Wearables in Review: The Apple Watch Series 6
Overview
Apple’s newest smartwatch has earned both commercial and critical acclaim, with a large range of sensors, sleek design, and ease of use. The Apple Watch is a wearable we will continue to recommend, as we anticipate that Apple will continue its foray into the clinical space with future watches. While not the perfect wearable (especially with its high price point), Apple is on a steady path to become a formidable force in the clinical space.
Our Favorite Features
The newest Apple Watch’s features are robust. Along with the standard heart rate monitor and accelerometer, it also contains more in-depth sensors such as an ECG monitor and pulse oximeter. In addition, Apple sought and received FDA clearance for its ECG app to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), a move similar to other major wearable manufacturers like Fitbit. Apple provides a relatively easy way to share medical data, so long as you have an iPhone. Since Apple opened its Health Records API to the public in 2018, it has been much simpler to integrate health data from other apps, and some hospitals are even beginning to allow patients to view their medical records from their iPhone.
What’s Missing
The newest Apple Watch’s major issue is that of exclusivity, both financially and compatibility-wise. This has largely been on purpose. Apple markets itself as a luxury brand, and encourages buying into the “Apple Ecosystem.” However, that comes directly into conflict with the clinical space. A nearly $400 device is a significant upfront cost for a pharmaceutical company kicking off a clinical trial. Though Apple products interact seamlessly with other Apple products, their lack of compatibility with Android devices is a significant problem for interoperability across platforms. Plus, studies are slowly transitioning towards a bring your own device model, further alienating a significant portion of the population that is unable to afford iPhones, let alone the Apple Watch.
Another issue is the Apple Watch’s short battery life. We believe the ideal wearable will have the battery life of at least a week, and the watch’s 18-hour battery life falls short. The lower the battery life, the higher the chance of non-adherence, as patients spend less time wearing and more time charging.
Clinical Trial Presence
The Apple Watch’s presence continues to grow in the clinical space, as it has been mentioned in over 100 different research studies. Cardiology appears to be one therapeutic area in particular that Apple is targeting, especially given its FDA-cleared ECG sensor. One study of note was conducted with Stanford Medicine, enrolling over 400,000 patients to study atrial fibrillation (AFib).
The watch’s accelerometer and gyroscope are also capable of monitoring movement disorders, which can be useful in neurology studies. In fact, researchers at Apple designed a system using the Apple Watch that can detect motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, such as resting tremors and other involuntary movements.
What This Means for the Future
The latest iteration of the Apple Watch proves that Apple will continue to develop in the clinical space. Besides cardiology and neurology, We’re interested to see what other therapeutic areas Apple plans to use the watch in, and Apple’s growing prevalence in the clinical space overall. In particular, we’ll be watching closely to see if they seek more FDA clearances, and if they continue to partner with major research institutions to carry out large clinical research trials.
The Apple Watch: Details
Sensors: Accelerometer, altimeter, ambient light, ECG, GPS, gyroscope, heart rate, pulse oximeter
Activity/Measurement Data: Blood oxygen, calories burned, floors climbed, heart rate, sleep, steps
Metrics: Activity, sleep quality
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Cellular, WiFi
MSRP: $399+
Battery Life: 18 hours
Waterproof Rating: Water resistant up to 50m
Average Consumer Rating: 4.5/5
