South Korean tech giant Samsung is likely to add a body composition monitor that could provide users with a better understanding of their overall health.
The sensor gauges the wearer's body composition, including the proportion of body fat to muscle.
According to Max Weinbach, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 will include a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) sensor, a feature commonly found on smart scales.
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BIA is a method to measure the composition, or the percentage of fat to muscle and other tissue, of the human body, Android Authority reported.
The sensor reads the impedance or disruption, of a low voltage current sent through the body.
BIA uses this data to estimate whether a wearer is too lean or obese as bone, muscle, fat, and other tissues have different electrical resistance qualities.
Per Doylestown Health, current BIA sensors usually employ two electrodes positioned on a patient's opposite hand and foot, the report said.
Samsung may get around this by asking the wearer to touch a part of the watch with their other hand, completing the circuit. A patent filed in 2019 (h/t Patently Apple) suggests that Samsung will likely employ this solution.
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BIA readings on a wearable could be a valuable addition to those wanting to build muscle, monitor their general health, or burn fat. It would also sync effectively with other performance metrics, like VO2 Max.
While the Galaxy Watch 3 wasn't the most effective fitness tracking wearable, it seems that Samsung intends to improve this facet of its wearables.
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Active on June 28.
