Apple Restores Blood Oxygen Monitoring to Latest Apple Watches
A Redesigned Feature to Bypass Import Ban
Apple announced on Thursday that it is reintroducing a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for select Apple Watch Series 8, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra models. The change allows the company to sidestep the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) import ban by modifying how the feature operates.
Instead of processing and displaying the blood oxygen data directly on the Apple Watch, measurements will now be calculated on the paired iPhone. Users can view the results in the Respiratory section of the Health app, meaning the data will no longer appear on the watch itself.
Approval from U.S. Customs
Apple says this update was made possible by a recent U.S. Customs ruling, allowing imports of Apple Watches equipped with the redesigned Blood Oxygen system. The change applies only to devices sold after the ITC ban took effect in early 2024 and does not impact previously sold models or watches purchased outside the United States.
Legal Battle with Masimo
The feature’s redesign follows Apple’s ongoing legal dispute with medical technology company Masimo, which accused Apple of infringing its pulse oximetry patents after failed collaboration talks. In 2023, Masimo won an ITC ruling that blocked imports of Apple Watches with the original blood oxygen monitoring system.
Apple removed the feature at the time but has since filed an appeal against the ban and counter-sued Masimo, alleging the company copied Apple Watch features for its own devices.
Software Update Rolling Out
The redesigned Blood Oxygen feature will be available starting Thursday through an iPhone and Apple Watch software update. This marks Apple’s latest move to navigate regulatory hurdles while continuing to offer health-focused features to its customers.
