Fitbit’s dominance as a fitness band and platform is becoming more and more apparent as the company continues to bolster its offerings. While the company hasn’t yet released a Wear OS-powered wearable, they are extending the functionality of two of their smartwatches. The latest feature that is making its way to the Fitbit Versa 3 and the Fitbit Sense is noise and snore detection.
The new feature will take advantage of the microphones in the Sense and Versa 3 to detect snoring and ambient noises during sleep. It will also be measuring the intensity or loudness of snoring. The data will be collected and compiled into a “Snore report” which is accessible on the Fitbit app. However, detection will not be able to discern between the user and any other person in proximity. So, if you have a partner who does snore, it will be reflected in your snore report as well.
Fitbit noted that the feature will more battery intensive than others. It is recommended that the Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense be charged to 40% when using the feature. This is most likely due to the activation of the mic every few seconds. This will happen once the Fitbit detects that you’ve fallen asleep.
The feature could very well be one of the most important features that Fitbit has introduced in the past year; aside from the ECG that is. It will allow doctors and users to detect the early signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea but it can also occur simply cause of fatigue. In cases related to OSA, it could indicate a more serious problem that should be dealt with. With the condition becoming more common, the feature will be a welcomed addition to a doctor’s toolkit.
The new snore detection feature is accessible through the Fitbit app’s sleep tracking function. However, the feature isn’t included in the basic subscription which comes when you purchase a tracker. Instead, it’s been bundled in Fitbit’s Premium subscription which will set you back MYR34.99 a month.
