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Advanced sensing features come to wearables in 2025

21 January 2025
Garmin launched its Instinct 3 smartwatch at CES 2025 that includes a solar charging version that could potentially power the device for all day. Source: Garmin

Real time sensing in wearables is expected to make growth substantially in 2025 as devices expand their functionality beyond just basic monitoring to complex tracking for fitness and wellness, smart home control, environmental monitoring and more.

According to market research firm International Data Corp. (IDC), wearables are expected to grow 3.9% in 2025 to reach about 559 million units, up from 538 million units in 2024. Of this, earwear and smartwatches will be the largest categories followed by smart rings and smart glasses.

Sensors used in wearables include:

  • Optical sensors — for blood oxygen levels and heart rate
  • Temperature sensors — for body temperature and sleep
  • Accelerometers — for steps/distance traveled and activity levels
  • Gyroscopes — for posture and balance
  • Infrared — for skin temperature and blood flow
  • Ultraviolet — for UV exposure
  • NFC — for mobile payments
  • SpO2 — for blood oxygen levels

The future of wearables could include sensors such as glucose monitors, haptic feedback and real-time blood pressure and even heart monitoring through photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors.

Wearables are evolving quickly to include countless more functions than previous generations.

The Circular Ring 2 made a splash at CES 2025 with the inclusion of EKG readings to monitor for atrial fibrillation. The ring is an example of how smart rings are evolving to include more sensing functions. Source: Circular The Circular Ring 2 made a splash at CES 2025 with the inclusion of EKG readings to monitor for atrial fibrillation. The ring is an example of how smart rings are evolving to include more sensing functions. Source: Circular

Smart rings

When it comes to the smallest of wearables, smart rings are king.

These devices are expected to rise a whopping 53% to $190 million in 2025, up from about $124 million in 2024, according to research from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the trade organization that produces CES each year.

These devices use sensing for the monitoring of a variety of functions. Initially, smart rings just monitored an individual’s wellness. But now, the smart rings are moving beyond healthcare and into the smart home, sleep wellness and much more.

At CES 2025, which wrapped last Friday, smart rings were on full display and moved beyond just the basic healthcare monitoring that they are billed to observe into new sectors such as Lotus by Pulse, which is designed to work with people with limb differences and who struggle with mobility. The ring connects to the smart home and can be used to turn devices — anything from lights and fans to smart speakers and TVs — on and off.

Another smart ring launched during CES 2025 was the Viv Ring by Viv Health. This is expected to help with generative sleep. Using temperature and optical sensors for similar features of other smart rings for measuring and analyzing biometric signals — like heart rate, oxygen saturation, heart rate variability and stress — it then uses this data to create personalized health monitoring with generative sleep aid sound technology.

Finally, Circular Ring 2 got rave reviews at CES 2025 as one of the best wearables during the show thanks to its ability to offer electrocardiogram readings through a PPG sensor that works by shining light onto skin to measure changes in blood flow. That means it can detect atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat that could lead to significant complications. The ring also monitors typical health and wellness features as well.

Amazfit’s Active 2 is designed for people that hit the gym often and want workout programs directly on their smartwatch. Source: Amazfit Amazfit’s Active 2 is designed for people that hit the gym often and want workout programs directly on their smartwatch. Source: Amazfit

Smartwatches

While earwear is the leading category among wearables, in terms of sensing, smartwatches remain the leading platform as it is large enough to offer functions beyond a smart ring but small enough to not burden the user. Smartwatches also have the added benefit of being able to read texts and take phone calls from a paired smartphone.

At CES 2025, Garmin introduced its Instinct 3 smartwatch, which builds on the previous generations with loads of optical and temperature sensors for healthcare monitoring but also includes a GPS a Garmin staple. It also includes an LED flashlight and there is a solar model that can arguably be powered forever through sunlight.

Meanwhile, the Amazfit Active 2 uses optical and temperature sensors for heart rate and sleep tracking and accelerometers for workouts. The company is targeting the smartwatch for fitness buffs that can use the 1.32 inch display and more than 160 workout modes for cardio and strength training.

One of the more interesting smartwatch rollouts at CES 2025 was from Samsung, which debuted a prototype microLED device. The hook is that it could offer a significantly longer lifespan than OLED screens while giving better colors and viewing angles. Combined with a sensor package, this could be the future of smartwatches with bright, vivid colors.

NovoSound's wearable platform uses ultrasound sensors to measure arterial wall movement. Source: NovoSoundNovoSound's wearable platform uses ultrasound sensors to measure arterial wall movement. Source: NovoSound

Healthcare monitoring

What promises to be the next big thing — not just in sensing and data for wearables but also for the healthcare industry — are the technological advancements happening in healthcare wearables.

There are already dedicated wearable devices for things such as glucose monitoring, continuous wireless blood pressure tracking and heart rates. Now these devices, such as the Novosound Slanj platform that provides cuffless, wireless blood pressure tracking, are becoming more advanced. The wearable device uses ultrasound sensors to measure arterial wall movement.

This technology promises to be a boon to healthcare and personal health because more than 1 billion adults have high blood pressure or hypertension, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). About 1 in 2 people are unaware of the condition. This could save lives, not to mention billions of dollars, by reducing premature deaths due to heart attacks and strokes through PPG and bioimpedance sensors.

There are other specialized healthcare wearables in development as well such as Peri, an AI-powered device worn under the breast to track perimenopause. The wearable provides women with data on symptoms, sleep and lifestyle to understand the changes happening to their body.

Why would this be a boon to healthcare and users? This could help women in managing the transition more effectively and to seek treatment when needed. A recent survey found that many women lack resources about menopause and perimenopause leading to them being surprised or uncertain about why they are feeling the way they do. Early recognition can help women act instead of wrestling with the changes by themselves.

To contact the author of this article, email PBrown@globalspec.com


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