Apple could launch body temperature measurement feature with Apple Watch Series 8, depending on algorithm quality

Apple could introduce a body temperature measurement feature to the new Apple Watch Series 8 later this year, according to respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says Apple had initially planned for the feature to launch last year with the Series 7, however, software issues prevented it from launching as expected.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Kuo says depending on if Apple’s body temperature measurement algorithms meet standard, we could see the feature arrive on the Apple Watch this year with the Apple Watch Series 8, which will likely release in September.

“Apple canceled body temperature measurement for Apple Watch 7 because the algorithm failed to qualify before entering EVT stage last year,” said Kuo. “I believe Apple Watch 8 in 2H22 could take body temperature if the algorithm can meet Apple’s high requirements before mass production.”

Kuo says implementing precise body temperature measurement on a smartwatch is difficult because skin temperature changes based on outside environments, and because the device can’t support core temperature measurement in terms of hardware, Apple needs to work on a complex algorithm to work together to provide accurate results, something Apple wasn’t able to do in time for the launch of the Apple Watch Series 7.

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Apple canceled body temperature measurement for Apple Watch 7 because the algorithm failed to qualify before entering EVT stage last year. I believe Apple Watch 8 in 2H22 could take body temperature if the algorithm can meet Apple's high requirements before mass production.

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 1, 2022

Kuo notes how rival Samsung is also facing similar issues, suggesting that the South Korean company may not be able to launch body temperature measurement features on its smartwatches until 2023.