Apple officially announced on Thursday the return of blood oxygen monitoring for select Apple Watch models, including the Series 8, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra. This reintroduction comes via a redesigned software feature specifically engineered to bypass the International Trade Commission’s (ITC) ongoing import ban.
How the Redesigned Feature Functions
The updated system changes how health data is processed. Instead of measuring and displaying oxygen saturation directly on the wearable, the data will now be calculated on the user’s paired iPhone. Users can access these metrics exclusively through the Respiratory section of the Health app, meaning the Apple Watch itself will no longer serve as the primary display for these specific readings.
Legal Compliance and Availability
This strategic update is permitted following a recent U.S. Customs ruling, which authorizes the import of Apple Watches equipped with the modified, non-infringing software. It is important to note that this change exclusively affects units sold after the ITC import ban took effect in early 2024. Devices purchased outside the U.S. or models sold prior to the ban remain unaffected.
The Masimo Dispute Context
The return of this feature marks a significant development in Apple’s long-standing legal battle with medical device manufacturer Masimo. In 2023, Masimo secured a major victory at the ITC, successfully arguing that Apple’s pulse oximetry technology infringed upon its proprietary patents. This ruling forced Apple to disable the feature in newer models to maintain market access.
Ongoing Litigation
The conflict remains active on multiple fronts. Apple has counter-sued Masimo, alleging that the company misappropriated Apple Watch features for its own line of smartwatches. Furthermore, Apple has formally filed an appeal against the original ITC ban, signaling that the legal friction between the two entities is far from resolved.
Users affected by the ban can access the redesigned functionality by performing an iPhone and Apple Watch software update, which became available on Thursday.