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The Apple Watch Series 4 marked a watershed moment for health tech. Before it, wearables were just fitness trackers. Now, with atrial fibrillation detection, they can save lives – or at least give you an alarming notification that something might be wrong.

Since then, smartwatches have evolved from simple step counters to complex health monitors. Every year brings new features: sleep apnea alerts, hypertension warnings, even fertility tracking. But while these innovations offer a glimpse into our bodies’ inner workings, they also raise questions about privacy and data interpretation.

Apple’s approach has always been inclusive, aiming for a device that everyone can use – so long as you have an iPhone, of course. The latest iterations focus on heart health metrics and aFib notifications, with the goal of making these features meaningful without being overly prescriptive.

In contrast, rivals are diving headfirst into AI personalization, offering highly individualized experiences that Apple remains notably absent from. Yet, perhaps this cautionary approach is exactly what makes the Apple Watch unique – or at least less annoying than its competitors.