Apple’s Blood Oxygen Monitoring Returns to Latest Apple Watches

Apple has reactivated the blood oxygen monitoring feature on its latest Apple Watches after a brief pause due to a legal dispute. Users can now once again utilize this health feature on their devices. This marks a return to normalcy for Apple Watch users who rely on the blood oxygen readings for health tracking and insights.

Background of the Dispute

The blood oxygen monitoring feature faced a temporary removal due to a patent dispute. Masimo a medical technology company alleged that Apple infringed on its patents related to pulse oximetry. This led to a legal battle and eventually a temporary disabling of the feature on new Apple Watches sold in the United States.

How Apple Restored the Functionality

Apple has reintroduced the blood oxygen monitoring feature on some Apple Watch models in the U.S. This comes after a long patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo. This feature had been disabled in late 2023 due to a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission ITC which found that Apple had infringed on Masimo’s pulse oximetry technology patents. As a result, Apple had to remove the feature from affected models to comply with the import ban imposed by U.S. Customs.

This update affects Apple Watch Series 9 Series 10 and Ultra 2 models bought in the U.S. after January 2024. Watches sold before this date or outside the U.S. keep their original blood oxygen monitoring feature.Apple Support

To update your devices ensure your iPhone and Apple Watch are connected to Wi-Fi and have sufficient battery life. Then navigate to Settings General Software Update on both devices to install the updates. After updating, the new blood oxygen monitoring feature should be available, allowing you to monitor your blood oxygen levels through your iPhone’s Health app.

The return of blood oxygen monitoring is a significant win for Apple Watch users, particularly those who use it for health and fitness tracking. Here’s how users benefit:

• Health Insights: Monitoring blood oxygen levels provides valuable data on respiratory health.
• Fitness Tracking: Athletes and fitness enthusiasts can track their oxygen saturation during workouts.
• Peace of Mind: Users gain a better understanding of their overall well-being.

Looking Ahead

The restoration of this feature ensures that Apple Watch remains a comprehensive health-tracking device. Apple continues to innovate and improve its health features, which solidifies its position in the wearable technology market. The company is also exploring new health-related technologies to integrate into future Apple Watch models.