Apple Watch's Redesigned Blood Oxygen Monitoring Returns

In a significant update, Apple has announced the return of the blood oxygen monitoring feature for the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2. This comes after a previous removal due to a patent dispute with Masimo, a California-based company. Apple's move to redesign the feature was essential to comply with a U.S. Customs ruling.

The feature's removal in 2024 was a consequence of Apple infringing upon Masimo's light-based pulse oximetry patents, which led to a potential import ban for the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches in the United States. By redesigning the feature, Apple has navigated these legal hurdles, ensuring continued availability of its watches in the US market.

In its new form, the blood oxygen monitoring feature records data through the watch and processes it via the paired iPhone's Health app, rather than displaying results directly on the watch as before. Users will need to update their devices to watchOS 11.6.1 and iOS 18.6.1 to access this functionality.

For users outside the United States, this update changes nothing, as the import issues were strictly a US matter. Similarly, Apple Watches purchased in the US before the ban retain the original feature unchanged.

This legal battle between Apple and Masimo dates back to 2020, stemming from allegations of Apple poaching engineers to independently develop the technology after initial discussions about a possible partnership.

The return of the blood oxygen monitoring feature will likely enhance the appeal of the latest Apple Watches amongst health-conscious users, ensuring Apple remains competitive in the wearable technology market.