Apple Introduces Sleep Apnea Alerts and Hearing Test Features for Users in India

New Delhi, May 2026 : Apple on Thursday rolled out new health-focused features for users in India, bringing sleep apnea notifications to Apple Watch devices and a clinically validated hearing test capability to AirPods Pro. The company said the latest updates are designed to help users better monitor their health and identify potential medical conditions through wearable technology.

The new features form part of Apple’s broader push to integrate advanced health and wellness tools into its ecosystem of smart devices.

According to the company, Apple Watch users in India will now have access to sleep apnea notifications powered by a new metric called “Breathing Disturbances.” The feature uses the watch’s accelerometer to monitor subtle wrist movements linked to interruptions in normal breathing patterns during sleep.

Apple explained that the system analyses breathing disturbance data over a 30-day period and sends notifications if it identifies repeated signs associated with moderate to severe sleep apnea. Users receiving such alerts are encouraged to consult healthcare professionals for further diagnosis and treatment.

The company said users will also be able to generate and export a detailed PDF report containing breathing disturbance data and related health information, which can assist doctors during medical consultations.

“From sleep apnea notifications on Apple Watch to a hearing test with AirPods Pro, we are excited to bring these meaningful capabilities to our users in India,” said Sumbul Desai.

Apple highlighted that sleep apnea is a serious but often undiagnosed medical condition affecting more than one billion people globally. If left untreated, it can increase the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other long-term health complications.

In addition to the sleep-related feature, the company also introduced a hearing test capability for AirPods Pro users in India. The feature is based on pure-tone audiometry, a clinically recognised method used to assess hearing ability.

The hearing test can be completed in approximately five minutes using compatible AirPods Pro paired with an iPhone or iPad. After completing the assessment, users receive a summary of their hearing levels, including hearing loss measurements for each ear, hearing classifications and personalised recommendations.

Apple said the results, including a detailed audiogram, will be securely stored in the Health app, allowing users to track hearing health over time. The data can also be shared with healthcare providers if required.

The company clarified that the Hearing Test feature will be available on AirPods Pro 2 and later models running the latest firmware versions when paired with compatible devices operating on iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 and above.

Industry observers say the move reflects growing demand for wearable devices that offer preventive health monitoring and personalised wellness tracking. With rising awareness around digital healthcare and fitness technologies, companies are increasingly integrating medical-grade features into consumer electronics.

Apple’s latest rollout in India is expected to further strengthen the company’s presence in the premium wearable segment while also positioning its devices as tools for everyday health management beyond communication and entertainment.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)