Overview

• Apple activated the hypertension notifications with watchOS 26 and iOS 26 this week, making them available in Germany on Series 9, Series 11, Ultra 2 and Ultra 3, but not on Apple Watch SE.
• Apple’s validation reports detection in about 40% of hypertensive users on average, with roughly 30% for Grade 1 and about 50% for Grade 2 cases.
• The system does not measure blood pressure; it analyzes daytime photoplethysmography data and sends a notice only after 30 days of qualifying patterns, excluding sleep data.
• False alarms were described as relatively rare in Apple’s study, and a significant share of those flagged without confirmed hypertension showed mildly elevated readings.
• Apple estimates more than one million users could receive notifications in the first year, and coverage advises confirmation with a medical cuff and consultation with a clinician.