Samsung's big plan to compete with the Apple Watch: keeping you healthy as you age
Healthcare costs are expected to rise in 2025 and older adults are increasingly looking to age in place — trends Samsung is targeting to get a bigger piece of the digital health market. And the company's upcoming smartwatch update is another step in that direction, says Hon Pak, vice president and head of the digital health team for Samsung's mobile business.
'You have an aging population with increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and then you have costs going up,' Pak said in a CNN interview. 'And so all of those pressures are leading to care shifting to the home where we happen to be.'
Samsung wants to use digital health as a way to catch up to – and maybe beat – Apple in wearable technology. Both companies are expanding their wellness offerings as they hope to lock in long-term customers amid slowing smartphone sales. A beta version of the software will be available this month for Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 and newer models, although certain functions will only be available for the company's latest models.
Pak believes the company may have an edge over its competitors in bringing health into the home because it's already there in the form of appliances and home entertainment products, he said.
Samsung is the world's largest smartphone maker by market share, according to estimates from leading market research firms. But Samsung faces steeper challenges in smartwatches, as it only accounted for roughly 6% of that global market in the first quarter of 2025, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), while Apple took the top spot with about 20% of the market.
Apple has done a better job at marketing the Apple Watch as a compelling smartphone companion than Samsung, says Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager for the IDC.
'(Apple is) closest to making the smartwatch a 'must have' than any other brand or ecosystem,' Ubrani told CNN in an email.
Samsung hopes to differentiate itself by focusing on preventative advice — i.e. helping users eat right or get enough sleep before developing health conditions. Yet it also faces competition from smaller health tech companies like smart ring maker Oura, which takes a similarly proactive approach to health tracking that tech giants like Google have also emulated.
'As a physician, we collect about, probably less than 1% of the patient data, and we use that 1% data to make diagnostic and treatment decisions,' said Pak, who was the chief medical officer for 3M Health Information Systems before joining Samsung. 'We don't know if the patient's exercising … if they are eating right.'
The smartwatch update will include a new feature for measuring whether wearers are eating enough antioxidants. It works by shining LED lights at different wavelengths on the wearer's skin, which it says can estimate their levels of beta carotene, a type of antioxidant found in foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach. To operate the feature, the user takes off the watch and presses the sensor on the back.
Pak notes that the feature estimates if users have enough antioxidants in their system rather than qualify their vegetable intake. He said the feature went through clinical trials that involved measuring beta carotene levels in the blood.
The update also includes bedtime recommendations and a 'running coach,' which creates training programs to help wearers hit their running goals. It comes after Apple announced its own Apple Watch coach on June 9 called Workout Buddy.
Pak says Samsung has an AI-powered health chatbot in the works but couldn't share more details with CNN since there hasn't been an announcement on a project launch. Apple is also said to be working on a similar tool, according to Bloomberg.
Beyond watches, Pak thinks AI-powered smart glasses present an opportunity for new types of health features, particularly meal logging. He says new technology may soon tell whether a person is eating too fast or if their meal has allergens by analyzing their plate using AI models working in conjunction with glasses.
Developers have already created services that claim to analyze nutritional contents of food by snapping photos and analyzing them through ChatGPT or Google's Gemini models.
'I don't think it's a technology problem,' said Pak. 'I think it's just a packaging of the technology capabilities that we have today.'
Samsung previously said it was developing a pair of smart glasses to run on Google's new Android XR software.
But Samsung's smartwatches don't work with iPhones, a challenging limitation since Apple owns nearly 20% of the market. Samsung stopped making its watches compatible with iPhones several years ago, likely a move to convince users to remain loyal to its own phones.
However, Pak hasn't ruled out the possibility of working with Apple again.
'I think there are always discussions about this,' he said. 'There are active discussions, but I think no decision has been made in terms of timing.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Adaptive Power in iOS 26 Could Save the iPhone 17 Air From This Major Pitfall
There's one feature Apple unveiled during WWDC on Monday that didn't get the attention I think it deserves: Adaptive Power. This AI-powered feature can help your iPhone battery last longer by lowering your display's brightness and making "small performance adjustments" like "allowing some activities to take a little longer," according to Apple. It'll also turn on Low Power Mode automatically when your battery drops to 20% to limit background activities and further extend battery life. Adaptive Power can come in clutch no matter what phone you have (as long as it can run iOS 26), but where it really has the potential to be a game-changer is with the rumored iPhone 17 Air. Apple's thinner iPhone is expected to debut in the fall, though the company has yet to confirm reports about its imminent arrival. A skinny iPhone would join the ranks of other slim phones like Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge and the Oppo Find N5, which both came out earlier this year. And on Monday, hot on the heels of WWDC, Samsung also shared a teaser about its upcoming Galaxy Z foldable series, calling it "the thinnest, lightest and most advanced foldable yet." Thin phones can come across as gimmicky (who asked for them, really?), but they're undoubtedly having a moment as companies look for new ways to lure your dollars. After using devices like the Galaxy S25 Edge and Oppo Find N5, I can attest that holding a slim, lightweight phone is quite refreshing, and I'm eager to see what Apple has in store. But there's also a major downside to building a phone with such a slim profile, as I experienced recently with the S25 Edge: Battery life takes a hit. A thinner phone also means a smaller battery, which means shorter battery life. The S25 Edge, for instance, definitely needs a recharge at the end of the day -- no excess battery there. If Apple can find a way to make the iPhone 17 Air last beyond that bare minimum amount, that could really help its slim offering stand out. Adaptive Power may be the superpower Apple needs to appeal to anyone who won't sacrifice battery life for a thinner phone. But whether this feature truly is a breakthrough is up in the air -- along with the reality of the iPhone 17 Air itself. See also: Dear Apple, Please Steal These Galaxy S25 Edge Features for a Thin iPhone
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tesla (NasdaqGS:TSLA) Set To Enter Indian Market With First Showrooms In July
Tesla is set to make a significant shift, entering the Indian market in July 2025 with new showrooms. This expansion comes at a time when the company's stock price rose by 30% over the last quarter, amid flat market performance in the past week and a 10% rise over the past year. The entry into India is aimed at countering declining sales in Europe and China, which could have influenced investor sentiment. Despite challenges such as a recent lawsuit and executive changes, this regional expansion might add weight to the broader market uptrend. Tesla has 2 risks we think you should know about. The best AI stocks today may lie beyond giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Find the next big opportunity with these 27 smaller AI-focused companies with strong growth potential through early-stage innovation in machine learning, automation, and data intelligence that could fund your retirement. The recent announcement of Tesla's expansion into the Indian market is a significant development that could influence its broader growth narrative. Despite facing challenges in other regions, this move may provide a new revenue stream, potentially mitigating some of the pressures from decreasing sales in Europe and China. Over the past five years, Tesla's shares have seen a very large total return of 403.51%, illustrating substantial long-term growth. When comparing to the previous year, Tesla's share return also surpassed the market, which returned 10%, and the US Auto industry, which posted a 60.9% gain over the past year. This suggests persistent investor confidence in Tesla, supporting its trajectory even amid short-term volatility. The strategic entry into a new market such as India might bolster revenue and earnings forecasts, as analysts anticipate a 16.6% annual revenue growth over the next three years. However, potential risks including geopolitical uncertainties and leadership changes could impact execution. With Tesla's current share price at US$275.35, it is trading close to the analyst consensus price target of US$289.44, suggesting a modest upside of 4.9%. This share price movement reflects mixed sentiments among investors regarding the balance of growth potential and inherent risks. Tesla's diverse initiatives, ranging from autonomous vehicles to energy solutions, underline its pursuit of long-term profitability, suggesting a complex interplay of factors influencing its market position. Gain insights into Tesla's outlook and expected performance with our report on the company's earnings estimates. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:TSLA. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
When Will Apple Launch The New MacBook Air And MacBook Pro?
A MacBook Pro is displayed inside the Apple Carnegie Library store on May 30, 2025 (Photo by Kevin ...) While the main iPhone line has its launch date fixed to early September, the Mac portfolio, especially the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops, has been adrift in the calendar for many years. Thankfully, Apple is settling into a steady rhythm of new releases across its hardware portfolio, bringing some stability to the Mac announcements. For many, that means regular updates to the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops. Finding An Annual MacBook Pro Schedule Apple has indicated that it now prefers annual updates on software and hardware. The recent move to unify the various operating systems to a single number pointing to the year where it will be dominant only works with annual refreshes on the cardinal number and the associated software. The key hardware upgrade is the Apple Silicon chipset. Over the last five years, Apple has rolled out five major versions of the M-Series chipsets. Through these, Tim Cook and his team have worked to bring the chaotic laptop releases under some control. It now looks like the patterns set in 2024 will continue in 2025 and 2026, which lets us start putting some dates into the calendar. And it's the Apple Silicon M-Series that highlights Apple's consistent upgrade path. MacBook Pro's iPad Pro Barrier The current MacBook Pro was launched in late October 2024, five months after the Apple Silicon M4 chipset debuted with the iPad Pro M4. That happened one month before Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference. That iPad captured the love and 'new car smell' of the Apple Silicon M4 away from the Mac family. That's not the case this year; not only has a new iPad Pro been announced, but WWDC has also been and gone with no announcement of the Apple Silicon M5. With roughly eighteen months between each of the last three models, this doesn't come as a huge surprise, given we're looking at cadences. That should clear the way for the M5 to arrive inside new Mac products.. When Will The New MacBook Pro M5 Arrive Apple first launched the MacBook Pro with the M1 Max and M1 Pro chips on Oct. 18, 2021. The M2 Pro and M2 Max models arrived later in the cycle, on Jan. 17, 2023. Normal service resumed on Oct. 30 2023 with the M3 Pro and M3 Max models, with Oct 30. 2024 seeing the M4 Pro and M4 Max models (alongside the vanilla M4 model). There are enough signs from the supply chain that Apple's pre-release activities are following the same schedule as last year, for example, the Apple Silicon M5 chipsets are now in production. The schedule has been confirmed throughout the year. Oct. 30th is a Thursday this year. Apple tends to go earlier in the week for a launch, so it's likely Tuesday, Oct. 28th or Wednesday, Oct. 29th. Either way, Halloween week is the safest bet so far. And perhaps for more than the MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro M5 Competition As for the eighteen-month window on the iPad Pro, that points to a similar late October launch. Apple will be considering a launch of the iPad Pro M5 alongside the MacBook Pro M5. Both the laptop and the tablet are geared towards different markets with different scenarios, and launching them together to complement each other would allow for the similarities of macOS and iPadOS to be demonstrated, as well as illustrating the different approaches Apple's mobile computing teams have taken. It's worth noting that the current M4-powered MacBook Air was launched in early March 2025, some ten months after the reveal of the M4 chipset in the iPad Pro, putting the consumer-focused laptop close to a year behind the current technology, while still giving the appearance of sitting on the cutting edge. Will The MacBook Pro M5 Be Enough All of this stands in the shadow of one key detail around the MacBook Pro M5… that it will be little more than an internal upgrade to allow for the Apple Silicon bump. The external design changes—including the long-awaited arrival of an OLED display—may be waiting for the M6-powered model in 2026. Now read the latest MacBook Pro, iPhone and WWDC headlines in Forbes' weekly Apple news digest...
