Samsung Quietly Removes Vascular Load Feature From US Galaxy Watches via Software Update

Samsung has quietly pulled the Vascular Load metric from Galaxy Watch devices in the United States. The feature, which used photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to estimate arterial stiffness as a cardiovascular risk indicator, was removed via a recent software update without prior announcement.

Why Was It Removed?

Samsung has not issued an official explanation, but the removal likely relates to FDA regulatory concerns. Vascular Load was marketed as a wellness feature, not a medical device, but the health claims it implied may have attracted regulatory scrutiny. The feature remains available on Galaxy Watches in markets where health-feature regulations differ from the US.

What This Means for Buyers

If Vascular Load was a selling point in your Galaxy Watch purchase, this is a frustrating loss. It underscores a broader tension in the wearables industry: companies ship health features faster than regulators can evaluate them, and quiet removals happen when the legal risk catches up. The core health features — heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen, sleep tracking — remain unaffected. Compare all smartwatch health features in our smartwatch guide.