rollout timeline: Samsung hasn’t confirmed when all eligible US devices will receive the update. If you don’t see it yet, check for updates in the Galaxy Wearable app over the next few weeks.
