Apple brings blood oxygen feature for Apple Watch back in the US

Apple will introduce a redesigned blood oxygen feature for some Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users through an iPhone and Apple Watch software update.

Apple has modified the new blood oxygen monitoring feature. Users must now connect an iPhone to the watch to use it, as the sensor data is now processed on the phone. Users can also only see the measurement results on their iPhone and not on their smartwatch.

The new update will be rolled out to the Apple Watch 9, 10, and Ultra 2. To use the new blood oxygen monitoring feature, users must download and install iOS 18.6.1 on their iPhone and update their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1.

The adjustment comes after a long-lasting legal battle. In 2020, California-based health tech company Masimo sued Apple for patent infringement on its oximetry technology after discussing a potential collaboration.

In late 2023, Masimo won the lawsuit at the International Trade Commission (ITC). Apple was ordered to block imports of all watches containing the blood oxygen monitoring feature.

Shortly after the ban, Apple decided to disable the feature in the United States, allowing the company to sell the affected watches. The Cupertino-based tech company has appealed to the ITC’s ruling, but the appeal is still pending.

The updated feature will only be available for watches sold from January 18, 2024, onwards. From that date, Apple was no longer allowed to sell Apple Watches with a functioning oximetry meter due to the patent dispute.

Watches sold before this ban will continue to use the old measurement feature. This only applies to Apple Watches sold in the US, as the feature was never removed in other parts of the world.