Apple’s Software Update to Include Blood Oxygen Monitoring

Apple has announced plans to enable blood oxygen monitoring on select watch models through software updates, following approval from the US government in a lengthy legal battle regarding the underlying technology.

This new feature will allow users of the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to track their blood oxygen levels directly on their iPhones.

Apple’s legal disputes have primarily involved Masimo, a company based in Irvine, California. Apple has accused Masimo of misappropriating pulse oximetry technology, particularly after hiring employees from Apple and engaged in discussions about potential partnerships.

Back in 2023, Masimo successfully argued at the US International Trade Commission (ITC) for a ban on imports of Apple’s smartwatches, which led Apple to disable the blood oxygen feature and enter a long appeals process, resulting in a significant drop in their stock price—about 4.5%.

As of the latest update, the watches in question were shipped without this feature, but Apple has confirmed approval for the necessary software update by US Customs.

With the upcoming update, users will be able to initiate sessions using the Blood Oxygen app on their Apple Watches. The watch will utilize its sensor to gather data, which will then be analyzed by the iPhone to display the blood oxygen levels.

Apple originally introduced pulse oximetry in its Apple Watch Series 6 back in 2020, while Masimo launched a similar feature with its W1 Watch in 2022.

It’s worth noting that Masimo had influenced the ITC decision to block the import of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches earlier this year.

After a brief suspension of sales, Apple managed to come back into compliance, but the legal tussle continues as restrictions are reinstated sporadically. As of now, Masimo hasn’t provided any comments about the situation.