Samsung has finally unlocked the Galaxy Watch blood pressure monitoring feature for owners in the U.S.
You may still have a slight wait for this one, as this is a “staged” roll-out that began on March 31. But it is coming.
Blood pressure monitoring will be available for Samsung Galaxy Watch series wearables, from the Galaxy Watch 4 series and newer.
This is not a brand new feature in general, just new to those in the U.S., where a lack of FDA clearance has stalled its release up until now.
Samsung first announced blood pressure readings for the Galaxy Watch series in 2020, when the feature was cleared by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
Back then it came to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. That wearable has long since been discontinued, but at least those with Galaxy Watch 4 series devices — released in 2021 — and newer can get on board.
Samsung’s take on this blood pressure reading technology does not truly act as a standalone tool, though.
Instead, a traditional blood pressure cuff is used to obtain baseline readings, and then used once a month to re-calibrate the results. In-between, the Samsung Galaxy Watch’s standard heart rate reader sensor array is used to estimate changes in your blood pressure.
Blood Pressure: Samsung Galaxy Watch Vs. Apple
This is not radically different to the Apple method, which was introduced in 2025. But where an Apple Watch will simply alert you to signs of possible hypertension, a Samsung Galaxy Watch will produce actual estimates for your diastolic and systolic blood pressure readings.
An Apple Watch does not require the regular blood pressure calibrations Samsung does, though. Apple values convenience, where some might find the more concrete estimates of a Galaxy Watch more satisfying. It also means the Samsung approach is of more use if you already have a hypertension diagnosis. Apple’s take on the tech is not designed for that demographic.
Blood pressure estimates join a growing list of heart health features already common among wearables. The Galaxy Watch series has has an electrocardiogram mode — in certain models and territories — since 2020, and it’s also fairly common for wearables across brands to be able to detect possible signs of atrial fibrillation while using the standard heart rate sensor.
One of the next fields for health monitoring in wearables is the particularly challenging case of blood glucose. Samsung has confirmed it is working on a non-invasive optical-based blood glucose monitor technology, which has been studied for years, but is a difficult one to crack, as Apple has talked about in the past.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch blood pressure feature begins rolling out for U.S. owners from March 31, but don’t expect immediate access as it’s part of a staged process.
