Apple announced on Thursday that it is rolling out a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for select Apple Watch models, specifically the Series 8, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra, in the United States.
This change comes in response to a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling that led to an import ban on certain Apple Watches earlier this year. The ban followed a legal battle with medical device company Masimo, which accused Apple of infringing on its patented pulse oximetry technology. The ITC sided with Masimo in 2023, forcing Apple to remove the feature from new watches sold in the U.S.
How the redesigned feature works
Under the new design, the Apple Watch will no longer display blood oxygen levels directly on the device. Instead, the watch will collect data and send it to the user’s paired iPhone for processing. Results can be viewed in the “Respiratory” section of Apple’s Health app. Apple says this workaround complies with a recent U.S. Customs ruling, allowing the company to import watches with the modified feature.
Who gets the update
The change applies only to Apple Watches sold in the U.S. after the import ban took effect in early 2024. These devices will gain access to the redesigned feature through an iPhone and Apple Watch software update starting Thursday. Watches purchased before the ban or outside the U.S. will continue to use the original Blood Oxygen feature without changes.
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Ongoing Legal Dispute
The move is the latest development in Apple’s ongoing legal fight with Masimo. While Masimo claims Apple copied its technology after failed collaboration talks, Apple has accused Masimo of copying Apple Watch features for its own devices. Apple has also appealed the ITC’s decision in hopes of overturning the ban.
