Apple has announced That from today the blood oxygen monitoring returns via a software update to the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2nd generation. Due to a patent dispute, this function was no longer allowed to be used in the US and the sale of the Apple Watch was even temporarily stopped.
In a press release, Apple states that the saturation measures for the Apple Watch in the US have been renewed. The measurements take place on the Apple Watch, but the results are calculated on the iPhone. This allows Apple to re-offer the position to their American customers, there are no changes outside the US and the saturation function remained active all those months.
Patent dispute with masimo
The patent dispute between Apple and Masimo concerns the technology to measure the oxygen content in the blood, also known as blood oxygen meter or pulse oximeter. Apple has been using this technology in the Apple Watch since 2020. Masimo, a company that focuses on medical technology, claims that Apple has violated their patents by using this technology without permission in the Apple Watch Series 6 and later models.
Masimo accuses Apple of stealing commercial secrets and has submitted the case to the US International Trade Commission (ITC). In 2023, that committee ruled that Apple violated the patents of Masimo and proposed a possible import ban for Apple Watches with this position in the US.
As a result of this patent dispute, Apple has temporarily stopped the sale of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US and resumed later, but then without the blood oxygen measurement function. Apple eliminated this function on these models software in order to meet the import ban while the appeal is against the decision.
Apple fights Masimo’s claims and has appealed against the import ban. Masimo has since launched the Freedom Smartwatch, which strengthens their position in the competition with Apple. The legal and political dispute remains unclear and can have consequences for the market and future innovations in health functions of smart watches.
Software update activates blood oxygen measurement
In a press release, Apple reports that they reduce blood acid disasters to the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2. Users in the US with these models can activate the renewed function by updating their linked iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to Watchos 11.6.1.
Results in Gezonheid
After this update, the sensor data of the blood oxygen app on the Apple Watch is measured and calculated on the linked iPhone. The results can then be viewed in the respiratory part of the Health app. This update was made possible by a recent statement from the American authorities.
No changes outside the US
Apple emphasizes that these new developments have no influence on previously purchased Apple Watch models that already contain the original blood acid sounding, nor on Apple Watch models that have been purchased outside the US.