Upgrading to Apple Watch Series 12 Could Cost You High Blood Pressure Notifications

Some Apple Watch users who upgrade to Series 12 or Ultra 4 may temporarily lose access to high blood pressure notifications.

On the watchOS feature availability page, Apple says notifications may not be available on Series 12 or Ultra 4 at launch because regulatory approvals are pending.

Hypertension notifications may not be available on Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 in your region as additional regulatory approvals for these devices are pending.

The warning applies to 33 countries and regions, including Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, with a full list on Apple’s website.

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 feature revamped sensors and a new health detection system. Apple has added new optical and electrical heart sensors for more frequent and accurate tracking, and the change appears to require new regulatory approval in some locations.

What’s new:

• ECG – The watch’s electrodes cover a larger surface area for better contact with the skin during ECG readings.
• Optical detection – Redesigned photodiodes are organized in a ring to capture light more efficiently.
• Heart rate measurement – Larger, energy-efficient green LEDs in the optical heart rate sensor allow the new watches to measure heart rate every five seconds all day, providing more data on the user’s fitness and physiological state. Real-time heart rate is available in the updated Heart Rate app, and exercise and movement activity rings are more accurate. HRV is also measured every five minutes.

Apple Watch users who receive these notifications today may lose the option when upgrading to Series 12 or Ultra 4 until regulatory clearance is granted.

Countries not on Apple’s list with a footnote will continue to receive notifications as usual. This includes the US, UK and all EU countries.