Apple is reintroducing blood oxygen sensing to select Apple Watch models in the U.S. after a software redesign and U.S. Customs approval.
Why it matters: Blood oxygen monitoring is a key health feature that can alert users to potentially critical changes in their oxygen levels, prompting them to seek medical advice if needed.
The details:
- Apple initially launched the blood oxygen sensing feature in 2020, but a patent dispute with health tech company Masimo forced them to halt sales of two Apple Watch models that included the feature.
- A judge upheld Masimo’s claim that Apple infringed on its patents related to optical blood monitoring.
- Apple has “redesigned” the feature, although specific details of the redesign have not been disclosed.
- Users who purchased their Apple Watch in the U.S. within the last year can restore the functionality through a software update by updating their paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1.
The update addresses what has been considered a significant shortcoming in Apple’s health tracking capabilities, as many competitors like Garmin have included similar features in their fitness trackers for years.
What they’re saying:
- “Apple’s teams work tirelessly to create products and services that empower users with industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features that are grounded in science and have privacy at the core,” stated Nikki Rothberg, an Apple spokeswoman.
The impact: After removing the feature, Apple Watch sales reportedly declined by 10 percent, falling to $16.58 billion, according to estimates by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
What’s next: This move is seen as a positive development for Apple as it prepares for its annual September event where it is expected to unveil new iPhones and the Apple Watch Series 11.
Recent from X
As part of our ongoing goal to help you live a healthier life, we launched a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 users in the US today!
Download the latest software to try it out.
— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) August 14, 2025
There will be a software update that re-enables the blood oxygen measurements in recent Apple Watches in the US, it won't display on the watch, but on the paired phone.https://t.co/cK8TKxexQ8
— Scott Manley (@DJSnM) August 14, 2025
Circumvents the ban by shuttling all data from the watch's sensor to the iPhone, I guess? Patents are weird. https://t.co/YhePeNtjKa
— Benjamin Mayo (@bzamayo) August 14, 2025
