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Apple’s blood oxygen monitoring returns to its latest Apple Watches
Apple reinstates blood oxygen monitoring on new Watch Series 8, Series 10, and Ultra models after legal adjustments. The feature measures blood oxygen levels through an iPhone due to a ban from the International Trade Commission (ITC), arising from a legal dispute with Masimo over patent infringement. Users can view results in the Health app following a software update.
Key points
- Apple introduced a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for Watch Series 8, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra.
- The feature now calculates data using a connected iPhone due to an ITC import ban stemming from a legal dispute with Masimo.
- Previously sold models are unaffected, and the new feature applies only to watches sold after the ban in early 2024.
- Apple is appealing the ITC ruling and has counter-sued Masimo for patent infringement.
Why it matters
- This situation highlights ongoing issues in tech regarding intellectual property rights, especially in health technology.
- The legal dispute mirrors broader trends in technology regulation and patent litigation, impacting innovation in wearables and healthcare.
- The 2025 IT Trends, including the rise of health tech, emphasize the significance of reliability in wearable device features.
Apple's adaptation to legal challenges with the Blood Oxygen feature demonstrates the intersection of innovation and regulation in technology, emphasizing the ongoing importance of intellectual property in the growth of health tech.