Apple Watch 8 could be two years behind Fitbits temperature tech

Date:
Tue, 03 May 2022 17:30:33 +0000

Description:
Apple Watch 8s skin temperature feature might not make the cut handing
Fitbit a win

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The rumor mill continues to churn about the Apple Watch 8 , as sources report its skin temperature sensor may not make it into the finished wearable in
time for release.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said Apple is still working on the software component of the feature, making sure the temperature displayed is accurate and conforming to Apples high standards before the watchs release date.



According to Kuo, the feature was set to debut in the Apple Watch 7, before
it was nixed due to time constraints. However, this inability to get the skin temperature sensing feature right is a blow one that has led Apple to fall behind some of its rivals in the health stakes, including Fitbit. (1/3)Apple canceled body temperature measurement for Apple Watch 7 because the algorithm failed to qualify before entering EVT stage last year. I believe Apple Watch
8 in 2H22 could take body temperature if the algorithm can meet Apple's high requirements before mass production. May 1, 2022 See more

The Fitbit Sense, released in September 2020, uses a dedicated sensor to measure skin temperature changes every minute while you sleep, then displays
a graph of the changes the next morning. Many other Fitbit devices including the Charge 4, Charge 5, Inspire 2,, Luxe, and Versa series, can all provide a single average estimate of your nightly skin temperature with their existing sensor arrays.

Now the Fitbit Sense 2 , surely one of the Apple Watch 8s main rivals in the wellness sphere, is reportedly on the horizon. If the Apple Watch 8 cant get the feature right in time, it could be a real coup for Fitbit.
Analysis: Why wrist skin temperature tracking matters to Apple

Skin temperature tracking is useful for several reasons. If youre training hard, a higher temperature could indicate youre not recovering well and may need more time to rest. It has been used to detect potential infection or illness, although its not a reliable indicator on its own. Its also useful
for tracking ovulation; a research paper published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research last year found wrist skin temperature, measured
continually during sleep, was an effective way to capture temperature shifts caused by the menstrual cycle.

Other fitness trackers like the Oura smart ring can measure body temperature overnight, reportedly to within 0.13C of accuracy. So whats the holdup for Apple?

Kuo states The challenge in implementing precise body temperature
measurement is that skin temperature quickly varies depending on outside environments. A smartwatch can't support core temperature measurement in
terms of hardware, so it needs an excellent algorithm to work together.

Samsung, Kuo notes, is facing similar software concerns when it comes to skin temperature. The fact Samsung and Apple are battling the same issue could suggest theyre working on a more accurate way to record and present the information than Fitbit is currently using, and want the time to get it
right.

On the other hand, the Apple Watch is more of an all-purpose smartwatch than the fitness-orientated Sense, and Apple could just be struggling to squeeze
it all in. A new Apple Watch SE2 leak has just dropped with specs and prices



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/apple-watch-8-could-be-two-years-behind-fitbits -temperature-tech/


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