Apple Watch And Rem Sleep: What's The Connection?

The Apple Watch can track your sleep, including REM sleep. With the Sleep app, you can create sleep schedules to help you meet your sleep goals. The watch estimates the time spent in each sleep stage: REM, Core, and Deep. When you wake up, you can open the Sleep app to see how much sleep you got and review your sleep trends over the past 14 days.

Apple launched its own sleep tracker with WatchOS 7, and the WatchOS 9 update includes more advanced sleep tracking features. The Apple Watch uses its heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and machine learning to track sleep stages. It also provides a monthly result of your sleep tracking.

To use the sleep tracking feature, you need to ensure your Apple Watch has WatchOS 7 or later, and your iPhone has iOS 14 or later. You can then configure your sleep schedule using the Health app on your iPhone or Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch can track REM sleep

To use the sleep tracking feature, you need to have WatchOS 7 or later on your Apple Watch and iOS 14 or later on your iPhone. You can set up sleep tracking by opening the Health app on your iPhone or Apple Watch and configuring your sleep schedule, including your desired sleep duration, bedtime, and wake-up time.

The Apple Watch will then track your sleep and provide insights into the quality and duration of your sleep. It is important to note that the watch needs to be charged to at least 30% before sleep tracking, and it is recommended to have it on your wrist while sleeping.

In addition to sleep tracking, the Apple Watch also offers a Wind Down feature, which helps you establish a bedtime routine and reduce distractions before sleep. This feature connects to helpful apps that can be part of your wind-down routine, such as meditation apps.

By leveraging its advanced sensors and machine learning capabilities, the Apple Watch provides valuable insights into your sleep patterns and duration, empowering you to make informed decisions to improve your sleep quality.

It uses heart rate, accelerometer and machine learning to do so

The Apple Watch uses heart rate, accelerometer, and machine learning to estimate the time spent in each sleep stage. The watch can estimate the time spent in REM, Core, and Deep sleep stages, as well as when the wearer might have woken up. This is done by tracking the wearer's motion and heart rate while they sleep.

The Apple Watch's Sleep app can help users create sleep schedules to meet their sleep goals. Users can set a sleep goal, such as the number of hours of sleep they want to get, and the app will provide a bedtime reminder and turn on Sleep Focus to limit distractions before bed. The Sleep Focus feature simplifies the watch display and iPhone Lock Screen to reduce distractions.

In addition to tracking sleep stages, the Apple Watch can also track the wearer's sleeping respiratory rate, which can provide greater insight into their overall health. However, it is important to note that these respiratory rate measurements are not intended for medical use.

While the Apple Watch can provide valuable insights into sleep patterns and respiratory rate, it is not as accurate as medical-grade sleep studies. The watch uses motion and heart rate data to estimate sleep stages, whereas sleep studies use electrodes to measure brain activity directly.

It can also track deep sleep

The Apple Watch can track deep sleep, along with REM and Core sleep. It uses signals from the accelerometer and heart rate sensor to detect the different sleep stages. When you wake up, you can open the Sleep app to see how much sleep you got and view your sleep trends over the past 14 days.

The watch's heart rate sensor is key to tracking deep sleep. When you enter deep sleep, your heart rate drops compared to when you are in light sleep. Your heart rate then raises when you are in REM sleep. The Apple Watch's sleep tracking is about 80% accurate.

In addition to tracking your sleep stages, the Apple Watch can also track your sleep duration, movement disturbances, and heart rate. The watch's focus is on the time you go to bed and what you do while you wind down.

To enable sleep tracking on your Apple Watch, your device must be running watchOS 7 or later on a Series 3 or newer, SE, or Ultra. You will also need an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 14 or higher. You can set up a sleep schedule and wind-down time in the Sleep app on your Apple Watch or the Health app on your iPhone.

Third-party apps, such as AutoSleep, Pillow, Sleep++, and SleepWatch, can provide additional sleep tracking features on your Apple Watch. These apps can track factors such as blood oxygen levels, respiration rate, and sleep quality.

Sleep tracking is available on watchOS 8 or later

When you wake up, open the Sleep app to learn how much sleep you got and see your sleep trends over the past 14 days. You can also see your sleep history on your iPhone by opening the Health app.

In addition to tracking your sleep, watchOS 8 introduces a variety of other features to help users stay healthy, active, and connected. The Breathe app has been renamed to Mindfulness and now includes a Reflect session for mindful intention. The Photos app has been redesigned, and the Home app has been updated to make it easier to access HomeKit accessories and scenes.

The watchOS 8 update also includes improvements to Wallet, such as support for digital car keys and digital IDs, as well as new workout types for Tai Chi and Pilates.

The Sleep app on Apple Watch can help you meet your sleep goals

The Sleep app on Apple Watch is designed to help you meet your sleep goals. It includes bedtime reminders, wake-up alarms, sleep tracking, Sleep Focus, Wind Down, and a view of your sleep trends over time. Here's how it works:

Setting Up Sleep Schedules

You can create sleep schedules in the Sleep app to help you meet your sleep goals and get to bed on time. You can set a sleep goal, such as the number of hours of sleep you want to get, and create multiple schedules for different days of the week. For example, you can have one schedule for weekdays and another for weekends.

Sleep Tracking

The Sleep app uses data from the accelerometer and heart rate sensor to determine what stage of sleep you are in. It can estimate the time you spent in each sleep stage: REM, Core, and Deep. When you wake up, you can open the Sleep app to see how much sleep you got and view your sleep trends over the past 14 days.

Sleep Focus and Wind Down

Sleep Focus limits distractions before you go to bed and protects your sleep after you're in bed. It turns off the watch display and simplifies your Apple Watch and iPhone Lock Screen to reduce distractions. Wind Down helps you relax before heading to bed, and Sleep Focus is also enabled during this time to help you meet your sleep goals.

Alarms

You can set up wake-up alarms in the Sleep app, with the option to wake up to gentle sounds or a haptic wake-up alarm so you don't disturb anyone else around you. You will also receive a wake-up screen each morning with the day's weather forecast and current battery life, reminding you to charge your Apple Watch.

Sleep Statistics

You can review your sleep statistics in the Health app on your iPhone, including sleep times, sleep stages, sleep goals, respiratory rate, and sleeping heart rate. The Health app also provides information about breathing disturbances and can notify you if your data shows consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Charging Reminders

The Sleep app will prompt you to charge your Apple Watch before bedtime if it has less than 30% battery. You can also set up charging reminders to notify you when your watch is fully charged.

Frequently asked questions