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Apple recently unveiled several updates during its September event, focusing on the latest hardware and health features. While the iPhone 17 series stole the spotlight, significant new health-tracking capabilities were introduced for the Apple Watch. These include Hypertension Notifications and Sleep Score, which are set to enhance users’ insights into their health.
### Apple Watch Introduces Hypertension Alerts and Sleep Score – See Which Models Will Get These Health Upgrades
Apple’s new smartwatch lineup features major upgrades in both hardware and software. Two notable health-tracking capabilities are the Hypertension Notifications and Sleep Score. These tools aim to provide detailed insights into your well-being.
**Hypertension Alerts**
These alerts notify users about potential high blood pressure or any spikes detected by analyzing blood vessel responses over a month using optical heart sensors. The feature will be available on Apple Watch Series 9 and later models, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and newer versions running watchOS 26. Although pending FDA approval, it is set to launch extensively in more than 150 regions.
**Sleep Score**
This tool assesses sleep quality by measuring wrist temperature, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and respiration. It assigns a score based on how well you slept. Sleep Score will be added to Apple Watch Series 6 and later models, as well as the Apple Watch SE 2 and newer versions running watchOS 26. All Apple Watch Ultra models running iOS 26 or paired with an iPhone 11 or later can also benefit from this feature.
Both Hypertension Alerts and Sleep Score are exciting new capabilities that enhance health tracking on Apple Watches. Their availability depends on the model’s hardware support, and some might receive only partial access. Nonetheless, Apple continues to focus on integrating advanced health features into its smartwatches, positioning them as essential wellness tools.