Even the non-US Apple watches get EKG feature with watchOS 5.2

One of the biggest selling points of Apple Watch 4 – the Electrocardiogram (EKG) feature – will be enabled for users in regions outside of the US with Apple’s latest watchOS 5.2 update, including 19 countries in Europe and Hong Kong. This watch software update or the watchOS 5.2 comes more than two months after the release of watchOS 5.1.3 that included a bug fix patch.

"We've seen the ECG App and irregular rhythm notifications on Apple Watch have a meaningful impact on our customers across the United States," said Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer. "We are excited to bring these features to customers in Europe and Hong Kong, giving them access to empowering information about their heart health."

Along with the ECG functionality, the 19 European countries and also Hong Kong will also have access to “irregular heart rhythm” notifications. This feature will allow the Apple Watch to send notifications upon detecting irregular rhythm in the heartbeat.

The Apple Watch Series 4 users will be able to take a single-lead electrocardiogram with the help of electrodes built into the sapphire crystal and the Digital Crown. The S4 processor in the Watch- if fed with electrical impulses the electrodes, detect to convert it into signals that Apple’s computing algorithms will understand. The output will be the heart rhythm classification which you can share with your doctor. The results Apple provides will either be a normal ‘standard sinus rhythm’ or ‘atrial fibrillation’ – of which the latter may in some cases need further medical guidance.

The update also introduces support for its second-generation AirPods and the recently-announced Apple News+ service. Additionally, two new watch faces for the Hermès watches will also be provided with the new update.