Apple Watch Series 10 prototype hints at blood pressure testing
Photos of an unreleased Apple Watch Series 10 prototype have surfaced online, and there’s something off about the sensor on the back. It’s not just a different arrangement — the entire health module looks like it’s trying to do something new. Is this our first glimpse at the blood pressure sensor?
The images, shared by X account @StellaFudge, show a familiar shape – but with a redesigned sensor layout.
Instead of the standard array of LEDs, the prototype sports a smaller group of lights in the center and a new ring of lights encircling the sensor module. This version of the watch was running an internal build of watchOS 11.1 that never made it to public release.
For comparison purposes, here’s the sensor arrangement on Series 9.
A blood pressure sensor?
We don’t know for sure what Apple was testing here, but the smart money is on blood pressure. Mark Gurman has reported a number of times that Apple had been working on a feature that alerts users when their blood pressure appears elevated.
The goal was never to show exact systolic or diastolic values. At least not at first. But to offer a heads-up and let users track context using a kind of journal. At this stage, Apple is more interested in identifying trends than turning the Watch into a full-on cuff replacement.
The company apparently ran into accuracy problems with its early blood pressure system. That tracks with what’s happening here. A new ring of lights could indicate more advanced optical sensing, maybe something aimed at improving signal quality or compensating for wrist movement. It’s also possible this was just one of several sensor arrangements Apple tested. But the fact that this unit exists and runs unreleased firmware suggests it got at least partway through development.
Apple currently uses its rear sensor to monitor heart rate and blood oxygen, though the latter is disabled on U.S. models due to an ongoing patent issue. The blood oxygen sensor itself hasn’t changed much in years, which makes this redesign all the more interesting. It looks like Apple’s trying to build something more sophisticated.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
If the company really is testing blood pressure sensing this way, the question becomes when they’ll be ready to ship it. Gurman’s reporting hinted that even Series 11 might not include it. Apple seems cautious here, probably because anything health-related brings regulatory scrutiny and high expectations.
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