Samsung Galaxy Watch6 to Launch with FDA-Cleared Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications

Samsung has announced that its irregular heart rhythm notification (IHRN) feature has been cleared by the US FDA. The IHRN feature will be added to the ECG function of Samsung's One UI 5 Watch, allowing users to track abnormal heart rhythms and receive notifications when one occurs.

The feature will debut on the Galaxy Watch6 series, which will run on Samsung's own wear OS skin and is set to be made official in July. After the release of the Galaxy Watch6 line, One UI 5 Watch will be available on the Galaxy Watch5 series and the Galaxy Watch4 family.

The IHRN feature proactively monitors heart rhythms suggestive of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of arrhythmia that can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other complications. Some AFib cases are asymptomatic or even silent, which means users may have it and be unaware.

Once activated in the Samsung Health Monitor app, the IHRN feature will check for irregular heart rhythms in the background. If a certain number of consecutive measurements are irregular, the watch will warn users of potential AFib activity and prompt them to take an ECG for a more accurate measurement.