Samsung is rumored to be adding powerful new health features to its upcoming Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra. An APK teardown by Android Authority revealed that the new smartwatches could include an AGEs index, continuous glucose monitoring, and family health tracking.
AGES Index
An AGEs index provides an overview of metabolic health and the biological aging process. It measures the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are compounds that form when protein and fat molecules are oxidized by sugar molecules. Diagnoptics, the company powering this feature, highlights that AGEs play a key role in the development of chronic age-related diseases such as diabetes, renal failure, and cardiovascular disease.
The Galaxy Watch will be able to measure the production of AGEs compounds in your body. Lower levels of AGEs are associated with physical exercise, and measuring them can help predict the risk of diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. The non-invasive nature of measuring AGEs makes it a convenient addition to a smartwatch, though it’s unclear whether older devices will receive the feature.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Another potential feature for the Galaxy Watch 7 is blood glucose monitoring. The APK teardown revealed a UI screen for this feature, though no data was populated, making it difficult to assess its capabilities. This rumor aligns with earlier reports from Bloomberg, which suggested that non-invasive blood glucose monitoring for smartwatches might be available in “some form” within five years.
Achieving non-invasive blood glucose monitoring is challenging. Current methods for diabetics require pricking the skin and using a blood glucose meter. Samsung will face the challenge of finding a way to accurately estimate blood glucose levels without breaking the skin.
Family Health Tracking
Samsung is also developing family health data sharing for Galaxy Watches. The latest Samsung Health app includes a feature that allows you to monitor the health tracking data of your child or family member. You’ll be able to see a breakdown of key stats on a dedicated screen.
To access a child’s health data, a guardian’s consent is required. Family members can stop sharing data or change what they share at any time. They can also preview data before sharing it. Shared data is automatically deleted and sharing is rescinded after a period of inactivity. This feature seems likely to come to older smartwatches, as it doesn’t appear to rely on specific hardware requirements.
While these potential features offer exciting possibilities for health tracking and monitoring, they also raise privacy concerns. Samsung is addressing these concerns by implementing security measures and privacy checks. Users will have control over their data and how it’s shared.
The Galaxy Watch 7 is expected to launch in August 2023, so we may get more official information about these features in the coming months.
