Samsung Galaxy Watch Adds Blood Carotenoid Tracking for Longevity Focus

Samsung is making a bold play for the longevity market with its Galaxy Watch, introducing blood carotenoid tracking alongside enhanced coaching features that signal the tech giant's serious healthcare ambitions.

The South Korean company rolled out a suite of new Galaxy Watch capabilities this month, headlined by a first-of-its-kind blood carotenoid sensor that measures antioxidant levels directly from the wrist. The feature targets healthy aging by providing real-time nutrition insights, marking Samsung's entry into the rapidly growing longevity tracking space.

The update includes Running Coach, now in beta for US and South Korean users, which analyzes individual running ability and creates personalized race training plans. Samsung also introduced Vascular Load, an overnight monitoring system that tracks cardiovascular stress during sleep, and Bedtime Guidance, which reads circadian rhythms and integrates with Samsung's smart home ecosystem to optimize sleep environments through connected lights, blinds, and thermostats.

"We're building toward a Galaxy Watch-led patient health portal that will allow doctors to directly influence behavioral nudges," Dr. Hon Pak, a Samsung executive, told Bloomberg. The company plans to add blood pressure and glucose monitoring capabilities to create a comprehensive health platform.

Samsung's timing reflects the broader wearable industry's shift toward medical-grade features. WHOOP recently launched longevity-focused wearables, Oura partnered with Maven Clinic for clinical validation, and newer players like Happy Health secured FDA clearance for their smart rings. The competition intensifies as 68 million Samsung Health users represent a massive user base for the company's healthcare expansion.

The carotenoid tracking feature sets Samsung apart in a crowded market. While competitors focus on traditional biometrics, Samsung's antioxidant measurement addresses cellular aging directly. This positions the Galaxy Watch as a longevity tool rather than just a fitness tracker, appealing to users focused on healthspan rather than just activity tracking.

Samsung's healthcare push comes as the company seeks to differentiate itself from Apple's dominance in premium wearables. The integration with Samsung's broader ecosystem of smart home devices creates unique value propositions that standalone health companies cannot match.

The Galaxy Watch's evolution into a comprehensive health platform reflects Samsung's broader strategy to own the entire user experience from fitness tracking to medical monitoring. With planned doctor integration and expanding biometric capabilities, Samsung is positioning itself as a major player in the convergence of consumer technology and healthcare delivery.