Apple Watch Will Not Feature Advanced Health Sensors

The Apple Watch does not have one key feature, instead it has lots of new features to make the wearable appeal to all types of buyers, from fitness fanatics, to people who want a better way to read notifications.

Even though it is a broad playing field for what will be the most popular feature, in the early days the Apple Watch had one clear goal: to offer health information unlike any other consumer gadget.

Apple originally envisioned a device capable of tracking blood sugar, blood oxygen and stress levels through conductivity of the skin, and even glucose levels of the wearer, but these had to be cut back due to costs and potential regulatory activity.

After meetings with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in mid-2013, Apple came to the conclusion it would not be able to add a glucose tracker, due to the potential issues regarding diabetics.

The removal of some health tracking sensors has lowered the cost of the first Apple Watch, expected to go on sale for $349 (£299) in April this year. It is not clear how much the price has dropped with the removal of some key sensors.

Apple is still focusing on bringing these sensors to the second version of the Apple Watch, meaning in 2016 we could see ways for doctors spot all sorts of illnesses, and potential issues regarding health.

It also gives Apple a year to make sure all the legality is clear for the FDA and any other authority in the U.S. or Europe, who might want to see Apple’s sensors and paperwork before allowing the device to be sold.

The Apple Watch will go on sales in April this year and will be available in three editions: Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition, the latter reportedly costing $10,000.