Apple unveiled the redesigned sensor in its Ultra 4 during the April‑June 2026 sales period, allowing heart‑rate readings every five seconds even while users move, according to Eric Jue, director of Apple Watch Worldwide Product Marketing.
The upgrade arrives as India’s total smartwatch shipments slid 4% year‑on‑year to 6.4 million units, yet demand for premium models surged 94.8%, boosting Apple’s advanced‑watch share from 2.2% to 4.5%, IDC data shows.
Apple is collaborating with clinicians in Delhi to test the Watch in clinical settings, a move led by Steve Waydo, director of health sensing, who said the 5‑second capability relies on new optical components and chip architecture, not software.
With the sensor now available on all Ultra 4 units, Apple plans to launch a targeted marketing push and expand its clinical trials, positioning it to capture a larger slice of India’s fast‑growing premium smartwatch market.