Apple is once again enabling blood oxygen tracking on select Apple Watch models in the U.S.—but this time via an innovative software workaround. The iPhone now does the heavy lifting by calculating the data gathered by the watch and displaying results in the Health app’s “Respiratory” section. The update specifically supports Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 devices
The Legal Battle That Hid a Key Health Feature
This return comes after Apple had initially removed blood oxygen functionality from U.S. watches due to a patent dispute. In 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission sided with Masimo, resulting in an import ban on Apple Watch models with the offending sensor. Apple circumvented the ban by selling the affected models without the blood oxygen feature beginning in early 2024.
The Software Workaround: Where the Magic Happens
Thanks to a favorable decision by U.S. Customs, Apple can now deliver a modified version of the blood oxygen feature through iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1. Users simply start a session via the Blood Oxygen app on their watch—the sensor data is sent to the paired iPhone for processing and viewing. Notably, this update does not affect watches purchased before the ban or outside the U.S., which already retained the feature.
Health Tracking Returns, Competitiveness Preserved
This ingenious workaround restores a key health benefit for U.S. users—allowing them again to monitor blood oxygen levels, a feature introduced with Series 6 in 2020. By adapting data handling to involve the iPhone, Apple avoids infringing on Masimo’s patents while keeping its smartwatch health suite intact and competitive.
Meanwhile, legal tensions remain unresolved: Apple continues to contest the ITC ruling in appeals, and Masimo retains ongoing litigation over related patent claims.9to5Mac
Snapshot: What’s Happening and Why It Matters
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Return Method | Redesigned, software-based blood oxygen tracking via iPhone |
| Supported Models | Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Ultra 2 (U.S. only) |
| Apple’s Strategy | Respond to import ban via legal workaround and customs approval |
| Legal Status | Ongoing appeals and litigation with Masimo remain unresolved |
| User Impact | U.S. users regain access to vital health metric without hardware changes |
As the Apple Watch restores blood oxygen tracking via a clever legal and technical workaround, U.S. users can once again benefit from a powerful wellness tool. This strategic pivot balances innovation, user needs, and legal limitations—a modern solution for a complex challenge.
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