Apple brings back Blood Oxygen feature to Apple Watch, but there’s a catch

Apple has unveiled a revamped blood oxygen tracking feature for its Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models in the United States. This announcement comes after the company faced a restriction from the International Trade Commission (ITC) that prohibited the import of Apple Watches equipped with this functionality, which was put in place in early 2024. In a strategic move to navigate around this ban, Apple will now calculate blood oxygen levels using the paired iPhone. However, users will not be able to view these readings directly on their Apple Watch. Instead, they will need to access the iPhone's Health app and check the Respiratory section to see their blood oxygen data. According to Apple's statement, a recent customs ruling in the U.S. has cleared the way for the importation of Apple Watches featuring the new blood oxygen monitoring system. To utilize this updated feature, users with the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 will need to ensure their devices are running the latest software: iOS 18.6.1 for iPhones and watchOS 11.6.1 for Apple Watches. It is important to note that this new feature will only be available on Apple Watches sold in the U.S. after January 17, 2024, when the ITC's ban fully took effect. Previously sold units or those purchased internationally will still possess the original blood oxygen functionality. The development comes amidst an ongoing legal battle with Masimo, a medical device manufacturer known for its pulse oximeters. Masimo has accused Apple of misappropriating pulse oximetry technology following discussions for a potential partnership. This dispute led to the ITC's import ban in December 2023. In response, Apple has filed a countersuit against Masimo, alleging that the latter's smartwatches are mere clones of the Apple Watch. Additionally, Apple is actively appealing the ITC's ruling. With an upcoming announcement of new Apple Watch models set to coincide with the iPhone launch event next month, the tech giant is keen to leverage the redesigned blood oxygen feature as a selling point to boost Apple Watch sales.