Samsung removes Vascular Load tracking from U.S. smartwatches via a July 7.0 Samsung Health update, replacing it with blood pressure trend monitoring. The Galaxy Watch9 and Ultra 2 will ship with One UI 9 Watch, while older models receive the update later. Users can export Vascular Load data through Samsung Health settings. The new blood pressure trend feature requires manual calibration using a medical-grade cuff and provides periodic readings with health habit suggestions.

Blood pressure trend will automatically track systolic and diastolic patterns, offering personalized insights like hydration reminders. Unlike Vascular Load's continuous monitoring, this system takes intermittent measurements to build longitudinal data. Samsung emphasizes improved accuracy through clinical validation of the new algorithm.

Consumer impact includes loss of real-time vascular health metrics but gains in blood pressure trend analysis. Industry analysts suggest this shift reflects Samsung's focus on FDA-compliant health features, potentially easing regulatory hurdles for future FDA approvals.

Market implications position Samsung against Apple Watch's blood oxygen tracking, with both companies racing to expand FDA-cleared metrics. The July 22 launch timeline aligns with summer health tracking demand, though delayed updates may frustrate Galaxy Watch4+ users.