Blood Oxygen Tracking Returns to U.S. Apple Watches Today After 5-Year Patent Dispute

0
8K

Good news: Apple Watches sold in the U.S. after January 2024 lost their built-in blood oxygen tracking because of a patent dispute with medical company Masimo, but the feature will return via a software update coming out today.

In a Newsroom post, Apple says it’s introducing a “redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for some Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.” The reworked blood oxygen feature will be pushed out on iPhone and Apple Watch via an iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 software update. “Following this update, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app.”

Apple also added, “There will be no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the original Blood Oxygen feature, nor to Apple Watch units purchased outside of the U.S.”

Neither Apple nor Masimo has shared full details on how blood oxygen tracking is returning to impacted Apple Watches. “This update was enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling,” writes the iPhone maker.

Blood oxygen tracking was disabled on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 after Masimo sued Apple in 2020 for infringing on its health monitoring patents. At the center of the lawsuit was how the Apple Watch measured pulse oximetry via noninvasive sensors, which led to Apple disabling blood oxygen monitoring in smartwatches shipped to the U.S. The hardware sensors were still present on all shipping Apple Watches; the feature was only disabled in software, leaving open the possibility for some future resolution. Five years after being sued and 1.5 years after shipping disabled Apple Watches to the U.S., blood oxygen is returning. The timing couldn’t be better for the tech giant. The company is less than a month out from announcing new Apple Watches—likely Series 11 and possibly Ultra 3—alongside a family of iPhone 17 devices and maybe even new AirPods with a live translation feature.

Somewhere at Apple Park, Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams, who led Apple Watch design but is leaving by the end of the year, are cracking open some tall boys in celebration.

This story is developing…

Like
Love
Haha
3
Pesquisar
Categorias
Leia Mais
News
Diện mạo mới tòa nhà 'Hàm cá mập' giữa Thủ đô sau 1 tháng bị tháo dỡ
Các ngày 8-10/7, ghi nhận cho thấy phần lớn công trình...
Por TigerHunter1523 2025-07-12 07:06:04 0 9K
News
Những con giáp nào cần thận trọng Thứ Năm, ngày 7 tháng 8, là ngày 14 tháng 6 âm lịch, tức là ngày đầu thu
Đầu tiên là Hợi: Năm hành của lợn là thủy, thông...
Por bigFun3920 2025-08-06 15:07:05 0 8K
News
Có cần giấy xác nhận độc thân khi mua bán ô tô, xe máy tiền tỷ?
Gần đây, nhiều người dân đã bày tỏ thắc mắc liên quan...
Por ExactTurn817 2025-08-16 02:17:09 0 8K
News
Từ nay, sang tên sổ đỏ phải tránh 1 việc, vi phạm bị phạt lên đến 3.000.000 đồng
Trường hợp không thực hiện đăng ký biến động đúng thời...
Por Super64111111 2025-06-29 04:40:04 0 9K
Food
Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken with Parmesan Bowtie Pasta 
Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken with Parmesan Bowtie Pasta Ingredients:- 2 boneless, skinless...
Por cehrui 2024-10-07 14:57:26 0 22K