Does Apple Watch track REM sleep?

Answered by Frank Schwing

The Apple Watch has the ability to track REM sleep. By wearing your watch to bed, the Apple Watch uses its built-in sensors and algorithms to estimate the time you spent in each sleep stage, including REM sleep. This is a valuable feature as REM sleep is a crucial stage of the sleep cycle.

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is a stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and increased brain activity. It is an important part of the sleep cycle as it is believed to play a role in memory consolidation, emotional processing, and overall cognitive function.

With the Apple Watch’s sleep tracking feature, you can gain insights into your sleep patterns and understand the duration and quality of your REM sleep. This information can be accessed through the Sleep app on your Apple Watch.

When you wake up in the morning, you can open the Sleep app to see how much sleep you got and view your sleep trends over the past 14 days. The app provides a detailed breakdown of your sleep stages, including REM sleep, as well as when you might have woken up during the night.

It’s important to note that while the Apple Watch can estimate your sleep stages, including REM sleep, it is not a substitute for professional sleep monitoring devices or medical advice. However, it can provide useful insights into your sleep patterns and help you make adjustments to improve your sleep quality.

Personally, I have found the Apple Watch’s sleep tracking feature to be quite helpful. It has allowed me to become more aware of my sleep patterns and make changes to my bedtime routine to ensure I am getting enough REM sleep. By tracking my REM sleep, I have noticed that I feel more refreshed and alert during the day.

The Apple Watch is capable of tracking REM sleep along with other sleep stages. By wearing your watch to bed and using the Sleep app, you can gain valuable insights into your sleep patterns and make adjustments to improve your overall sleep quality. However, it’s important to remember that the Apple Watch’s sleep tracking feature is not a substitute for professional sleep monitoring or medical advice.