Apple Watch Reinvents Blood Oxygen Monitoring for 2025

Early in 2024, Apple made a significant move by removing the blood oxygen monitoring feature from its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. This decision came in the wake of a ruling concerning a patent infringement dispute involving a California-based company, Masimo. The feature in question was found to violate light-based pulse oximetry patents, which led to an imminent import ban in the US.

However, Apple has now announced a comeback of the blood oxygen monitoring function, reincarnated in the form of a new design that aims to avoid previous patent disputes. The updated feature is to be rolled out on Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 watches. Thanks to what Apple describes as a recent U.S. Customs ruling, the restored capability negates earlier restrictions.

The redesigned feature will now transfer sensor data to an iPhone for processing and storage, with results accessible through the Respiratory section of the Health app. Previously, these readings could be viewed directly on the watch itself, forcing Apple to find a workaround for the technology previously hinged on Masimo's patents.

To access the new feature, users will need to update their devices to watchOS 11.6.1 and iOS 18.6.1. Notably, these modifications do not affect Apple Watches outside of the US or those purchased in the US before the implications of the import ban began. Users with older watch models or those who bought a Series 9 or Ultra 2 before the ban will not see any change from these updates.

The original lawsuit was initiated by Masimo in January 2020, based on allegations that Apple had engaged their engineers under pretenses of a possible partnership or acquisition back in 2013, only to integrate pulse oximetry features without their collaboration. Despite legal battles, the Apple Watch's innovation continues as the company navigates complex patent landscapes and regulatory stipulations with adaptability and foresight.