Apple Restores Blood Oxygen Feature to Watches Following U.S. Customs Ruling

Apple announced that it is reinstating a redesigned blood oxygen feature across the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 through a software update. The move follows a recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection ruling, which cleared Apple to reintroduce the feature after patent disputes with Masimo, a medical device company specializing in pulse oximetry.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) had previously restricted Apple from selling watches with the original sensor, ruling in 2023 that it infringed Masimo’s patents. As a workaround, Apple shipped newer models without active pulse oximetry. The latest redesign enables sensor data to be measured and displayed within the iPhone app, instead of directly on the watch.

The update will not affect older devices with the original feature or watches sold outside the U.S. Meanwhile, litigation between Apple and Masimo continues, with trials and appeals pending into late 2024.

14-08-2025