Apple Watch blood oxygen feature returns to US after legal battle

Published 14/08/2025, 14:42
Apple Watch blood oxygen feature returns to US after legal battle

Investing.com -- Apple Inc. is bringing back its blood oxygen tracking feature for Apple Watch users in the United States after a lengthy legal dispute with Masimo Corp.

The feature, which was removed in late 2023 due to a patent infringement lawsuit and a U.S. Customs injunction, will return through iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 software updates released Thursday.

Apple has implemented a workaround that processes blood oxygen data differently than before. Instead of displaying results directly on the watch, sensor data will now be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, with results viewable in the Respiratory section of the Health app.

"This update was enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling," Apple stated in its announcement.

The restoration applies to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users in the U.S. who purchased models with the blood oxygen feature disabled. Users with previously purchased watches that already include the original blood oxygen feature will not be affected, nor will Apple Watch units purchased outside the United States.

Apple shares showed little movement in premarket trading in New York following the announcement.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.