Apple Watch Revamps Blood Oxygen Monitoring for US Market

In 2024, a significant redesign occurred for Apple's blood oxygen monitoring feature on the Apple Watch following a patent dispute. Originally removed from the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 due to a patent infringement case with Masimo, Apple was able to navigate an import ban by redesigning the feature.

Apple has reintroduced the updated version of the blood oxygen monitoring tool to Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2. This update follows a favorable US Customs ruling. The new design circumvents the original patents by Masimo, ensuring continued sales in the US market.

The updated feature processes sensor data on an iPhone, viewable through the Health app, rather than on the watch itself. Users must update their devices to watchOS 11.6.1 and iOS 18.6.1 to access this feature.

While the update is crucial in the US due to past legal challenges, international versions of the Apple Watch remain unaffected as they were never subject to the ban. Watches sold in the US prior to the ban continue to support the original feature without any changes.

Masimo's legal actions date back to 2020, beginning with allegations of patent infringement after initial collaboration discussions with Apple fell through.

The redesigned feature reaffirms Apple's commitment to innovation while navigating complex legal landscapes, ensuring their latest watches offer comprehensive health tracking without infringing on existing technologies.