Samsung Competes with Apple to Create Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitor

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Samsung Electronics Co. is intensifying efforts to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring and continuous blood pressure checking, signaling its entry into the competitive healthcare sector alongside tech giants like Apple Inc.

The company, as part of its broader strategy to incorporate health features into various devices, is exploring sensors that can provide a comprehensive view of a user’s well-being through different parts of the body and around the home. Samsung’s executive Hon Pak, overseeing this effort, emphasized the ambition to offer consumers a holistic health picture.

Health tracking has become a key feature in smartphones and smartwatches, with companies like Samsung, Apple, and Alphabet’s Google incorporating these features to attract and retain customers. The development of sensors for continuous blood pressure tracking and noninvasive glucose monitoring would represent significant breakthroughs. Apple, for instance, has long been working on a glucose reader that avoids the need for skin pricking, particularly beneficial for diabetics.

Samsung’s mobile digital health chief, Hon Pak, expressed the company’s commitment, stating, “If we can do continuous blood pressure and glucose, we’re in a whole different ballgame. I think that’s where everyone is trying to get to. We’re putting significant investment toward that.” While no specific timeline was provided, Pak hopes that noninvasive glucose monitoring could be introduced to the market in some form within five years.

Recent announcements from Samsung include the development of a health sensor-equipped ring, the Galaxy Ring, scheduled for release by the end of 2024. The company plans to include activity and sleep tracking, with more health features to follow. This move into the smart ring space aims to cater to individuals who prefer a less obtrusive option for health tracking compared to traditional watches.

The challenges of developing a blood sugar monitor are acknowledged, given the need for a noninvasive approach. Apple has been actively working on a similar project since 2010, although a product release remains several years away. Both Samsung and Apple are also working to enhance blood pressure monitoring, with a focus on providing more accurate and meaningful readings.

Samsung is not limiting its health-focused innovations to wearables. The company is exploring various sensors for future versions of its earbuds, examining ways to measure body temperature and heart rates. The ear, being a closer pathway to the heart than the wrist, could complement data from other sources, offering users a more comprehensive health profile.

Looking ahead, mixed-reality headsets are seen as a potential frontier for health-related applications. While Apple is set to release its Vision Pro headset soon, Samsung is also considering the integration of health features into mixed-reality devices, particularly focusing on meditation and mental health. Pak mentioned ongoing partnerships being explored to address these areas.