After months of stalemate has always been long legal battle, Apple is ready to get back into the game one of its most requested health features: the Blood oxygen measurement on Apple WatchThe news affects Series 9, Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold in the United States, and comes via a joint software update for iPhone and Apple Watch, available from Thursday.
How the new version works
La “Blood Oxygen” function has been redesigned for circumvent legal constraints which had blocked its distribution. Now the Apple Watch sensors collect the data, but the oxygen levels are calculated directly on the paired iPhoneThe results will be visible in the “Respiratory” section of the Health app.
To activate it, users will have to update iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 andApple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1There will be no changes for models already sold with the original function or for those purchased outside the United States.
The battle with Masimo: from block to turning point
The road to the return of “Blood Oxygen” has been anything but linear. Masimo, a California-based medical technology company, had Apple accused to have stolen its pulse oximetry technology, after hiring some of its employees.
In 2023, the US International Trade Commission had the requests were accepted Masimo, blocking the import of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 with this feature. Apple was forced to remove it from devices sold in the US.
After a series of appeals and temporary suspensions of the ban, the turning point has arrived with a decision by the US customs authorities, who approved the new software implementation.
Healthier wrists: the role of the Apple Watch
In addition to blood oxygen monitoring, Apple Watch continues to offer a ever-widening range of dedicated functions health and safety: notifications for irregular heart rhythm, ECG, sleep apnea detection, falls, body temperature, sleep monitoring, ambient noise detection, medication management, and mindfulness.
With the return of “Blood Oxygen” to the United States, Apple reiterates its ambition to maintain theApple Watch as the reference device for daily well-being, combining technological innovation and legal compliance.
