Samsung races Apple to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring

Samsung is aiming for noninvasive continuous glucose monitoring and blood pressure tracking in race against Apple's health tech efforts.

Samsung wants to enhance its wearable devices like the Galaxy Watch series with these new tracking features. (Express photo)

Samsung is looking to develop innovative new health sensors for its devices to compete with Apple, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The company aims to create noninvasive blood glucose monitoring and continuous blood pressure tracking for its product lineup.

This effort is part of a broader push by Samsung to integrate advanced health features into various devices like its newly announced Galaxy Ring smart ring. Samsung executive Hon Pak, who heads the health technology initiative, says the company wants to eventually provide consumers a comprehensive overview of their wellbeing through sensors on different body parts and in the home.

“If we can do continuous blood pressure and glucose, we’re in a whole different ballgame,” Pak said during an interview. “I think that’s where everyone is trying to get to. We’re putting significant investment toward that.”

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It’s worth noting that Apple has already spent years trying to develop a noninvasive glucose reader as it would benefit millions of diabetics. However, Pak declines to give a timeline for when the technology could come to market, only expressing hope that noninvasive glucose monitoring may be possible in some form within five years.

The Galaxy Ring that Samsung revealed last week is slated for release by end of 2024 and will initially track activity and sleep. More health features will come later. The ring could appeal to those who want health tracking in a more discreet form factor compared to smartwatches. Pricing is still being decided, but the Galaxy Ring likely won’t be iPhone compatible like Samsung’s watches.

Gurman points out that making a noninvasive blood sugar monitor poses challenges and Apple has struggled with it despite working on the technology since 2010. Samsung is also looking to improve its existing blood pressure tracking features on its smartwatches so they require less calibration. Pak says they want to provide blood pressure assessments focused more on indicating cardiovascular risk rather than exact values.

Samsung is further exploring new sensors for earbuds that could track temperature and heart rate since the ear canal offers a closer pathway to the heart than the wrist. This data could complement measurements from the wrist and environment to give a more holistic health overview.