For Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, which will be released on September 18th, high blood pressure pattern notifications may not be available in some countries and regions, including Japan. Apple’s official watchOS27 feature availability page notes that regulatory approvals are underway for both models. For users who are already using this notification, there are important points to keep in mind before purchasing a new one.
Notes on Apple’s official page
Apple added a note to the list of countries in which Hypertension Pattern Notifications is available on its regional feature availability page. Notifications may not be available on Series 12 and Ultra 4 depending on where you live, as additional regulatory approvals are underway.
Japan is also one of the countries with this note. As of this writing, the target is 33 countries and regions, including Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea. On the other hand, there are no notes for the US, UK, or EU countries. In these regions, you will continue to receive notifications as usual. The targets are expected to change in the future depending on the progress of approval.
Behind the scenes is an updated heart rate sensor.
Series 12 and Ultra 4 feature a new health sensing system with updated optical and electrical heart rate sensors. According to Apple, the electrodes used to measure electrocardiograms (ECG) have a wider contact area and photodiodes are arranged in a ring. The enlarged green LED allows you to measure your heart rate every 5 seconds throughout the day, and heart rate variability is measured every 5 minutes at the earliest.
Changes in sensor configuration appear to be the reason why new approvals are required in some regions. Japan has traditionally been in the region where notifications for high blood pressure patterns are provided, so users who upgrade to a new model may be temporarily unable to use the function.
Things to check before purchasing
Apple has not announced when approval will be granted. You will be able to receive notifications once the annotation is removed, but the timing remains unclear. If you are a user who relies on notifications of high blood pressure patterns for your health management, it is realistic to check the approval status when deciding when to replace your device.
Source: MacRumors, Apple
Source: iPhone Mania
