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The original 2024 announcement named Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2. As of August 18, 2026, Apple’s support list is broader: Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE 3. The FDA cleared Apple’s software feature through the 510(k) process; it did not approve three watches as diagnostic devices. The feature looks for patterns that may indicate moderate-to-severe sleep apnea and prompts eligible users to seek medical advice.
What happened in September 2024?
The FDA received Apple’s 510(k) submission, K240929, on April 4, 2024, and recorded its clearance decision on September 13. Apple announced the feature’s rollout with watchOS 11 on September 16, 2024. The three models named at launch were Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2.
The phrase “from today” in the original headline referred to September 16, 2024—not the date of this article. The FDA record concerns Apple’s Sleep Apnea Notification Feature and its supported device configuration, rather than separate clearances for three watches. The FDA 510(k) record identifies the submission as K240929.
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Which Apple Watches support the feature now?
Apple’s support documentation, checked August 18, 2026, lists Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE 3. That includes Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3 and SE 3. Earlier SE models and Apple Watches older than Series 9 or Ultra 2 are not on that list. Compatibility with a general watchOS release does not by itself mean a watch supports every health feature.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
If you are buying a watch mainly for these notifications, the supported feature is available on the SE 3 as well as the more expensive current models. Apple’s U.S. store lists the SE 3 from $249 and Series 11 from $399; those are starting prices, not guarantees for every size, band or configuration. Apple Watch SE 3 buying page; Apple Watch buying page. Choose a higher-end model for its other features, not because this notification function is exclusive to it.
What does FDA clearance mean—and what does it not mean?
This was FDA 510(k) clearance, not premarket approval (PMA). In a 510(k) review, the FDA determines whether a device is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate device. “FDA-approved” is common shorthand in headlines, but “FDA-cleared” is the more accurate description here.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
The FDA describes the feature as software that analyzes Apple Watch sensor data for breathing-disturbance patterns suggestive of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea. Its intended over-the-counter users are adults 18 and older who have not previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or manage the condition, or to replace polysomnography or another clinical diagnostic process. The FDA’s device listing and Apple’s instructions set out those limits.
How the notifications work
While you sleep, the watch collects movement data that the feature uses to estimate breathing disturbances. It looks for patterns across nights, rather than making a determination from one isolated event. Apple requires at least 10 nights of wear within a 30-day period before the feature can assess the pattern; one night is not enough for the minimum. Apple’s support instructions explain the requirement and how to review the data.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/315Bqcww4mL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
If the pattern reaches the feature’s notification threshold, the user may receive an alert with a report. Apple says the report can include three months of breathing-disturbance data that can be shared with a healthcare professional. This is a record of the watch feature’s measurements and notification—not a clinical apnea-hypopnea index or a sleep-study result. Do not assume the feature directly measures airway obstruction or counts clinical apneas.
Requirements and setup
Apple’s current instructions require a supported watch, the latest compatible iOS and watchOS versions, and sleep tracking set up with “Track Sleep with Apple Watch” enabled. Apple’s current retail documentation lists iPhone 11 or later and iOS 26 or later for current watch models; requirements can differ by watch generation, so check the feature support page and the relevant model’s specifications. Availability can also vary by region.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
- On your iPhone, open Health.
- Tap Search, then Respiratory.
- Under Sleep Apnea Notifications, tap Set Up, then Next.
- Confirm your date of birth and whether you have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
- Tap Continue and complete the remaining setup steps.
- Wear the watch to sleep consistently so it can collect enough nights of data.
To review results later, go to Health > Search > Respiratory, then open Sleep Apnea Notifications or Breathing Disturbances. Apple says breathing-disturbance history can be viewed over the previous month, six months or year. A notification report can be exported as a PDF for a clinician.
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If you receive a notification, arrange a conversation with a healthcare professional. The alert is not a diagnosis, and treatment decisions require clinical evaluation. A clinician may consider a home sleep apnea test or an in-lab sleep study based on your circumstances.
Best Value
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
No notification does not rule out sleep apnea. If you have concerning symptoms—such as persistent daytime fatigue, loud snoring or breathing pauses witnessed by someone else—seek medical advice even if the watch has not alerted you. The feature is not an apnea monitor or an emergency alert system. It is not intended for people under 18 or those already diagnosed with sleep apnea, and it cannot provide a definitive diagnosis for someone seeking one.
Quick Recap
If you cannot find the setup option
- Check the exact watch model. Confirm it is Series 9 or later, Ultra 2 or later, or SE 3; ordinary sleep tracking on another model does not establish compatibility with sleep-apnea notifications.
- Check software and sleep tracking. Install the latest versions compatible with your devices and confirm that “Track Sleep with Apple Watch” is enabled.
- Review Health details and setup answers. Confirm the date of birth is correct. The feature is intended for adults without a prior sleep-apnea diagnosis.
- Check regional availability. Apple’s availability and device requirements may vary by country or region.
- Allow enough nights. A result is not expected after a single night; the minimum is 10 nights in a 30-day period.
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