To mark World Sleep Day 2026, a global study of Samsung Health users[2] is shedding new light on the true extent of the condition and the disruptive impact it has on your sleep. Aligned with this year’s World Sleep Day theme, “Sleep Well, Live Better,” Samsung is turning the invisible signs of sleep apnea into actionable insights through its Galaxy Watch series, helping those affected improve their sleep habits and overall health.

Image: Infographic including all key data on impact of sleep apnea

How Does Sleep Apnea Impact Your Sleep?

The report[2] found that 23% of study participants are at risk of sleep apnea.

“The microarousals and awakenings that follow breathing pauses fragment your sleep,” explains behavioural sleep scientist Dr. Vanessa Hill. “Those occurrences can prevent the brain from staying in the REM and deep sleep stages necessary for cognitive and physical restoration.”

The report[2] shows these constant disruptions take a direct toll on sleep duration and quality, leading to:

• Reduced REM Sleep: Participants with moderate to severe sleep apnea indicators detected by their Galaxy Watch got around four minutes less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the phase where our brains process emotions, consolidate memories and cement learning. Without enough of it, people can experience mood instability and memory problems, impacting performance at work and overall well-being.
• Less Deep Sleep: Sleep apnea also robs sufferers of deep sleep, approximately eight minutes less per night, on average. This is the body’s critical physical restoration phase, where growth hormone is released, muscles are repaired, and your immune system is activated. Losing out on deep sleep is why you may feel physically exhausted, have slower recovery times, and get sick more often.
• Frequent Nightly Awakenings: Study participants with signs of sleep apnea also woke up regularly during the night and stayed awake around four minutes longer. These interruptions derail the sleep cycle, locking you into lighter, less restorative stages and making next-day exhaustion inevitable, no matter how long you slept.
• Shorter Sleep Duration: Overall, people with a higher likelihood of sleep apnea averaged around 12 minutes less sleep. While this loss may seem minor, it can have a significant impact on overall sleep quality as your sleep cycle gets fragmented throughout the night.

Why It Matters: “Even a small loss in sleep duration is compounded by a larger loss of sleep quality,” said Dr. Hill. “This can be the difference between simply being ‘in bed’ and getting restorative rest, which could be why people feel so tired the next day.”

Dr. Hill also advocates a multidimensional approach to sleep health. “Sleep apnea affects many dimensions of sleep — duration, quality, sleep efficiency and even daytime fatigue,” she stated. “They together help determine our health and functioning.”

With sleep apnea shown to impact all aspects of sleep and lead to other health complications, detection is an essential first step in the fight against the condition.

How Does Galaxy Watch Help Detect Signs of Moderate to Severe Sleep Apnea?   

For years, sleep apnea has been difficult to detect due to the need for inconvenient hospital tests. However, Samsung offers at-home detection with a first-of-its-kind Sleep Apnea[3] feature on your Galaxy Watch.

• How It Works: Users simply track their sleep with a compatible Galaxy Watch[4] for more than four hours over two nights within a ten-day period. Available through the Samsung Health Monitor app, the Sleep Apnea feature may help users to proactively spot signs of the condition.
• The Technology: Leveraging the Galaxy Watch’s BioActive Sensor, the feature provides general insights into blood oxygen patterns during sleep. These insights may help users stay aware of changes in their breathing patterns overtime. Based on this data, the feature can help provide estimations on the user’s Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which can help indicate the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
• From Awareness to Action: By helping to detect signs of sleep apnea early, the feature may provide the data needed for an informed consultation with a medical professional. Your Galaxy Watch can also help you build habits for better holistic sleep health. Features include the Sleep Coaching[5] program for detailed analysis and tips on how to improve sleep quality and Bedtime Guidance,[6] which recommends your optimal bedtime to help you consistently get enough sleep.

“For years, the inconvenience of an in-lab clinical sleep study has been a barrier to diagnosing sleep apnea,” added Dr. Hill. “Wearable technology such as Galaxy Watch is a breakthrough because it democratises that first step. It allows people to gather meaningful data from their own beds, providing a starting point for a conversation with a healthcare professional.”

Take Control of Your Night

A good night’s sleep is the first step toward a healthier, more energised life, and Samsung is here to help guide you. Samsung’s ecosystem offers end-to-end care, from helping to detect signs of sleep apnea on your Galaxy Watch to providing suggestions to receive professional adviceto connecting you with professional advice through our health network.

Looking ahead, Samsung is constantly innovating and improving the Sleep Apnea feature to make it even more powerful with sharper insights. Prioritise your rest today to unlock a healthier tomorrow.

[1]“Obstructive Sleep Apnea National Indicator Report,” American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2023)

[2]Samsung Health users from the U.S., South Korea, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Chile, South Africa, and the Philippines participated in the study from January–June 2025.

[3]Sleep Apnea feature requires Galaxy Watch8 to be paired with a compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android OS 12 or later and latest version of Samsung Health Monitor app. Sleep Apnea feature is currently available in some selected countries only. Sleep Apnea feature requires at least 2 days of sleep data within a span of 10 days (the two days do not necessarily have to be consecutive, but must be recorded within those 10 days). The Sleep Apnea Feature is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in the form of significant breathing disruptions in adult users 22 years and older, by tracking sleep twice over a ten-day monitoring period. It is intended for on-demand use. This feature is not intended for users who have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea. This feature is not intended for use in the screening, diagnosis, treatment or management of sleep apnea and users should not use this feature to replace traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified clinician. If a pattern of breathing disturbances is identified by this feature, or you experience any other symptoms of sleep apnea or any other breathing disturbance, consult a doctor. The absence of a notification does not exclude the presence sleep apnea. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, WORSEN OR CHANGE UNEXPECTEDLY, TALK TO A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL.

[4]Availability may vary by market, carrier, model, or a paired smartphone. Available on Galaxy Watch4 series and later models. The watch requires the Wear OS 5.0 version or later and must be paired with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android 12.0 or later.

[5]Available on Samsung Health app v.6.24 or above and must be paired with Samsung Galaxy smartphones with Android OS 12 and above. Samsung account login required. Requires sleep data of at least 7 days (including 1 workday and 1 day off). Sleep Coaching feature does not act as a medical/therapeutic device. It is solely intended for fitness and wellness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions; or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease. Samsung recommends that you consult with your doctor or physician before participating in any exercise program,

[6]Bedtime Guidance is available on Android phone (Android 12 and above) and requires Samsung Health app (v6.30.2 or later). Bedtime Guidance based on 3 days of sleep analysis of user’s circadian rhythm and sleep pressure. Bedtime Guidance Feature does not act as a medical/therapeutic device. It is solely intended for fitness and wellness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions; or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease. Samsung recommends that you consult with your doctor or physician before participating in any exercise program.

One UI 6 Watch will soon be available to a wider range of Galaxy Watch devices through the latest software update[1]. Beginning to roll out today, the update will bring select features from the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch7[2] to previous generations of Galaxy Watch around the world including Galaxy Watch6, Galaxy Watch6 Classic, Galaxy Watch5, Galaxy Watch5 Pro, Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch4 Classic and Galaxy Watch FE.

The One UI 6 Watch update offers personalised insights to even more users for a holistic and comprehensive understanding of health[3]. With Energy Score[4], users can better understand their health conditions through an intuitive score calculated from various health metrics including sleep, activity, sleeping heart rate and sleeping heart rate variability. Users can also access personalised recommendations, powered by Galaxy AI[5], to support health improvement. For sleep tracking[6], receive a deeper and more accurate understanding of sleep with a detailed analysis powered by an advanced AI algorithm and new sleep metrics, including movement during sleep, sleep latency, heart rate and respiratory rate.

The expansion of One UI 6 Watch empowers more users to stay motivated and conquer their fitness goals with personalised experiences. Monitor progress in real time when running or cycling with Race[7], which compares changes in current and past performance to encourage users to make improvements. Workout Routine allows users to combine various exercises and create personalised routines, uniquely tailored to their individual goals and preferences.

Furthermore, the latest update provides new watch faces[8] to best suit various needs or preferences that are both stylish and functional. For instance, use the Simple Digital watch face to reflect a minimalist design, or the Ultra Info Board watch face to check information at a glance without sacrificing style. The expansion of One UI 6 Watch also allows users to enjoy more seamless experiences with connected Galaxy devices. When paired with a compatible Galaxy smartphone, users can effortlessly send suitable responses with AI-powered Suggested replies[9]. With simple and intuitive Double Pinch Gestures[10], a connected Galaxy smartphone can be easily controlled right from the wrist to answer calls, dismiss alarms, take photos and even more.

[1] The software update will come first to the Galaxy Watch6 series and then become available sequentially to previous generations. Feature availability and support may vary by market, carrier, model and paired smartphone.

[2] For more information on relevant product features and disclaimers, please click the hyperlink.

[3] Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in the detection, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring or management of any medical condition or disease. Any health-related information accessed through the device and/or application should not be treated as medical advice. Users should seek any medical advice from a physician. Certain features may vary by market, carrier or paired device.

[4] Available on select Android phones (Android 10 or above), requires Samsung Health App (V6.27 or above) and Samsung Account login. User must register a Galaxy Watch (Watch4 or later) or Galaxy Ring. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

[5] Fees may apply to certain AI Features at the end of 2025. Samsung does not make any promises, assurances or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the output provided by AI features. Samsung account login may be required to use certain Samsung AI features. Galaxy AI service may be limited for minors in certain regions with age restrictions over AI usage. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.

[6] Sleep tracking features are not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Must be paired with a compatible Galaxy smartphone.

[7] Race is available for outdoor running and cycling only. For comparative measurements it is required to run on the same path as the pre-generated path. Comparison of records is not provided when more than 10% deviates from the existing route. User can compare by selecting one of the records up to 14 days ago.

[8] Availability of Watch faces may vary by country/region or device model. Some Watch faces can be manually added on Galaxy Wearable app on the Bluetooth-connected Galaxy smartphone.

[9] Requires a Samsung Account and network connection. Suggested Replies feature with watch works when the watch is paired to a Galaxy Flip6 or Galaxy Fold6 (running One UI6.1.1 or higher) or Galaxy S24 (funning One UI7.0 or higher). Service availability may vary by language, country and app. Translation might not be accurate.

[10] Double Pinch is off by default. To use the feature, it must be enabled on the Watch or the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app on the paired Samsung Galaxy smartphone.