The Apple Watch has long since established itself as a health tool. Heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen – many important functions are already included. However, one feature is still missing: the ability to measure blood pressure directly with the Apple Watch. Although Apple has been working on this for years, it doesn't seem to be making much progress.
If you're one of those waiting for a blood pressure monitor on the Apple Watch, you'll have to wait a little longer. Apple has big plans for this feature, but according to current information, there are still difficulties with development. And while there's high demand for such a feature, it doesn't currently look like it's coming to the devices anytime soon.
Apple continues to struggle with technical hurdles
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman regularly reports on planned Apple Watch features. As early as January 2022, he wrote that Apple was working on a blood pressure feature. The idea back then: The watch should be able to detect whether your blood pressure is rising. The first version would not provide exact systolic and diastolic readings – instead, it would only alert you if your blood pressure became noticeably high. This warning would then prompt you to consult a doctor. Thus, the Apple Watch would not serve as a medical device with exact readings, but rather as a kind of early warning system for high blood pressure. However, according to Gurman, a version with exact readings was already in the planning stages – just for later. In a November 2023 report, Gurman wrote that Apple had planned the feature for the Apple Watch Series 10. But the Series 10 arrived – and the feature never arrived. The reasons for this were already unclear at the time. Now, in March 2025, the picture is no better.
Function for 2025? Probably not
In his current newsletter, "Power On," Gurman reports that Apple is still encountering problems testing the blood pressure function. The nature of the problems is unknown. A concrete timeline is also missing. As recently as December 2024, Gurman claimed that Apple wanted to accelerate development and release the feature in 2025. Now, that sounds rather questionable, too. As usual, Apple doesn't comment on planned features until they're officially unveiled. Nevertheless, Gurman's assessment is considered quite reliable—many of his earlier reports have subsequently been confirmed (via Bloomberg).
Why the function would be important
High blood pressure is a widespread but often unrecognized health problem. It often causes no noticeable symptoms for a long time. If left untreated, it can lead to serious damage to the cardiovascular system—and, in the worst case, death. This is why it is often referred to as a "silent killer." A feature on the Apple Watch that detects rising blood pressure and provides early warning could help reduce risks. Users could react in time and consult a doctor. This is precisely what makes blood pressure monitoring one of the most requested health features on the Apple Watch.
Apple Watch: Waiting for blood pressure measurement continues
Despite years of development, Apple doesn't seem to have reached its goal yet. The planned feature, which would indicate a trend in your blood pressure and warn you of potential problems, is still not finished. Whether it will arrive in 2025 is now rather unlikely, according to Gurman. So if you're waiting for this feature, you'll have to be patient. Apple is apparently working hard on it, but when (or if) blood pressure monitoring will actually arrive on the Apple Watch is currently up in the air. (Image: Apple)
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