The Galaxy S5 avoids being labeled a medical device, despite built-in heart rate sensor

By Andy Boxall March 17, 2014

Samsung Galaxy S5 sensor back — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Shortly after Samsung announced the Galaxy S5, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea decided it would take a close look at the phone’s wealth of fitness, health and lifestyle features. Depending on the findings, the Galaxy S5 was at risk of being reclassified as a “medical device,” and Samsung would be forced to submit it for approval. This may have resulted in the phone’s launch being delayed.

Apparently, Samsung had already held talks with the Ministry during the phone’s development, but has been made to wait until now for the decision. The good news is, the Ministry has decided the Galaxy S5 doesn’t meet the requirements, and therefore won’t be locally categorized as a “healthcare instrument.”

It’s Samsung’s inclusion of a heart rate sensor on the Galaxy S5 which caused the problem. Under existing Korean rules, products which can test or monitor organ functions are subject to medical device regulations. While this ruling is specific to South Korea, it’s also important for the phone’s international release. It’s one less obstacle for Samsung to overcome in order to meet the April 11 launch date.

The Galaxy S5’s release, along with other similar products such as LG’s HRM Earphones, which monitors heart rate through the wearer’s ears, and Samsung’s own Gear Fit, could result in a change in Korean law. The alteration will see this type of device reclassified as one used solely for fitness and not medical purposes.

So far, any similar issues with the Galaxy S5’s functionality haven’t risen in the U.S. or Europe, but may have done if the Korean Ministry’s decision had gone the other way. Several manufacturers are expected to include health and fitness-centric features on new products this year – Apple’s iWatch being one notable rumored example – and this will smooth the way for their eventual release.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Samsung

Senior Mobile Writer

Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

Mobile

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. Google Pixel 5: Which should you get?

Samsung Galaxy S21.

The new Samsung Galaxy S21 range finally landed at Samsung Unpacked , and if you're in the market for a new phone, there's no time like the present. The S21's appeal is obvious, with its 6.2-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate, powerful processor, and triple camera offerings. But what if the sleek edge-to-edge display and amazing camera of the Google Pixel 5 are calling you?

If you can't decide between a Google Pixel 5 and the Galaxy S21, we've got your back. We'll help you decide which phone is worth your hard-earned cash, by comparing them across six core categories, from design to performance and battery life. To find out which one you should buy, keep reading.
Specs

Mobile

How to change the refresh rate and screen resolution on the Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a 6.8-inch Infinity-O Display with a dynamic 10-120Hz refresh rate. In essence, this means that the smartphone’s display can remain crisp while showcasing smooth motion, and can also reduce the refresh rate on the fly to tailor battery usage. You may want to manually change your Galaxy S21 Ultra’s display refresh rate or screen resolution, depending on how you use the device. This guide shows you how to adjust your Galaxy S21 Ultra to best suit your needs.

Are you considering an upgrade from the Galaxy S20 Ultra to the Galaxy S21 Ultra? Check out our head to head comparison of Samsung’s titan smartphones.
How to change the Galaxy S21 Ultra's refresh rate

Mobile

Samsung’s new Exynos 2100 5G mobile chip launched ahead of the Galaxy S21

Samsung Exynos 2100

Samsung has announced its latest Exynos mobile processor, the Exynos 2100 5G, which it calls its most advanced mobile processor yet. Although it made no announcements regarding which devices it will arrive in, it’s almost certain the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S21 will be powered by the chip. At least, the S21 phones released outside the U.S. probably will be, while those sold inside the U.S. may use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor.

The Exynos 2100 5G is still a very important product for Samsung, not least because it’s the company’s first flagship chip built using a 5nm processor, which it says provides a 10% performance increase and a 20% decrease in power consumption, compared to a 7nm chip like the Exynos 990. The 2.9GHz Central Processing Unit (CPU) has eight cores in total, consisting of three Arm Cortex A78, four Arm Cortex A5, and a custom Arm Cortex X1. Combined with improvements made to the cache, scheduler, and voltage control, all this adds up to a 30% overall performance improvement.