Unlike some other wearables, the Apple Watch does not explicitly support a stress tracking feature that would alert users to potential changes in stress levels. However, a new report suggests that Apple's smartwatch will one day have the tools to support that feature.

The study, published in Frontiers in Digital Health (opens in new tab), was conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada who collected electrocardiogram (ECG) data from various Apple Watch Series 6 models running the Apple Watch ECG app The study was conducted by collecting The app uses the watch's sensors to record the timing and intensity of heartbeats and can detect atrial fibrillation and other conditions.

However, according to the researchers, the data can also be used to predict stress levels, with a 30-second ECG reading providing feedback on the watch wearer's stress level. And the study, first discovered by MyHealthyApple (opens in new tab), found some promising results with existing Apple watches.

"We found that the model performs at the low end of state-of-the-art stress prediction technology," the report on the Apple Watch's stress prediction capabilities concluded. "We were able to identify several [heart rate variability] features, and sociodemographic classes, that affect the accuracy of the model. The results suggest that with further development, the Apple Watch ECG sensor could be used for mobile, real-time stress prediction."

Currently, the Apple Watch can predict "no stress" relatively effectively, the study adds. What should be developed is a feature that provides a more accurate prediction for potential stress.

Stress tracking has long emerged as a potential feature in both the Apple Watch and the watchOS software that powers Apple's wearable devices. At the same time, rival devices, notably Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 and Fitbit Sense 2, offer their own stress monitoring capabilities. Therefore, Apple may try to fill this gap. For example, the Apple Watch 8 has an additional skin temperature sensor, and some speculate that this sensor may contribute to the metrics needed to accurately measure stress.

As for the timing of such a feature, only Apple knows what the results of updates like this year's Apple Watch 9 and watchOS 10 will be at this point, but the fact that the company considers health tracking and alerts an important smartwatch It's no secret that the company considers health tracking and alerts an important selling point for its smartwatches.

According to a University of Waterloo study, the current Apple Watch already has some tools for stress tracking, and this could be a notable addition as more Apple Watch rumors begin to circulate in the new year.