Update, August 2026: this covers Oura’s October 2025 study announcement; the feature has since shipped as Health Radar: Blood Pressure Signals. For the current landscape across Oura, Apple, Samsung, Whoop and newer cuffless entrants, plus the AHA’s scientific statement on cuffless BP devices, see Blood Pressure Watches: What Actually Works.
Oura Health has launched a Blood Pressure Profile Study (October 2025) focused on passive hypertension risk detection. Oura aims to identify early hypertension indicators using physiological data — including heart rate, temperature, and heart rate variability (HRV) — combined with user questionnaires. The system aims to categorises users into three risk levels (None, Moderate, Major) but will not provide specific blood pressure readings.
This initiative parallels the approach of Apple’s FDA-cleared hypertension detection alerts — a more cautious path compared to Whoop, which has faced FDA scrutiny over its health-related marketing claims.
Background: Wearables Aim for Blood Pressure Insights
Definition: Hypertension is the medical diagnosis for consistently high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a major global health concern. Its prevalence, cost, and complexity in detection and treatment have long attracted wearable companies aiming to profit from giving their users better understand and manage cardiovascular health.
Accurate blood pressure detection typically requires active cuff-based measurement. Achieving comparable accuracy with optical sensors has proven very difficult due to motion artifacts and individual physiological variability. Additionally, FDA clearance is mandatory for any diagnostic or clinical claim made in the U.S. requiring significant cost and time.
Key Milestones
Progress has been slow but 2025 has seen a notable uptick in companies able to offer high blood pressure services on their wearables.
- 2019: Omron launches a smartwatch called Heartguide with a built-in inflatable cuff and earns FDA approval.
- July 2025: Hilo (Aktiia) gains FDA clearance for cuffless BP tracking.
- September 2025: Apple introduces FDA-cleared passive hypertension monitoring in its new sensor on models since Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2.
- Oura acquires Galen AI.
Consumer-grade devices thus fall in one of two camps: clinically validated monitors or risk-indicative devices. Even then they typically need periodic calibration against an inflatable cuff and only indicate broad trends or give alerts rather than actual readings. Oura’s approach is intended to place it as a product that can generate alerts based on risk.
Disclaimer: FDA-Cleared indicates that a device has been deemed safe and effective for its intended use but is not necessarily diagnostic. Always consult a qualified medical professional for hypertension diagnosis or treatment.
Last Updated on 3 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
