Apple Reintroduces Blood Oxygen Monitoring to Apple Watch After Patent Dispute Resolution
Apple has reintroduced the blood oxygen monitoring feature to select Apple Watch models via a software update, resolving a patent dispute and import ban, enhancing health capabilities for users.
WiredBlood Oxygen Sensing Is Finally Returning to the Apple Watch
CNNApple is bringing back a feature at the center of a big Apple Watch legal battle | Business
GizmodoBlood Oxygen Tracking Returns to U.S. Apple Watches Today After 5-Year Patent Dispute
ARS TechnicaApple Watch gets reformulated, non-patent-infringing blood oxygen monitoring
Overview
Apple has successfully reintroduced the blood oxygen monitoring feature to its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models, making it available again to users.
This reintroduction follows a significant patent dispute with Masimo, which had previously led to an import ban on certain Apple Watch models in the US.
The redesigned blood oxygen feature now processes measurements and calculations on the user's iPhone, ensuring it is non-patent-infringing and compliant with regulations.
Users can access the updated blood oxygen monitoring by updating their iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1.
The reintroduction primarily affects watches sold after the 2024 US import ban, with no impact on watches purchased before 2024 or outside the US, and precedes the Apple Watch Series 11 launch.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by focusing on factual reporting of Apple's product changes and the ongoing legal dispute with Masimo. They present both companies' actions and the legal context without taking sides or using emotionally charged language, adhering to a balanced informational approach.