Your Apple Watch might be smarter than patent disputes after all. Blood oxygen monitoring just returned to recent Apple Watches through a clever technical workaround that splits the difference between user needs and legal restrictions.
The Compromise Solution
Apple’s August software update restores blood oxygen functionality to Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S. after January 2024. The catch? Your watch still collects the data, but calculations and results now appear exclusively in your iPhone’s Health app.
Think of it like having your personal trainer take your pulse but only telling your coach the numbers. This redesigned approach emerged after a U.S. Customs ruling clarified how Apple could legally import these features without violating the trade commission’s ban.
Blood oxygen monitoring measures the percentage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in your bloodstream—a key indicator of respiratory and cardiovascular health that fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious users rely on for tracking wellness trends.
Patent Dispute Meets Real-World Impact
The original blood oxygen feature vanished due to Masimo’s patent dispute victory. The medical device company convinced regulators that Apple’s implementation infringed on their intellectual property. Rather than abandon the feature entirely, Apple’s engineers found a technical solution: collect data on the watch, process it elsewhere.
For affected users, this means trading wrist-level convenience for restored functionality. You’ll need to check your iPhone for results instead of glancing at your watch mid-workout. The transition from instant on-wrist access to iPhone-based viewing represents a clear compromise between legal compliance and user experience.
Who Gets What Back
The update specifically targets Apple Watches purchased after the January 18, 2024 cutoff date. If you bought your watch before the ban or outside the U.S., your blood oxygen monitoring never disappeared.
The software update (iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1) enables the redesigned feature once installed. Results now appear in the Respiratory section of your iPhone’s Health app rather than displaying directly on your watch face.
The Broader Tech Landscape
This situation reveals how intellectual property battles directly impact your daily tech experience. Like streaming services losing popular shows to licensing disputes, hardware features can vanish overnight due to corporate legal conflicts.
Apple’s workaround preserves health tracking capabilities while navigating ongoing litigation—a compromise that keeps essential wellness data flowing to users who depend on it. Your blood oxygen readings are back, just with an extra step to see them.
