Apple Sneaks Blood Oxygen Back Into Apple Watch — With a Twist
Apple’s latest move in its ongoing patent battle brings blood oxygen tracking back to certain Apple Watch models — but you’ll have to check your iPhone for the results.
Apple isn’t letting a trade ban keep it from bringing health-tracking features to your wrist — even if it means bending the rules.
On Thursday, the company announced a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for select Apple Watch Series 8, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra models. The catch? The readings won’t show up on your watch anymore. Instead, blood oxygen data will be measured via the watch but calculated and displayed in the Health app on your paired iPhone, tucked into the Respiratory section.
This workaround is Apple’s way of dodging an International Trade Commission (ITC) import ban that went into effect in early 2024 after a legal win by medical device maker Masimo. The ITC had found that Apple’s original implementation of blood oxygen monitoring infringed on Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents, forcing Apple to halt imports of watches with the feature.
According to Apple, the reworked system was approved by a recent U.S. Customs ruling, clearing the way for the company to import affected models into the U.S. once again.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The redesigned feature only applies to Apple Watches sold after the ITC ban took effect.
- Users will need to install a software update on both their iPhone and Apple Watch to access it.
- Models sold outside the U.S., or those with the original blood oxygen tech, remain unaffected.
The legal battle is far from over. Masimo has accused Apple of stealing its technology after talks of a possible collaboration fell apart. The ongoing feud has turned into one of the most closely watched tech-patent showdowns in recent years.
For Apple Watch owners in the U.S. who’ve been missing their oxygen stats, this change means the feature is back — albeit in a slightly less convenient spot.
