Apple adds sleep-apnoea alerts in India

Apple on May 21 expanded two health features to India that had previously launched in other markets: sleep-apnoea notifications on eligible Apple Watch models and an at-home Hearing Test for compatible AirPods Pro users. The company said the watch feature uses a “Breathing Disturbances” metric gathered during sleep, while the AirPods test is clinically validated and can be taken at home. Apple published the rollout in its India newsroom on Thursday and said the tools are available starting today. ### Which Apple devices in India are getting the new health features? Apple said sleep-apnoea notifications are available on eligible Apple Watch models, and the hearing feature is available on compatible AirPods Pro devices in India. Apple introduced the underlying sleep and hearing features globally in September 2024 for Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2, subject to regulatory authorization in each market. (apple.com) The 2024 Apple materials described the AirPods feature set as part of its “all-in-one hearing health experience,” including Hearing Protection, Hearing Test and, in some markets, a Hearing Aid feature. Apple’s October 2024 account of the program said those hearing features were delivered through a free software update for AirPods Pro 2, with regional availability depending on authorization. (apple.com) ### How does the Apple Watch sleep-apnoea alert actually work? Apple said the Apple Watch feature uses the accelerometer to track small wrist movements associated with breathing disturbances during sleep. The company said those disturbances are analyzed over a 30-day period and, if the pattern shows consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnoea, the user can receive a notification. (apple.com) Apple’s September 2024 launch materials said sleep apnoea affects more than 1 billion people worldwide and often goes undiagnosed. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of Health, said at the time that the company wanted to help users “uncover important health conditions” while keeping user data private. ### What does Apple say about the hearing test on AirPods Pro? (apple.com) Apple said the Hearing Test is clinically validated and designed for use at home. The company’s earlier technical description said the test helps users track hearing health and can provide a summary of hearing levels and recommendations after a roughly five-minute assessment based on standard audiometry principles. (apple.com) Shelly Chadha, the World Health Organization’s technical lead for hearing, said in Apple’s October 2024 article that hearing loss often goes unrecognized and that technology can help raise awareness and provide intervention options. Apple cited World Health Organization data in that article saying about 1.5 billion people worldwide live with hearing loss. (apple.com) ### Is Apple calling these tools diagnoses or screening features? Apple has framed both tools as user-facing health features rather than formal diagnoses. The company said the watch sends notifications about possible sleep-apnoea patterns and described the AirPods function as a hearing test that users can perform themselves at home. (apple.com) Indian media reports published on May 21 said users need supported hardware and current software updates to access the features. Apple’s India newsroom post is the company’s main public notice for the rollout and links the features to its broader health push across Apple Watch and AirPods. ### Where does this fit in Apple’s wider health rollout? (apple.com) Apple first announced the sleep and hearing features on September 9, 2024, with plans to expand them market by market after regulatory clearances. The India launch extends that rollout and follows Apple’s later addition of hypertension notifications on Apple Watch in India in December 2025. Apple’s next public reference point for users in India is its feature-availability and support material tied to Apple Watch and AirPods Pro compatibility, which the company uses to list where regulated health features are available. (msn.com) (apple.com 1) (apple.com 2)