Google Health Connect is broadening its capabilities to monitor symptoms, alcohol consumption, and additional factors.

      Your Android phone may soon consolidate all your health information in one location.

      Google is discreetly preparing to enhance Health Connect into a much more robust health platform on Android, moving beyond simple fitness tracking. Recent findings in upcoming Android builds reveal updates to the interface, improved permission management, and initial indications of support for monitoring alcohol consumption and medical symptoms.

      Health Connect Becomes Smarter and More Central in Android

      What’s happening: Health Connect, which serves as Google’s backend platform for synchronizing health applications, is undergoing significant improvements in Android 16. Initially launched in 2022 for basic data transfer, it is evolving into a more powerful tool. Android 16 has already introduced features such as medical record support, including allergies, vaccinations, and lab results, but Google has more planned.

      Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

      In the most recent test builds, the settings menu is being redesigned. Instead of hiding connected apps, the new layout presents them prominently. Permissions are also being reorganized, categorizing data so that users can easily identify which app is accessing their heart rate or sleep data without searching through multiple menus.

      The most intriguing changes lie within the code, indicating that Google may soon allow tracking of alcohol consumption—specifically logging beer, wine, or cocktails—and a wide array of medical symptoms like insomnia, nausea, or shortness of breath.

      Why Google’s Health Initiative Matters to Android Users

      Why this is significant: It seems Google is finally creating a genuine competitor to Apple Health. The objective has shifted from merely tracking morning runs to establishing a secure repository for your entire medical information. By integrating symptoms and medical records, Health Connect transitions from being a simple “fitness” tool to a comprehensive health aggregator.

      Digital Trends

      Why it should matter to you: If you frequently use MyFitnessPal for diet tracking, Strava for running, and another app for sleep monitoring, this development is positive news. It reduces the need to switch between apps and minimizes fragmentation. Additionally, the updated permission structure simplifies the process of identifying which apps have access to your sensitive health information, allowing you to revoke access if necessary.

      What’s next: Health Connect serves primarily as a data conduit; it requires applications to supply data. The encouraging news is that Google updates this feature through the Play Store, meaning you won’t have to wait for a full Android system update to access new features. Although the timeline for when alcohol or symptom tracking will be available remains unclear, it is evident that Google wants your Android phone to function as a serious health companion, beyond just a pedometer.

      Moinak Pal has been working in the technology sector, focusing on both consumer technology and automotive innovation.

      Apple Watch is set to receive improved emergency alerts for natural disasters.

      A major update to watchOS enhances real-time disaster alerts with detailed maps and links to official guidance while refining the health insights on the Apple Watch.

      What’s occurring? Apple has released the watchOS 26.2 release candidate, which will be the next upgrade for the Apple Watch, featuring Enhanced Safety Alerts. In the U.S., the Apple Watch will provide alerts for impending threats such as floods, natural disasters, and other emergencies (source: 9To5Mac).

      Samsung is developing a new competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, expected to launch next year.

      Samsung's upcoming rugged smartwatch aims to improve upon the original Galaxy Watch Ultra with significant upgrades, serving as a strong competitor to the Apple Watch.

      What’s transpiring? The South Korean technology company Samsung is developing a successor to the Galaxy Watch Ultra that could be released as early as 2026. A report from GalaxyClub indicates the new smartwatch is codenamed "Galaxy Watch 9 Ultra."

      I recently used the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic during an extensive vacation, and I found it surpasses the Apple Watch.

      The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a stylish wearable device that offers more capabilities than it appears at first glance.

      I just returned from a lengthy trip that involved hiking, sleeping by rivers, camping in the foothills of the Himalayas, living among tribal communities, and staying well away from urban environments. This trip was vital for a change of pace and marked the first long period where my Apple Watch was not my wrist companion. During this time, I decided to try the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. Priced at $499, Samsung’s smartwatch combines an elegant design with advanced health features, all supported by robust AI technology.