AI News Feed
Market watch
LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A-S Hits Record-Low $1,099 on Amazon, TechRadar ReportsNewegg Labor Day Deal: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 Kit Nearly Half Price at $179.99 with CodeGalaxy Z Fold 8 inner screen corners reported with excessive giveHuawei unveils Mate XT 2 tri-fold with privacy-screen edition as Apple prepares folding iPhoneWall Street Analysts Recommend Nvidia, Uber and Marvell for Long-Term GrowthLenovo, AMD and Huawei Put Local Large-Model AI at Center of New Devices
LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A-S Hits Record-Low $1,099 on Amazon, TechRadar ReportsNewegg Labor Day Deal: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 Kit Nearly Half Price at $179.99 with CodeGalaxy Z Fold 8 inner screen corners reported with excessive giveHuawei unveils Mate XT 2 tri-fold with privacy-screen edition as Apple prepares folding iPhoneWall Street Analysts Recommend Nvidia, Uber and Marvell for Long-Term GrowthLenovo, AMD and Huawei Put Local Large-Model AI at Center of New Devices
Products & Applications

Apple Watch's Hidden ECG Feature Offers Deeper Heart Health Insights

Apple Watch's ECG app, available on most models since Series 4, lets users record heart rhythms and detect irregularities like AFib, but it won't spot heart attacks.

AI News Feed · 2026-08-14 20:42

The ECG app measures the heart's electrical activity, tracing each stage of a beat to identify rhythm irregularities. Standard heart-rate measurements vary in frequency depending on activity and can only flag when the pulse is too fast or too slow. ECG results can indicate sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation (AFib), low or high heart rate, or remain inconclusive. Apple notes that the feature is not designed to detect heart attack symptoms and should not replace professional medical care.

The app is available on Apple Watch Series 4 or later (except SE) and all Ultra models. Users must update to the latest watchOS and iOS versions. While most countries support the feature, some in Eastern Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and the Middle East do not. An official Apple list shows country availability.

To set up the ECG app, open the Health app on an iPhone, search for "ECG," and follow the instructions. To take a reading, wear the watch snugly, open the ECG app, rest the arm, and hold a finger on the Digital Crown for 30 seconds without pressing down.

ECG results vary slightly depending on app version, which is based on regional regulations. Users can check the version in the Apple Watch Settings under Heart, or in the Health app under Heart and ECG. A sinus rhythm result means the heart beat uniformly between 50 and 100 BPM during measurement, but does not guarantee the heart always works that way. If AFib is detected and not previously diagnosed, users should consult a doctor. Low or high heart rate results occur when the rate is outside certain thresholds—below 50 BPM or above 120/150 BPM depending on version—and may be influenced by medications, stress, or dehydration. An inconclusive result can be caused by pacemakers, other conditions, or what Apple calls "certain physiological conditions." Users who repeatedly get abnormal results are advised to seek medical advice.