Apple Watch ECG App Receives Approval in China, Already Working in watchOS 8 Beta 2 - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Watch ECG App Receives Approval in China, Already Working in watchOS 8 Beta 2

The Apple Watch ECG (electrocardiogram) functionality has received regulatory approval in China, giving Apple the all-clear to launch the feature for Apple Watch users in the country.

apple watch ecg wrist
According to a new document posted today by China's National Medical Products Administration, Apple has received approval for an ECG. The filing doesn't offer any details about when the feature may launch to Chinese Apple Watch users; however, posts on Chinese social network Weibo, spotted by ITHome, suggest that the feature is already live on the latest watchOS 8 betas.

With the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and Series 6, users can take an ECG by placing their finger on the Digital Crown while they wear their watch. The Apple Watch, using an array of onboard sensors, reads the electrical pulses from a wearer's heart. The reading, which can be viewed as a PDF through the Health app on the paired iPhone, can detect if a user's heart is out of rhythm and possibly experiencing atrial fibrillation.

ECG on the Apple Watch most recently launched in Australia and Vietnam as part of the watchOS 7.4 update.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Tags: China, ECG
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
ios 26 4 pastel

iOS 26.4: Top 10 New Features Coming to Your iPhone

Friday March 20, 2026 2:44 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 isn't the major update with new Siri features that we hoped for, but there are some useful quality of life improvements, and a little bit of fun with an AI playlist generator and new emoji characters. Playlist Playground - Apple Music has a Playlist Playground option that lets you generate playlists from text-based descriptions. You can include moods, feelings, activities, or...

Top Rated Comments

Techwatcher Avatar
62 months ago
Was surprised China approved this at first.

Then I realized I'm not surprised since it means this gives their government full access to the citizens' health information. :rolleyes:
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
John6me Avatar
62 months ago
Still waiting for this feature in Mexico :(
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IIGS User Avatar
62 months ago
That's great.

So now they'll have a better idea of who's organs are most worthy of harvesting.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
62 months ago
We need this support in LatinAmerica
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghost187 Avatar
62 months ago
This long process of getting approval all over the world is probably the reason we are not getting new health sensors on a yearly basis. Also, when are we going to get a basic thermometer on our watch? Sounds basic enough to me.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
62 months ago

This is the main reason why I went with an SE instead of a Series 6, the main differences were the ECG which is not available in Mexico anyway, the oximeter which was considered not very accurate and a novelty and the altimeter which I'd never use. I didn't care about the always on display as I would turn it off anyways...

I hope when it's time to upgrade in two years time we finally get ECG here.
vast majority of sources say the oximeter is accurate (for the technology type, not medical diagnostic grade of course).

I just got a series 6, no more handheld ECG!. Had my first event today, detected afib, best of all you can record your symptoms at the time of event.

I would suggest you contact your regulatory bodies if you want approval for devices, you know, regulation. HAHA, like they will listen or care
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: World News | Use Precision Finding Airtag | Iphone | Mophie Max Charging Stand | Airtag